AIBU to wonder if people ever watch back videos of events taken on their mobiles?

[Tuilpmouse]

And whether people regret not actually living in the moment?

I was thinking exactly the same thing.

Was thinking this too.

Probably not. They just use them as proof they were at an event, usually to people who a) would have believed them without video evidence and b) couldn’t be less interested in watching a blurry shaky video of nothing much but feel they have to be polite.

I was thinking exactly this. Notable who isn’t filming - mostly older soldiers.

I do all the time, just last night my fiancé and I were having a right laugh watching some of the stupid videos from when we first started dating. I’ve never regretted taking pictures or videos but I have regretted not taking them. Memories fade and people come in and out of your life, pictures are forever (or at least a very very long time… if you don’t misplace them ofc😅)

I expect the vast majority don't, ever, but feel the need somehow and then ruin the experience of the event itself. Weird psychology going on that i don't really understand.

Yes, I think something like a 10 second clip of an event with sound etc captures an experience with much more depth than a photo and I do watch them back. Filming for much longer than that is a bit odd though I agree.

It's such a strange thing to do. They can watch it back on YouTube later if they want to. I've never understood it.

I find it odd people taking photos of a funeral procession.

I'm not thinking about that. I have all sorts of videos, especially when the children were young, that I sometimes enjoy looking back on, I'm thinking more of those who seem to be standing with their arms outstretched videoing the Queen's funeral procession. I get taking a few seconds of footage as a record, but most or all an event.

I had a colleague who said he was never really involved in his children's birthday parties because he videoed them from start to finish - how sad I thought.

It’s entirely possible to take lots of pictures and videos while still being in the moment and at least with pictures that moment can then last and be relived. Like @Floofboopsnootandbork said memories can disappear but pictures can last a lifetime, that’s something my grandpa told me years ago and I always make sure to capture moments in pictures and video to cherish and remember forever.
My parents house is full of albums with old pictures and hours of old camera footage of us when we were kids, things I had forgotten about or never would’ve remembered. My house is cluttered with picture frames and I have over 35000 pics and vids on my phone which I do look through occasionally yes.
Just because it’s something you don’t want to do doesn’t mean other people are wrong to do it themselves.

Yes, it's very odd to be taking videos of the funeral, when you've got front row seats to one of the biggest spectacles ever. 4 billion people watching. It's never going to look as good watching it back on a phone. This funeral will, no doubt, be on Iplayer and YouTube in full for many a year.

Well yes, that’s weird. What on earth would possess someone to video a funeral let alone one that’s already being filmed and will be available to watch whenever they want 🤨 But you didn’t specify you meant this one event.

How do you think things like a concert get onto Youtube in the first place?

I often make small video clips to show other people. You can learn a lot more from a video than a photo.

Normally I’d agree with you- I hate being at a gig and everyone’s got their iPhone in the air filming rather than watching.

Having said that, this is quite a historical occasion and I can understand people wanting to film it from their own point of view… imagine if your great-grandad had some video footage from watching the crowds at the Queen’s coronation, maybe with your great-grandma there waving at the camera. That would be pretty special.

Agree on 10-20 seconds max though!

I do, I also share them with my disabled mother who can’t go to events any more

It annoys me when other people are filming events, like concerts, processions etc. It always makes me feel like I should be doing it too ... but I can't be arsed!

I watch back videos on my phone all the time.

I haven’t ruined events but thanks for the faux concern.

I have lots of videos of my cats. I regularly watch them back.

And my cats doing stuff are my big events 😂
I have some nice footage of the children participating in activities that I like to rewatch too.

Agree, but one of my friends shoves her phone in your face to show you videos she's taken, so there must be some appetite for replaying them.

It’s crazy to me. You see whole crowds at concerts watching their phone screens. Is nothing real unless you record it now?

I do! Literally just watched my daughters ballet recitals from when she was little. Made me smile

I do. I also don’t find that taking a short video clip stops me of living in the moment either.

When you see the videos uploaded to the Internet, I can't believe that they capture the true sense of experience. Its other people's noise and presence that seems to be focal.

I really detest seeing people live life through their phone screen. Put it down and just enjoy the experience!

I don't regret leaving my phone in my pocket ever because I remember how I felt, the atmosphere and the experience.