Oh, my just when I thought we were all going to buy the world a Coke and live happily ever after. Oh well, what the hell.

BB lost his cool because that's his personality - brilliant man and probably a great guy, but that's just his style - don't blame the audience. I hear Einstein wasn't exactly warm and fussy either. And to be fair, I've seen him be very patient and tolerant and even shrug off chaff from people - you just never know which one you're going to get. He deserves a great deal of gratitude and respect for his contributions. I’m just as awed by his skills as anyone and I read his stuff even if it doesn’t apply to what I’m doing, just to see the man work. But, people cut him hella slack, to the point fawning indifference at times, and ultimately, I don’t think that is a good thing. I understand the rationale. As I believe he himself has said, he doesn’t have to do this, so I imagine folks tread softly lest he take his stuff and depart. If he were making cool stuff for Vue or Carrara maybe I’d feel the same way. My opinion, agree or disagree as you will.

Artemis, interesting grouping, though at the risk of incurring Sam's wrath :-) I notice you didn't use the term "artist" for the first group. Do you believe that the casual user who is comfortable with what they are doing can be an "artist?"

Sam, I do agree that there is probably a certain amount of pretension in self-designation but hey, we all want to be something when we grow up.

"...or a technical approach which applies sensible settings and technology to reduce you computer's workload to accomplish the same end. Which would you select? "

Now there's the nub of the problem to me. On the one hand you say "whatever makes it easier for you to achieve your vision, go for it," but then there's the kicker 'if you're not doing it my way, you're a not sensible dolt who substitutes horsepower for smarts.' I know, that's not literally what you're saying and, giving you the benefit of the doubt, it may not be at all what you meant, but it can come across that way. I’m not an artist (honest Sam!) but reading the GC wars threads, I certainly sometimes get that impression [in general, not to you personally]. You can blame us for being obtuse, for misunderstanding or twisting what you're saying but it is what it is. I came from psychology which, despite a bad case of physics envy, is still not an exact science. Perceptions often matter more than facts when dealing with human beings. Artists, real or self-proclaimed, if anything may be a particularly sensitive branch of the species. If you want to communicate with them, then you might consider that what may seem a perfectly logical observation to you, sometimes nets a negative response. That's just my non-scientific, non-artistic opinion and sincerely not intended as a put down. I’m just trying to explain why you’re inputting 2+2 and maybe getting pi in response.

Robyn, you keep emphasizing the difference between art and rendering. I don't think anyone is not hearing you, but it's like saying On the Origin of Species is not Genesis at a Baptist revival. I just checked the front page and “artist” is mentioned 10 times, “renderer” 0. Heck, they even used to use the tagline “The Artists Community,” or some such. The point is, most people here are here for art in some way or another. Some may be into the more technical aspects of 3D, but art is the common denominator. I’m honestly not saying that discussing technical issues shouldn’t have a place, but to the degree that you separate them from art, sometimes people may find them less compelling – any more than the technical superiority of Linux gets much traction with Windows users who just want to do their thing. I’m sorry that you or anyone else feels frustrated but I it’s just different points of view and sometimes the more one side tries to get their point across, the more less agreement there is. [Edit] I’m sure that your artistic skills on a bad day

Now that probably have succeeded in offending everyone, I will probably render a NVIATWAS as penance to Vicky for my part in profaning the temple with discord – I may or may not use GC. I suggest everyone else do the same and we can have a new, fun thread to show them off. Kumbaya peeps – peace out.

[Edit] Robyn, I’m sure your artistic skills put mine to shame any day!

"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H. L. Mencken