I have a really good friend who finally got 'with the times' and purchased a cell phone with a camera.
He is quite happy with his purchase and has felt the need to get the most out of his investment by using the camera as much as he can...
Well, he has just been snapping random pictures of people everywhere he goes (NO, THEY ARE NOT SEXUAL)...just random shots. (These people are NOT aware the pictures are being taken)
He takes them, saves them to his PC and forwards them onto his friends.
Just today, I received pictures of the woman at the post office, the baker and some random person behind him in line.
He tells me he 'pretends' to check his phone when he is snapping these pictures.
I've told him its wrong and to stop immedietly, but he continues...how should I handle this?
2007-02-15 06:12:37 · 14 answers · asked by Ted Arcidi 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
That is kind of obnoxious. Since he's not breaking the law (if he were taking pictures in bathrooms or of sexual things then he would be), here's what you can do. 1) Ask him not to send you the pictures and tell him you don't want to see them. 2) Wait for him to get over the novelty of his new toy. He'll get bored with it eventually, or else he'll get his first phone bill and see how expensive it's been taking and sending pictures from his phone. :) 3) If he doesn't seem to be bored with his camera phone after a month or so, talk to your other friends and see if they can get him to stop.
Really, he's not hurting anyone. It's kind of creepy but it's most likely just a phase kind of that he'll get over once the novelty wears off. Act disinterested and maybe he'll realize that it's not so cool to be taking pictures of random people. Good luck.
2007-02-15 06:19:17 · answer #1 · answered by Katie B 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
While it's a peculiar hobby, he's not doing anything wrong or unethical, especially since the content of the images is not questionable/sexual. He doesn't have the right to publish the photos publicly, but there's nothing wrong with sending them to his friends.
Federal law states that people have "no reasonable expectation of privacy" when in public places, so there is no privacy issue here at all.
If you don't like the images, then just ask him to refrain from sending them to you. But, it's wrong to try to convince him to stop if he doesn't want to.
Nobody is being hurt. No laws are being broken. Just let it be. He'll probably tire of it soon anyway.
Good luck!
2007-02-15 07:41:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's legal in the United States to take still photographs without the person's permission, but you are probably right in assuming that people wouldn't like it. I suspect that your friend will probably get tired of the camera phone toy in a while and stop doing this. I think plenty of strangers would let him take their pictures if he asked.
I think Katie B gave you a great answer.
2007-02-16 17:58:58 · answer #3 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ethical? Well, it's o.k. Rude? Yes, definitely. Your friend is invading the privacy of these people. How would he feel if someone took a random photo of him (your friend) and sent it all over the Internet?
He will learn his lesson when someone realizes what he is doing and threatens to hurt him or gets in his face and give their opinion of his actions.
2007-02-15 06:39:49 · answer #4 · answered by Lizzie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think he's being unethical. As long as he's not trying to snap pics of people from under the divider in a bathroom stall or anything like that... Sounds like he just likes to see/watch people.
2007-02-15 07:30:18 · answer #5 · answered by j.f. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree it's unethical......and it could get him punched by a jealous husband in the future. There is really nothing you can do if he won't listen to you. Tell him to make sure he doesn't do that in other countries, if he should travel abroad. I know for a fact that it could get you arrested in countries like United Arab Emerates (in Dubai) and in Kuwait.
2007-02-15 06:23:26 · answer #6 · answered by cajunrescuemedic 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i had a friend once who got a new fone wiv camera he went around on a night out pretending he was a photographer and had almost everybody in the place posing 4 pics on his fone!! x
2007-02-19 01:42:36 · answer #7 · answered by nikki *** 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesnt seem like he's doing anything thats really unethical, he's just camera happy and pretty soon he'll get over lol, believe me everyone does sooner or later.
2007-02-15 06:18:52 · answer #8 · answered by kns75241 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if hes publishing photos of people without hteir consent he`s leaving himself open to a huge lawsuit for slander. have him check out the gossip columns if he thinks what hes doing is ok, the celebs make millions off of people like him.
2007-02-15 06:24:33 · answer #9 · answered by robert r 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is wrong wrong wrong. How would you like someone to take a picture of you randomly without your consent?
2015-03-27 17:19:03 · answer #10 · answered by basmith 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋