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- Conan
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Hi everyone, I'm a bit peeved with something that happened yesterday, and essentially being accused of being a paedophile until I spoke to the parent of some kids.
I was in my local town centre practising, taking shots of buildings etc that I will upload to a facebook Canvey island then and now page. A group of about 10 kids, I would say about 12-14 years old, approached me on bikes and scooters asking if I could get a photo of them doing a trick on their scooters and wheelies on their bikes.
I didn't feel comfortable with this and had never been asked before, so I said I will but only if they contact their parents first to make sure its ok. One did who really wanted a photo, and they said no. I said sorry, I'm not going to take it if your parents don't want me too. I then walked away to a different location.
Two cars then pull up full of older teenagers and one parent, who came over quite threateningly saying "Oi have you been taking pictures of kids?". I stood my ground and didn't get angry, just spoke normally, and said that no, I hadn't- I am learning photography. One of the younger ones had called to say I HAD taken their photo. They seemed a lot more calm as I was speaking to them, and I then offered them to see my camera and what was on it. Once they saw there wasn't any photos of that sort they were fine with me. One of the younger kids also turned up and the Mum asked, the kid went quiet as he was caught out and she apologised.
The Mum said "when I came over I thought it seemed a bit weird, I expected some dirty old man, not a younger bloke in a flat peak". They all apologised, then left.
It really worried me though, and I posted on my local facebook crime watch page not a crime, but it was me in the town earlier, and explained what I was doing as I didn't want any rumours to start that there is a dodgy bloke with a camera in the town.
I'm quite well known where I live, and everyone was supportive and saying what a sad world we live in, the only 2 negative comments out of 80 were someone saying could you just not take photos of kids, and someone else saying get a CRB check as I could be saying anything. My last was in 2014 when I was a carer. I said if I was up to anything dodgy do you not think I would use the camera we all have in our pockets which is a lot more discreet?
I remember a similar thread a while back, I do believe if I wasn't in a confident mood yesterday things could have escalated.
Anyone else had any trouble lately for using a camera, or even been accused of being a peadophile?
I was in my local town centre practising, taking shots of buildings etc that I will upload to a facebook Canvey island then and now page. A group of about 10 kids, I would say about 12-14 years old, approached me on bikes and scooters asking if I could get a photo of them doing a trick on their scooters and wheelies on their bikes.
I didn't feel comfortable with this and had never been asked before, so I said I will but only if they contact their parents first to make sure its ok. One did who really wanted a photo, and they said no. I said sorry, I'm not going to take it if your parents don't want me too. I then walked away to a different location.
Two cars then pull up full of older teenagers and one parent, who came over quite threateningly saying "Oi have you been taking pictures of kids?". I stood my ground and didn't get angry, just spoke normally, and said that no, I hadn't- I am learning photography. One of the younger ones had called to say I HAD taken their photo. They seemed a lot more calm as I was speaking to them, and I then offered them to see my camera and what was on it. Once they saw there wasn't any photos of that sort they were fine with me. One of the younger kids also turned up and the Mum asked, the kid went quiet as he was caught out and she apologised.
The Mum said "when I came over I thought it seemed a bit weird, I expected some dirty old man, not a younger bloke in a flat peak". They all apologised, then left.
It really worried me though, and I posted on my local facebook crime watch page not a crime, but it was me in the town earlier, and explained what I was doing as I didn't want any rumours to start that there is a dodgy bloke with a camera in the town.
I'm quite well known where I live, and everyone was supportive and saying what a sad world we live in, the only 2 negative comments out of 80 were someone saying could you just not take photos of kids, and someone else saying get a CRB check as I could be saying anything. My last was in 2014 when I was a carer. I said if I was up to anything dodgy do you not think I would use the camera we all have in our pockets which is a lot more discreet?
I remember a similar thread a while back, I do believe if I wasn't in a confident mood yesterday things could have escalated.
Anyone else had any trouble lately for using a camera, or even been accused of being a peadophile?
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