So yes. On Sunday four guys bowl up to Oslo's Munch Museum, in broad daylight, wave some pistols around and walk out with (one of four versions of) The Scream and Madonna; priceless works of art by Edvard Munch.

They were able to do this because the paintings were just hanging on the wall of the museum, with no velvet ropes or glass cases or anything of the sort to protect them.

Now, Munch's work has previously been stolen (and later reacquired) in 1994, which you think would warn museum staff to up the security a little, but theft of artworks is by no means a recent affair.

NOW. While I very much admire the moxy of the thieves for just waltzing up and yoinking priceless works of art that I would very much like to have for myself, I am also very sad that I may never get to see such works up close because of the aforesaid theft. Don't make fun, please, the subject of Art is a very sensitive one.

QUERY TIME. So, what should museums do? They can copy priceless artifacts and display those, while the originals are safely locked away; but of course gazing at them the audience doesn't experience nearly any of the sentiments they may draw from an honest-to-god original exhibit. Alternately, they could make you stand fifty feet from the priceless treasure while guards march to and fro checking for hooligans among the deadbolts and glass panels; displaying the genuine article, but alienating the audience.

WHY IS IT DIFFERENT? WHY WILL I NEVER BE CONTENT STARING AT THE LOUVRE ONLINE EXHIBIT DISPLAY PAGE? WHY DON'T WE TAKE BETTER CARE OF OUR PRICELESS NATIONAL TREASURES? OH OSLO THIEVES, PLEASE RETURN MUNCH'S WORK I'LL BAKE YOU COOKIES DON'T BE MEANIES I HATE YOU COME BACK.

Discuss.