AIBU to be annoyed by people who visit zoos just to take photos of everything without really looking at the animals?

[YouOldSlag]

The last few times I've taken the kids to zoos and animal type places, there have been people jamming their cameras against the glass/bars of the animals and just taking photos whilst barely glancing at the animals.

For one thing- why not just really look at the animals?
For another- who are you going to show the world'd most boring zoo visit photos to?

I'm not saying you shouldn't take photos, but these people were just holding their cameras against the glass whilst chatting to friends and then moving on and doing the same. It was as if they had been told to photograph everything within 30 minutes in order to get their money back or something. I wanted to shout "It's a bloody Giraffe! Have a look at those beautiful markings!"

I guess I find it sad that the thrill of real life is dying in the digital age.

[JaponicaTroggs]

YouOldSlag Reminds me of when we went to Chessington last year. Lots of people happily aahing at the meercats until autistic DS helpfully bellowed at full volume "look everyone, that meercat has an erection! Had to drag him away whispering "stop it" while he shrieked "but it has mum, look!"

[YouOldSlag]

Japonica- it's great that he knows the correct name for a stiffy!

[mrsjay]

I also have a great photo of a tapir with a hard on. It was the same length as his leg and he pointed his thingy at me when I walked past!

dont they fall over their thingies if they are that long

[YouOldSlag]

dont they fall over their thingies if they are that long

I think they are like lightsabers. They go away when switched off.

[AmazingBouncingFerret]

I remember driving through the elephant bit at West Midlands Safari Park and one of the elephants had an enormous great rock on.

And the Tapir at Twycross.

"hee hee we saw its willy, hee hee"

Funny how that is all 6 year old boys seem to remember. They don't appreciate the majestic beauty of the noble giraffe but they think it's fucking brilliant if you see one having a piss!

[mrsjay]

seeing 2 orangs having sex at paignton zoo 1 year the dds giggled for hours and hours so did I tbh he got on then off again no hug or anything I have also seen a chimp drinking its own pee I was fascinated his aim was perfect

[andubelievedthat]

but an animal does not know its an animal, and according to current science opinion ,they never will,so perhaps it follows they do not know they are in a zoo, or that they are the ones in the cage/enclosure?

[mrsjay]

I spose and a tiger does not know that he is behind a fence so feels no effect it is as normal for them as it is for a tiger in india to be roaming about, saying that thought they do need to be enriched or they can go a bit stir crazy

[Sparklingbrook]

I don't like Safari Parks or Zoos. They seem so far removed from the animals natural habitat. Watching the elephants stood there in the pouring rain etc.

In the summer the local Safari Park is basically 2 lanes of traffic nose to tail. Depressing, and expensive.

[JaponicaTroggs]

YouOldSlag He's 14 so he should do . It wouldn't have been so excruciating if he'd been younger and cute but he's nearly 6 foot as well. Oh the joys of autism!

[JumpingJackSprat]

i take my camera. i dont share or expect anyone to look at my photos but the challenge is getting a striking shot of an animal so it doesnt look like its in a zoo. i dont moan when parents with three kids and a push chair all crowd viewing windows at the same time so i cant see. maybe you should teach your kid the value of waiting patiently while someone else finishes viewing/photographing the animals if they were there first. after all ive paid my entance fee too.

[elfycat]

I've managed to wean DH off of his camera. He kept living his life through it (I blame his mother, she's the same. How many pictures of some pretty but non-interesting flower from NZ do I have to look at?)

The final straw was on a liveaboard holiday to the red sea. A large green turtle came up to the lights at the back of the boat one night. DH ran down to the cabin. In the meantime the rest of us slipped (fully dressed) into the water and said 'Hi'. By the time DH and the camera emerged the turtle had gone.

We go to the zoo quite often, only once have we remembered the camera and we have some great pics of the DDs!

[Narked]

The West Midlands Safari Park? That would be the one that sent some of its lion cubs to perform in a Japanese circus.

Here. Daily Mail link.

[YouOldSlag]

maybe you should teach your kid the value of waiting patiently while someone else finishes viewing/photographing the animals if they were there first. after all ive paid my entrance fee too.

My "kid" knows the value of waiting patiently thank you very much. This thread is not about me saying I don't see why I should have to queue.

It's about people not appreciating the miracles in front of them. My best friend is a photographer, and she, like you tries to take striking and candid shots. She also enjoys and watches the animals. However, what I am complaining about is the people I see who barely glance at the animals, they just push their camera against the glass, click, then walk off like it's an in and out photography class.

[LouMae]

I know what you mean. I think when the same when i go to gigs or shows- people's cameras stuck up in the air or them looking through the lens, videoing or constantly trying to get a good pic. Just look at the bloody performance yourself and enjoy it! I went to watch wrestling with my son (ahem, yes I know) and one bloke in front of us watched the entire show through the lens of his video camera... how is that enjoyable?

[Tanith]

That's very deep and profound andubelievethat

[OkayHazel]

YABU.

I got a new DSLR camera for Christmas and have been to both the British Museum and the Zoo alone to learn how to use it. Photos are for me only. A learning experience.

Its nice to have different things to practice with. Before there were just lots of my cat.

[YouOldSlag]

LouMae-that's exactly what I mean. So busy photographing/filming/downloading, they forget to experience RL.

OkayHazel, but do you click'n'flash or appreciate as well? That's the difference I think.

An example of what I mean: I was looking at a Toucan in a zoo and someone just walked up to the glass, pressed their camera against it, clicked and walked off, barely looking at the Toucan, they were even looking somewhere else when they pressed the button. What was the point?

But a really good photo of an Orangutan having a swim in "Lake Me"- now that's worth taking...or a white peacock spreading its tail out, now that was a good shot...

It's more about what loumae said. Instead of filming/photographing and thinking of their FB audience, they should just look at the bloody Toucan. Is it not incredible?

I'd rather have something great in my memory than on my Memory stick. Like elfycat, I'd rather swim with a turtle than miss it because I was looking for the camera.

[peachypips]

I think it's sad when people photograph everything in sight- it's like they are so focused on getting the memory of the thing they forget to actually engage with the thing itself.
DS's cousin literally gets her 5 yr old son to pose every ten minutes through any activity- poor kid just wants to enjoy himself!! It's like she is telling herself 'LOOK! Look at all the fun we are having! We are having fun now!' Argh!

[countrykitten]

Zoos are vile. Watch David Attenborough instead.

[OkayHazel]

YouOldSlag Oh I'm a big appreciator too. Just try and tear me away from those penguins. Takes two fully grown men.

[YouOldSlag]

peachypips- exactly! That's how I feel about people uploading photos of their holiday whilst they are STILL on holiday! I want to say " get on with your holiday!" Live in the moment!

OkayHazel, now that's exactly what I'm talking about!