I expect the real-world consequences for the zoo will be minimal (likely nil). We're talking about an extremely vocal minority. But in these terms wading in to create conflict with every hateful comment, while certainly intentioned and perhaps morally the right thing to do, will only inflame the situation further. 'Post and ghost' would probably have been the best strategy in this case
Edinburgh Zoo Edinburgh Zoo News 2023
- Thread starter Quincey
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Plus a) a degree of panic/urgency at seeing the (presumably unexpected) volume of negative activity on the post and b) I presume a genuine care for LGBTQIA+ issues that must be difficult to see being attacked so strongly.
...and promptly been reminded by the Edinburgh Zoo social media team that there have been several articles posted on the RZSS website promoting these causes/events.
The majority of these remarks are (in my opinion) nothing more than disingenuous whataboutism and sealioning, and only *marginally* better than the horrific and blatant transphobia, homophobia and queerphobia which have been in evidence elsewhere within the Twitter replies.
Exhibit A being organisations and groups such as the ones parodied in the following webcomic by the artist Adam Ellis:
https://twitter.com/adamtotscomix/status/1671613932979494913/photo/1
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
I personally find some of the comments people have made on the Instagram / Twitter feed disgusting.
We live in a world where people have the right to be what they want to be, and love who they want to love.
I say well done to Edinburgh, for giving support to their staff, and also the many visitors who visit the zoo, who can feel welcomed regardless of what sexuality they choose to be.
Just because people are not that gender or sexual orientation, does not give them the right to share their archaic views which only further makes people feel uncomfortable about publicly being able to express themselves in a way that makes them most comfortable.
I judge people on how they are with me, how they treat me and what they do for others, I couldn't give a damn if they are straight, gay, lesbian, non-binary, bi-sexual or transgender, at the end of the day love is love.
We live in a world where people have the right to be what they want to be, and love who they want to love.
I say well done to Edinburgh, for giving support to their staff, and also the many visitors who visit the zoo, who can feel welcomed regardless of what sexuality they choose to be.
Just because people are not that gender or sexual orientation, does not give them the right to share their archaic views which only further makes people feel uncomfortable about publicly being able to express themselves in a way that makes them most comfortable.
I judge people on how they are with me, how they treat me and what they do for others, I couldn't give a damn if they are straight, gay, lesbian, non-binary, bi-sexual or transgender, at the end of the day love is love.
GeeZee
Well-Known Member
I think the reason some people do feel aggrieved regarding IWD because they didn’t recognise it on their social media , which inevitably gets a lot more publicity and hits (especially for the average member of the public) than a blog on the RZSS site. (Without getting into a wider debate, it also ties into recent political controversy in Scotland in general).
I don’t believe the zoo have even done that for IDPWD, which some people believe the zoo should - largely because of the difficulty of the hill and a lot of the more negative reviews of the zoo itself do cite the inaccessibility.
While I am suprised that it’s generated so much pushback on there, partly because of that - I do feel this is a political can of worms that the zoo shouldn’t of really touched, nobody is saying that a certain minority can’t visit the zoo, and I’ve seen no evidence of any of the tweets that suggest that.
In the end you can’t please everyone but in general the appeal of the zoo is because of an appreciation and a love of nature and to see the animals, which - at least should bring people together regardless of who they are.
This strikes me as another example of what happens when you put some kid in charge of your social media accounts. The kid ends up making policy for you on the hoof based on their own prejudices and you then have to either issue a grovelling apology or try to style it out. Far too many institutions don't seem to understand that if you must be on social media at all then it is far too important to be left to an intern.
GeeZee
Well-Known Member
100%
This is just plain disrespectful to the media department and the RZSS. As @Cobi posted inclusion is a key component of the RZSS. If you state this as an institution it is paramount that you promote that message. That includes messaging on social media. That social media, and twitter in particular, is also a mouthpiece for extremists of all sides that love to play keyboard warrior is not a reason for not posting. Any societal statement you make, even one that has high public support, is bound to get nasty replies on social media because the fringes are more vocal there.
Hmm…to me this seems like you’re insinuating that the zoo posting that the zoo’s staff has attended a pride event is irresponsible/reckless, that this kind of content does not belong on the internet and should be hidden. Hopefully I’m mistaken here…surely that’s not what you meant?
On what basis do you assume the account is being run by 'some kid' or an 'intern'? Because it has some kind of social conscience?
Otherwise - please see my earlier posts and those by others. Edinburgh Zoo are not 'styling it out' - they are doubling-down on an important part of the stated ethos of their organisation. And admirably so.
I'm not talking about the Pride event part. No problem there. I'm talking about the fact that the social media wallah then went on to engage aggressively with nitwit reply guys who should have been ignored. Result: a nice thing turns into a pointless and distracting outrage storm which may have deleterious knock on financial effects. Look what happened to Wickes' share prices after a similar event recently. Consider that any financial hit taken by a conservation zoo directly affects that zoo's ability to save species. The Pride tweet was good and fine. Subsequently picking a fight with Internet parasites in full public view was a sily thing to do and if as someone upthread thinks that's a 'disrespectful' statement then tough.
Not it isn't. Picking fights with Twitter bigots is not the media department's or the RZSS' job. Representation at Pride events is good, because it attracts people to the Zoo who might not otherwise come. Further publicising that is good. Having a series of public rows with stupid people is stupid.
Which is why I'm ducking out of this thread now.
If you would have specified this in your first post, we would have a different discussion. It seems I am not the only one who didn't understand you tried to refer to that specific part and not to the inclusion post as a whole...
Indeed - the original post did seem to refer to the whole Twitter post not just the later engagement.
If nothing else, I can certainly agree that it may well have been more efficient to have just had one follow up post to address all the comments rather than replying individually to each one, but I do think it was right of them to address it somehow - and I still salute them for following it up so thoroughly.
GeeZee
Well-Known Member
At least we’re all in a bit of agreement then!
In other news , I see the new magazine is out but I haven’t had a chance to read it yet.
I do hope they get their Webcams up and running again also.
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Official confirmation from the zoo that the Drills are now back on show:
Edinburgh Zoo
This also confirms they only have 2 females now, not sure what happened to the male.
Edinburgh Zoo
This also confirms they only have 2 females now, not sure what happened to the male.
One of the social media posts describes drills as "Africa's rarest and most endangered primate"- am I right in thinking that's inaccurate? I know their wild population is in dire straights but surely some of the red colobus and guenon species are even more threatened?
That is highly inaccurate indeed, I can think of multiple colobus, guenon and mangabey species that are far rarer....
Possibly "most threatened African primate currently represented in European zoos", but even then, not sure that's clear-cut, with Roloways for example. Presumably a statement that started off with a "one of" affixed, which it lost along the way...
Most threatened or no, still nice to see them return to display.
Most threatened or no, still nice to see them return to display.
I'm not sure if these are both the females that originally came from the USA, or one of them and one since bred at Edinburgh, or both bred in Edinburgh. If the former they are now pretty old and probably past breeding age. Depending on that, they will need probably need fresh stock if they hope to continue breeding, but a new male is obviously the first priority. It would have to come from Europe unless Port Lympne have a suitable aged male in their large group they are prepared to release (Their Drills are EEP owned/managed afaik).
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