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Man is the only animal for whom his own existence is a problem which he has to solve and from which he cannot escape


Obviously back to my trend of photographs that suggest the alienation of modern human beings, and the disenchantment that for many accompanies modernity. It has always struck me as vaguely amusing that although life - for Westerners at least - is immeasurably better today than ever before in human history (less people go hungry, gender inequality is relatively narrow, people live longer, possess more, are safer amongst many other indicators), so very many people do nothing but complain all the time.

Comments

Miles McClagan said…
I've done nothing today but complain, but I'm not well...and kids have collided into my ankles all day...

Sure, it's not plunging into a coal miners pit for tuppence, but ya know, I'm a man of my times!
The ones here you complain the most are the ones who have the most. The have nots get on with it. Agreed times are better, but the gap seems ever wider. Great upshot, really tight angle.
I think complaining is easier for most people, and I think for some, it helps them sort things out.
I guess when you aren't struggling to survive, you have more time to complain.

I wonder if that building makes cool echoes. Excellent shot!
Anonymous said…
Complaining helps... for a few minutes. Too much complaining is a burden, too.

But as long as you keep on taking these pics, you can complain all you want :-)
freefalling said…
You're not complaining about complaining, are you?
Kris McCracken said…
Miles, at least the world didn't end...

Babooshka, I did have to crick my neck right back to get it.

Boise Diva, there is such a thing as constructive complaining, provided you move past the whining part of it. Unfortunately, many don't and just sit on the sidelines having a moan!
Kris McCracken said…
Mary, I think that you've hit the nail on the head.

M. Isabel Guerra, I do like the odd moan myself, but I try not to mistake it for constructive dialogue. Unfortunately, many people I meet tend to confuse the two concepts.

FF, of course I am complaining about complaining! I figure that this is okay when half the meetings I attend are consumed by people talking about people talking about people talking about doing stuff. [That wasn't a typo.] No 'stuff' ever seems to get done. Which the same people then complain about. Thus I muse on why they are alive, I guess...
Dina said…
Thank God, I no longer have anything or anyone to kvetch about.
And certainly no complaints about your fantastic photo!
Suzi-k said…
Brilliant photo, and yes, there is WAY too much complaining going on amongst comfortable privileged people. A sort of chronic ennui that pervades the upper eschelons. Hehe, there, ennui is my "crepuscular" !

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