In the Flagpoles

Okay, as a fellow photographer I can understand that climbing in - or on - the weirdest objects can help to find the best viewpoint.
I can even understand that we go on our knees or even lie on the ground if necessary , but what I just can't understand is what almost everyone with a compact or mobile phone camera in his or her hand thinks to accomplish by holding the camera as far as possible...
To gain 50 cm less distance to the object even though its often more than 50 meters further? What for??

Anyway I often like to shoot people shooting others and this gives me a nice blip today ;-)

Want a closer look without stretching your arm? Just press your finger on the 'L' key