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They're turning us into paranoids...(OT)

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I would've walked up and said

"Hey, how's it going?"

"What's that camera you got there? Digital? Wow -- when did you get it?"

It's amazing what you can learn about somebody if you act interested and friendly.

--
The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons
http://thewilkinsons.crosswinds.net
Photography -- just another word for compromise
 
Tom Boucher said:
I tried to convince my wife while we are house hunting that I
wanted to live outside of town near very few people.

She instead opted for a new neighborhood with a bunch of by-laws.

Oh well, we'll see how my camera events go once we get there.
Click to expand...
we are on 20 acres with 2 neighbors with acreage on both sides of us--but now surrounded by suburbs--which is okay by us. I grew up in the suburbs (Pittsburgh, Pa area) but have lived in the Carolinas (US) for many years--and we have lived on 'acreage' for most of those years. I guess it is a vast difference to living in a neighborhood. We have 'neighborhoods' right here on our road and all of our friends live in areas like that--but they all know their neighbors--up and down the streets, across from them---and I don't think this would be an issue.

Even us--our neighbor on one side is relatively new--moved here from Cincinnati but we ask each other to sort of overlook each other's property when we are gone--we pick up their UPS packages, he 'walks' our property when we are gone since my 87 year old mother lives on our property also (and she can call him with any concerns). And--we are not 'social'--just good neighbors. The one on the other side doesn't really live there--but they spend time there and have dogs in runs there which they let out daily. I was bitten (slightly) by one of their 'rescued' lab mixes who is very passive aggressive--but rather than get bent out of shape (even though I ended up with a purple/blue circle on my butt LOL), I commiserated with June (our neighbor) about poor 'Elvis' who is so territorial that he thinks I was in the wrong LOL. I would just hate having to be paranoid about my neighbors--but I understand what is happening in other areas also-sadly.
--
Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic/galleries
B/W lover, but color is seducing me
 
mini-me said:
Im washing my car and my "old" neighbor comes out of his hole. The
radio in my car is playing. The song comes on by Oingo Boingo "I
like little girls".
He walks over and says "I dont like the kind of music you play". I
say its not up to me its the Public radio and I have no power over
what songs they spin. He called me a child molester/ pervert. Im
sure he called the FBI and now they are monitoring all my online
activity. :)
Click to expand...
It would be funny, but things are really getting scary. Next, we'll have thought police. When I was a little kid it was Senator McCarthy and the communist behind every tree. I think we're ripe for another era like that.

--
Walter K
 
Walter,

If DavidP didn't start you on brickwall camera tests, your wacky neighbor would have never waken up from his coma!

JL
WalterK said:
I rushed home today to use the fading light to test the focus on my
D60 with 16-35 before it got too dark. The camera has just been
returned from Canon service. I looked for brick walls, stopsigns,
etc. The neighborhood is all one family houses.

A neighborly guy with a bull neck walks across the street and says
"Can I help you?" I respond "No thanks, but what do you want to
help me with?" He says I want to help you by finding out why your
are taking pictures here, in people's windows (it was the brick
wall on my own house. ) I responded that I was taking brick wall
pictures, but that I was not doing anything illegal. He said he
was going to call the police, which I said I was OK with.

He asked where I live, and I responded that I certainly did not
have to tell him anything, much less where I live. He said I have
no right taking pictures of people's houses. I said "Please call
the police so that we can get this cleared up." He took out his
cell phone and appeared to make a call. Heasked again why I was
taking pictures, and I said that I certainly did not have to answer
his questions at this point or any other. I asked if he was part
of the secret police, or was he a Taliban...

A friend in my house heard the comotion and came through the door.
He asked her if she knew me. I said to her not to answer any
question of his. He sat on the stoop next door and glowered at me
while I finished my lens test.

Unfortunately, the camera movement became excessive as my wish to
pop this guy overwhelmed my scientific side.

I know I should have been more polite to him, but I am getting very
tired of being stopped and told by civilians, not police who have
been helpful, that I am not allowed to take pictures.

Anyway, I just wanted to get this rant off my chest . Thanks...

--
Walter K
Click to expand...
--
Jonathan Lefcourt
1D Flora and Fauna from the Florida Keys
l http://www.pbase.com/jlefcourt/flora__fauna_from_the_florida_keys
 
DavidP said:
I would've walked up and said

"Hey, how's it going?"

"What's that camera you got there? Digital? Wow -- when did you
get it?"

It's amazing what you can learn about somebody if you act
interested and friendly.
Click to expand...
That's the way I prefer to be. But after several incidents like this, I just lost my tolerance for somebody expecting me to justify my actions when I'm not doing anything illegal, wrong, or in the least way, potentially dangerous. After a stressful day at work I look forward to velcro-ing the camera to my face and getting lost in my own thoughts for a while until the feeling of being human comes back.

The first day I got the camera last April I was taking some church spire shots (I think churches have great architecture for pix) and a woman followed me home screaming that I was spying on her and taking pictures of her house, who was I working for? Apparrently she had been stalked, or had an ex who wanted to catch her at something, but she also threatened to call the police.

I said I would make a deal. She could review my pix and if her house were in them she could call the cops. But if her house were not, I would call them and charge her with harrassment and threats. She looked at my images in the LCD and harumphed when she didn't see her house. I said I would not call the police this time, but that I had recorded her harrassment and that if she ever did it again I would play the tape for the police. She left in a hurry.

--
Walter K
 
Jonathan Lefcourt said:
If DavidP didn't start you on brickwall camera tests, your wacky
neighbor would have never waken up from his coma!

JL
WalterK said:
I rushed home today to use the fading light to test the focus on my
D60 with 16-35 before it got too dark. The camera has just been
returned from Canon service. I looked for brick walls, stopsigns,
etc. The neighborhood is all one family houses.

A neighborly guy with a bull neck walks across the street and says
"Can I help you?" I respond "No thanks, but what do you want to
help me with?" He says I want to help you by finding out why your
are taking pictures here, in people's windows (it was the brick
wall on my own house. ) I responded that I was taking brick wall
pictures, but that I was not doing anything illegal. He said he
was going to call the police, which I said I was OK with.

He asked where I live, and I responded that I certainly did not
have to tell him anything, much less where I live. He said I have
no right taking pictures of people's houses. I said "Please call
the police so that we can get this cleared up." He took out his
cell phone and appeared to make a call. Heasked again why I was
taking pictures, and I said that I certainly did not have to answer
his questions at this point or any other. I asked if he was part
of the secret police, or was he a Taliban...

A friend in my house heard the comotion and came through the door.
He asked her if she knew me. I said to her not to answer any
question of his. He sat on the stoop next door and glowered at me
while I finished my lens test.

Unfortunately, the camera movement became excessive as my wish to
pop this guy overwhelmed my scientific side.

I know I should have been more polite to him, but I am getting very
tired of being stopped and told by civilians, not police who have
been helpful, that I am not allowed to take pictures.

Anyway, I just wanted to get this rant off my chest . Thanks...

--
Walter K
Click to expand...
--
Jonathan Lefcourt
1D Flora and Fauna from the Florida Keys
l http://www.pbase.com/jlefcourt/flora__fauna_from_the_florida_keys
Click to expand...
--
Walter K
 
WalterK said:
You're absolutely right about that. There are now signs in our
buses and subways that say "If you see something, say something!"
Ashcroft, Ridge and Tenet are capitalizing on peoples' fear for
political purposes, and it works. However, a suicide bomber could
walk into any mall or movie theater in this country. Any night, a
boat loaded with whatever could pull up into one of the nooks and
crannies along the New England coast. We have no real security,
but they have us spying on each other. Hmmph!
Click to expand...
Exactly. I remember on 9/11, on the way to work, after I heard about the second plane crashing into the WTC and realizing that it was a terrorist attack, my first thought was "Here comes the police state"..
The terrorists won.
 
Walter,

You should go over to that guy and thank him for watching out for the neighborhood. It is guys like that who may stop some terrorist from blowing you up some day. Think about it.

Jerry
 
That's ridiculous.

I'm all for being cautious and watching out for suspicious activity....but in this case it got carried away. It was a neighbor for christ's sake.

They guy could have approached him totally differently instead of trying to be a macho hero....and I'm sure Walter's response would have been much different.

There's a tactful way of handling things...If I was in Walter's shoes I would have told the guy right out to go get fukked and mind his own business.

If the guy was truly concerned...he could have done something like this...

Neighbor: "Hi how's it going"

Walter: "Ok, thanks"

Neighbor: "Hey, you live around here?"

Walter: "Yep, right here as a matter of fact"

Neighbor: "oh, sorry, I didn't recognize you. Hey cool camera...is that thing digital?

blah blah blah.....

Instead of taking the opportunity to find out what was going on...and possibly getting to know one of his neighbors....he chose to make himself feel important and look like a pompous ass in the process.

Walter...you showed a great deal of restraint....I wouldn't have been so kind if approached like that.

This IS still a free country, isn't it?
gdsf2 said:
Walter,

You should go over to that guy and thank him for watching out for
the neighborhood. It is guys like that who may stop some terrorist
from blowing you up some day. Think about it.

Jerry
Click to expand...
--
John
http://www.pbase.com/mankman
Canon EOS 10D

Equipment list in profile...subject to change on a daily basis ;^)

Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together
 
Maybe, but it's also guys like that who may end up doing more harm than good. What if it had been dark and he was trying a long exposure or something outside his house and a guy like that thinks something is up, tries to make himself a hero and does something stupid. So many people own guns and a camera could be mistaken for a weapon at night.
Courtenay
gdsf2 said:
Walter,

You should go over to that guy and thank him for watching out for
the neighborhood. It is guys like that who may stop some terrorist
from blowing you up some day. Think about it.

Jerry
Click to expand...
--
Digital Photo Challenge Portfolio
http://www.dpchallenge.com/portfolio.php?USER_ID=3105
 
John Mankos said:
This IS still a free country, isn't it?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, no, not with John Ashcroft inciting paranoid assaults on civil liberties. However, we can at least refrain from giving the pinheads more ammunition - by asserting our rights AND assuaging their concerns. Carrot and stick - "Mind your own business," and "Peace, brother."

--
Die-hard Mac fan
 
WalterK said:
You're absolutely right about that. There are now signs in our
buses and subways that say "If you see something, say something!"
Ashcroft, Ridge and Tenet are capitalizing on peoples' fear for
political purposes, and it works.
Click to expand...
i think they are going further then that and generating the fear that we live in today.

and your right about the suicide bombers as well, wish more folks would have thought about that before attacking another country. oh well, what's done is done, now we have to live (?) with it.

--

'what one is working on is rarely what one thinks they are working on.' :::sort of budda
WalterK said:
way
Click to expand...
 
I am 15 year olds and a few weeks ago while I was in hawaii taking pictures I felt a little weird. First off I have an EOS 3 with a 70-200 f4 L lens (right now digital is too expensive, and getting adequete equipment takes a long time of saving). I took about 4 rolls of Fuji Sensia (couldn't find any Velvia on the island) and everywhere I took pictures I was either stared at and at the hotel I was taking pictures of the parrots and actually one of the guests asked if I was a photographer for the hotel.....lol....Where I felt the weirdest was when I was taking pictures at Little Beach on Maui. I went over a small hill, and on the other side was a beautifull beach with many great photo opportunities but there were some nude people at it. I went on with taking my pictures, but I stayed by the rocks (keeping my distance from everyone...about 50 yards). You might imagine what some of the crazy things people thought up about what I was doing. I was just happy no one stopped me....Anyways I got about 2 dozen great shots on the trip and I wish I could share them with you guys, but I just need to get a film scanner.
WalterK said:
Jason Hutchinson said:
I think that's fairly funny knowing you a little bit from this forum.

I feel so dirty taking the 100-400 around my neighborhood shooting
birds, that I rarely do it. Who knows what someone might think.
Click to expand...
Hi, Jason. Actually, I'd bet a lot of us are becoming self
conscious about walking around with a camera. I've been doing it
for about 45 years and never gave it second thought until these
strange times we live in.

--
Walter K
Click to expand...
--
Mike
 
When you carry gear that makes you look like a pro, many people will assume that you are, or at least are likely to be one.

When I see somebody carrying an old Nikon manual focus SLR, and he's not an old geezer (lol), I'll often assume he might be a pro -- depending on how he's acting.
Seagz said:
I am 15 year olds and a few weeks ago while I was in hawaii taking
pictures I felt a little weird. First off I have an EOS 3 with a
70-200 f4 L lens (right now digital is too expensive, and getting
adequete equipment takes a long time of saving). I took about 4
rolls of Fuji Sensia (couldn't find any Velvia on the island) and
everywhere I took pictures I was either stared at and at the hotel
I was taking pictures of the parrots and actually one of the guests
asked if I was a photographer for the hotel.....lol....Where I felt
the weirdest was when I was taking pictures at Little Beach on
Maui. I went over a small hill, and on the other side was a
beautifull beach with many great photo opportunities but there were
some nude people at it. I went on with taking my pictures, but I
stayed by the rocks (keeping my distance from everyone...about 50
yards). You might imagine what some of the crazy things people
thought up about what I was doing. I was just happy no one stopped
me....Anyways I got about 2 dozen great shots on the trip and I
wish I could share them with you guys, but I just need to get a
film scanner.
Click to expand...
--
The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons
http://thewilkinsons.crosswinds.net
Photography -- just another word for compromise
 
WalterK said:
A neighborly guy with a bull neck walks across the street and says
"Can I help you?" I respond "No thanks, but what do you want to
help me with?" He says I want to help you by finding out why your
are taking pictures here, in people's windows (it was the brick
wall on my own house. ) I responded that I was taking brick wall
pictures, but that I was not doing anything illegal. He said he
was going to call the police, which I said I was OK with.
Click to expand...
I live in the world of fruits, nuts, vegetables and wacko left wingers and nobody gives me any grief for breaking out the camera and lens. Boy are you lucky:-)
 
lol, Remember DUCK AND COVER!
WalterK said:
I rushed home today to use the fading light to test the focus on my
D60 with 16-35 before it got too dark. The camera has just been
returned from Canon service. I looked for brick walls, stopsigns,
etc. The neighborhood is all one family houses.

A neighborly guy with a bull neck walks across the street and says
"Can I help you?" I respond "No thanks, but what do you want to
help me with?" He says I want to help you by finding out why your
are taking pictures here, in people's windows (it was the brick
wall on my own house. ) I responded that I was taking brick wall
pictures, but that I was not doing anything illegal. He said he
was going to call the police, which I said I was OK with.

He asked where I live, and I responded that I certainly did not
have to tell him anything, much less where I live. He said I have
no right taking pictures of people's houses. I said "Please call
the police so that we can get this cleared up." He took out his
cell phone and appeared to make a call. Heasked again why I was
taking pictures, and I said that I certainly did not have to answer
his questions at this point or any other. I asked if he was part
of the secret police, or was he a Taliban...

A friend in my house heard the comotion and came through the door.
He asked her if she knew me. I said to her not to answer any
question of his. He sat on the stoop next door and glowered at me
while I finished my lens test.

Unfortunately, the camera movement became excessive as my wish to
pop this guy overwhelmed my scientific side.

I know I should have been more polite to him, but I am getting very
tired of being stopped and told by civilians, not police who have
been helpful, that I am not allowed to take pictures.

Anyway, I just wanted to get this rant off my chest . Thanks...

--
Walter K
Click to expand...
 
about 4% neutrons, 8% protons, 28% electrons, and at least that many morons...

Not you folks or me, of course :)

Thanks for the support and for sharing your experiences. I feel better today, and hopefully the weather tomorrow will let me go out and finish checking the adjustments on my gear.

I'm usually slow to reach the kind of anger I felt yesterday. Also being 62 compared to this guy's 35 or so changed the odds a bit, so I vented here instead of making things even worse with my neighbor. It's just that you reach a point....

--
Walter K
 
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