Apparently we are all terrorists…
At the risk of skirting dangerously close to a political diatribe, this like THIS are really getting out of hand. (link goes to article, click the pic for larger image)
There are already plenty of reports of the general camera-unfriendliness that is growing in our ever-expanding surveillance society, but this is essentially painting anyone with a camera as a terrorist (god help you if you have a big slr & tripod). Have we as a people really sunk that low? (not to mention the obvious disconnect in that the folks usually being harassed are SLR users, whereas wouldn’t you expect a “terrorist” to want to use something small and inconspicuous? - quick round up all the G9 users!)
This is really an ugly reflection of our changing society. Honestly I was shocked (although maybe I shouldn’t be) by that poster - without hyperbole, it is something that could have come straight out of Soviet Russisa (”Report any suspicious activity, comrade! It’s your patriotic duty!).
I am a fairly young guy, but I can’t seem to ever remember this level of general paranoia and fear mongering being foisted upon the public ’till recently. It really makes you wonder why.
Tags: photographer's rights, rants
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March 5th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
but, I mean, you are a terrorist, right?
March 6th, 2008 at 12:06 am
That poster is just one of the latest bits of news that show how photographers are being treated with hostility. I saw the same article, and I’m really sick of the whole topic myself
I ended up writing a little post on Learn how to shoot like a terrorist because of that poster. Do check it out if you have the time, and btw, I apologize in advance for the sarcasm.
March 10th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Do a little research on Mc Carthyism in the 1950’s. Paranoia has been around forever and will be here long after we are gone.
March 28th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
True, but that doesn’t mean we should stand idly by while it happens.
Plus I think it is arguable that the issues of lost rights & legislation going on now is more far-reaching and insidious than the “red scare” and McCarthism.