Farmers squatting for photos?

[Artfuldodger]

Looking at old photos in rural areas, I noticed a lot of folks squatting in their photos. This could be men and women. It got me thinking of how people used to squat. Even in town a small group of farmers would squat on the sidewalk in the shade to talk. I can remember seeing a few people, mostly farmers and country folk squatting to talk. We didn't usually squat with them as we would be fishing or whatever.
In some countries the people still squat to cook or squat around a fire. I'm sure Native Americans did a lot of squatting.

I think it's just one of those things that faded out like playing marbles or walking. People used to walk to church. Now they don't even walk to the mailbox.

 

[Artfuldodger]

Click on the link and see a pic of men squatting. This photo was taken by a Farm Security Administration photographer;

http://www.iu.edu/~iuam/online_modules/fsa/fsa13.html

Maybe people were skinnier then. I would think a man plowing with a mule all day would be smaller than a man plowing with a tractor all day.

 

[Nicodemus]

The only photograph I ever saw of my Maternal Great Grandfather he was squatting. Traveling photographer came by and took a picture of the family. My Great Grandmother, Grandmother, and all my Aunts and Uncles were all dressed up in their best and they were in a group together standing out in front of the house. He was off to the side squatted down, holding his single shot rifle.

 

[KyDawg]

It always amazed me how some of them old men could squat. I think some of that came from the way they would squat on top of the outhouse seat and later on ,even a commode. If I sat that way today, it would take someone to help me get stood back up.

 

[NE GA Pappy]

I remember all my grannies chairs had real low seats in them. They were probably 5 or 6 inches lower than chairs are today. I felt like I was squatting when I sat in them, even as a young teenager.

 

[GunnSmokeer]

My knees don't like bending much, and my knees and leg muscles certainly don't like trying to rise from a squat position. I'd rather just plop my fat butt on the ground and sit cross-legged.

 

[Artfuldodger]

Maybe since they did it their whole lives they could still do it when they got older. It does appear the early pioneers and on to the farmers through the 30's weren't much overweight like most of us are today. That probably helped to squat.

 

[Artfuldodger]

When I was in high school I had pretty long hair as did all the boys. The owner of the rural store across from where I lived was always asking me if I had to squat to urinate. Implying that I must be a girl from my long hair. He didn't like our baggy jeans either as he said we were always traipsing mud in his store.

 

[Artfuldodger]

I remember all my grannies chairs had real low seats in them. They were probably 5 or 6 inches lower than chairs are today. I felt like I was squatting when I sat in them, even as a young teenager.

Not related but that reminded me of Admiral Rickover cutting the front two legs off the chair that the new applicants had their interviews in. Just to mess with them and make them even more uncomfortable than they already were.

 

[BriarPatch99]

When I was in high school I had pretty long hair as did all the boys. The owner of the rural store across from where I lived was always asking me if I had to squat to urinate. Implying that I must be a girl from my long hair. He didn't like our baggy jeans either as he said we were always traipsing mud in his store.

Old Quincy was a mess ....

 

[Havana Dude]

My guess is it was a way of relief from back pain. I get the stink eye from time to time myself. I’ll be standing there talking to you, my back will start to hurt and I will squat down for a short period.

 

[Artfuldodger]

Old Quincy was a mess ....

He's the one, called me Flossie!

 

[Gary Mercer]

HMMM Seems to me that all the old cow hands and indians squated a lot too.

 

[JWT]

Had a older feller that my dad would let fish his pond , lake full of fish , he would catch 2 for supper say thanks & leave ., squatting the whole time for hrs , he said they had to in ww2, he was squatting all the time if he wasn't working

 

[Pig Predator]

I squat or take a knee to stretch the muscles in my legs and to relieve back pain from work or long hikes. I'd imagine the old timers did it for the same reasons. People have gotten too fat and lazy to squat nowadays.

 

[someguyintraffic]

My grand dad was a farm chillen. Worked the tobacco and cotton before Army Air Force service during WW2. B17 mechanic. A fine man. Miss him still. Probably ten years old in 2nd pic picking a six string as my great grand dad smoked his pipe.

 

[someguyintraffic]

...

 

[someguyintraffic]

They did do some sqautting. Or you could just lay down and pose in your Sunday best

 

[onedude]

People on average back then were a lot lighter and in a lot better shape. I think it rested some of their leg muscles.

 

[onedude]

A long time ago at work we had a piece equipment from over seas. Several of the men from their company had came over to inspect it. We had it on the floor in the shop and they were all squatted around it. They went in the office. We decided to put it on the work table so they didn't have to squat, then we went to lunch. When we came back they were all up on the table squatted around it.

Doug
Jn.3:16