>I think the authors of these two postings expect us, as museum
>workers or people with more than a passing interest in museums, to empathise
>with their feelings at seeing such uncultured museum-visitor behaviour, and to
>nod in knowing agreement - "yes, isn't it terrible". Well I do not
>empathise with their feelings - as a museum worker I confess to being
>somewhat embarassed and exasperated by them.
>
>While I certainly do not believe that "anything goes" in terms of visitor
>behaviour in museums (I could get into trouble for that!), I think it is
downrig
>ht
>arrogant to assume that all those people who do bother to visit will know to
>behave in a manner that we think is acceptable. Entering a museum for the first
>time is for some people about as alien an experience as that of others entering
>a
>strange culture as a visitor/refugee/immigrant. The host culture (and
>the museum) must help newcomers/visitors orientate themselves, try to encourage
>behaviour that is deemed acceptable in that culture, etc.,  not yell
>at them or make fun of them and their lack of understanding of the language and
>mores of the culture.
>
Hmm ... Um, no.

I think David Haberstich hit the nail on the head and I congradulate him.
While those in the museum community would see it as "reverence," what I see
is a total lack of respect for things that don't belong to you. By the way -
for the record - I'm talking about middle-American, East coast American,
Southern American, and Southwest American culture now (with some of the
Netherlands, England, and Wales thrown in).

I practically grew up in the Museum of Natural History in New York City. My
earliest memory there was when I was about seven years old when I reached
out to touch one of the exhibits, and my mom took hold of my hand, looked
down at me and said, "And if you broke that, would you be able to PAY for
it?" When I was younger and did not have a clue about museum studies, I did
not rough-house or run or throw things or molest sculptures in museums
because these things didn't belong to me. If you're going to encourage
people to pick things up and handle them, I suggest you go into the antique
business.

Now that I am older, I don't touch museum objects because they STILL don't
belong to me, but also because I have enough of a background in conservation
to know that such handling is detrimental to the artifacts. You also have to
look at safety issue also - what if someone comes away with a splinter from
a wooden frame? Slices a hand open on a lighthouse lens prism, or whacks a
hand really good like a visitor did at the Smithsonian when he was howling
with laughter and clanging the bell on the bell buoy in the Maritime Hall?
Yes - I smiled at that. He got what he deserved, but you can bet the idea of
a lawsuit against the Smithsonian for having these "dangerous" artifacts
around went through his mind.

But, I digress. It is a question of respect, and if I am to be labeled
"arrogant" for expecting the best of people (I also don't expect people to
relieve themselves in public or spit on Holy Ground), then I will wear that
label proudly, but wonder if you realize that YOU are being condescending in
"understanding" bad behavior. There are certain rules of decorum that govern
all our lives. The lack of respect for objects in museums is symptomatic of
a larger problem. If we have to "thrive and not just survive" by letting
people plant a wet sloppy kiss on the face of the Mona Lisa, why were we all
appalled when a sculptor attacked the statue of David with a hammer because
he couldn't stand to look at such perfection? Now it is perfection lost to
all of us. I resent that.

We hear about American public education failing our children because they
cater to the lowest common demoninator in the classroom. Are WE to fall into
that trap too? Yes, it is in our mission to teach and acquaint people with
the wonderful collections that museums keep FOR ALL HUMANITY, but we have to
try to protect the collections from irresponsible individuals who care
nothing for what they're looking at (handling, abusing, molesting).

On the note of who we do our work for.... I do my work at the moment for
individuals wishing to come in to research and conduct analysis with our
collections. I do my REAL work for future generations. Everyone seems to
forget that we have an obligation to insure that these artifacts or art
objects or whatever else we're entrusted with, is around forever. Does it
make sense that - let's pretend it's my cultural belief that demons haunt
Old Growth Spotted Owl Trees in Oregon and California, so I convince enough
people to grab their chainsaws and we cut them down. Is THAT responsible
behavior? Stewardship? Will we all "understand" when these irreplaceable
artifacts are in pieces in a conservator's lab?

Maybe I'll change the screen saver on my computer at work to scroll "I am
arrogant to expect respectfulness and decency in people."

Amy Marshall

Hi, Kyra! I was horrified by your story too! We'll get curators to
understand the dangers sometime!!    :)