As I grow older, I find myself slowly turning into the grandmother character from Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” I recall a time when people seemed kinder, more truthful, more polite, a time when life simply felt better.
Of course, it’s not that simple. Nostalgia comes naturally to those my age group and older. Was the world better, or worse? Well, the world was better because I was younger.
However, one thing I am certain of. I clearly remember a world without cell phones and smartphones, and without the constant pressure to stay connected.
While walking through the California State Fair recently, I saw-and photographed-a toddler screaming at the top of his lungs while his mother, completely absorbed in her smartphone, paid him no attention. Eventually, I stopped taking pictures. I could no longer hear the child’s cries, and the mother remained utterly unfazed.
That moment stayed with me. When I got home, I sat down and wrote a list of five things that feel deeply wrong about the modern world; just compared to twenty years ago.
Social Media Addiction and Mental Health Crisis
– Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook didn’t exist (or were in early stages) two decades ago.
Widespread Misinformation and Deepfakes
– The speed and scale at which false information spreads today, alongside AI-generated content, makes it harder than ever to know what’s real, impacting elections, public health, and trust in institutions.
The expectation that people are always available
– Two decades ago, my phone was attached to the wall at home, and once I stepped outside, no one knew where I was. There was no assumption that I’d be available unless I was at home. I was out of reach, untraceable, and independent—just like everyone else. We had more free time, engaged more with one another, struck up conversations with strangers, and asked for directions or advice. And somehow, most of us made it through just fine!
Mass Surveillance and Data Exploitation
– Tech companies and governments now harvest vast amounts of personal data. Twenty years ago, digital privacy concerns were smaller; now, most online activity is tracked, sold, or monitored.
AI photography
-People once relied on cameras to capture images and take photographs. While photo manipulation has long existed, even during the era of film, AI’s ability to generate images is now replacing both the camera and traditional photo editing. This shift is disrupting copyright norms and undermining the photography profession.
The FEATURED PHOTOGRAPH above of the mother and child (F/4, 1/250s, ISO 500) was taken in color then converted to black and white. I used my Nikon Z50 with the Nikon Z-50mm f/1.4 prime lens. If you want to read about why I love this camera so much, click here for a previous post about it.
______________________________
Wall Art landscapes and miscellaneous
________________________________
It is all about the light 
Leave a reply to shoreacres Cancel reply