Ground Zero: British Stag Party

[agchristie]

Is it generally wrong and unacceptable under any circumstances to take selfies,'laugh and smile' at the site?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3782563/I-lost-husband-sacred-ground-m-disgusted-British-stag-cause-outrage-taking-selfies-NAKED-BLOW-DOLL-Ground-Zero-eve-15th-anniversary-9-11-police-order-leave.html

[chrissa1]

No comprendo, agc. :/

[jourdain2]

It's unacceptable to be carrying a doll like that around in public anyway.
People should be thoughtful at a place like that, not smiling and laughing. A respectful photo of the site is OK - a self-glorifying, laughing 'selfie' is not.
I used to live not all that far from Oradour-sur-Glane - whole village slaughtered and burned by the Nazis - and visited several times (the ruins have been preserved as a 'Village of Martyrs') There are many visitors (lots of Germans) and all, including children, walk around seriously and appropriately.

I found the photos of all the smiling tourists somewhat sickening.

[Pigletion]

I agree they were thoughtless, but I think the issue might have been with regard to "If they knew they were going to the memorial, you would have thought they should have deflated the darn thing, at least."

The memorial is not far away from anything, you don't have to travel to get there, like you would a cemetery or concentration camp, it is right there in the middle amongst shops, high rises etc. and noise of the city. I was in NY last year and loads of building work was still going on around One World Trade Centre and you could walk past and not know you were at the site of a memorial (from some sides, literally couldn't see it for building work). I would think the memorial museum, which is underground, is far more solemn. I suspect that this was not a planned trip, but on the way to somewhere else.

I agree that they were thoughtless (and the doll is just sad/pathetic/try hard, regardless), but, sadly, it seems selfies appear to be order of the day and the site for a lot of people is a tourist attraction rather than a site of memorial/reflection.

[sp1814]

New Judge

I still think mentioning Islam in the context of this thread is illogical.

I'll give you a very pertinent analogy - a few weeks ago, there was a news story about people playing Pokemon Go in Auschwitz.

The context of that story, like this one, has two elements - the people involved, and the place.

I don't recall anyone even mentioning the SS during the debate over the appropriateness of playing Pokemon in Auschwitz.

Because it is not relevant.

[tamborine]

Theyre not Brits! Our boys dont go sockless in esperdrilles. 6th photo after vid "...other visitors to memorial looked on, etc...." other visitors looked more like Brits in pop socks, trainers, trousers & designer sunni's.

Our stylish boys dont need blow ups.

[agchristie]

Chrissa > No comprendo, agc. :/

Ref to a blow up sheep not a doll.

[Islay]

Bang out of order! It has not gone down well over here in the States! I ran into a couple of groups over the last week and without hearing them I know their from the UK! They drink to much they run around half naked and their manners are disgusting!

[agchristie]

Sp > I don't recall anyone even mentioning the SS during the debate over the appropriateness of playing Pokemon in Auschwitz.

I wasn't involved or saw that thread but what I would say is that OP's of many topics often take some weird and not so wonderful twists and turns.

I would concede that the theme of Islam does work it's way into many discussions,some with a far more tenuous link to this question,but it is symptomatic of the increasing depth of feeling that issues relating to Islam and immigration that many people have.

In the forseeable world Islam is here to stay in the 'News' section (perhaps at times when you least expect it).

[agchristie]

Islay > I ran into a couple of groups over the last week and without hearing them I know their from the UK! They drink to much they run around half naked and their manners are disgusting!

In what way were they then identifiably British?

[Zacs-Master]

The blow up doll, probably.

[Islay]

Running around dressed as giant babies with bibs on stating 'danny's50th' peeing against walls and generally being drunk and disorderly! Then you hear them speak!!

[agchristie]

Islay - are you referring to the vicinity of the Ground Zero site?

[Islay]

No these are groups I have see in California since I have been here. They are embarrassing and frankly old enough to know better!

[agchristie]

Islay,I misunderstood.I thought you were in NY..

Do you think Stag Nights should not happen at all,only in Britain or is it acceptable abroad?

[-Talbot-]

Well at least these embarrassing and disgusting Brit's haven't shot anyone one. Thank the Lord for small mercies.

[Islay]

I believe personally that they should behave with a sense of decorum

[New Judge]

“I don't recall anyone even mentioning the SS during the debate over the appropriateness of playing Pokemon in Auschwitz.”

If the Nazis were still extant and still carrying out atrocities in the name of their cause, they might have. Fortunately they are not and anybody behaving disrespectfully at Auschwitz would not be dragged off to suffer some inhuman punishment at the hands of the SS or the Gestapo. The difference is that those whose philosophy created Ground Zero are still very much in evidence. My point is that if they had their way such disrespectful behaviour at places they hold dear (let’s say Mecca for example) would be swiftly and ruthlessly punished. The USA and the west is slightly more tolerant and people are allowed more freedom. You may not see a connection and that’s your privilege. But I do.

[pastafreak]

According to the article,these guys work on Wall Street...and how they are dressed looks typical of City workers on a day off. Nothing says they have to look like the bare chested yobbos that frequent most British towns and cities on a summers day.
Still lacking in sense...no matter where they come from.