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> But it seemingly was no match for Pokemon Go and a generation of kids who desire familiar brands and YouTube celebrities. I hate how stuff is just thrown in

> But it seemingly was no match for Pokemon Go and a generation of kids who desire familiar brands and YouTube celebrities. I hate how stuff is just thrown into articles like this as if it's fact. The circus was passé when I was a kid 30 years ago. I could throw out unsubstantiated garbage like this as well and claim that kids today are actually much more understanding of animal welfare and would rather see animals in their natural habit on Youtube than see them perform tricks on a stage.

nommm-nommm 10y ago
Thank you! I totally agree! I found this too be odd for the same reason. And I think you are absolutely right. I never thought about it before but passé is extremely accurate. I remember, I went to the Ringling Bros circus, once, as a child [almost] 30 year ago. Before the internet, before [ubiquitous] computers, before cellphones, before iPads, before YouTube, before pokemom [even the card games], and even before Tamagotchis. I had an very small world at that time, I had the library and I had tv. I was also very easily entertained as a result. I was excited because "circus" and you hear a lot about "circus" on TV and pop culture. Sounded exciting because of media. I remember it as just odd. The reason why it is so memorable is because it was so odd. First there were the protesters, I couldn't even begin to understand at that time why they were protesting but the idea that some people didn't approve of this didn't sit very well with me. Before my trip to the circus I've never seen any protesters ever in my life. Then the show. It was... OK. Animals didn't impress me, they were more interesting on TV and in books than performing. Seemed unnatural and almost distracting and not at all impressive. I don't really remember the other performances because they seemed to REALLY want to showcase the animals. I kinda felt, even as young as I was, that this was just outdated. Even though I wasn't able to articulate it or even understand it then. My mom said she felt the same way too, "well I always wanted to to the circus, I did, now I won't go again." Seem like they were cruzing on nostalgia for half a century. It's never a good sign when a kid goes in for entertainment and comes out confused. Seems like they were cruzing on nostalgia for half a century. "I could... claim that kids today are actually much more understanding of animal welfare and would rather see animals in their natural habit on Youtube than see them perform tricks on a stage." - I think this is probably more accurate. :) I [totally unscientifically] think that most humans enjoy watching big cats with catnip on YouTube more than big cats being coaxed to jump through a fire hoop. (At least I do...)
- narag 10y ago
  My experience was 10 or 15 years before yours (I'm older), also as a little child. A lion put a paw in the bars and proceeded to spray a dozen people in the first rows. So I didn't come back to "circus" until Cirque du Soleil came to Madrid. That's obviously another meaning of "circus".
  - alex_anglin 10y ago
    Cirque du Soleil was designed as a circus without animals. Notwithstanding the points others have made about animal rights and such, it's pretty clear that they have flourished as Ringling has declined. At the end of the day, just because something has been around for a long time is not justification of its existence. All organizations need to adapt to changing circumstances.
    - cma 10y ago
      They do really risky acrobatics and I think have had some human deaths.
johnloeber 10y ago
I agree. I went to a circus once, as a child, in 1999. I found it to be a mostly disturbing and garish experience featuring tired and exploited performers, humans as well as animals.
- SwellJoe 10y ago
  I felt the same way a decade earlier. While it's not quite on par with the disgust I feel about something like bull-fighting, cock-fighting, dog-racing, horse racing, etc. I've always been uncomfortable with animals being forced to perform in a context like the circus (or Seaworld). I think (hope) the leading edge of human ethics is moving toward no longer treating animals as resources to be exploited, at least not merely for entertainment. Most people still look the other way when it comes to animal agriculture, or are even enthusiastic about it, but I think even that's likely to shift with time, as well.
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
exhilaration 10y ago
Back at the beginning of of 2016 my circle of friends in their 30's was excitedly forwarding each other links to a 50% off Groupon [1] for this circus. We all have small kids, ages 4-10 and probably never considered the circus before - I don't think most of us went as kids. The excitement died pretty quickly after someone found the PETA website with videos of the animals being abused [2] and that was the end of that. [1] https://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-ringling-bros-and-barnum-bailey-presents-legends-24 https://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-ringling-bros-and-barnum-ba... [2] http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/ http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/
- Esau 10y ago
  Personally, aside from something passive like a zoo, I don't care for anything that relies on animal performance for entertainment. That includes dog racing, horse racing, and things like circuses and even Seaworld. I know many people don't care but it bothers me.
  - wavefunction 10y ago
    Zoos are inhumane for many animals in my personal opinion. Many animals should be ranging a territory in the wild, not confined to a tiny plot of land to be gawked at. I don't find the 'conservation' excuse all that acceptable either. What if the millions spent on Zoos were instead spent to conserve the native territories of the animals and to improve the lives of the people who live near them so they won't resort to poaching or habitat destruction.
    - afarrell 10y ago
      > or habitat destruction Doesn't this come mostly from clearing land for agriculture?
    - CuriouslyC 10y ago
      Yes, some animals get stressed out living in zoos. That being said, it is probably the least stressful way that people can appreciate animals in real life. There is some value in bringing people face to face with animals, I think it reconnects us with the basis of our humanity, and leads us to treat animals better overall. Does the moral math work out in the end? I don't know, but it isn't a one sided issue.
hellofunk 10y ago
I was also a kid 30 years ago, and I definitely went to the circus more than once and in more than one part of the U.S. And there were always a lot of people there. Even as recently as 10 years ago when living in NYC, the circus would come to town and people were always talking about it being in the area. Adults, mind you. So I don't think there was anything passé about it, at least not as you suggest.
projektfu 10y ago
I don't think I saw Ringling Bros. back then but around 30 years ago I saw the Moscow circus when they performed on an American tour during Glasnost. I remember it being very exciting, well worth the watch. For other distractions at the time I had a Commodore 64 and plenty of television. Perhaps there has been a lack of entertaining circuses, but even in the 80s the circus was much different from the version in the 30s. Circuses used to show up almost overnight and pop up hastily. They would promote themselves, make a few bucks, and move on just as quickly. By the 80s they performed mostly in arenas, competing not just for attention but also for performance dates with bigger acts that are cheaper to run.
joshstrange 10y ago
Couldn't agree more. I was a kid about 15 years ago and I went to circus around that time with a friend's parents. It was extremely boring to me even then (before Youtube and even smartphones). If at any point I'd been offered a chance to go again, even for free, I would have turned it down. I don't consider myself a huge proponent of animal rights (I'm not at all against them it's just not something I think about a lot) but the circus was up there with seaworld for me. It's just sounds excruciatingly boring and I can think of 100 things I'd rather spend my time on.
toyg 10y ago
Yup, it's more likely that the current generation of parents don't see the circus as interesting, because they didn't like it when they were kids. I know it is in my case - I found circuses a dark, smelly and sad experience when I was a kid, I have no interest in dragging my own kids there now.
jasonkostempski 10y ago
I hadn't been to a circus since i was a kid, kind of remember having a fun time. Took my kid to one when he was 3. It was the most uncomfortable, depressing thing I've ever paid to see. Glad to see the practice is dying out.
ajmurmann 10y ago
Especially since Circe de Soleil seems to be doing very well. I think circus isn't dead but has moved on. I went to see many circuses in Europe as a child and there one liked best ("Flik Flak") had no animals. Instead they focused on great acrobats and even set up a giant pool for part of their performance. In hindsight they were the circus closest to Circe de Soleil at the time and it worked. So what probably killed Ringling isn't Pokemon Go, but better circus.

nommm-nommm 10y ago

Thank you! I totally agree! I found this too be odd for the same reason. And I think you are absolutely right. I never thought about it before but passé is extremely accurate. I remember, I went to the Ringling Bros circus, once, as a child [almost] 30 year ago. Before the internet, before [ubiquitous] computers, before cellphones, before iPads, before YouTube, before pokemom [even the card games], and even before Tamagotchis. I had an very small world at that time, I had the library and I had tv. I was also very easily entertained as a result. I was excited because "circus" and you hear a lot about "circus" on TV and pop culture. Sounded exciting because of media. I remember it as just odd. The reason why it is so memorable is because it was so odd. First there were the protesters, I couldn't even begin to understand at that time why they were protesting but the idea that some people didn't approve of this didn't sit very well with me. Before my trip to the circus I've never seen any protesters ever in my life. Then the show. It was... OK. Animals didn't impress me, they were more interesting on TV and in books than performing. Seemed unnatural and almost distracting and not at all impressive. I don't really remember the other performances because they seemed to REALLY want to showcase the animals. I kinda felt, even as young as I was, that this was just outdated. Even though I wasn't able to articulate it or even understand it then. My mom said she felt the same way too, "well I always wanted to to the circus, I did, now I won't go again." Seem like they were cruzing on nostalgia for half a century. It's never a good sign when a kid goes in for entertainment and comes out confused. Seems like they were cruzing on nostalgia for half a century. "I could... claim that kids today are actually much more understanding of animal welfare and would rather see animals in their natural habit on Youtube than see them perform tricks on a stage." - I think this is probably more accurate. :) I [totally unscientifically] think that most humans enjoy watching big cats with catnip on YouTube more than big cats being coaxed to jump through a fire hoop. (At least I do...)

narag 10y ago
My experience was 10 or 15 years before yours (I'm older), also as a little child. A lion put a paw in the bars and proceeded to spray a dozen people in the first rows. So I didn't come back to "circus" until Cirque du Soleil came to Madrid. That's obviously another meaning of "circus".
- alex_anglin 10y ago
  Cirque du Soleil was designed as a circus without animals. Notwithstanding the points others have made about animal rights and such, it's pretty clear that they have flourished as Ringling has declined. At the end of the day, just because something has been around for a long time is not justification of its existence. All organizations need to adapt to changing circumstances.
  - cma 10y ago
    They do really risky acrobatics and I think have had some human deaths.

johnloeber 10y ago

I agree. I went to a circus once, as a child, in 1999. I found it to be a mostly disturbing and garish experience featuring tired and exploited performers, humans as well as animals.

SwellJoe 10y ago
I felt the same way a decade earlier. While it's not quite on par with the disgust I feel about something like bull-fighting, cock-fighting, dog-racing, horse racing, etc. I've always been uncomfortable with animals being forced to perform in a context like the circus (or Seaworld). I think (hope) the leading edge of human ethics is moving toward no longer treating animals as resources to be exploited, at least not merely for entertainment. Most people still look the other way when it comes to animal agriculture, or are even enthusiastic about it, but I think even that's likely to shift with time, as well.

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

exhilaration 10y ago

Back at the beginning of of 2016 my circle of friends in their 30's was excitedly forwarding each other links to a 50% off Groupon [1] for this circus. We all have small kids, ages 4-10 and probably never considered the circus before - I don't think most of us went as kids. The excitement died pretty quickly after someone found the PETA website with videos of the animals being abused [2] and that was the end of that. [1] https://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-ringling-bros-and-barnum-bailey-presents-legends-24 https://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-ringling-bros-and-barnum-ba... [2] http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/ http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/

Esau 10y ago
Personally, aside from something passive like a zoo, I don't care for anything that relies on animal performance for entertainment. That includes dog racing, horse racing, and things like circuses and even Seaworld. I know many people don't care but it bothers me.
- wavefunction 10y ago
  Zoos are inhumane for many animals in my personal opinion. Many animals should be ranging a territory in the wild, not confined to a tiny plot of land to be gawked at. I don't find the 'conservation' excuse all that acceptable either. What if the millions spent on Zoos were instead spent to conserve the native territories of the animals and to improve the lives of the people who live near them so they won't resort to poaching or habitat destruction.
  - afarrell 10y ago
    > or habitat destruction Doesn't this come mostly from clearing land for agriculture?
  - CuriouslyC 10y ago
    Yes, some animals get stressed out living in zoos. That being said, it is probably the least stressful way that people can appreciate animals in real life. There is some value in bringing people face to face with animals, I think it reconnects us with the basis of our humanity, and leads us to treat animals better overall. Does the moral math work out in the end? I don't know, but it isn't a one sided issue.

hellofunk 10y ago

I was also a kid 30 years ago, and I definitely went to the circus more than once and in more than one part of the U.S. And there were always a lot of people there. Even as recently as 10 years ago when living in NYC, the circus would come to town and people were always talking about it being in the area. Adults, mind you. So I don't think there was anything passé about it, at least not as you suggest.

projektfu 10y ago

I don't think I saw Ringling Bros. back then but around 30 years ago I saw the Moscow circus when they performed on an American tour during Glasnost. I remember it being very exciting, well worth the watch. For other distractions at the time I had a Commodore 64 and plenty of television. Perhaps there has been a lack of entertaining circuses, but even in the 80s the circus was much different from the version in the 30s. Circuses used to show up almost overnight and pop up hastily. They would promote themselves, make a few bucks, and move on just as quickly. By the 80s they performed mostly in arenas, competing not just for attention but also for performance dates with bigger acts that are cheaper to run.

joshstrange 10y ago

Couldn't agree more. I was a kid about 15 years ago and I went to circus around that time with a friend's parents. It was extremely boring to me even then (before Youtube and even smartphones). If at any point I'd been offered a chance to go again, even for free, I would have turned it down. I don't consider myself a huge proponent of animal rights (I'm not at all against them it's just not something I think about a lot) but the circus was up there with seaworld for me. It's just sounds excruciatingly boring and I can think of 100 things I'd rather spend my time on.

toyg 10y ago

Yup, it's more likely that the current generation of parents don't see the circus as interesting, because they didn't like it when they were kids. I know it is in my case - I found circuses a dark, smelly and sad experience when I was a kid, I have no interest in dragging my own kids there now.

jasonkostempski 10y ago

I hadn't been to a circus since i was a kid, kind of remember having a fun time. Took my kid to one when he was 3. It was the most uncomfortable, depressing thing I've ever paid to see. Glad to see the practice is dying out.

ajmurmann 10y ago

Especially since Circe de Soleil seems to be doing very well. I think circus isn't dead but has moved on. I went to see many circuses in Europe as a child and there one liked best ("Flik Flak") had no animals. Instead they focused on great acrobats and even set up a giant pool for part of their performance. In hindsight they were the circus closest to Circe de Soleil at the time and it worked. So what probably killed Ringling isn't Pokemon Go, but better circus.