I have a personal opinion to express on this list. Something I have to say that is eating at me with good reason. This list is my hobby too, but on occasion, there is a higher purpose here than our own amusement. I hope you at least read this and think about what is happening here. Or consider this an editorial if you have a fear of reality and the world around your computer screen.
Don't take this the wrong way guys, many of you are my friends, and you know I'm just being honest here, but it really amazes me how many of you guys just don't give a damn about copyright infringement, especially when it is your pictures this guy is stealing from you. If you will ever have something to say on this list, or to the thief, something that matters and will make a difference, and you don't say it now, I guess you will just be a mailing address on this list that I may never hear from again, because I can't think of a damn thing recently here, that is more important than somebody stealing your photography and turning his nose up at you. And if you now choose not to contribute your pictures because this thief has scared you, well then I have nothing more to say to you other than does it hurt when you sit down? Gotta put my honest two cents in here. I appreciate your subscriptions and your postings, but some of you 'lurkers' (and I mean the ones that are published photographers too), are really in your own little protective bubbles, aren't you? I know a lot of you don't read much of the postings on this list and don't check your E-mail very much, and don't have much time, and this list is intended primarily for fun, but I know many of you who do read this stuff and I have to start to wonder about people that are so isolated after a while, especially when something important is at stake. I realize that you 'don't want to get involved', but is this a good thing, and more importantly, what does that tell the rest of us about people in general? It can't give us much hope and encouragement for the majority of people in groups. Kind of disappointing in a general kind of way, don't you think? If we don't do anything about this, we're no better than the thief. Enough said. Send him some E-mail if you have an opinion or find a stolen image of yours on his site. He claims to have about 10,000 images that he 'took' from other people's web sites. If I find one of my copyrighted images on his site, and I am the only one who says anything about it, I will drag his ass and the horse he rode in on into court and wake a few people up. But I wouldn't want to wake anyone up at their computer screens in the process. I would hate to cause any confusion or imply that there is a connection between the real world and a hobby. That might burst someone's bubble. You can go back to sleep now. Goodnight. Dave Cohen Photographer [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.anet-stl.com/acphotog -> SPORRS: Serious Photographers of Railroad Related Subjects -> Web Site: http://www.anet-stl.com/acphotog/sporrs
