Thread by @AlexandraErin

The absolute gall of someone complaining that people are enjoying a museum wrong and then wondering why people think they are a snob.

"People are all bunched up im front of the paintings with their phones out!"

Sure, and if they put their phones away they would all go bunch up in front of the elevator instead? Standing in front of paintings is going to happen. The people snapping photos might move on quicker.

I mean, for heaven's sake, you're British. Aren't you supposed to be good at be queuing? If there is a crowd in front of the sunflowers, you wait for them to move on and then you step forward. It's not complicated, if you're able bodied.

So what it really comes down to is a feeling that if the people taking photos weren't allowed to do so, then they wouldn't be there at all and you wouldn't be forced to wait behind people who "don't appreciate art" the way you do.

My way of enjoying a museum would no doubt scandalize them. To my mind, fully engaging with the art includes a lot of irreverent riffing. And using my phone to look up additional info about the piece and the artist. And taking photos to tweet.

A tourist photo of a painting or photograph is often disappointing, but you know what? If you rarely visit museums you might not know that yet. Also somebody pointing their phone at literally everything might have a reason not apparent to you.