Didn't think anyone gave a damn, but I got a mailbox full (where are you guys on the list ?!). Lets try to sum this up so we can move on with other topics.
Your pictures. If you want to give them away, that's up to you. And bartering for a book is great if it's a book that you want. Railfanning is a hobby. If you like it, enjoy it. There are all types of people involved in this hobby. Good ones and bad ones. Mostly good ones. But just like everything else, there are always people out there that will take advantage of you if you let them. This thread is worn dead, but the issue remains a permanent constant in the hobby. If you want to take a stand or try to help, great. If not, so what. I made my point, and I don't wish to drag this out on a railroad photography list, but I will sum this whole matter up with this: Railfans are not hurting the photography profession. Railfans are insignificant in that regard. It's just the damage that some of us can unsuspectingly cause to the publishing business in general spreads wider than the railfan community. These businesses don't exist solely to serve the railfans (surprise!). The definition of the word 'hobby' is something that a person likes to do or study in their spare time; favorite pastime or avocation. The definition of the word 'avocation' is something one does in addition to his vocation or regular work, and usually for pleasure; hobby. You may consider submitting material to a business to be a hobby, but you are also conducting business whether you are in a state of denial about this or not. Conducting business like a hobby is what got us started on all of this, and some of you guys flipped the issue to personal fun and satisfaction. I would achieve great personal satisfaction in wringing Bill Gates' neck, but that doesn't make it right or even personally justifiable either. We would all probably agree with this advice: Become educated in what you are involved in. If you don't want to broaden your horizons and get involved, then don't get involved. If you do... And thanks very much for the personal E-mail and some really good input. Most people seem to agree with me, but they also say that trying to do something or change anything is usually difficult. I couldn't agree more, but I have to try anyway because I KNOW nothing will ever happen if I DO nothing. That goes for more than just this hobby. I also got a solitary E-mail telling me how full of crap the guy thinks I am. Thanks for your opinion, and sorry if I don't reply to that mail. If there is any reoccurring thought that keeps cycling through my mind when I try to observe or describe our hobby, it's that we railfans are indeed in our own little world. For better or worse. Anyone got killer fall colors to shoot around your local railroads at the moment? Dave Cohen --> SPORRS: Serious Photographers of Railroad Related Subjects
