Time To Learn To Be Better Museum Visitors

June 04, 2016

In an attempt to turn an accident into a teachable moment, the National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania (I was surprised there was one too) posted surveillance camera footage of two visitors ignoring the clearly posted “Please Don’t Touch” signs to youtube and instagram. They repeatedly fondle bits of the clock in an attempt to get it to run until it falls off the wall. The visitors then leave the clock on the ground and back away out of frame. Apparently they did at least go immediately to report the incident to staff, finally acting their age. As the caption on the instagram post the museum wrote “This is why we beg visitors not to touch museum object. #museumfail #museums #visitorfail #clock #timepiece” The clock was a piece by James Borden and tho the museum wouldn’t state it’s value, they did confirm that it had hung in the museum for 20 years and that Mr. Borden has already agreed to fix it. The museum is not pressing charges nor identifying the touchers. Of course, because people can’t act like adults online any more than they can in museums, some of the comments on Reddit and on youtube repostings have included racist remarks aimed at the couple. However, some might note that the real shame is that the original posting only has around 200k views as I type this, and a scammy reposting by some faux channel has wracked up nearly 1.5 million in a day. Tisk tisk tisk. Or should I say tick, tick, tick (couldn’t resist).