Are selfies ruining museums? One reader thinks galleries should ban photography
I was saddened to read about the clumsy visitor to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence who ripped a 300-year-old portrait by Anton Domenico Gabbiani while trying to take a selfie (MetroTalk, Wed).
On my first visit to Florence recently, any gallery or museum visit was ruined by the number of people who didn't seem to want to look at the incredible paintings but get as close to the canvas as they could to take a selfie. I think the galleries should ban photography. Mary Maguire, London
So Brad Pitt says he's 'missed out on having a gay experience' (Metro, Thu). Get yourself to London, Brad, and sample some. More than willing to show you round. Bob Jones, Kidbrooke
To those like Ken (MetroTalk, Tue) complaining about the heat on the buses in the summer, here's a radical suggestion: ride a bike and avoid congestion. Geoff, Oxford
As the dry spell continues, I have noticed more and more sad, wilting trees and shrubs in public places.
Councils and office owners spend so much on trying to make public spaces attractive but sometimes don't bother to follow up by watering regularly.
If any of us notice this happening, as well as bringing attention to it, we can actually do things ourselves even if 'it's not our job'. Geoff Cosson, London
London mayor Sadiq Khan has been bounding around proclaiming that the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has received the support of the overwhelming majority of Londoners. The claim is based on a consultation that had just over 6,000 respondents – two-thirds (66 per cent) of whom saying they were in favour.
London has a population of 9million – 6,000 people does not constitute the voice of London residents and owners of businesses who operate there.
Yes, 66 per cent is a majority but absolutely not an overwhelming majority. Two-thirds of 6,000 is 4,000. In a population of 9million, 4,000 does not constitute a mandate. Jee Wode, London
To the teacher in hi-vis at Loughton station in north-east London on Monday morning who reprimanded me for pushing through a 'herd of buffalo' mass of schoolkids who stampeded onto the Tube carriage in a cacophony of infantile screams and shouts.
I had to push through as they obviously ignored my attempt to alight from the train. I would have been trapped in that carriage if I'd permitted that army of underage stormtroopers to gain an extra inch.
I'm not sure by their body language whether they even acknowledged the existence of a 61-year-old man with a herniated lumbar disc and an impaired left leg – that was me – who was simply trying to get off the train.
By shaming me for doing the common sense and practical thing, you only shame yourself and your profession. It was your job to corral these kids into line and request them to let people off the train first – and you failed.
You told me they were 'only children'. From what I could see, they were roughly 11 years old and old enough to obey instructions. More Trending
And unlike me, they have young bones impervious to wear and tear and injury. William Barklam, Erith
May I add to your silly joke submissions to lighten the mood? Two eggs boiling in a pan of water, one says to the other, 'Phew it's hot in here.' 'Wait until they take you out,' says the other, 'that's when they bash your head in.' Pat, Whitefield
A good friend of mine – the local blacksmith – died. I adopted his dog.
When I got him home, the first thing he did was make a bolt for the door. Peter Meyers, Bromley
MORE: Bowling, burgers, fries and drinks: 10 unmissable Time Out deals
MORE: Look cute on the court this summer with H&M Move's new racket collection
MORE: Porn sites to make major change to who can watch x-rated videos
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
2 hours ago
- ITV News
Government urged to intervene as London pubs struggle with rising costs and high tax rates
The British Beer and Pub Association is calling on the government for more support for pubs in the capital that are struggling with rising costs and high tax rates A survey by the BBPA found 59% of Londoners think business rates for pubs are unfair. It comes despite data from the Office for National Statistics suggesting London saw a net loss of just 10 pubs between 2023 and 2024. The government says its protecting and extending business rates relief. In a statement the Treasury added: "We know the vital importance of pubs to local communities and the wider economy, which is why we are protecting pavement pints and al fresco dining, have cut alcohol duty on draught pints in the pub, and are protecting and extending business rates relief which would have ended without this government's action. "The tax decisions we took at the Budget last year mean that we have been able to deliver on the priorities of the British people, from investing in the NHS to cutting waiting lists and putting more money in their pockets with a wage boost for millions as we deliver on the Plan for Change." Figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal: 59% of Londoners say the current business rates deal for pubs is unfair 50% of voters in London would back a party that pledges to cut pub taxes, turning rates reform into a potential election lever 69% have taken part in a community activity in a pub this year, and 44% fear losing that space if their local shuts – highlighting the pub's role as a lifeline. Kate Davidson, Publican of The Old Ivy House in Clerkenwell said: "We knew it would be tough, but it's become relentless. "We're growing, but the profits don't reflect that proportionally. "The pub isn't just about pints; it's about lonely people finding connection, students bonding with retirees, and parents feeling welcome. That's the value the current rates system completely ignores."
Metro
14 hours ago
- Metro
Shaming the youth, stripping Andrew's role, knives in schools and nuclear power
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments. In the most recent episode of 'Let's bash the youth for no reason,' Fred from Sunderland (MetroTalk, Fri) criticises them for wastefulness because they've never given food waste to a pig farmer in exchange for pork, as he did. Sounds like an idyllic childhood, Fred, but my parents – who are in now in their late 70s – didn't have any such scheme. Everything went in the black bin and was left out for the binmen. The pork would just be a joint from Tesco. Young people today have a better idea about recycling than most. I know back in your day, Fred, your elders would have criticised your generation, too. It's what we do when we get older and more out of step with things. Just be aware this is what's happening for you, rather than there being a generation of useless young people. Give them a break. Joe, London I agree with the two out of three people polled by YouGov who say Prince Andrew should be stripped of all his titles. All of the royal family should be. The whole Andrew/Jeffrey Epstein affair is just more evidence that we need to abolish the monarchy. Regardless of how involved he was with Epstein's crimes, Andrew's upbringing was so privileged and detached from reality that he saw the people around him more as furniture than human beings – as was thrown into stark relief by Emily Maitlis's BBC TV interview with him in 2019. And his position as a senior royal has, of course, only been achieved by dumb luck. Speaking of sheer dumb luck, we're fortunate that King Charles seems to be a kind, sensible chap. We could easily have someone like Andrew next in line to the throne – or worse, someone willing to use their undeserved power to get anything they want at the expense of ordinary people. Do we really want to keep taking that risk? Charlie Parrett, Stoke Further to the senseless murder of Harvey Willgoose, 15, and his mother's call for knife detectors in schools (Metro, Tue). It reminds me of their installation in schools near where I lived several years ago following an increase in knife crime. Some parents were horrified and many objected to the arches and to police providing a schools officer for every school. But why object to your child being kept safe? Those carrying knives soon found ways round it, anyway, such as hiding weapons in flowerbeds through fences and getting pals to throw them in. How do we stop knife crime, with knives readily available and weapons being made from all sorts of things? The punishment for carrying has to be a major consideration. Amanda Henry, Leeds Julie (MetroTalk, Thu) says violence against A&E nurses is 'shocking and inexcusable' but suggests it is 'understandable' patients feel frustrated at how long they have to wait to be seen. That is hurtful and deeply offensive. I do not know if she is making excuses to justify the abuse nurses are subjected to but that comment feels like a slap in the face. Sally, NHS Nurse Ryan (MetroTalk, Tue) talks about an 'imaginary ideal' that is driving people towards insecurity and potentially unsafe cosmetic procedures. Sorry to be a git but some of this 'ideal' is based on facts. Decades of research shows weight measured by body mass index has an ideal range. Sticking to it is not to do with beauty/attractiveness but health/longevity. Paul Duckett, Lewes I've been reading the correspondence about nuclear power and claims it is unsafe because of the Chernobyl incident (MetroTalk, Fri). More Trending If we applied the same thinking to dams, we'd have no reservoirs as they would be considered dangerous because of the huge number of people whose lives have been lost in dam failures across the planet over centuries. Given this, why do we accept reservoirs with absolute confidence as to their safety? Because we know lessons are learned from these disasters and that in this country we insist on the highest safety standards, which are not always practised abroad. Quite why the anti-nuclear lobby can't accept this baffles me. John Daniels, Redhill MORE: Premier League odds: Leeds United may have to settle for a draw with Everton on top-flight return MORE: Rail fares set to climb 'outrageous' amount in 'rip-off' blow for commuters MORE: Girl, 11, dies after incident in river at popular hiking spot
Metro
16 hours ago
- Metro
Adult-only hotels that ban children 'like dogs' could be made illegal in France
Children cannonballing into pools, running through the lobby and spaghetti on the floor in the restaurant. This is the kind of youthful chaos that a growing number of adults are keen to avoid while going on holiday – Metro readers included. Yet French politicians are looking at ending grown-up escapes as venues treat children as 'troublesome pests'. Should adult-only hotels be banned, or should adults be able to book time away from youngsters? Email us at: webnews@ Former French families minister Laurence Rossignol was quoted by The Guardian as saying: 'We can't organise society by separating children off from ourselves in the same way some establishments don't take dogs.' The Oise senator has proposed a bill to make it illegal to ban children from venues by considering it age discrimination under the Penal Code. These child-free spaces, according to Rossignol, amount to 'organising society around people's intolerance of others'. They 'allow people to say, 'I don't like children and I don't want to see them',' she said. 'And that is not acceptable, because to not like children is to not like humanity itself.' Our readers aren't so sure about that. Gid Eon told us: 'Surely that's also a form of discrimination. Discriminatory for those who don't want to be around a load of screaming kids?' Bliss Natasha added: 'People who choose not to have children should be able to go on holiday and have some peace.' Arwen Carol, a part-time supply teacher, said not wanting to be around children isn't discrimination, it's wanting to relax. 'There's plenty of spaces that cater really well for families with kids and there's space for both without turning it into an issue,' she commented. It's not just Rossingnol mourning the loss of the hotels with kids' clubs, teen zones with pool tables and face-painting sessions. Sarah El Haïry, the French government's high commissioner for childhood, believes excluding families from accommodation is 'real violence'. Haïry has launched a 'Family Choice' campaign for parents to recommend businesses that offer child-friendly prices, events and facilities. 'A child shouts, laughs and moves… we are institutionalising the idea that silence is a luxury and the absence of children is a luxury,' she told the broadcaster RTL. Adult-only holidays are nothing new, being popular since the 1970s in hotspots like Greece, Thailand and the US. Adverts for these child-free hotels, cruises and camps often feature smiling adults clinking glasses of wine in complete and utter silence. An Expedia survey in 2023 found that guests at these resorts were 63% more likely to rate their time as 'exceptional' compared to those at mixed-age resorts. Some Metro readers, including parents and guardians of children, said they'd even be willing to pay extra for a child-free hotel, flight or cinema. They described how it's not so much children not being on the premises that they're willing to pay for, but it's not being around childish behaviour. Shannon Baird said: 'As a mother of two, no, I don't think they should be banned. Not everyone wants to deal with our kids screaming and running around playing all the time.' Alex Doody wrote that, if he's paying thousands of pounds for a holiday, he expects a certain level of service. 'That level of service cannot be achieved if there are packs of 'free-range' kids running around unchecked, creating mayhem and iPad kids having a meltdown every time they're parted from Minecraft for two seconds,' he said. Thomas Pennington said that a simple reason why adult-only venues shouldn't be banned is that 'not everyone wants kids'. One in 10 French people say they don't want children, more than twice the number from 2005. As fewer French people have children, researchers estimate that up to 5% of the holiday market in France is adult-only. Hotels like Saint-Delis in Honfleur in Normandy promise 'peaceful' experiences away from youth, while Camp Laurent in the sunflower fields of Poitou-Charentes brands itself as 'exclusively for adults'. French tour operators like Fram and Kuoni are also catering more to 'adult-only' holiday experiences. More Trending No family in France has ever taken legal action against a venue for hanging a sign reading 'no children', according to French legal experts. Article 225-1 says people who discriminate against someone 'based on age or family status' face three years in prison and €45,000 (£39,000) fine. As much as the majority of Metro readers disagreed with the idea of banning child-free hotels, Sue Dudley said she feels differently. 'Each to their own,' she commented, 'but I find adult-only very boring.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Virgin orders 12 new high-speed trains in biggest challenge to Eurostar yet MORE: Manchester Airport flights grounded after easyJet planes 'clip wings' on runway MORE: Four bodies pulled from the same spot in the River Seine in Paris
