Comments on: Sharing A Memory For Social Status http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html Ideas & Trends Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:50:05 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Liz http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html/comment-page-1#comment-14349 Liz Sat, 10 May 2008 11:12:28 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html#comment-14349 How terribly sad, if true. How terribly sad, if true.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html/comment-page-1#comment-14233 Ryan Mon, 05 May 2008 23:31:19 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html#comment-14233 If a tree falls in the forest an no one posts a picture of it on facebook did it ever really happen? If a tree falls in the forest an no one posts a picture of it on facebook did it ever really happen?

]]> By: pat http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html/comment-page-1#comment-14210 pat Mon, 05 May 2008 16:20:27 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html#comment-14210 just got back from the cans festival (http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/video/2008/may/02/cansfestival) in london and the place was heaving with people taking photos. and you know what? i felt like I was getting in their way. i didn't get a chance to take everything in because there were arms thurst in front of my face every 30secs with a camera phone attached to the end of them. it became one big trophy hunting session - is this what the organisers envisaged? however, i went to prince at the o2 in london last year and photography was banned. at first i thought angry thoughts... but it turned out being one of the best gigs i'd ever been to. maybe the purple one has a point?? just got back from the cans festival (http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/video/2008/may/02/cansfestival) in london and the place was heaving with people taking photos. and you know what? i felt like I was getting in their way. i didn’t get a chance to take everything in because there were arms thurst in front of my face every 30secs with a camera phone attached to the end of them. it became one big trophy hunting session – is this what the organisers envisaged?

however, i went to prince at the o2 in london last year and photography was banned. at first i thought angry thoughts… but it turned out being one of the best gigs i’d ever been to. maybe the purple one has a point??

]]> By: Greg Rollett http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html/comment-page-1#comment-14155 Greg Rollett Fri, 02 May 2008 13:18:36 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html#comment-14155 At least they are going to the events and being social, instead of reading about them on the internet. In today's concert and music scene, just getting the people to buy the tickets is hard enough, but these kids taking the pictures are helping to push artists and promote them to their friends. I think its fantastic and artists should not only be flattered but encourage this behavior. Maybe the friend who gets the SMS next time will go to the show and buy a t-shirt and some iTunes. At least they are going to the events and being social, instead of reading about them on the internet. In today’s concert and music scene, just getting the people to buy the tickets is hard enough, but these kids taking the pictures are helping to push artists and promote them to their friends. I think its fantastic and artists should not only be flattered but encourage this behavior. Maybe the friend who gets the SMS next time will go to the show and buy a t-shirt and some iTunes.

]]> By: Mark Hadfield http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html/comment-page-1#comment-14134 Mark Hadfield Thu, 01 May 2008 09:56:30 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html#comment-14134 Piers - you've stole my thunder! I was going to write about the very same thing on my blog! Never mind - saves me the time and you've got better grammar than me anyway. This is something I think about a bit. When I go running around London I constantly see tourists being photographed next to some historic thing. Teh same as in most parts of the world. Now to me, as well as the 'Experience for yourself v Experience time after time but not properly' debate there's an interesting thing in 'Experience v Evidence.' I don't fully understand why people take photographs of themselves in front of historical stuff. The stuff is the interesting thing, not the person? I see this as proof that the person has been there. Exactly as you say - it's a badge of honour socially to be able to prove one has been to see historical things and travelled. But who questions this? Who does it really matter to? I don't have the first clue whether some of my friends have widely travelled and they don't feel the need to prove it to me with photographic evidence. I take a lot of photographs generally - it doesn't matter if the thing is 'historical' or not. Stuff interests me. My motivations are to capture something interesting, and simply because there's so much stuff to experience - so I can look at it again from my individual POV. I mean, is there really any need to go to Trafalgar Square if all yuo're doing is taking pictures? Just go on Flickr and find some... Piers – you’ve stole my thunder! I was going to write about the very same thing on my blog! Never mind – saves me the time and you’ve got better grammar than me anyway.

This is something I think about a bit. When I go running around London I constantly see tourists being photographed next to some historic thing. Teh same as in most parts of the world. Now to me, as well as the ‘Experience for yourself v Experience time after time but not properly’ debate there’s an interesting thing in ‘Experience v Evidence.’

I don’t fully understand why people take photographs of themselves in front of historical stuff. The stuff is the interesting thing, not the person? I see this as proof that the person has been there. Exactly as you say – it’s a badge of honour socially to be able to prove one has been to see historical things and travelled. But who questions this? Who does it really matter to? I don’t have the first clue whether some of my friends have widely travelled and they don’t feel the need to prove it to me with photographic evidence.

I take a lot of photographs generally – it doesn’t matter if the thing is ‘historical’ or not. Stuff interests me. My motivations are to capture something interesting, and simply because there’s so much stuff to experience – so I can look at it again from my individual POV. I mean, is there really any need to go to Trafalgar Square if all yuo’re doing is taking pictures? Just go on Flickr and find some…

]]> By: Greg Mitchell http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html/comment-page-1#comment-14112 Greg Mitchell Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:49:27 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html#comment-14112 Your comment implies that there is little more to an experience than sight. For those taking pictures of this performer, I bet they remember the touch of other bodies pressed against them, the smell of sweat, soda and whatever else in the air, and the sounds of the music mixed with singing screaming fans all around them. These photographers and videographers are capturing 1D of a multi-dimensional experience. I bet if you asked them, they would certainly say they weren't missing anything. Your comment implies that there is little more to an experience than sight. For those taking pictures of this performer, I bet they remember the touch of other bodies pressed against them, the smell of sweat, soda and whatever else in the air, and the sounds of the music mixed with singing screaming fans all around them. These photographers and videographers are capturing 1D of a multi-dimensional experience. I bet if you asked them, they would certainly say they weren’t missing anything.

]]> By: Rad Tollett http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html/comment-page-1#comment-14111 Rad Tollett Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:10:22 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html#comment-14111 I agree that the camera we hold up above the crowd limits if not removes us from the experience, but the fact people are willing to sacrifice their own moment to share it (if for no other reason than status) is a phenomenon that will remain. Flash forward ten years when cameras are integrated into our sunglasses, linked to our social networks via wi-fi, and streaming video without the need to press a button or lift a finger. The personal experience and shared experience will be seamlessly intertwined. So in summary: Personal sacrifice for the sake of sharing is temporary. I agree that the camera we hold up above the crowd limits if not removes us from the experience, but the fact people are willing to sacrifice their own moment to share it (if for no other reason than status) is a phenomenon that will remain.

Flash forward ten years when cameras are integrated into our sunglasses, linked to our social networks via wi-fi, and streaming video without the need to press a button or lift a finger. The personal experience and shared experience will be seamlessly intertwined.

So in summary: Personal sacrifice for the sake of sharing is temporary.

]]> By: Harry Brignull http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html/comment-page-1#comment-14108 Harry Brignull Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:28:22 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html#comment-14108 Don Norman wrote something with very similar sentiments in 'The Design of Everyday Things" (or was it one of his other books?). i.e. technology that is fiddly to use takes you even further away from the moment that you seek to record. I think <a href="http://www.juicecaster.com/" rel="nofollow">juicecaster</a> wraps the camera on your mobile phone so it's literally one click to take the photo, one click to confirm and it automatically gets uploaded to web, twittered and facebooked. That's seems like a pretty good way of allowing you to capture a moment while still being there. Haven't tried it myself though. Don Norman wrote something with very similar sentiments in ‘The Design of Everyday Things” (or was it one of his other books?). i.e. technology that is fiddly to use takes you even further away from the moment that you seek to record.

I think juicecaster wraps the camera on your mobile phone so it’s literally one click to take the photo, one click to confirm and it automatically gets uploaded to web, twittered and facebooked. That’s seems like a pretty good way of allowing you to capture a moment while still being there. Haven’t tried it myself though.

]]> By: Peter G http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html/comment-page-1#comment-14102 Peter G Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:14:47 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html#comment-14102 Your post reminds me of my grandmothers lounge. 30 years ago she had a new lounge delivered in leather which had a great leather smell. She covered it with blankets so not to wear the leather out. Worst still nobody ever sat in the ceremonial lounge but she used to keep the door open so that visitors would get a whiff of the leather. So even back then people sought status from others for having something they did not actually experience. Your post reminds me of my grandmothers lounge. 30 years ago she had a new lounge delivered in leather which had a great leather smell. She covered it with blankets so not to wear the leather out. Worst still nobody ever sat in the ceremonial lounge but she used to keep the door open so that visitors would get a whiff of the leather.

So even back then people sought status from others for having something they did not actually experience.

]]> By: Dave Bullock http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html/comment-page-1#comment-14095 Dave Bullock Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:27:54 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html#comment-14095 Thanks for the compliment on the photo. Interesting take on the fan photos thing. Personally I'm shooting photos because I love doing it and the money doesn't hurt either. Somehow I don't think you were referring to professional photographers. =] Btw, I was dancing when I took that photo. Thanks for the compliment on the photo. Interesting take on the fan photos thing.

Personally I’m shooting photos because I love doing it and the money doesn’t hurt either. Somehow I don’t think you were referring to professional photographers.

=]

Btw, I was dancing when I took that photo.

]]> By: Joe http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html/comment-page-1#comment-14094 Joe Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:19:13 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html#comment-14094 "They’re too busy taking that shot to actually be there in the moment." What about the people who don't dance? or never bothered too push close? “They’re too busy taking that shot to actually be there in the moment.”

What about the people who don’t dance? or never bothered too push close?

]]> By: Easton http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html/comment-page-1#comment-14090 Easton Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:40:59 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html#comment-14090 Seems a bit extreme to me....I don't feel removed or detached or that I missed out on an experience because I was taking a photo instead of soaking in everything around me. And I don't think people who take photos and then share them fail to truely live in the moment - I think people take photos and share them so that friends, family, whomever can get a taste of the emotion of a moment in time they weren't present for. Seems a bit extreme to me….I don’t feel removed or detached or that I missed out on an experience because I was taking a photo instead of soaking in everything around me. And I don’t think people who take photos and then share them fail to truely live in the moment – I think people take photos and share them so that friends, family, whomever can get a taste of the emotion of a moment in time they weren’t present for.

]]> By: Scott http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html/comment-page-1#comment-14089 Scott Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:35:44 +0000 http://www.psfk.com/2008/04/sharing-a-memory-for-social-status.html#comment-14089 Sadly, Coachella is a perfect example of something that used to be a great experience that has turned into something of a social status. Sadly, Coachella is a perfect example of something that used to be a great experience that has turned into something of a social status.

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