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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get so annoyed by people taking photos at concerts/gigs/everywhere

38 replies

sweetbitter · 16/07/2017 09:15

Was at a jazz concert last night, fairly laid back atmosphere but still in a darkened room with stage lit up etc, had paid a fair wack to be there. During the 3 hour show, the guy in front of me was holding his phone up probably every 10-15m throughout taking pictures and videos, multiple ones at a time where he messed about for ages with the framing and settings, his screen lit up the whole time. This gives me the rage as my eye and attention kept being drawn away from the stage and the music to the little flashing moving rectangle of light directly in my eyeline. Especially annoying at climactic moments or when you were previously I lost in the music. At one point I tapped him on the shoulder and said "sorry but that's quite distracting", he seemed very surprised and stopped for about 2m then just went back to taking photos and videos every 10m again. I noticed though that there were some other people throughout the audience taking photos, so didn't say anything to him again plus he obviously just didn't care about me.

Is it U of me to be so distracted and ragey by all these bright little screens and flashes from people's phones in the auditorium? Or is it reasonable now to be able to take photos at gigs where there aren't specific rules announced at the start? I don't mind so much someone taking a few quick photos, it's more when they seem to spend practically equal amounts of time photo taking and actually watching/listening. And when their screen is so brightly lit...aaaargh.

Incidentally it also drives me mad when people take photos of pictures in art galleries - what on EARTH is the point? And was at a fireworks display the other day with people taking photos and videos of that, again it seems utterly pointless, surely it is an experience to enjoy live and in the moment. But at least in art galleries and fireworks displays it's not quite so distracting as in a darkened auditorium...

AIBU? Do I need to move with the times?

OP posts:
Buckinghambae · 16/07/2017 09:47

Went to a big concert couple of nights ago and the main singer encouraged everyone to have a single song without their phone in their hand. Must admit that the encouragement really helped me to be in the moment, relax and enjoy the rest of the concert. Lesson learnt here!

Elmo230885 · 16/07/2017 09:49

Its annoying and stops people being in the moment. In reality the videos will be watched once after the event and the pics seen a handful of times by people too polite to say they don't care. Just take one pic for yourself then enjoy the event!

Bunbunbunny · 16/07/2017 09:50

It's really annoying as people are not living in the moment & taking a crappy video that will never really capture a live performance. It's very much a look I was there thing to do

tomatotornado · 16/07/2017 10:01

I hear you OP. It's like people go to these things but then have no idea why they are there or what to do so they film it or take photos for no one. Utterly pointless and selfish.

Deep down if you don't really want to go don't go! No one cares about your bloody photos!

It's like school plays watched via the medium of an iPad that never gets played again. Have you got no soul?!

If you can't enjoy a moment unless it's second hand via the medium of a screen then what was it for? Is it really just to tell everyone else you've been?

EnglishGirlApproximately · 16/07/2017 10:03

There's some fabulous YouTube footage of Ryan Adams recently calling out a fan for filming the show on an IPad Hmm Who does that? How annoying would it be to be near that person

KoalaDownUnder · 16/07/2017 10:04

If you can't enjoy a moment unless it's second hand via the medium of a screen then what was it for? Is it really just to tell everyone else you've been?

Yep. I'm aware that this makes me an intolerant old gimmer, but that's exactly what it's for. My Facebook feed featured about 5 closeups of the opening of the Adele concert. Slightly pathetic.

GirlOnATrainToShite · 16/07/2017 10:04

YANBU it does my head in watching a concert through an iPad held by some absolute wanker stood in front of you.

araiwa · 16/07/2017 10:06

I went to see guns and roses a while back

I took a couple of pics on my phone but other than that just watched and listened to the whole thing and enjoyed the experience. Checked youtube a few days later and watched the vids others had taken

youaredeluded · 16/07/2017 10:12

I went to the solstice at Stonehenge and the same thing happened. I found it really weird and think it ruined the night.

Borntoflyinfirst · 16/07/2017 10:13

I kind of agree that phones and especially iPads can ruin the 'in the moment' aspect but seriously have you never looked back on a photo or video of anything? Just for your own pleasure?

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 16/07/2017 10:15

YANBU went to a gig before and someone spent time filming on a Ipad. What's the point? Just enjoy the moment!

Sunshinegirls · 16/07/2017 10:23

Yanbu. I went to a gig last year got very drunkand took loads of pictures on my phone. All of them were awful and unusable and were deleted. I realise now what a total plonker I was for not just enjoying the gig. And also how annoying it must have been for everyone else and how I must have been pissing people off. Lesson learned. Sorry

DingDongDenny · 16/07/2017 10:46

I went to a see one of my favorite singers last year, was really looking forward to it. But a person in front had their ipad held up in front of them the whole time recording the show. They were too far away to speak to, but they literally cut off about half my view and I spent the whole time bobbing around trying to keep the stage in view - really impacted on my experience.

MorbidBibliomancy · 16/07/2017 10:48

Eh, depends how it's done. People like the bloke at the jazz club are obviously being twattish. But I don't have a problem with the concept in general. I went abroad to see one of my favourite musicians for the first time a few years ago. I took several short videos during the gig (with my screen brightness down and ensuring the phone wasn't held in anyone's eyeline) then edited them in to the video diary I'd filmed whilst I was away. I still enjoy rewatching it every now and then Smile

PlayOnWurtz · 16/07/2017 10:52

I usually take a couple of photos at the start to say "wahey look who I'm seeing!" Then phone goes away and I enjoy the gig. I hate people who have their phones out the whole way through and film the whole concert. Stop. It.

paulapantsdown · 16/07/2017 11:16

It's like people have to show others what they done or it didn't happen. They can't just say, "I saw so and so last night and it was brilliant", there has to be proof on social media.

I have been to hundreds of gigs, plays, firework displays over the years. I went to them, enjoyed them and then moved in with my life - I never felt the need to watch them again!

MissJC · 16/07/2017 13:42

I watched a rocket launch from NASA and a lot of people were watching that through a phone screen. I bloody didn't, I just absorbed the once in a lifetime moment rather than piss about with my camera.

ChristmasFluff · 16/07/2017 14:35

When I went to see War of the Worlds I was astonished at the number of people who spent most of the time watching it through their iPad screens rather than enjoying the entire immersive experience. It was spectacular, and there was no way they would have captured it, or been able to fully enjoy it through a screen. I felt sorry for them missing out.

TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 16/07/2017 15:16

YANBU. It's intrusive. It gets even worse when the offenders get huffy that you are disturbing their film/shot. I've some across this at sports events particularly. At race tracks, it's not uncommon to have middle aged men with huge cameras try and shove you out of the way so they can film and not watch the race.

My work is largely a public space and I often get sighed at for not stopping to let others take pictures. I am working and trying to get somewhere and if they'd shut up, I'd be gone in 5 seconds.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 16/07/2017 15:21

YABU. I take photos and videos wherever I go, and that includes concerts. I don't do it for anyone else (though I do post photos on social media a lot); I do it because I like to look back on places I've been and shows I've seen.

It doesn't stop me living in the moment at all; that's simply rubbish.

If someone tapped me on the shoulder and said what you did I'd give them a weird look and carry on.

coddiwomple · 16/07/2017 15:32

YANBU at all

People who do that do not give a damn about spoiling the while things for others.

It's like school plays watched via the medium of an iPad that never gets played again. not the same at all. People record them to show to the missing parent who couldn't attend, to grand parents etc. Schools plays are never that great, but families like to see their little one.

KoalaDownUnder · 16/07/2017 15:34

If someone tapped me on the shoulder and said what you did I'd give them a weird look and carry on.

Even if your fecking iPad was ruining the live experience they'd paid for?

Bloody hell. It's not often you see someone proudly admit to being so utterly selfish.

Original poster
sweetbitter · 16/07/2017 15:58

As I said, I can put up with the odd picture, especially if screen brightness is set to low and it's taken quickly and discretely. It's when it's at regular intervals, with no regard for whether it's a climactic or sensitive moment of the performance or not, with screen blaring out white light, being held up and fiddled with for minutes at a time that it really pisses me off and fills me with rage.

I take pictures outside venues or if I really wanted one inside it'd be at the end of songs/acts when people are clapping.

OP posts:
ShelaghTurner · 16/07/2017 16:20

YABU. Things have moved on and people enjoy things in different ways. They paid for their ticket too. It’s a pain if you’re behind them but not a lot you can do about it. I haven’t been to a gig in so long that I don’t think iPads were invented then Grin

maddiemookins16mum · 16/07/2017 16:24

YANBU, I went to see U2 at Twickenham last Sunday (love U2 but worst concert ever). Every person in front of me had f*ckin ipads up in front of them!!!