Appropriate, too, truth be known.
I have a brother-in-law who had to /chose to/ live that way, once upon a time, when he was attending undergraduate college in Santa Cruz.
Did he have to? Who knows.
He certainly did, I do know that.
I _can_ tell you, unless you've lived that way, please don't judge others who are in that situation. It's likely to be too much like pontificating. . .and your perception will be off base by a big jump.
My b.i.l. says he didn't mind.
I'm unsure he's telling the truth - but he might be! Who really knows.
One things for certain. . .I'm scared to death I might someday be forced to live that sort of life.
Not that I believe I have even the most remote chance of getting to that point, but it's more of a "...what if?"
Thing is, I know it could happen to any of us!
keith
Shel Belinkoff wrote:
Well, it's nice to know you've made a contribution to society, John. That's admirable.
As for your comments about me ... well, you're entitled to believe what you will. But maybe I should tell you that for a while I was homeless, slept in my car, sometimes stayed with a friend for a night or two, at other times stayed in abandoned houses, slept in a stable for a few nights, spent a few nights in jail. So, if you think that my photography is some sort of troll, or that I'm trying to be some kind of snob when I put my thoughts and photographs out there, you're wildly mistaken. What you see is, in some very small way, a part of my life, a part that I'm forever afraid will reappear, and a part that scares the crap out of me.
And it wasn't drugs, or alcohol, or any such thing that put me on the streets. It was a real estate broker for whom I worked who took off with my commissions one day. I had a blossoming career one day, and practically the next day I was evicted from my apartment. Thank goodness my '64 Buick was roomy enough to sleep in, thank goodness I had a friend in the area whom I could sometimes stay with ... but not much else.
So, if you think I'm trolling, or some kind of self-righteous snob, so be it. Frankly, I've learned a long time ago that I can't please everyone, satisfy everyone's idea of who and what I should be.
And as for your comment about B&W photography, and darkroom
work, and artsy photo snobbery, well, what can I say ... I'm
a B&W artsy fartsy snob whose work has little value other
than to stroke my own ego. I often stay up late at night
with a favorite photo taped to the ceiling over my bed.
Have a good night, John ... a very good night.
shel the snob
John Mustarde wrote:
Oh, and it's so typical, Shel, for you to think you are the only person who ever interacted with a homeless person or has any understanding of them. Just like the B&W film and darkroom and artsy photo snobbery. You take a pic of some poor slob, act as if it were art instead of the cheap snapshot it really is, then take snide and self-righteous pokes at those who comment on it, no matter what leanings their comments. It's a troll act, pure and simple. There's a lot of good in your posts, so I usually brush off that stuff, but you are really going too far lately. Hopefully, this really will be "the last one from San Francisco", and least like this. If no one else will call you on it, I will. I am a Texan at heart, after all.
--
John Mustarde
www.photolin.com
