I recently found my way to the DVXuser.com based on a link regarding a claim of a break in at Red, and, after three incredibly reasonable comments on that site, found myself facing this statement after trying to log in:
You have been banned for the following reason:
None
Date the ban will be lifted: Never.
Upon reading Mr. Jannard's statement and offer of a reward, I immediately thought of the possibility that this could be some kind of viral marketing scheme. I have no proof, but I live in a world where companies do all sorts of things of this nature, and worse. A few years ago, IBM hired an ad agency who hired someone and they hired someone, etc, to stencil-paint little penguins all over San Francisco to get people talking, "what is it?", "have you seen the penguins", etc. Well, it did get people talking and it got the police involved and it was traced to IBM and they had to pay a fine of $100,000 dollars. If anyone can think of a bigger and more "serious" and more legitimate (at least in the general public's eyes) company than Big Blue, let me know. Proof:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...001&sc=1000
http://www.urbanblight.org/news/examiner20051230.htm
And the worse tactics being something like what we are hearing about now with HP bugging their own people and seeking to plant spies at "enemy" newspapers, etc:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Business/story?i...8715&page=1
and, worst of all, allegations against Coca Cola (to put my allegations against Big Red in perspective):
http://www.cokewatch.org/news/nr_020417_1.htm
So I signed up to the forum and wrote my thoughts. I should say that I really hadn't been to that forum before, so I had no idea of the deeply obsequious nature of that crowd. I wish I could find their enthusiasm and support for Red inspiring, but I have to say that, after the responses, threats and name calling, it is anything but. I have followed this company and the hype around it for sometime, though not obsessively, and I am aware that many others following it have been less than supportive of the grand claims. For my part, I have not nor even now do I want them to fail in their goals. I have shelves full of equipment that, other than a beloved Rollieflex that is as close to friend as equipment could ever be, I would replace if a tool came along that I truly believed would better help me communicate. I will say that there is an air of arrogance in their marketing, and I have always kept an eye on a company that seemed more adept at marketing and creating intriguing industrial design of the camera shell than delivering the promised revolution. So my initial comment ignited a torrent of responses that were only impressive in their immaturity, insecurity and ignorance. One thing I am coming to understand is that most of these people have paid $1000 to reserve a camera and have been in communication with Red via forums and have developed a no less than emotional attachment to what they see as "their" baby. I would be very suprised if marketing companies and university departments aren't studying this phenomenon furiously as I type. I would clip and paste my three comments but I can't get back into their digital daisy chain to do so, so you will have to go their and read and judge for yourself. My second comment on Dvxuser was in response to company head, Jim Jannard's, direct comment to me that called me an a**hole for even doubting him. This guy clearly takes forums seriously enough in the marketing and development of his product to be reading and posting very frequently and especially at a time that I would think would have him in emergency response mode offline. Yes, I understand that it would be human nature to be angry and upset if this was all true and perhaps even be looking for comfort from his fans, which he has received in droves. I responded to his name calling by responding that he should direct his anger at himself for not securing his valuables better and suggesting that he do his forum reading and responding while sitting next to his equiptment which would have them protected 24 hours a day, which was a bit catty, but I had just been called an a**hole, so I felt a bit allowed. My last comment was in response to a Redhead that asked me incredulously if I thought that he should put his camera and files in a bank vault every night and/or have it under armed guard, to which I simply replied, "Yes, obviously. Peace." And now I am banished from The Land of the Red, but hope I will find safe harbor here in the Land of the Living. I do feel a bit naive in thinking that dissent and scepticism were welcome there, but as I have seen what I view as an overall higher level of intelligence and critical thinking on cinematography.com, I hope this long post will be tolerated here. It is not so difficult to scroll past and down, after all, right? And let us all remember, this is the internet, truth is a very illusive thing on here, in fact, it's entirely possible that I am Jim Jannard throwing yet another log onto the Flame War. Believe it or not, I am here as a lover of image capture in all forms from Pixelvision to tomorrow's 70mm-killing digital technologies, but I encourage us all to save our emotional attachments to the neglected lovers sitting across the room rolling their eyes as we type. Peace and love to all my fellow image wranglers.