To remind you that no photography includes you?

[persee]

We went to our daughter’s graduation ceremony yesterday. She was getting her PhD from Oxford. The ceremony is a solemn/traditional one. At the beginning of the ceremony, they said no phones please and no filming or photography. There was a live video being recorded that you can obtain online. It also said this in the degree ceremony handbook.

Why is then, that some people think this rule does not apply to them? A woman in front of us stood up numerous times to video parts of her child’s graduation. Another chap was taking pictures, texting, and had his phone go off loudly.

When dd was up front for her bit in the ceremony, the woman in front was on her phone again. The screen was distracting from being able to focus on the degree ceremony.

If they're standing up and taking a snap of their kid when they are receiving their aware, I don't see the problem - no one else is going to care are they?

But they don’t, do they? They bob up and down in anticipation; stand up early - and so completely distract from the prior graduate getting their award, and block others view of them; block the official video; make a noise whispering their intentions or scraping their chair back. Multiply that by the 100+ people there and it’s a bloody nuisance!

People want to sit quietly and enjoy the ceremony, not be distracted by people constantly standing up, leaning round to block their view, etc etc. If you want to take a photo, you take a nice posed one outside afterwards.

It’s nothing to do with taking snaps of others’ ‘children’ and everything to do with not making the event annoying for others.

I just think it's not worth bothering to think about for more than 5 seconds tbh

@Whatwouldscullydo

Why was there a no photo rule?

If they were trying to rip you off by flogging you a long video of everyone else's family just so you can see the 30 seconds of yours then good fir them for not falling for it tbh.

I don't think it's just about selling a video, tbh. It's about preventing self-absorbed, rude people for ruining it for everyone else by using flash photography, blocking other people's views to get their own photos/videos by holding up their cameras in front of other people, standing in front of other people, moving about, etc. It's distracting and rude to everyone else.

I've also seen arsehole parents do all these things as they get loads of photos of their own child, roaming about and standing in front of others to do so while they're on stage, then sit down and play on their phone for the remainder of the performance in the front fucking row because their child was no longer the centre of attention on stage. So blatantly rude to all the other children and families.

I agree. I remember going to a school service once in a cathedral and parents standing up to take photos. I was

I am going to be attending a graduation in November.
I will not be standing up, bobbing about and waving my phone around trying to get some film of DS. I'd be quite happy to pay for something a bit better without a view of everyone's heads/phones etc

I'll get some pictures myself outside after the ceremony.

How much does the video cost? Why would you want a video of 100 people graduating, surely you just want one photo of your own child.

@HungryHippo11

How much does the video cost? Why would you want a video of 100 people graduating, surely you just want one photo of your own child.

I'd not even be that fussed about a picture or film of DS receiving whatever it is they receive TBF. Just a photo of him on the day. he graduated in May 2020 so I think it's all a bit after the event now.

As someone who has graduated from both Oxford and Cambridge, they are awash with 'silly' rules as regards attire for graduands. Asking relatives etc not to photograph is perfectly reasonable during the ceremonies, which are complicated enough (mortar boards, latin, gown changes, kneeling, not kneeling etc etc) without camera flashes etc. The universities and these ceremonies have evolved over the centuries, and the rules are the rules, and they need to be respected. The graduands respect them so should guests.

Agree, it's rude. Not the same but I wasn't able to see my son's nativity production because of people holding up phones and iPads as well as wearing a fucking bobble hat which blocked the view entirely so I had to find a chair and then tip toe on the chair just to see him (Im 5 foot 7!)

People don't live in the moment any more, it's pathetic.

In Cambridge BTW, there is a system that takes a photo of each graduand, and a much better view than can be achieved by guests. In Oxford at the Sheldonian, giving seating etc, you would not be able to capture much without standing up and obstructing the views of others. Plus given the extended nature of the ceremony, a video is better. Photos outside if you want pictures of gown etc, either your own or professional photographers.

I mean how many times are you going to look at the footage you take in any case?
About a hundred times the first week then never again probably.

Even 30 years ago there were rules about no flash photography.

Taking videos and answering texts doesn’t damage a Listed Building. Neither, generally, does flash photography. The no flash thing is about a very specific risk to very specific pieces (usually paintings) and actually, is only a risk if done at very close quarters by a lot of people.

I thought the no flash photography would be more because it's distracting and would affect the official filming?

I thought the no flash photography would be more because it's distracting and would affect the official filming?

If the filming is set up correctly it shouldn’t impact that much, but sure, could be distracting. Definitely nothing to do with it being a listed building.

I am genuinely surprised by the number of so what? people on here. I think we have identified those who do think it’s acceptable to stand up/block views/spend the whole time with a raised “camera arm”…

As I said, and agree with a pp, the worst are those who make a big kerfuffle for their own dc’s appearance, and then stand up and leave, or talk and go on their phone when it’s he turn of everyone else. Selfish and rude dicks.

That, and that a small percentage of the population have photosensitive epilepsy...

I think sometimes it's a mix of so everyone is focused on the event, rather than e.g. 50 flashing cameras going off ect, on the flip side, it could also be because the event is being filmed officially , then it's also extra revenue for the company.

@BoredZelda

I thought the no flash photography would be more because it's distracting and would affect the official filming?

If the filming is set up correctly it shouldn’t impact that much, but sure, could be distracting. Definitely nothing to do with it being a listed building.

I didn't understand the listed building thing TBH. If they're making an official record of the day then lots of flash photography isn't going to be good on it, and the graduates will be blinded.

I am not sure I'm really looking forward to going to DSs if it's going to be chaotic.

As for why people ignore the rule, I guess depending on the situation people want the results there and then, rather than waiting for the official release of the events recordings ect

And those sneering at Oxford and Cambridge, ok, then, let’s substitute Southampton Solent. Still just as rude and ignorant to block views and be camera arrogant.

A woman was standing up and taking photos during a service in St. Paul’s Cathedral when we were last there.
She was asked by an usher to desist, she sat down then stood up and started again when he was out of sight. At that point other attendees told her to stop and she huffily did.
Some people just believe they can do whatever they want to, wherever they are.

@Wole

I went to a really solemn almost joyless wedding. There wasn't a no photo rule. It's not like a funeral. It's a good thing.

Which part was a good thing? The perfectly reasonable no photos bit? Or the 'joyless' () bit?

As soon as it stops other people enjoying the event, it's rude, isn't it? Noises and bobbing up and down. Just get a grip and take a nice photo outside with the mortar board on.

@Wole

Agree they ruin gigs. But at a graduation surely it would just be one or two taking photos of their graduate not a whole crowd of people taking pictures. It's up to them if they want to witness the moment through a phone screen they might want pictures for relatives unable to attend.

Agree. It should only be allowed at gigs, for the first 10 minutes the act is on, then taking pics/filming should be forbidden. Anyone who does it after that is thrown out.

But yeah, it should be allowed at school plays and school concerts, and also University Graduations.

@persee

I do agree that YANBU, but I don't understand WHY people can't take pics/video footage. This has happened at a few things we have been to - no pics/no filming - and once other people start it, we join in. Like fuck am I not going to take pics and film a bit of it, if other people are doing it.

I also agree with the posters saying the venue/uni whatever, are just hoping to make money themselves. We took our own pics at the Graduation Ceremonies of our DC, and never had the 'official' ones. Saved a fortune on them. They were asking £80 for the basic package. And the 'premium package' was £150.

They also had graduation 'teddies' and glasses, and 'plates' etc, that had the name of the uni on it, at exorbitant prices - like £40-55, just because it had the name of the uni on it! AND the hire of the cap and gown was about £50.

Absolute rip off. Someone, somewhere, in universities, is making an absolute killing from this shit. It's like schools; someone, somewhere is making a fortune (from parents,) from the massively overpriced school uniforms and P.E. kits etc, etc...