Lacking respect?

Do I detect that social media - in particular the twin evil axis of Facebook and Twitter - are turning even the most competent and level headed of naturalists into greedy consumers and show-offs? There has been for a while, and continues to be, a mania for posting 'selfies' with the target species. An orchid photo isn't complete without a gurning botanist's face inches away from the plant, or a rare hawk-moth hanging off of the entomologist's nose. Or even worse, the positioning of a line of moths on a wall (recently Bordered Straws or any hawk-moths you care to mention) to underline just what a good night's haul it has been, (Strictly Moth Dancing?) To me this smacks of turning our wildlife into a performing circus and lacks a certain amount of respect for it. I am also concerned that in certain elevated quarters the rush to obtain, consume and tick is becoming reminiscent of a seabird feeding frenzy - all panic and no savouring of what is on offer. Am I just being a misery guts? Do I need to lighten up?


This belter turned up in the garden MV last night - Oncocera semirubella, a pyralid that is localised to the chalk. I couldn't quite bring myself to dangle exposed parts of my body over the moth, and didn't have enough of them so that they could be arranged into the shape of a dick. Sorry...

Comments

Dylan Wrathall said…
Steve,
There is so much I could say - but won't! "Told you so" should be adequate for the time being.
Love, peace and lentil soup - Dyl
13 July 2015 at 18:11
John said…
Sadly 'twas always so!! Nice moth Steve!
13 July 2015 at 20:37
Simon Douglas Thompson said…
I find a lot of the pro twitchers tend to be not terribly in to interacting with the low end amateurs like me!
13 July 2015 at 22:56
Derek Faulkner said…
Your comments come as no surprise to many of us Steve, the digital camera era has spawned a whole generation of David Attenborough wanna-bees who seem to think that getting a close up photograph of something turns them into an expert naturalist. Fortunately I haven't felt the need to join the Facebook/Twitter world and so I have been spared the examples that you mention, I mean, lining moths up on a wall? bit like the old gamekeeper's gibbet isn't it,
14 July 2015 at 05:25
Steve Gale said…
Thanks for the comments! Is it an age thing? I don't know how old you are Simon, but the rest of us are quite clearly the wrong side of 50 - and in some cases 60!
14 July 2015 at 19:30
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