10th November 2011, 02:49 PM
I really wouldn't get too worked up about Mr S. Certainly he does a lot of damage in that he influences the mildly interested amatuer, society members and extra-mural course attendees with his somewhat bizarre and ill-informed opinions but the more they learn the more they are likely to become aware of his, err, eccentricities. 20 odd years ago it was me sitting in Birkbeck Certificate lectures... I trecall one fellow student thinking CA and Mr S were 'radical'. I suppose they are in one sense!
About 10 years ago now I had a letter in CA responding to one of his diatribes about the 'role of the amateur' and the difference between pros and ams - this latest thing is nothing new. In fairness he did publish it but totally misunderstood everything - he put an Eds Note in italics under my letter saying how much he agreed, and went on to disagree and reiterate his original 'point'@.
I still buy his rag, as it has some nice pictures sometimes and often some quite interesting articles - written by others obviously. But I agree that BA has always been the better of the 'popular' mags.
About 10 years ago now I had a letter in CA responding to one of his diatribes about the 'role of the amateur' and the difference between pros and ams - this latest thing is nothing new. In fairness he did publish it but totally misunderstood everything - he put an Eds Note in italics under my letter saying how much he agreed, and went on to disagree and reiterate his original 'point'@.
I still buy his rag, as it has some nice pictures sometimes and often some quite interesting articles - written by others obviously. But I agree that BA has always been the better of the 'popular' mags.