by claphammummy » Mon Sep 27, 2010 8:11 pm
The man was standing behind a tree so that most parents --- sipping coffee at the cafe --- could not see him. He didn't ask permission (weird enough in this day and age --- I photograph too but would NEVER dream of taking photos of kids without asking parental permission; I would also never dream of taking identifiable pictures of individuals (adults) without asking their permission as a courtesy rather than as a personal safety issue.)
While it is not illegal to take photos (including of children) in public spaces, there may be circumstances where it is indeed illegal ---- for example, if someone has a prior conviction for paedophilia related stuff and has been told to stay away from places where kids congregate. You don't know what a person's circumstances are unless you ask or get the police to ask. Oh, and I would have asked him myself, but then he would have seen my daughter and was more likely to remember her and it would potentially make her more identifiable in the future and I AM paranoid about someone following us home and knowing where my little girl lives if they have naughty intentions. Also, if I had asked him what he was doing and if he was indeed restricted, what do you think he would have done? Of course, he's not going to disclose that he's not allowed to be around kids. H eprobably would have left, but it would have deprived the police of an opportunity to run him through the computer. As a private citizen, I can't ask the same kinds of questions and expect the same kinds of answers.
If I see the guy again, I will call the police again. (This is in part because if he shows up again,, he definitely is flipping weird now that he has been made aware of the mores in this country.) I may also go up to him and take his photo close up with my camera phone and see how he likes it.
What I hate about websites is that people often attack the messenger. AT the end of the day, I was making information available to people. What you do with that information is up to you.
The man was standing behind a tree so that most parents --- sipping coffee at the cafe --- could not see him. He didn't ask permission (weird enough in this day and age --- I photograph too but would NEVER dream of taking photos of kids without asking parental permission; I would also never dream of taking identifiable pictures of individuals (adults) without asking their permission as a courtesy rather than as a personal safety issue.)
While it is not illegal to take photos (including of children) in public spaces, there may be circumstances where it is indeed illegal ---- for example, if someone has a prior conviction for paedophilia related stuff and has been told to stay away from places where kids congregate. You don't know what a person's circumstances are unless you ask or get the police to ask. Oh, and I would have asked him myself, but then he would have seen my daughter and was more likely to remember her and it would potentially make her more identifiable in the future and I AM paranoid about someone following us home and knowing where my little girl lives if they have naughty intentions. Also, if I had asked him what he was doing and if he was indeed restricted, what do you think he would have done? Of course, he's not going to disclose that he's not allowed to be around kids. H eprobably would have left, but it would have deprived the police of an opportunity to run him through the computer. As a private citizen, I can't ask the same kinds of questions and expect the same kinds of answers.
If I see the guy again, I will call the police again. (This is in part because if he shows up again,, he definitely is flipping weird now that he has been made aware of the mores in this country.) I may also go up to him and take his photo close up with my camera phone and see how he likes it.
What I hate about websites is that people often attack the messenger. AT the end of the day, I was making information available to people. What you do with that information is up to you.