> Pictures are the a natural resource for social networking, and nature is full of them, ripe for exploitation. > [..] it is an economic function of photograph

> Pictures are the a natural resource for social networking, and nature is full of them, ripe for exploitation. > [..] it is an economic function of photography to supply the masses, by modish processing, with matter which previously eluded mass consumption. -- Walter Benjamin, 1934 It's like people shifted from even that, to needing to have a photo with themselves front and center. Trample nature, then mess up the photo, too, and of course, burn a whole lot of kerosene. To be less bitter about it, if people had more imagination and confidence, they wouldn't need to see everything first-hand, and wouldn't need to collect external proof that they're "someone". That seems achievable and worthwhile.