My daughter is a competitive swimmer and I can't film her?

Question

We have been told we can't film our daughter's races because sex offenders could be filming,so all filming is banned. What do YOU think?

Answer 1

You raise a very good point.

We all want the right to do as we wish, and yet we have less right to do so in reality.

This, in my opinion, is just the way the world is going. Your daughter should be protected against sex offenders, so why not make checks on people attending a swimming event, and prevent them from gaining access in the first place. This would have to be done by the organisers.

You should have the right to film your daughter in competitive swimming, as a record of her achievements, and even show off to her friends how well, or badly, she has done.

Many years ago, I was the official photographer for a community centre, and filmed six to sixteen year olds enjoying days out with our centre, and the parents really enjoyed the fun and good times their children had enjoyed. I had to have police checks, which were all passed and OK, but the parents of the children new me, and I new them, there was never a problem.

Sorry to go on so long, but if all filming is banned by parents, and others, why don't they provide a professional photographer so you can have something for your family album?

Answer 2

I am a keen amateur photographer with a daughter aged 2, so I can relate to the issues you are having.

Basically I feel as if I am being observed if I take the camera out to our local playground (obviously with my daughter!). Whilst I am trying to capture her youth and laughter I am being looked on as a bit of a wierdo... and it does make me think twice about taking the camera out again.

Whilst I fully understand the reasoning behind banning filming and photo taking in sensitive areas, it is the parents that suffer as they ultimately lose out.

Surely a kind of photographers pass could be issued at these events, ie if you can prove you have some interest through family or close friend then you could be issued a pass and carry on filming?

I am sure this will get plenty more views!

Tony

Answer 3

No. I think they're doing the right thing restricting the suits, they should have done it a long time ago. I think to a large extent the importance of the suit is being hyped. Michael Phelps barely won the 100 fly in the Olympics when he supposedly had a far superior suit. Then a year later he trounces the same guy who now supposedly has the better suit. The only issue I really have with the new suits is that they will preclude kids from competitive swimming unless they have wealthy parents.

Answer 4

I am disappointed by most of your respondents answers. Pervs. are NOT everywhere. You have been brainwashed into thinking that they are. In any event, it would be easy to ensure that anyone taking pictures was a parent of a child in the race. The cost of removing every possible risk from our lives is too expensive in terms of loss of freedom. IE. it is not a cost free exercise. Even if a perv. does manage to film children in a swimming pool, so what? Anyone can go into a swimming pool at anytime to swim and leer at whoever they want. What about all those parents who want to film their children? It is amazing that more men don't balk at the insult to their own sex, and by implication, themselves. At lot of people enjoy looking at children playing for the INNOCENT pleasure it gives them to do so.

Answer 5

This is a sensible policy to protect children and young people, it is used in changing areas, toilets and swimming pools in my town too. I am sure you would not want your daughter filmed by sex offenders, but there also needs to be some discretion. The policy is usually to allow filming if the manager has given prior permission and that the individuals also agree.
Try writing to the pool manager or ask your swimming club to advise.

Answer 6

Another example of the pathetic pc brigade. Sex offenders have been around forever it is nothing new. It strikes me as a way of an odd group of people using another odd group of people to control. I remember my grandaughters school putting on a kids nativity play, the headmaster asked if anyone objected to cameras, guess what no one did, not one. Maybe the swimming people should do the same?

Answer 7

Yep, everything about this is just wrong. The only consolation is that your memory of just watching the events can never be taken from you.

I like the point made that women can film these things, particularly bearing in mind the woman on the news yesterday who was convicted of sexual acts with minors. It's wrong from every conceivable angle.

Answer 8

Tell the organisers that your human rights are being abused and start talking about Brussels. There's no reason why parents cannot film their own children - it isn't against the law.
This is the ridiculous way we overreact.

Answer 9

That's what you get when the country is run by a load of left wing p.c poof's........Think hard before voting at the next election.......In the meantime if she was my daughter I'd still film her and let them take me to court.....It's time to stand up for your rights and not keep taking it lying down......The more this load of idiots get away with the more restrictions on life they will keep putting in place....Enough is enough!!!!!

Answer 10

Better to be safe than sorry I guess but it does seem wierd particularly when they could just give parents of competitors a sticker or a badge to identify them and just ban anyone else.

Maybe you could find out if it would be possible on the basis that you get the written consent of all the childrens parents.
I suppose this would only be practical at small meets.