Photo opportunities
Regular readers will know that I like a good gripe about the state of the world’s manners. Well, you’ll be pleased to know that I have come across a new, impressive level of disrespect to share with you.
Picture this:
It’s Wednesday morning. I am in Paris. For some bizarre reason I decide to go into Notre Dame Cathedral, rather just walking past it as usual. I am surprised to see that 1. it is free entry, 2. there isn’t much of a queue and 3. that there is a short service going on.
I slip into one of the empty back rows, let the sound of the priest’s voice lull over me and actually enjoy the opportunity to look around the massive nave and soak up the historic ambiance. Tourists still continue to amble in and wander around. It’s a bit distracting, but most people are quiet and behave themselves.
I say most, because at least five people during the 10 minutes I lasted walked straight down the front and took photos of the priest reading at the altar. Another two turned around and took a few action shots of the congregation at prayer.
The priest didn’t bat an eyelid. He’s probably used to it. But I’m an anti-religion, severely agnostic cynic and I’m appalled. What were these people thinking? Did they mistake religion for theatre? Did they not care at all about other people’s beliefs? Or couldn’t they resist a good photo opportunity?
March 26th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I think people have forgotten what’s real and what’s not, so they imagine they’re on the internet or watching telly or something and no one will notice. It’s very alarming.
March 26th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Grrrr! This kinda stuff really winds me up… these are the same arseholes who took photos of Diana’s and Jade Goody’s funerals… “hope I get a good shot of the coffin… something to show the grandchildren…”
People have no respect. My dad queued up for almost a day to walk pash Churchills coffin. He said the respect in the queue the whole time was incredible. Not a word uttered, people in quiet contempation and not a single camera seen the whole time – why should there be? Not exactly a kids birthday party is it??
Slightly off topic, but it kinda fits – I’m a big autograph collector. Over the years i’ve seen countless celebs at the theatre, walking in London, having a meal, on the tube, you name it… i’ve never once asked any of them for an autograph (no matter how much I may have wanted it!). My feeling is that they are off-duty, and deserve to enjoy their day\evening just as much as me…. Yet so many others seem to think these people are there just for their own amusement and bound over for photographs and general unwanted chat.
Grrrr!
Great piece!
P
March 26th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
I don’t know what’s going through peoples heads, but its certainly not consideration for other people.
It is very interesting what you say Piley about your Dad queing up to see Churchill. Can you imagine anyone doing that these days for a politician, let alone withough taking photos?! I certainly wouldn’t. The closest we get to this kind of thing is probably the respect shown at Wootten Bassett.
I feel like a conservative Daily Mail reader with this response, but I do think that society does need to realise that individualism doesn’t necessarily mean rudeness or toleration of it.
March 26th, 2010 at 11:33 pm
There’s a thin line between pilgrim and tourist and there always has been. I am always amazed that people bother with pictures in places like these as they are generally rubbish anyway. Don’t know whether they do this in France but in English cathedrals they have a minutes prayer each hour and request people to be at least quiet.
I am surprised though visiting big churches how some still retain their sense of place and of course compared to past times (where they were open markets and trading halls) they are relatively calm.
Oddly I’ve never been to paris long enough to look around!
March 27th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
my mum was there recently and someone threw themself off the top and landed on a passerby . i’m sure everyone rushed out of the church to get a snap
x
March 28th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Oh boy, Ally, that is one heck of a place to choose to end it all. Although yes, there is a high degree of risk when it comes to where you land in such a crowded area…
You really should get yourself over to Paris BLTP, not necessarily to go to Notre Dame, but your photographer’s eye would love it.
March 29th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
It doesn’t bode well, does it? Makes you wonder what people would do if there was, say, a funeral mass being held. Carry on snapping away? Some of them almost certainly would.
I went up to a white British woman a few years ago at Kuala Lumpur airport, who was getting her boyfriend to take a ‘comedy’ snap of her pretending to enter one of the Prayer Rooms they have there (Muslim country), and I told her that she was being incredibly disrespectful. Her boyfriend threatened to hit me ‘to show you the REAL meaning of disrespect’. Where do you start with that mentality?
March 29th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Hmmmm…
**grits teeth and doesn’t feel any better**
March 29th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
It’s not just in churches – I saw exactly the same thing when I attended the Last Post at the Menin Gate in Ypres a few years back. Idiots yacking away on their mobiles or taking pictures. No doubt there are wankers who do that at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday…
March 29th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
Hello Emma, welcome and thanks for adding to the misery! That really is appalling. I suspect it’s all linked to our constant need to record everything – not just the photos, but calling people to share the experience. Unfortuately though, some things are just more meaningful when you don’t.
March 30th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Regarding your experience in Nortre Dame, It’s the juxtaposition of the sacred and mundane that possibly confuses some people. I imagine that in their minds it’s not a real service. “How could it be?” they might reason “there are tourists milling about, it’s got to be a performance of some sort…..”
Or am I just trying to rationalise idiotic behaviour?
March 30th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
It’s very kind of you, Ill Man, but you’re just trying to rationalise idiotic behaviour.
Long time, no write though! Good to see you again.
March 31st, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Yeah, haven’t got much in me besides my photo blog and the speedway stuff.