This photograph is ugly [elitism, snobbery and hierarchisation of living things]
I took this photo from an ornithological observatory overlooking a pond full of life. There were waders, cormorants, swans, lots of ducks and small passerines. I logged a lot of observations while enjoying the atmosphere and this special moment when the animals weren't afraid of me.
At one point, a guy came into the observatory with a gigantic lens. As I had a good look at the pond and was in a good mood, I pointed out a group of shoveler ducks in full light. The guy replied that no thanks, "they're just ducks, aren't they? It blew me away.
Apparently the 'fairly common' species weren't good enough for this guy, who only came for the prestigious stuff.
Oh my, I can't have those snobs and elitists at the observatories.
However, this photographer's ridiculous remark also shows something more worrying (but very common) in my opinion: the hierarchisation of species. Many people consider certain species to be more interesting than others (for all sorts of reasons), which implies that others deserve no consideration, or even contempt. In this case, the shoveler ducks were not worth a look for Mister Photo. Will he care about animals that are endangered but ugly? Not nice?
This system is at the root of speciesist ideologies and forms the basis for justifying animal exploitation.
Yes, I don't like snobby assholes, I much prefer ducks and swans.
(Mute swans, France, 01/25)
#BirdsOfPixelfed #BirdsOfMastodon #Birds #BirdWatching #Birding #BirdPhotography #WaterBirds #Swans #MuteSwan #Speciesism #Animals #Ecology
