Having perused your site, I find it curious that you have such disdain for change and modernity, yet charge forward into the interwebs, knowing full well the dismay and anger it will bring you.
And then there is this little gem:
“The obscenity of Corporate Greed – known as “Copyright Infringement” – now demands a fee for what used to be freely shared”
As a sole proprietor who earns his living in part by the long-standing protections afforded by international copyright law, I implore you to broaden your horizons and read up on the subject. Copyright law exists to protect authors, artists and other IP creators from theft. It allows them to reap the financial benefits of the fruit of their labor, a basic human right. Copyright law is not new. It predates the internet, television, radio and Kim Kardashian. There is no free lunch.
I suspect that you may change your tune if someone was to take your fine photographs and offer them for sale, or use them to sell toothpaste or to get a politician elected. What if your self portrait became a popular internet meme, like that stupid grouchy cat?
There are undoubtedly good reasons that you chose to isolate yourself from the world. It is something that many of us fantasize about, but few follow through on. Perhaps you need the occasional reminder that you made the right decision?
"Charge Forward" ... ?
"Read up on the subject"?
"Change your tune" ???
I do not know who you think you are, or what type of infant you imagine me to be - so I shall attempt, this one time, to enlighten you: I began a career as a working photographer in 1977: Nikon F2A and Leica M3, going from there to being a photographer in the Royal Navy: Hasselblad, I told a Correspondence Officer what I wanted, and I got it ... So, explaining copyright, sale of work et al. to me is quite unnecessary. It may even be that I was successfully "in the business" long before you (?). As to "broaden[ing] my horizons ... It is precisely because my horizons were broadened, that I left it all.
One used to be able to share "mixed tapes" - TDK, Maxell etc all made tapes for this purpose. It was no secret. "Free Lunch"? Word of mouth- in the '60's and '70'ss was how artists' names 'got around'. There was no Internet - it was all word of mouth: listen to this, like it, and buy the album. ANY music that I bought, I bought because someone had loanded an album, or made a mixed tape which piqued my interest. We shared freely and corproate millionaires knew that we shared ... music ... books ... images ... All things for which money is now demanded. If you cannot see that an iron grip of control has descended upon humanity, I cannot help you. Your phraseology "little gem" has connotations of smirking contempt which, I am sure, I am mis-reading.
I did NOT "isolate" myself from the world ... the "world" did not want to have me around them. More than a few told me that they knew I was right, and I 'pricked [their][ conscience'. It was either smart-asses trying to belittle me because I did not wallow with them in superficiality, or depravity ... or people who knew that they could be making better decisions in life, and my example (I was frequently told) made them feel guilty. Either way, I did Not isolate myself from anyone. I have never had a friend with whom I could have telephoned and asked to go out for an evening. I did not go to pubs, 'clubs' or TV sets, and because of it, people did not want me around.
As to my "charg[ing]" forward" ... I was on the Internet in from 2008 until 2010. I left. I have not bothered with Internet socialising in 12 years. Twelve Years of minding my own business. I approached this, in 2022, with great Trepidation, as should be evident from my explanatory approach in the description of my 'page' (or whatever it is called) on this forum. Hardly 'charging'.
I do not use people to make myself 'feel better' nor to bolster my ego about feeling 'better' - whether about a decision or anything else. I came here thinking that, perhaps, this was a place that might consist of mature people who would welcome a mature man. I am a quiet, peaceful man who is trying to be friendly to others.
If someone does not like me here, I should prefeer that they leave me in peace.
If I have been mistaken in even arriving at this Internet Forum, I would appreciate it if others could inform me of the fact, and direct me as to how I would go about Closing my account. I came here extending a hand of friendship. If I have presumed too much, I shall be quite content to leave.
If anyone else wishes to understand anything that I have written in the past, kindly approach me courteously and ask with respect, rather than ignorant presumption. I am a very approachable fellow. Thank you. PL
