10 Auschwitz Visitors Unacceptable Behaviours People Have Noticed This Year

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10 Auschwitz Visitors Unacceptable Behaviours People Have Noticed This Year

Auschwitz is a place that holds the weight of history with its tragic past being a stark reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust. As a sacred site of memory and mourning, it demands the highest level of respect from its visitors.

However, not everyone seems to understand or honor this sentiment. Over this year, numerous reports have emerged on popular forums highlighting some disrespectful behaviors exhibited by tourists at Auschwitz.

Here, we’ll explore ten shocking behaviors noticed by other visitors, shedding light on why such actions can be hurtful and inappropriate.

1. People on the phone

Visiting Auschwitz is an opportunity to reflect on the grim events of history, yet some visitors choose to disregard this by talking loudly on their phones. This not only disrupts the solemn atmosphere but also shows a lack of respect for the victims commemorated here.

Engaging in loud conversations distracts others who are there to pay their respects and absorb the gravity of the site, turning a place of mourning into just another noisy tourist spot.

2. People on Facetime

It’s become common to see people using Facetime to give live tours to friends and family from Auschwitz. This practice disrupts the somber environment, as the act of broadcasting reduces the visit to a casual sightseeing experience.

Such behavior can be seen as insensitive to the memory of those who suffered in the Holocaust, as it treats a place of immense historical and emotional significance as merely a backdrop for social interaction.

3. People taking photos for social media

The use of tripods and elaborate photo setups for social media posts on the train tracks at Auschwitz is particularly insensitive. These tracks were the route many victims traveled, marking their final journey into unimaginable suffering.

Using them as a prop for social media not only trivializes the pain and loss associated with this place but also interrupts others’ experiences who visit to honor and remember.

4. People miming what happened in the camp

Some visitors have been seen miming the actions of victims or soldiers, turning the history of Auschwitz into a spectacle. This behavior is grossly inappropriate and offensive as it mocks and belittles the severe human rights abuses that occurred here. Such acts can deeply hurt survivors and relatives of victims, besides showing a profound disrespect for the deceased.

5. People scratching the buildings

Scratching or damaging the structures at Auschwitz not only causes physical harm to a protected historical site but also disrespects the memory it holds.

These marks are a form of vandalism and are illegal, showing a blatant disregard for the preservation efforts that help educate future generations about the horrors of the Holocaust.

6. People vlogging for YouTube

While documenting a visit to Auschwitz can be educational, vlogging tends to shift the focus from respectful remembrance to personal promotion.

Vloggers speaking loudly and filming extensively often disrupt the reflective quiet expected at such a site, and turning a place of tragedy into a backdrop for content creation can be seen as highly disrespectful.

7. People taking selfies with big smiles

Taking cheerful selfies at Auschwitz is incredibly inappropriate. Smiling photos fail to capture the somber significance of the site and can be seen as making light of the suffering that occurred there. It is important to approach such locations with the gravity they deserve, rather than treating them as just another tourist landmark.

8. People loudly complaining about the amount of walking

Complaints about physical discomfort while touring Auschwitz can come off as insensitive considering the extreme suffering endured by the camp’s prisoners. Such comments can be hurtful to those who are there to contemplate the atrocities faced by victims and undermine the purpose of the visit, which is to honor and remember.

9. People picnicking on site

Auschwitz is not a park but a memorial site where millions were oppressed and murdered. Eating and picnicking on the grounds can seem especially disrespectful, as it ignores the site’s grave historical significance and the mourning atmosphere it upholds.

10. People engraving “I was here” or football team names on the barracks

Carving names or messages into the barracks at Auschwitz is an act of vandalism that damages the preservation of the site and disrespects the memories of those who suffered there.

These engravings can cause permanent damage to historical artifacts and show a lack of understanding and respect for the solemnity of the site.

Each of these behaviors not only disrupts the solemn atmosphere of Auschwitz but also shows a lack of understanding of the site’s historical and emotional significance. It’s crucial that visitors remember the importance of respect and reflection when visiting such impactful locations.