So I’m a little frustrated, and I’ll explain that in a second. First, some things that you know are true but really aren’t.
Popular Opinion: The death penalty reduces violent crime.
Truth: States that enforce the death penalty have the same average violent crime rate as states that don’t.
Reason: Psychology. Those that commit violent crimes such as rape and murder fall in to 2 categories: Those that have planned their crime and those that act out of blind emotion (i.e. a “crime of passion”). In the first case, they’ve planned on not getting caught, so the fact that there’s a death penalty doesn’t matter. In the second case, they are not thinking about the concequences of their actions.
Here’s another one:
Popular Opinion: Recycling paper saves trees.
Truth: It doesn’t. However, using more paper will lead to an increase in trees.
Reason: 99.9% of trees used to make paper come from tree farms, which are a managed, renewable resource. If more paper is needed (you use more paper), they will grow more trees. Paper created from recycled paper actually creates more waste, much of which is non-environmentally friendly.
Here’s one last one, then on to my point and what’s pissing me off today. This one is interesting… .
Popular Opinion: Pornography leads to more violence against women.
Truth: It doesn’t. In fact, the states with the “loosest” regulations on pornography also have the lowest rape rates while the states with the most strict regulations on pornography have the highest incidences of rape.
Reason: I haven’t the slightest clue.
So what does this have to do with me?
Today I went to stock up on Tri-X (I usually buy a 100′ roll every couple of months) and found the store completely sold out. There were also sold out of individual rolls and only had one bottle of HC-110 left! Here’s the gist of the conversation that ensued between the shop owner and I:
Me: You’re completely out of Tri-X.
Laoban: Yeah, it happens a few times a year.
Me: You mean, on the regular basis in a way that can be predicted?
Laoban: Pretty much, yeah.
Me: So if you know there is going to be a run on film, why don’t you order more?
Laoban: Because everyone is using digital. No one buys film anymore.
Me: But you sold out of film. And you sold out a couple of months ago. And you sold out a couple of months before that.
Laoban: But ask anyone. No one shoots film. Everyone is shooting digital. Do you want to buy a digital camera? That way you won’t have to worry if the film is sold out or not.
Me: No, I prefer the look of film. It’s an artistic choice. Besides, in 18 months the camera I get will be virtually worthless if I want to sell it and “upgrade”. Do you sell all the digital cameras you order in 18 months?
Laoban: No, not always. Usually not. I end up having to sell a few for cost right before the next model comes out.
Me: But you always sell out of film. At full price. On the regular basis.
Laoban: Yes, but no one shoots film anymore.
And with that I walked out of the store to the Ilford shop next door and spend a little bit more for 100′ of HP5+. 
POPULAR OPINION DOES NOT EQUAL TRUTH!
Popularity: 1% [?]
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Brian Q. Webb is a multi-medium photography enthusiast from Los Angeles, California but spending most of his time in Taipei, Taiwan. He is especially interested in street photography as well as large format and pinhole photography.
Professionally, he practices traditional and lifestyle portraiture and occasionally acts as an agent for American local newspapers wanting event coverage in Taipei. He was also on the staff of 
Some of these are true.
I agree that recycling doesn’t actually saves trees, but I recycle to keep it out of landfills.
and it probably won’t be true that 99.9% of paper will be from a treefarm in the future if we use more and more paper. When demand is great, things like replanting go down the drain.
and about the frustration, i agree. It certainly is something to get frustrated about. But at least HP5 isn’t all that bad. I actually like it a lot
@Tom: There’s no shortage of landfill space and the landfill space that has been filled you usually don’t even notice (check out your nearest park or golf course. chances are it used to be a landfill.). And then there’s the green energy that comes from landfills (methane power plants).
There’s a larger story. But I recycle, too
I was more frustrated at the shop owners attitude of following the tide of popular opinion rather then his own “statistical data” (sales figures). HP5+ is fine and I used it quite a bit up until Tri-X was reformulated a couple of years ago. I have no problems shooting it for a few months.
eheheheheh some logic is unbeatable =P
heh, that was hilarious. Hey, why don’t you get them massively from ebay? there are packages like that and sometimes pretty cheap.
I just bought some software called real grain. A photoshop plug in, the program will convert digital images to the appearance of a variety of films, such as Tri x. Works very well, really looks like tri x. Also available in the menu is tri x pushed 1 and pushed 2. It offers most of the popular films grain structures and curve characteristics.
Aristotle engrained the notion of either/ or into western culture with his law of the excluded middle. The examples of frustration you give are of course valid but unfortunately are understandable by other factors ancillary to the main point which make these kinds of arguments maintain their validity to so many. If you ask why they are still extant, a plethora of cultural realities emerge that explain away the illogical nature of the myths. You have the option of directing your frustration towards that phenomena.