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AIBU?

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Original poster

To display old circus photo?

36 replies

Sprogonthetyne · 07/06/2026 13:55

One of the only photos I have with my grandfather was taken when I was 4 and he took my sister & I to the circus. I'm sat on top of an elephant, with him and my sister stood next to it. I'd like to see if I can get the photo digitally restored and add it to my family photos wall (it's a very old Polaroid), but I'm not sure if I'm OK with the idea of remembering/ celebrating the use of circus animals.

YANBU = it was a nice family outing in the context of the time, don't let changes in public understanding/ values detract from memory of time spent with a grandparent

YABU = that elephant definitely did not want to be dressed up in a tent with random kids sat on it. Displaying the photo would be condoning animal cruelty

OP posts:
Maybeitllneverhappen · 07/06/2026 14:32

I very much believe that things should be judged in the context of time and understood in that way (does that make sense??). These days we don't ride elephants but it was acceptable until relatively recently. Henry Vlll cut off heads but our king doesn't do that now. People seeing the photo should put it in historical context.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 07/06/2026 14:16

We've all got dated photos. I wouldn't hesitate to display a photo of me/my family doing something we wouldn't want to recreate 50 years later - times change.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 07/06/2026 14:11

Yanbu display the photo.

Createausername1970 · 07/06/2026 14:11

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 07/06/2026 13:57

Dh has a picture of him and his brother at the seaside holding monkeys. Would he do it now? No. Do we display the photo? Yes.

Same. I have a lovely picture on display of my dad holding me, and I was holding a monkey.

It was not unusual back in the 60s.

We can remember the past with fondness, but at the same time recognise that some things are best left there. Twas always the way and will always be so.

I wonder what we consider to be OK now will be looked on with horror in 60 years time.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 07/06/2026 14:11

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 07/06/2026 13:57

Dh has a picture of him and his brother at the seaside holding monkeys. Would he do it now? No. Do we display the photo? Yes.

In the 80s in SE London a local family close to us had a monkey in a cage, in their front garden, it was open to passers by, I saw it once. My mum remembers in 1940s a family local to her had a monkey as a pet in a house/hut in the garden.

HedgehogsOnTheWall · 07/06/2026 14:09

I wouldn't think twice about doing this. Old family photos are such lovely things to have on display.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 07/06/2026 14:08

I have a photo in early 80s of me and my brother riding camels at London zoo. I had no idea it was no longer done. So I guess I wouldn’t do it now.

PlantPeople · 07/06/2026 14:06

I wouldn’t want to display it, but why not just have it restored, display it for a while and see how you feel about it then. If you feel ok about it then leave it on display, if you don’t, then take it down. No hand wringing required.

OneThreadOnlybyN · 07/06/2026 14:00

Your poll might not reflect the votes accurately as you have put the options in your post the other way around to the voting.plus some twats just vote to upset the OP,

but YANBU. It's a photo from a different time & one of your Grandfather (&you & your sister!). Enjoy the lively memory.

we do better, when we know better, that's what counts 🤗

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 07/06/2026 13:57

Dh has a picture of him and his brother at the seaside holding monkeys. Would he do it now? No. Do we display the photo? Yes.

Bristolandlazy · 07/06/2026 13:57

Get it restored, I wouldn't ask on here as people telling you not to might taint how you feel about it. Keep it as a memory of an exciting trip with your family. Put it on display at home, look at it and remember him fondly.

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