Suggestion: Forty Niner

[1]◊ is currently being suggested in the crowner thread. I would like make following counter suggestions:

• [2]◊, [3]◊, [4]◊

edited 1st Apr '17 11:23:53 AM by eroock

Please bring up those suggestions in that thread first so that we don't have multiple threads working on the same page with different suggestions.

Once it's not under discussion in that thread, re-holler to have this one opened.

A duplicate thread was created, so I've removed that one and am opening this one up for discussion.

1.4

It focuses on a person rather than the group.

Part of what makes Forty-Niner distinct from Prospector is that the '49 gold rush resulted in large groups of prospectors forming mining camps, where they were all working the same stretch of river together, either in a formalized co-operative, or individually but in close proximity, so there being a group isn't a strike against any of them for me.

That said, I do prefer the one suggested in the Image suggestions thread, since 1) It shows the whole "mining camp" aspect (including a woman back by one of the tents); 2) not all of the 49ers are the stereotypical grizzed older guy with a ZZ Top beard; and 3) I have a personal bias toward using images from the actual time period when possible.

edited 3rd Apr '17 7:17:30 AM by Madrugada

Whoops, I didn't even know we had Prospector. That does change my vote, but I prefer images with color because on a white background (normal vision), black-and-white etchings look fine but on Night Vision I don't think they do. (That and images with white backgrounds, now that I think about it. le shrug)

1.3 > 1.1 > 1.4

I fail to see the difference between a Prospector and a Forty-Niner. It should come out in the image.

In Brief: A Prospector works alone. Forty Niners tended to gather in groups and form mining camps.

A Prospector can be in any location, at any time, even completely fictional locales and alternate timelines. Forty Niners are specific to the California Gold Rush, which lasted from 1848 to 1855 and was centered around, but not limited to, the area around San Francisco.

Most Prospectors remain prospectors. Many FortyNiners either returned to their previous occupation or took up a new one other than gold-seeking when the easily accessible gold was used up. Others, who are still considered Forty Niners as long as they're in the right place at the right time, never looked for gold at all; they went West and set up businesses that catered to the gold-seekers.

1.1 > 1.2 = 1.3 > 1.4

1.3 > 1.1 > 1.2 > 1.4

I think 1.2 and 1.3 both communicate the "huge influx of people to the area" facet well, but I prefer 1.2: it portrays more aspects of the Gold Rush than just panning (e.g. pickaxes, donkeys), and it looks more remote from civilization (i.e. I dislike the cabin and wagon in 1.3).

I am not sure 1.1 is contemporaneous to that time period, but it's on a page among photographs ([1]◊, [2]◊), so probably, which is cool.

edited 4th Apr '17 3:34:36 AM by rodneyAnonymous

For what it's worth, much of the 49 Gold rush occurred in areas that were not terribly remote from civilization (or civilization — to some degree — followed the miners to those areas.)

There was no IP thread icon at the top of the trope page until just now; went ahead and fixed that.

Crowner?

Crowner.

This is way overdue for a votes bump; three in the green.

Time to call this one. How's this crop of the winner?

Sure.

Alrightythen, it's up and tagged. Caption?