Security Guards at the National Gallery of Art

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Priceless works of art have to be protected and the guards are doing their jobs. You don't like it, stsy home.

How does yelling at three year olds help protect art? How does making galleries silent help protect art? Why are children asked to leave for talking louder than a whisper?

Sure the guards have a role but that does not mean that they have a right to be aggressive. Nor am I aware that there is a code of silence in force.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've lived in DC for almost 30 years, been to almost every museum w/ my kids and before. I won't set foot in that one.

Plenty of other art museums to see I don't need some board want-to-be cop yelling at people.

If people complain and don't go - they will change. Keep visiting and you get what you "pay for"

This is the key point -- if people want anything to change, you need to take time to lodge complaints with the Gallery. Complaining here does no good, and it just brings out DCUM contrarians who want to blame you for the guards' jerky attitudes. Here is a page where you can leave feedback: http://www.nga.gov/feedback/webfeedback.shtm . You also could email the NGA Director at [e-mail] . If NGA gets a couple dozen complaints, they'll surely take notice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the key point -- if people want anything to change, you need to take time to lodge complaints with the Gallery. Complaining here does no good, and it just brings out DCUM contrarians who want to blame you for the guards' jerky attitudes. Here is a page where you can leave feedback: http://www.nga.gov/feedback/webfeedback.shtm . You also could email the NGA Director at [e-mail] . If NGA gets a couple dozen complaints, they'll surely take notice.

PP again. It's best if you can describe the particular security guard who was rude, since it's certainly possible -- likely even -- that some are rude while others are perfectly pleasant. Describe what he looks like, and where he was stationed at what time. They'll be able to figure it out.

[Anonymous]

My child got yelled at there once too. I can't even remember the details, but I do remember that I was furious. The guard was a woman, and she just had a bad attitude. I have worked at another DC museum for eight years so I'm used to guards. But she was just awful. Completely hostile.

My child didn't want to go back again after that.

But I don't think that complaining does much good. They're govt. employees - most of them work there for their entire lives. I think they're like GS-5s or something. All the guards know each other, and know each other's mothers and cousins and brothers - it's a very insular DC group. I never heard of one getting fired.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for this thread because I thought my family was alone in our experiences at the NGA!! Wow! They brought two of our kids to tears, who at the time were 7 and 3. They too got a serious tongue lashing for the standing in front of art, no touching, but the guards thought a preemptive yell would be the best cure.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like mom is the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like mom is the problem.

Yep. Entitled. Letting her little snot get all worked up (how many times did she describe him as excited) then cry in the middle of the museum. Good for the guards to consider everyone and not just her.

[Anonymous]

You bumped up a 2012 thread just to tell a mom she was entitled?

No words.

[Anonymous]

This wasn't the first bad experience I've had there with a guard. The previous time, I was reprimanded for using the exit to an exhibit instead of the entrance when I was trying to quickly reach my husband (inside the exhibit). I had a two week old baby in my arms who was in urgent need of a new diaper (with my husband) and was having trouble walking! It was a weekday morning, there were no crowds.

. Umm, you were breaking the rules. I suppose we should take down all entrance and exit sign. How was the guard supposed to know of your diaper " emergency."

[Anonymous]

I haven't had a problem with my kids nor have I seen other kids getting in trouble. I did have a security guard hit on me though. Weird!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, the guards have nothing but charming to us and our kids.

Same here. My preschooler is frequently there with her class, and they never have problems.

[Anonymous]

Honestly,this is the reason why society have turn into victims and have no respect for authorities. The foundation of discipline starts with the parents. Have you guys ever thought that maybe just maybe these security officers have to each and every single day explain the rules to the visitors and those same visitors give those security officers a lack of respect or plainly are rude to them and the security officer can't even talk back. Or the fact that he cares so much about you and your family that he doesn't want your kid to damage any art since in the end it falls actually on you parents. If anything is damaged,those arts work are worth millions dollars and iam preety sure no one has those million of dollars to repay the art. So instead of condmenming the security officer,be in their shoes for one day and know that they are the first ones in charge of the safety and to protect years of priceless of art. I dream the day that society will stop becoming the victim and always see both sides of each debate.

[Anonymous]

I remember being yelled at 45-50 years ago when I was little. I guess things never change.

[Anonymous]

Who brings a two week old to an art museum?

Who brings a two year old for that matter?

Art museums are meant to be quiet places where you can appreciate the art from a safe distance. It's not a place for toddlers.

[Anonymous]

Who trolls to revive a 5 year old thread?