The OLDER Photographers' thread...

Ricardo222 wrote in post #11322244
The question is this: Where do you see our societies heading in the not too distant future?

My guess: the rich people getting richer and richer, while the 'poor' are all paying for it.
Society gone wrong if you ask me... The 'rich' should help the 'poor'.
When you die, you don't have any use for all the money in your pocket.

redjamesg wrote in post #11322639
Are you thinking along the lines of the recession, can be compared to the situation during the 1930's ?
Which we all know paved the way to an evil man in Germany, who took the opportunity to make life a living hell here on earth.

No, not really. What I'm thinking of is the gradual and seemingly inevitable degradation of society once social hedonism and inequality reaches a certain level.

The recession is a symptom of the ills of a system where the true value of things has been distorted beyond recognition. For instance, a system where people who work the land and produce the food we depend on are valued as worth only a fraction of the incompetents who shuffle paper money so badly that thousands lose their productive jobs and the paper shufflers get bonuses. (A rather simplistic view, I know...but is it wrong?)

I am not, and could never, advocate socialism, because history has shown us that it is as unable to cope with society's problems as any other "ism". On the other hand, Corporatism seems equally doomed to fail for the above reason. True Capitalism, where people invest their own effort and capital into business, be it in production or service industries, seems the logical system to me. It's the greed of big corporates that seems to screw things, and in the end create the social climate that leads to self destruction.

As I mentioned earlier, the Hitlers of this world aren't the first cause of the misery, they
are the result of failure of our societies. (In my only moderately well informed opinion!)

Roy Mathers wrote in post #11320801
With respect, your father must live a very insular existence!

My bad Should have explained better. Was referring to the U.S. He grew up poor in the Midwest. There are only a few photographs when he was a child and the story they tell make it pretty obvious. All his brothers & sisters have interesting stories to tell and some where about not having food to eat.

So, from his perspective and demographics he knew what poor was and didn't really even realize it until he was a bit older because everyone around him lived under the same conditions.

Of course elswhere in the world those conditions still exist and are even worse in fact than what he knew as a child. He knows that. He is referring to growing up in Missouri and Kansas in the U.S. and much of that time during the depression.

Ricardo222 wrote in post #11322753
As I mentioned earlier, the Hitlers of this world aren't the first cause of the misery, they
are the result of failure of our societies. (In my only moderately well informed opinion!)

In my description I tried to avoid the H word, since it tends to inflame som ridiculous discussions, but apart from that, I support your view 100%, as I too feel it's teh greed of major cooporations which is undermining the welfare for the "poor" population.

We're at a crossroad in our lifestyle, and I hate to admit it, but it's the less fortunate ones who are going to lose in the decission on which way to turn, eventho our gowernment tries to give the impression they're doing everything to revert the process.

seaside wrote in post #11322813
My bad Should have explained better. Was referring to the U.S. He grew up poor in the Midwest. There are only a few photographs when he was a child and the story they tell make it pretty obvious. All his brothers & sisters have interesting stories to tell and some where about not having food to eat.

So, from his perspective and demographics he knew what poor was and didn't really even realize it until he was a bit older because everyone around him lived under the same conditions.

Of course elswhere in the world those conditions still exist and are even worse in fact than what he knew as a child. He knows that. He is referring to growing up in Missouri and Kansas in the U.S. and much of that time during the depression.

I understand, but are you trying to tell me that there are no poor people in the US?

Please can we stop talkin like gereatric old farts and get the thread back on track.:p

The thread is already on track, inasmuch as it's a thread for the older photographer to indulge in a free-ranging discussion.

Saphire wrote in post #11322920
Please can we stop talkin like gereatric old farts and get the thread back on track.:p

Fair enough, but what is "on track"? When I came in there had been several pages on food (mainly fish-heads it seems) ...is that the track you want?

Here is a relatively rare opportunity for people from all round the world to share their opinions on all kinds of things...mostly photo based to be sure, but one of the things that photography has done for most of us is to encourage us to look outside our little worlds, and not bury our heads in the sand.

Like all threads, this will move on, and maybe it should now, but to what that's more important than how we fell about the world we live in and photograph?

Edit....Cheers, Roy!

Well, I don't know about society as a whole, but it was snowing a bit here but now it's let up.

Now, here's something to consider -- well, never mind -- the thought's not very well-formed. But, I don't believe we are over the troubles we've seen yet and I don't have a clue as to what the future will hold...

Ricardo222 wrote in post #11322970
Fair enough, but what is "on track"? When I came in there had been several pages on food (mainly fish-heads it seems) ...is that the track you want?

Here is a relatively rare opportunity for people from all round the world to share their opinions on all kinds of things...mostly photo based to be sure, but one of the things that photography has done for most of us is to encourage us to look outside our little worlds, and not bury our heads in the sand.

Like all threads, this will move on, and maybe it should now, but to what that's more important than how we fell about the world we live in and photograph?

Edit....Cheers, Roy!

I couldn't have put it better Ricardo!

There has been no defined track so far, very much like a rambling conversation. Food , bikes, food, bikes, history, politics, social commentary, etc.
Sounds like a lot of conversations going on at the same time covering many different items. Some conversations draw more input than others, but all are somewhat interesting.

I've been on the road and not paying alot of attention but:
Motorbikes: no input
Food: I travel a lot and try to eat local where-ever I am. Eaten many of the interesting things mentioned here, not necessarily enjoying all of them.
History: Just hang on, it will repeat itself as usual.
Politics: We've gone through local elections here, and were hammered with the US election ads. Had eneough for now.
Where are we going: No idea, does not seem to be a cohesive direction from anywhere, so really can't tell.

Anyone got an interesting photo to start another conversation?

I've just thought of something new!

Winter is setting in here, and the anual question of what to do to get away in February has not been answered yet.

Suggestions? Must include some kind of reminising on why it was a good place to be!

I'm more daring then my other half, and she does not travel well, so picture flight times less then 5 hours per leg for a total of 10 hours flight time and warm beaches at the end. Some place I can shoot too!

But the idea is to generate conversation on places we've been!

Edit: I will pitch in later with some of our travels, with photos!

In early march, I'm going on a 14 days vacation to Thailand, my first real vacation in 5 years, I can't wait.

JAZZ D.P.G. wrote in post #11323133
There has been no defined track so far, very much like a rambling conversation. Food , bikes, food, bikes, history, politics, social commentary, etc.
Sounds like a lot of conversations going on at the same time covering many different items. Some conversations draw more input than others, but all are somewhat interesting.

....
Where are we going: No idea, does not seem to be a cohesive direction from anywhere, so really can't tell.

Anyone got an interesting photo to start another conversation?

That's what it's all about. It doesn't have to be one topic, so Saphire, introduce a new topic, post some pics, or whatever...don't wait for others to do so.

You should see some of the other threads...there are multiple conversations going on, sometimes pages between answers. It's not meant to be all coherent for goodness sake...we're too old for that, I trust!!!

Saphire wrote in post #11322920
Please can we stop talkin like gereatric old farts and get the thread back on track.:p

Roy Mathers wrote in post #11322928
The thread is already on track, inasmuch as it's a thread for the older photographer to indulge in a free-ranging discussion.

So long as you remember the cardinal rule at POTN - no talking politics or religion - and you guys were getting pretty darn close there. We do shut down threads that don't stay within bounds.