Comments on: “Al-Qaeda would love to buy your pictures”

By: John Howard

John Howard — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:17:43 +0000

I wonder about the cop’s apparent knowledge of al qaeda’s photo-buying habits. Could it be he’s sold a few himself?

You see how wild and unfounded speculation works?

Just like in the old days when somebody could be accused of being a ‘red’ and have their lives and careers destroyed. Paranoia is a dangerous thing when put into the hands of authority figures.

This paranoid mentality was portrayed in the movie ‘The Oxbow Incident” where innocent people were lynched by an angry mob that cared less about the law than they did about their private brand of “justice.”

By: johnl

johnl — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:58:50 +0000

How can here be anybody who doesn’t know that trains are fun things to photograph? If you take pictures of people at the beach will LA Sheriffs detain you because AQ hates our beaches and you might be taking those pictures for terroristic purposes?

By: Nemo

Nemo — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:02:06 +0000

@ Dfr23:

How is enforcing imaginary laws “doing his job”?

What evidence is there that terrorists photograph subways as a part of their planning? Didn’t happen in Spain, didn’t happen in London, either. How does taking pictures consitute “reasonable suspicion” of a crime (excepting things obvious, like upskirts)?

How did taking a picture become as suspicious as wearing winter clothing in the summertime?

You know, making assertions like that is extremely suspicious behavior. A cop should come questioon you as to why you re making them…

By: SSJIndy

SSJIndy — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:59:57 +0000

“It’s my hobby (or job, as the case may be). Arrest me or leave me alone.”

Call the bluff. It’s easy to be a bully for 20 minutes. It’s a lot of bother to fill out the mound of paperwork and deal with the sh-tstorm that would follow this cop from that point forward. And it could pay handsomely for the citizen who’s falsely arrested.

By: Spokker

Spokker — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:50:00 +0000

When a cop asks me why I am photographing a subway I tell him I’m gay and I like trains. Works every time!

By: fishbane

fishbane — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:02:45 +0000

Drf,

you shouldn’t use words like “reasonable suspicion” when you don’t know what they mean.

Cops can question, sure. I have no obligation to answer. It is entirely about rights. If a public servant acts like an ass, I have a right to call him or her an ass. If you wish to be subservient to anyone with a badge, that’s your business, but don’t try to tell me I have to be.

The more people allow “teh terror” to allow random meatheads to waste time and tax dollars bullying obvious non-threats, the more it will continue.

Refuse to be terrorized.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:38:30 +0000

DRF23: is “instigating” another word for “detaining”? If one is going about ones lawful business, IN A CITY THAT INVITES TOURISM, does one need to submit to DETAINMENT regardless of attitude. Perhaps, he should have given the finger to the officers, and continued photographing. What then? Would you then state that giving the finger is “attitude” even though countless courts have found it to be permissible freedom of speech? When will the police learn that all lawful activity is to be treated with the same respect that police expect themselves to be treated?

By: Drf23

Drf23 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:21:46 +0000

it’s called “instigating”…..this has nothing to do with giving up your rights. he would have let you continue if you didnt give an attitude. again, he has reasonable suspicion. say you walk into a convenient store in the middle of summer, wearing a big coat, sweatpants, and a ski mask. a cop asks, why are you wearing all that when its 79 degrees out? the cop has every right to question you. it has nothing to do with rights, its just a cop doing his job to react to something suspicious, and make sure that they pose no threat to the publics safety.

By: Ari

Ari — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:50:10 +0000

Andrew Said, “which the photographer answers in a rude and evasive fashion “’cause I want to””

How is that evasive? I take plenty of photos cause I want to, for no other reason. That the cop doesn’t say “Oh ok, have fun then” suggests he is fishing.

By: Simon Jester

Simon Jester — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:19:08 +0000

Police can only clean up after the crime is committed. My safety is protected by myself, not some police officer. They might deter a crime by their presence, but only my actions can prevent a crime directed towards me.

Those officers protected no one that day and in fact added to the cause of the terrorists by instilling fear in the public and encouraging the erosion of the American way of life.

By: Mr. Ben

Mr. Ben — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:14:21 +0000

Freedom and liberty trumps safety.

By: EdinMiami

EdinMiami — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:57:38 +0000

But here is the difference Andrew:

You have no problem giving up your rights and that is ok for you.

Other people have an expectation that their rights will not be violated. When they are, they tend to get a bit upset.

Being rude to an officer is not against the law. Good officers know that when they go “fishing” and get rebuffed, it is time to back off. The bad ones catch an attitude and create something from nothing.

So you do have to right not to assert your rights, but I’m sure you agree that there is nothing wrong with people asserting their rights? Or do you?

By: andrew

andrew — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:38:51 +0000

totally disagree with you Ari, when I watch the video I see the cop ask a very simple question, which the photographer answers in a rude and evasive fashion “’cause I want to”, he continues to evade the question relentlessly, tries pathetically to intimidate the cop with “i’m a rights activist” showing absolutely no respect for a cop simply trying to do his job, its little wonder the cop reacted that way – they have an expectation that law abiding citizens with nothing to hide will treat them with a little respect (that they deserve for putting their asses on the line), if you start being a smart ass and refuse to answer the most basic questions you very quickly get pidgeonholed as scum. Like I said, i was approached in that exact station and had no problem, answered the question and they just told me to keep out of peoples way and left me shooting – and had several similar situations with cops and rent-a-cops elsewhere.