Raise Your Hand if You're Sick and Tired of RUIN PORN

[jerrytimes]

I'm not against ruin porn, I'm against ruin. At least someone, while doing something that I think is a waste of time, can find something interesting about abandoned structures and haven't forgotten the city.

[DetroitDad]

Great societies should leave great ruins behind. Nothing lasts forever, get over it.

This is only tragic for us because we are leaving behind endless tract homes, big box stores, extensive paved motorways, and glass skyscrapers, all of which will not be recognizable after a few short centuries. Although, I'm sure that is an eternity when you consider their design life.

[hermousefriday]

A lot of people photograph these ruins because they are against them being in ruin. Not because they are happy about it. I can't speak for everyone else, but back when I used to "explore" and take photos, I was trying to express that sense of nostalgia. I was shocked that some of the most beautiful buildings I've ever seen were being left to rot. Especially when I looked up up the "back then" photos...whoa! When you think that these movie theatres, ballrooms, and churches used to be loved and enjoyed by our parents, grandparents,etc, it really puts things in a different perspective.

Having said that, not ALL photographers are shallow and aiming to exploit the city. There are some genuine people that using their photos as a way to express their unhappiness with the situation. I'm also glad that Detroitdad posted the photography of the empty suburban homes. This has also been a rising interest among photographers. Why isn't it as popular as the urban photography? Maybe because the cheap cookie cutter houses just aren't as interesting to look at, there's not really much to 'em. I actually think an abandoned middle class suburb is more creepy, to an extent.

Bah! That's my 2 cents.