Exploitive?

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Seajatt

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Just wondering what people think.
Do you find films like Nomadland to be exploitive of you and your lifestyle? What about the people that glamourize it on Instagram with their brand new sprinters paid for by dad?
It does strike me as mildly exploitive. There are some in our community that are living a nomadic life because it is all they can afford on a fixed income. So to see others come along and profit from that situation doesn't sit quite right. I'm not saying this is something to go nuts about, but it does make me curious about what you all think.
 
The film was focused not on the nomadic lifestyle as a whole but on the issue of the poverty of the working poor and the difficulty it brings for survival. If anything it humanized individuals as being real people who are in a struggle for housing, health care and transportation. Real people, good citizens who are not just some type of loser in life. Showing that in a film is not exploitation, that is called “raising awareness”. But there will always be some people who take the other viewpoint and call it exploitation. In the long run it does not matter what you call it if the message gets received and perceptions get changed.
 
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The film was focused not on the nomadic lifestyle as a whole but on the issue of the poverty of the working poor and the difficulty it brings for survival. If anything it humanized those individuals as being real people who are in a struggle for housing, health care and transportation. Real people, good citizens who are not just some type of loser in life. Showing that in a film is not exploitation, that is called “raising awareness”.
That's a good point! Thanks for the comment and giving me something to consider.
 
There are all types of people here living in all types of situations. Life on the road “can be” done cheaply but requires living simply and some lifestyle changes which for many are well worth making in order to enjoy the benefits of nomad living.
 
Just wondering what people think.
Do you find films like Nomadland to be exploitive of you and your lifestyle? What about the people that glamourize it on Instagram with their brand new sprinters paid for by dad?
It does strike me as mildly exploitive. There are some in our community that are living a nomadic life because it is all they can afford on a fixed income (don't get me started on capitalism). So to see others come along and profit from that situation doesn't sit quite right. I'm not saying this is something to go nuts about, but it does make me curious about what you all think.
Nomadland did not strike me as exploitive. Mostly because I follow Frances McDormand, and I have a high regard for her integrity. I thought she wanted to say something about the lives of poorer people in general and poorer older women in particular, that needed saying.

But yes, some youtubers do strike me that way. The ones that don't strike me that way are the ones who are honest about the times when it isn't fun...
 
I also love Frances McDormand, and felt this movie accurately portrayed the experience of one woman who falls into vanliving because she feels this is her best option.

And who then does what she must to survive, meeting some interesting, like-minded and helpful others along the way.
 
I think that while awareness is important, making something relatable is equally important.

A film like that can help people relate to the circumstances and choices in their own life. Sometimes the difference in situations isn't as dramatic as people think.

Relating is the bridge to understanding. Understanding is the difference between empathy and pity. So it's a big deal
 
Just wondering what people think.
Do you find films like Nomadland to be exploitive of you and your lifestyle? What about the people that glamourize it on Instagram with their brand new sprinters paid for by dad?
It does strike me as mildly exploitive. There are some in our community that are living a nomadic life because it is all they can afford on a fixed income (don't get me started on capitalism). So to see others come along and profit from that situation doesn't sit quite right. I'm not saying this is something to go nuts about, but it does make me curious about what you all think.
I, too, am a fan of Frances McDormand and didn't find the film exploitive. I did find it too dark and depressing, though. I'll have to watch it again.
 
The film was focused not on the nomadic lifestyle as a whole but on the issue of the poverty of the working poor and the difficulty it brings for survival.
Which was also the main topic of Jessica Bruder's book by the same name on which the film was somewhat based. BTW, I highly recommend the book.
 
The film was focused not on the nomadic lifestyle as a whole but on the issue of the poverty of the working poor and the difficulty it brings for survival. If anything it humanized individuals as being real people who are in a struggle for housing, health care and transportation. Real people, good citizens who are not just some type of loser in life. Showing that in a film is not exploitation, that is called “raising awareness”. But there will always be some people who take the other viewpoint and call it exploitation. In the long run it does not matter what you call it if the message gets received and perceptions get changed.
Great answer, by the way. I will add this. I think strife and struggles are suitable for people because most of those who survive a hard life are the ones most likely to have all of their marbles neatly in one bag, if you catch my drift. They're also the most happy. They tend to understand what life is and about. It's said that half the people are poor, and half of those are happy on a dollar a day; there's a lot to this. Those who had things handed to them via wealthy families or raised in an everyone-gets-a-trophy environment managed by helicopter parents tend to be helpless when the going gets rough because they've never been allowed to fail, and one learns by failing. I'm fixing to be 69, rolling towards 70 in a few days, and at one time thought I knew it all; how foolish. If you have your eyes and ears open, the other senses are alert, and in the moment, you learn new things every day. That was a fancy way of saying put the darn phone down and smell the roses.

Anyhow, I've lived in a pickup (extended cab), a van, and a pinto wagon of all things, and presently living in an older (like me) class C RV. At one time, I made big money, married twice (expensive), and spent a lot of money on stuff I thought was supposed to make me happy, but it didn't. My rich friends weren't happy either; they were just satisfied with the illusion. It was when the excrement hit the fan and my life came tumbling down that I discovered it wasn't the money that made me happy; it was doing what I wanted by learning to survive on anything I could scratch up that gave me the warm fuzzy feeling and helping others like me do the same. After they take out my Medicaid premium, I have a little left each month to live on. As I said, I don't need much, and it used to be enough, but since "the powers that be" crashed the economy, things are getting scary.

As to the word/term exploitive, life exploits opportunity to survive and evolve. No, I don't think young folks in shiny new and expensive RVs or vans are exploitive either; they're fulfilling the needs of their audiences because a lot of folks who can't do these things love to "do it with their favorite personalities" on Youtube for instances; there's something for everyone. Envy and greed are two things that will mess with your karma, be warned.

So, that's my two cents worth. :cool:
 
In order for some activity to be exploitative I think that it requires said activity to be harming the exploited community in some way. By this criteria then most of those popularizing and glamorizing nomadic lifestyles are not exploiting anybody. Even the fraudulent “influencers” that never actually spend a night as a nomad could only minimally be said to be exploiting the community. I think the real question is why does disliking something have to be made into a value statement to be justified? It’s okay to not appreciate or enjoy a popular or well known bit of art or media without needing to make it be somehow offensive or negative. I think this is happening more and more in today’s society where we are supposed to support everybody and all art is supposedly valuable. This attitude is in itself wrong. You like what you like. It’s okay if you dislike something. As long as you recognize it as your own opinion and realize it’s okay not to agree with the majority. Differing opinions are the magic sauce that lets us see other’s points of view. Let’s be careful about how we try to assign moral or values to things unless they really do cause harm…

Btw…. I tried to edit the above for coherency but I finally failed to dodge the covid bullet and am still feverish off and on
 
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No. wouldn't use that word for description. the term is this:
making use of a situation or treating others unfairly in order to gain an advantage or benefit

I see 'no benefit to be damaging to others' in that respect ya know.

So much to 'read/learn/try' in life. A gazillion things!! Some try ya know and then they write about it and give only 1 on 1 personal experiences on that adventure of ?? --whatever they tackled.

We also can't 'judge' others for 'trying' life on what they read and see and wanna try out there that floats their boats too and could be their life mission or a way forward etc. but everyone is gonna try something at some point ya know and comment on it :)
 
Nomadland - Nomadity was a vehicle to carry the subject of life changes, facing what was and looking fwd to what will be, after loosing everything you thought you were living for....

While it is an interesting look into the lifestyle, it is seen through the coloring of the above defined glasses. It shows some of the mechanics of nomad living, but is far from what anyone should tout as "an example".

There are many YTers that are all sunshine and pleasant smells, and there are the RVers that make a living being on the road producing content, but there is also a ton of sage advice that a lot of prep work needs to be done prior to heading out. If someone chooses to just look at the sunshine, they are going to trip up, and face challenges they are unprepared for.

I have a YT channel... maybe someday down the road it will get to the point of being able to buy me a pizza... that is my expectation for it.... if I can make a buck from it, it would be a good thing, as I am on a fixed income, and some gas money would be welcome... but I have no illusions... I do the channel because I enjoy filming and telling my story... no one has to watch it, or pay to watch it and I expect most to pass it by... for me it is a form of expression that I can share...

Exploitation?.. no... using the wave of interest to make a buck, yes... man are there are lot of channels out there... as it is with any chosen life path... I watch 10+ sailing channels, some boat building channels, music channels... etc etc they fit my interests and there are so many more out there in each subject that I do not watch....
 
Which was also the main topic of Jessica Bruder's book by the same name on which the film was somewhat based. BTW, I highly recommend the book.
Ditto. I liked it a lot. Liked the movie too. Found the movie offended some people and expect the book would too. :)
 
Just wondering what people think.
Do you find films like Nomadland to be exploitive of you and your lifestyle? What about the people that glamourize it on Instagram with their brand new sprinters paid for by dad?
It does strike me as mildly exploitive. There are some in our community that are living a nomadic life because it is all they can afford on a fixed income (don't get me started on capitalism). So to see others come along and profit from that situation doesn't sit quite right. I'm not saying this is something to go nuts about, but it does make me curious about what you all think.
I don't. I think the question is like asking people who live in crappy houses if they feel exploited by the show Property Brothers or people who can only shop at thrift stores if they feel exploited by Fashion Week. One has nothing to do with the other.

I also don't have a problem with people who glamorize vanlife. There is no gatekeeper on this way of life. Some people are forced into it and are living in their vehicles barely able to afford gas. Others choose this way of life and are living their best life. They're both valid. It would be awrsome to have a well off parent - be it mom or dad - who could buy me a built out sprinter van, so I'm not going to hate on anyone who has that blessing. They hit the DNA lottery. Good for them.
 
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