To be horrified at a friend posting pictures of Auschwitz on Instagram

[threecupsofteaminimum]

I'm stunned. I visited the three concentration camps about 18 years ago, obviously we didn't have camera phones then.

I don't recall anyone taking photographs, it was difficult to describe, as a young backpacker one day you're here one day you're there.

A group of us went to a pub afterwards in Oswiecim however nobody really wanted to bond or chat after meeting 'there' it just felt so inappropriate.

Now I'm seeing pictures on Instagram like it's their latest holiday snaps and I'm stunned. I don't know what else to say, is nothing sacred anymore.

I took pictures of a concentration camp when were in Berlin, as long as the pictures are respectful I don't see the problem.

Yeah, it’s grim.

Similar to taking selfie’s next to graves.

Personally I think it should be closed and everything left to rest, but that’s just my opinion.

I dunno, I think the more it's kept in the forefront of our minds and available for every one to see ,the better.

I visited in 2019. I posted a photo of the main entrance to Birkeneau, taken as I stood on the train tracks. I posted it alongside a caption where i mentioned how poignant the visit was for me (family connection) and a link to The Shoah Foundation’s donation webpage.

There were a fair few people behaving like proper “tourists” when I was there, and it made me really angry Mostly teenagers. Our tour guide actually had a pop at a group of Spanish teens and told them “You’re not at Disneyland!”

I think it’s from.

Having visited and seen one utter gobshite taking selfies in an area we were specifically told absolutely no photos in here, it sadly doesn’t surprise me.

As long as she gets a few ‘likes’ on the gram tho eh!

But you went there as a tourist, which is pretty much the same thing, I'd say.

These places cannot ever be forgotten. Taking pictures helps force people to remember that they are there and these things did happen. It's easier for our generations to forget about them as very few of us have any living relatives who experienced this first hand.

That said, if someone is using it as background for a selfie shoot or to make a silly tiktok then they are disrespectful and should be called out.

*grim

Yeah, I went a few years ago and it felt disrespectful to bring out the phone for photos. There were many in the group who felt the same as we did.

Some dickhead was recording the whole guided tour with his full size ipad. So many of us took every opportunity to bump his arm to give it a good wobble or get our heads in his shot as much as possible with the aim that he'd have the shittiest video possible.

I don’t know, do they acknowledge what they saw and learnt? I wouldn’t do it, having visited Natzwiller and been speechless at the site’s very existance but Auschwitz and other camps stay open so people don’t forget or minimise what happened. Part of the outreach is about reaching out to those that can’t or wont visit themselves. But visitors posting contextless scenic snaps undermine this.

@PolytheneRam

But you went there as a tourist, which is pretty much the same thing, I'd say.

Yes I did, as a young woman to educate myself. I also travelled to 28 other countries by myself to educate myself about the world.

The memories of Poland and the genocide museum in Cambodia did not require holiday snaps, the images remain vivid in my mind.

I took a few photos at Auschwitz, most of them black and white, actually very tasteful and sombre. I did post them on Facebook and did have them as part of my bigger album of my trip to Poland.

The one thing that sticks in my mind is what the guide told us about visitors. The SURVIVORS wanted it to become a museum, they wanted people to visit, they wanted people to share what they'd seen and learnt and wanted to keep the horror of what happened talked about, and seen. They didn't want anyone to ever forget what happened there. This is their history, they choose what happens and they want it to be shared. It's no one else's business to be horrified on their behalf.

Obviously selfies/photos with people in are completely different. But the place itself - absolutely fine and what the survivors wanted.

As long as she gets a few ‘likes’ on the gram tho eh!

I don't think taking as photo itself is bad but why post it or do a smiling selfie in front. It's odd

I recall that, but to minimise ones emotions because they have 'no place' is tricky, how can anyone NOT be horrified.

The fact it remains open to the public in order for us not to forget in one thing. Posting snaps on social media for likes for me anyway, is something else

Whilst not answering the AIBU I would encourage you to follow their twitter account: twitter.com/AuschwitzMuseum

Every day they post pictures of prisoners who were born on that day and what their outcome was. It's utterly heartbreaking but so important to remember.

@fillitup

As long as she gets a few ‘likes’ on the gram tho eh!

I don't think taking as photo itself is bad but why post it or do a smiling selfie in front. It's odd

There was no mention of a smiling selfie. We need to remember and be horrified by this so there’s no chance of anything like it ever happening again. I can’t see anything wrong with a respectful Insta post.

I don't have a problem with it, I think it's important to keep remembering what happened. It was a terrible example of how evil and hatred can grow. Given the times I think it is now more important than ever to remember that we are all humans and we must never allow ourselves to be led down paths which result in such awful things. I have been to the Belsen camp and seen some of the videos, it is chilling but something that as many people should be aware of as possible. If that means instagrammers posting photos then so be it.

PS = that's the collective 'you' not just OP

Tasteful photographs I have no problems with, selfies in gas chambers (which I did see people doing that) completely wrong. I think it's important to never forget what happened. Side note the Yad Vashem in Israel is the best Shoah museum.

I think it's deeply disrespectful and inappropriate.

I would agree that selfies or group shots are inappropriate, but can't see the issue with taking a few photos of the place and posting them to Insta (or wherever).

A lot of people will never go to Auschwitz, others probably never even heard of it (sadly). I've never been and if someone posted shots of the sites on their Insta, I'd probably have a look.

There was no mention of a smiling selfie.

Not in the OP but there was in other posts & Ive seen similar on SM.

We need to remember and be horrified by this so there’s no chance of anything like it ever happening again.

I don't think anyone would disagree.

I can’t see anything wrong with a respectful Insta post.

People have different definitions of respectful though...

@threecupsofteaminimum

I recall that, but to minimise ones emotions because they have 'no place' is tricky, how can anyone NOT be horrified.

The fact it remains open to the public in order for us not to forget in one thing. Posting snaps on social media for likes for me anyway, is something else

Not everyone posts pictures of things for likes. It’s perfectly feasible it is to show the place to people who will never get the chance to travel there.

I can’t imagine what you’d be taking pictures of. Hardly things you want to remember. Pay respects and leave.

I also can’t imagining visiting a place like that. Awful.