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Message: <blockquote data-quote="WJC" data-source="post: 3662822" data-attributes="member: 25191">YOU SAID: I find it very interesting and somewhat useful to know what other brands and models are essentially the same product.And that, my friend, was all I was trying to do and in a manner that was proven to have the best chance of being remembered. One might think that certain important pieces of information would make it around the internet pretty quickly. Alas, no!I have made that point as often as occasion would allow since water was in the experimental stages. However, only in the last few years have people started to admit that Bushnell, Leupold, Celestron, TASCO (and a hundred others) don’t make their own binoculars and Kamakura, Katsuma, and a handful of others really do. But, as pointed out in my book, some fallacies have been believed and nurtured so long it requires a “50 megaton approach” to even scratch the surface. Some people are so in love with their own erroneous opinions they are eager to turn a deaf ear to facts that don’t support those opinions.From the book:“...A Story: I once saw a question on a writer’s forum about how many spaces should be used after a period. The answers included: what “I’ve always used …,” what “I think looks best …,” what “I always heard …,” and what “my 8th-grade teacher said ....” With this having gone on post after post, I took pity and butted in. Please remember, these were people who presented themselves as professional writers.I offered references from the Chicago Manual of Style, with additional information from the Associated Press Style Guide. Yet when I walked away from the forum for the last time there had been over 50 more responses. There was more of: what “I’ve always used …,” what “I think looks best …,” etc. It seemed clear to me those people weren’t really looking for the helpful information they claimed; that certainly wouldn’t have taken days of discussion. I’m confident they just wanted to chat and circulate their own opinions. Being right or wrong had little place in the issue. The same can be said about binocular forums. An important question might be answered by someone quoting a renowned authority in the pertinent field only to have the quote ignored so the questioner can get swiftly back to the opinions of well-read, armchair speculators.”YOU ALSO SAID: I wonder if the "HD" designation on my Cabelas Outfitters means anything?I have no idea. But, as long as the consumer remains willingly gullible there will always be charlatans to relieve them of the weight of the coinage in their pockets. There are 8 levels of Japanese Industrial Standards for waterproofing things, including optical instruments (page 42 of the book). Quality binoculars have a JIS rating of level 6 through 8. But, LEGALLY, manufacturers can claim their product is “waterproof” if they have only a rating to level 1. Does the average consumer know that ... HE DOES NOT—even some who want to be revered as an optics guru. And, what about the Chinese? If you have the money, they have the product. It should also be remembered several American dogs died as a result of eating Chinese produced “dog food” and some were found putting Melamine Powder (C3H6N6) into “baby food” as a cheap filler.That’s where I try to butt in with realities in a way I know has the best chance of being remembered. The vast majority understand—some, however, are quick to NOT understand and criticize. Why do I do it? I have offered several examples of attaboys. The following just came in from a British member of CN, just yesterday: “personally I enjoyed your style of writing, truthful analysis, and willingness to call a spade a spade.”    I frequently find myself in somebody’s crosshairs. Unless they want to be militant to build their own optical guru fiefdom, I usually just consider the source and offer what I did as I did, with no rudeness or flippancy intended.Can we be friends now? :cat:Bill</blockquote>

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