FLICKR and then?
The problem is considering a self-generating system as Flickr as something good just because it exists. For the same reason we should consider any kind of living element good just because it is able to multiply and spread.
Many not acceptable categories fall in the same file, think of viruses, rats, bugs, we fight against their incredible will to live.
Is Flickr part of the same group? Let’s see.
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Viruses kill and debilitate human beings. Is the existence of Flickr affecting the lives of humans?
Professional photographer’s life has been affected and the CC Creative Commons concept has distorted and diminished the role of professionals in the information world.
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The work of amateurs is similar if not better, professionals can be substituted by some skilled amateurs. What about this sentence?
In a perfect world where democracy is a real spread concept and good I would agree, but in Italy, where I live, a new law is being discussed, that will put a gag to the voice of the non professional journalists and photojournalists, those that are famous for being “citizen journalists”, “freelance” or “amateurs”.
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Painting has survived despite the advent of photography.
This would be as reducing photography to a “mere” art form, photography is not just art, it can be art, but it can be a lot more, it can be life for dedicated people. Because of this misunderstanding of photography as art, we are now experiencing this situation.
Art is an unruled battlefield where society loves to see the reenactment of the struggle for survival, with the justification that artists have to struggle to give their best, if that is the case, why not put politicians under starvation to see if they perform better, or doctors or even better managers or clerks?
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In a few words, here is my point of view:
Talking about Flickr is talking about society as well, Creative Commons is a fact, depicted in gold letters, but probably not as golden as they want us to believe.
I deeply think that Society has to take responsibility for it’s members, and this part of the western civilized world should take action in the first instance. Society is all of us, but it’s also a system that works independently, autonomously, as a being, but it’s useless without us.
Same for Flickr and Getty, these entities should be accountable for their actions, in the very moment they want to sell a picture, they should know that it’s not just a picture, take responsibility, not just the greedy revenue and profit, in a sense, we created Flickr and Getty images, and it’s us that they are supposed to respect.
RESPECT ≠ EXPLOITATION
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