To photobomb, or not to photobomb. That is the question!

[BuckeyeBama]

Sure, ideally we'd all react to photobombers in a civilized way, telling them politely but firmly that they're being rude and their "humour" is unwelcome. That's assuming we even notice, and it's not just a disappointing discovery when we get home. ("Aw, everyone's eyes are open in this photo, but there's a jerk in the background making faces. Guess this won't be our family Christmas card, after all.")

However, photobombers also need to control their impulses. Two wrongs do not make a right.

I am responsible only for my own actions, and that includes choosing to not harass others in ways that I know very well might be unwelcome. I would never put the onus on a complete stranger to "control his impulses", if I deliberately chose to violate his personal space or inserted myself into his family photo.

My right to "have fun" does not EVER trump anyone else's right to be left alone by me.

I think that you are missing my point, but I am probably just not doing a good enough job explaining it, so I'll just let it go. I don't disagree with you. That is not my point.

 

[siskaren]

Someone else jumping into your photo is NOT messing up your photo. It's not rude. It's not childish.

Yes, it is rude. The photobomber isn't asking to be included in the photo. He (or she) just jumps in and does something goofy (or worse, something obnoxious) and then runs off. How is that not rude? And it's definitley childish because only a child could think it's OK to intentionally jump into someone else's picture and make a face or a rude gesture.

 

[chrismb22]

Someone else jumping into your photo is NOT messing up your photo. It's not rude. It's not childish.

My fiancee and I have had many many laughs at photobombed photos from Disney. These are the ones we like the most. I don't do it, because it's not my style, but I have no problem with people who do.

Ok, how would you like it if that person was holding a banana and doing something obscene in it behind your child?

Or I'll even go less offensive. What if you were taking a photo outside your favorite attraction and someone stood and (purposefully) covered Mickey's face with his own. That isn't something that can be photoshopped.

IT'S IGNORANT.

I'm sure I've accidentally walked in on other people's photos but to deliberately do that makes you someone who has no regard for others.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

There is no universal set of standards that applies to everyone about what is or is not "rude" behavior. This may be rude to you, but that does not make it universally rude, it just makes it rude to you.

How a person reacts to a situation like this generally aligns with their ability to put themselves in the shoes of the other person. If the other person is just trying to have fun with you and you can't relax and laugh at yourself, that says more about you than them.

Yeah - this statement clearly exhibits what the pro-photobomb posters don't seem to understand. I don't want to have fun with you. I didn't ask to have fun with you. Your actions may be fun to you, but having some moron intentionally ruin a family photo is the exact opposite of fun to me.

So how, again, is your behavior not rude???

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

It's definitely obnoxious and rude. I don't know why anyone would think it was fun.

 

[seenellie81]

Whats false? do I know you? do I know why you are coming up behind me? I"m from the east coast someone I don't know is coming up behind me toward me you darn well better believe I think they are after my purse. You invade my personal space you better believe I"m defending it. No false statement there, No never met this person before, caught them out of the corner of my eye coming toward us , thought they were going to grab my purse or camera and I reacted. every action has a consequence don't like what could happen to you don't pull the prank. There are no guarantees in life.

With the amount of people walking around Disney you would be calling security very two minutes. People are always walking by you towards you around you and behind you.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I think photo bombing is mean and rude.

Many times it's not noticed until you are at home looking through pictures and then the picture is ruined. What if it was a one and only trip for a family?

Nope, don't photo bomb on purpose. Ever.

 

[PrincessJo]

There is no universal set of standards that applies to everyone about what is or is not "rude" behavior. This may be rude to you, but that does not make it universally rude, it just makes it rude to you.

How a person reacts to a situation like this generally aligns with their ability to put themselves in the shoes of the other person. If the other person is just trying to have fun with you and you can't relax and laugh at yourself, that says more about you than them.

If the other person is enjoying the special day with their family and is trying to get a beautiful family picture with their favorite character, who are YOU that YOU feel the selfish need to pop in and ruin it? That says more about YOU. YOU butted into THEIR day... THEY didn't ask for it.

 

[MrsDuck]

Unintentional is one thing. To purposely set out to interfere with someone's photo is immature and rude.

There's plenty to do at Disney. Go ride something.

This.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Last time were were at Disney, we saw a guy photobomb a family's Photopass shot in front of the castle. He ran over, stood behind them with his arms up sticking out his tongue, then ran off. He was no spring chicken either-he should have known better.

Did my sister and I laugh at the photobomb? NO, we thought "What a jerk," then informed the family that their photo had been ruined. Just don't do it.

As to Benedict Cumberbatch photobombing U2...and I adore him and want to have his babies btw...I've seen the video footage of the photobomb. He ran up, did it *twice* and then ran off. Even I thought, WTH Ben? It was not his finest moment.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

since when? this is something new with this self centered generation. I have been going to Disney since the 70's and it never happened before so it is not part of the experience, it is a very rude, nasty purposeful act by very immature spoiled "children"

I loved watching full house but they canceled the series. I had to roll with the punches. It is not a big deal. In fact, since you're getting nostalgic perhaps the younger generation is trying to tell the masses that this new era of capturing every moment is getting ridiculous. You should be able to appreciate the nostalgia in the protest.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

since you're getting nostalgic perhaps the younger generation is trying to tell the masses that this new era of capturing every moment is getting ridiculous. You should be able to appreciate the nostalgia in the protest.

Orrrr...maybe they're just being inconsiderate idiots. The guy we caught photobombing was actually middle-aged anyway.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

While I love a good photobomb, and don't generally mind when people bomb my pictures, I tend to err on the side of caution and avoid doing it at WDW because I recognize not everyone shares my sense of humor. That said, in an increasingly digital world, where one can instantly see how the picture came out, I don't think it's a vacation-breaking tragedy. Of course, context is a big part of it. There is a world of difference between making a face in the background of an obviously silly shot and making a spectacle of yourself behind someone's child/family in front of a Disney landmark.

 

[Magpie]

I loved watching full house but they canceled the series. I had to roll with the punches. It is not a big deal. In fact, since you're getting nostalgic perhaps the younger generation is trying to tell the masses that this new era of capturing every moment is getting ridiculous. You should be able to appreciate the nostalgia in the protest.

Actually, if you'll notice the poll, there isn't a single age group in which the "yea"s outweigh the "nay"s.

Young or old, a clear majority of people think that deliberately photobombing strangers is rude and obnoxious and you shouldn't do it.

It's not a generational thing.

This is a perennially recurring thread topic. The last time I was involved in one of these, I asked both my teens what they thought of photobombing. One said, "It's mean." And the other said, "It's not mean, it's just totally lame and completely over."

 

[chrismb22]

I loved watching full house but they canceled the series. I had to roll with the punches. It is not a big deal. In fact, since you're getting nostalgic perhaps the younger generation is trying to tell the masses that this new era of capturing every moment is getting ridiculous. You should be able to appreciate the nostalgia in the protest.

You're kidding right? The younger generation -- you mean the generation that takes selfies and photos at funerals and posts pictures to social media all day, every day. You mean that generation?

 

[Magpie]

You're kidding right? The younger generation -- you mean the generation that takes selfies and photos at funerals and posts pictures to social media all day, every day. You mean that generation?

Um... are you talking about a certain American president taking a selfie at the recent funeral/memorial of a South African world leader? Because that president is 52 years old! Are you in your 80s?

My teenagers both spend less time on social media than my husband and I. Neither is interested in Facebook. My son Reddits and my daughter has a Tumblr that she neglects.

 

[chrismb22]

Um... are you talking about a certain American president taking a selfie at the recent funeral/memorial of a South African world leader? Because that president is 52 years old! Are you in your 80s?

My teenagers both spend less time on social media than my husband and I. Neither is interested in Facebook. My son Reddits and my daughter has a Tumblr that she neglects.

Then you have wonderful teenagers (and I know that sounds sarcastic -- but I'm really not trying to be ) Most teenagers I know are all over instagram and vimeo with scantily clad outfits and duck faces. In fact, my friends with teens -- my son is only 4) live in fear of the dangers of them and social media, no matter how much they try and control that.

 

[CinderElsa]

If I'm going to be in the picture anyway (i.e. a ride photo or someone snapping a pic of their family at a QS restaurant while we're eating at an adjacent table), I smile or wave or make a goofy face.

If it's something like a family photo in front of the castle or a character meeting, then no, never.

 

[mom2cinderella]

I loved watching full house but they canceled the series. I had to roll with the punches. It is not a big deal. In fact, since you're getting nostalgic perhaps the younger generation is trying to tell the masses that this new era of capturing every moment is getting ridiculous. You should be able to appreciate the nostalgia in the protest.

You don't seriously believe this do you? I think Instagram proves otherwise.

 

[Magpie]

Then you have wonderful teenagers (and I know that sounds sarcastic -- but I'm really not trying to be ) Most teenagers I know are all over instagram and vimeo with scantily clad outfits and duck faces. In fact, my friends with teens -- my son is only 4) live in fear of them and social media, no matter how much they try and control that.

Hmm... I wonder if it makes any difference that we're Canadian?

None of my children's friends are like that.

There's some drinking and a little pot, among my 16yo son's friends. But mostly there's a whole lot of music, mainly artists I've never heard of, and concerts. They're hipsters, who are far too cool to pull duck faces in selfies, even ironically. Every now and again, I check in to see what they're up to online. Mostly he's busy pedantically arguing obscure points of popular music theory. Meanwhile, my 18yo daughter dresses more conservatively than me, and is an adorkable nerd whose idea of a night on the town is hanging out in a friend's basement playing Dungeons and Dragons. Whenever I check in on her, I find her writing fanfiction.

Everyone in our town (even my 60's something mother-in-law!) gets quite scantily clad the moment it's warm enough to do so. You know, all eight weeks or so of the year. (It snowed fifteen inches yesterday! )

I really don't think you need to live in fear of your 4 year old son turning into one of the cast of Jersey Shore. Just talk to him a lot, teach him as many important survival skills as you can (from how to swim to how to calculate a tip), and show him how to be a considerate, caring person by being exactly that kind of person yourself.

He'll turn out fine!