Comments on: Cops Capture Campers! http://fotdmike.com/2008/03/10/cops-cover-climate-campers/ A clueless and confused enthusiast's photographic exploits and thoughts Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:36:49 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: forkboy1965 http://fotdmike.com/2008/03/10/cops-cover-climate-campers/#comment-133 forkboy1965 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 03:31:52 +0000 http://fotdmike.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/cops-cover-climate-campers/#comment-133 No, I don't think they do. I believe that they think they are doing their job, while they think we (or really you in this instance) are up to something. When you get down to it, who is usually "up to something"? The average citizen or our respective governments? No, I don’t think they do. I believe that they think they are doing their job, while they think we (or really you in this instance) are up to something. When you get down to it, who is usually “up to something”? The average citizen or our respective governments?

]]> By: fotdmike http://fotdmike.com/2008/03/10/cops-cover-climate-campers/#comment-129 fotdmike Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:08:01 +0000 http://fotdmike.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/cops-cover-climate-campers/#comment-129 You're absolutely spot on. We get the same sort of thing happening over here (and inevitably "fitwatchers" tend to receive more than most of it). Yet the cops <i>really</i> don't like photos being taken of themselves. Pity they don't stop to think about the obvious corollary when they're weilding <i>their</i> cameras. <i>Or perhaps they do... !</i> You’re absolutely spot on. We get the same sort of thing happening over here (and inevitably “fitwatchers” tend to receive more than most of it).
Yet the cops really don’t like photos being taken of themselves. Pity they don’t stop to think about the obvious corollary when they’re weilding their cameras.

Or perhaps they do… !

]]> By: forkboy1965 http://fotdmike.com/2008/03/10/cops-cover-climate-campers/#comment-126 forkboy1965 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:20:27 +0000 http://fotdmike.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/cops-cover-climate-campers/#comment-126 Yes, I have noticed that. And I've looked over some of the fitwatch pictures you have taken. So the spies are being spied upon. Back when I lived in Chicago I was unlucky enough to live in a somewhat rough neighborhood. One sunny summer afternoon the local constabulary had pulled over in front of my flat a vehicle filled with young men. I noted the officers were cuffing the young men and conducting a search of the vehicle so I grabbed my camera and headed outside to record the event. Very shortly after arriving upon the scene one officer strongly suggested (i.e. yelled in a threatening manner) I take myself and my camera elsewhere. I ignored him and continued taking pictures. After all, I was standing on my property, was no where near the car or in any way interfering with the arrest and vehicle search (I was probably 40 feet or so away from them). After seeing that I wasn't moving along he took a few steps towards me and threatened to arrest me if I didn't 'move along'. I should have told him to piss off as I was within my legal rights to stand on my property and use my camera to record the event as it transpired. Something happens to men and women when they put on a uniform. It's as if their brain switches off and they become assholes. Not all, of course and not all the time, but no small amount of attitude seems to come with the job. Why can't they all be like DCI Tennison? Yes, I have noticed that. And I’ve looked over some of the fitwatch pictures you have taken. So the spies are being spied upon.

Back when I lived in Chicago I was unlucky enough to live in a somewhat rough neighborhood. One sunny summer afternoon the local constabulary had pulled over in front of my flat a vehicle filled with young men. I noted the officers were cuffing the young men and conducting a search of the vehicle so I grabbed my camera and headed outside to record the event.

Very shortly after arriving upon the scene one officer strongly suggested (i.e. yelled in a threatening manner) I take myself and my camera elsewhere. I ignored him and continued taking pictures. After all, I was standing on my property, was no where near the car or in any way interfering with the arrest and vehicle search (I was probably 40 feet or so away from them).

After seeing that I wasn’t moving along he took a few steps towards me and threatened to arrest me if I didn’t ‘move along’. I should have told him to piss off as I was within my legal rights to stand on my property and use my camera to record the event as it transpired.

Something happens to men and women when they put on a uniform. It’s as if their brain switches off and they become assholes. Not all, of course and not all the time, but no small amount of attitude seems to come with the job.

Why can’t they all be like DCI Tennison?

]]> By: fotdmike http://fotdmike.com/2008/03/10/cops-cover-climate-campers/#comment-125 fotdmike Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:11:49 +0000 http://fotdmike.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/cops-cover-climate-campers/#comment-125 Yeah, its an increasingly prevalent trend over here too. And the "evidence gathering" explanation simply won't stand up for there are technologies available that allow for far less intrusive/provocative ways of doing that. So what we're left with is the "deterrence" explanation (tacitly admitted by the Essex police force in a publication of theirs a while ago) which, when stretched a bit, can easily turn into intimidation. So much of a concern has this issue become to the activist community over here that a group has sprung into being over here with the specific objective of exposing/opposing this particular police tactic. Call themselves "fitwatch" and they can be found at <a href="http://fitwatch.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">fitwatch.blogspot.com</a>. "Watching the watchers" is also an area that I tend to specialise in a bit meself, particularly as it relates to my "news gatherer" role. Yeah, its an increasingly prevalent trend over here too. And the “evidence gathering” explanation simply won’t stand up for there are technologies available that allow for far less intrusive/provocative ways of doing that.
So what we’re left with is the “deterrence” explanation (tacitly admitted by the Essex police force in a publication of theirs a while ago) which, when stretched a bit, can easily turn into intimidation.
So much of a concern has this issue become to the activist community over here that a group has sprung into being over here with the specific objective of exposing/opposing this particular police tactic. Call themselves “fitwatch” and they can be found at fitwatch.blogspot.com.

“Watching the watchers” is also an area that I tend to specialise in a bit meself, particularly as it relates to my “news gatherer” role.

]]> By: forkboy1965 http://fotdmike.com/2008/03/10/cops-cover-climate-campers/#comment-122 forkboy1965 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:36:02 +0000 http://fotdmike.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/cops-cover-climate-campers/#comment-122 Here in the States we had similar situations whenever there were anti-war marches or protests (excuse me..."demos" for you). Not only were the local police involved, but also the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and rumors that members of the military were also in attendance to take pictures and/or video. Many, including myself, were very concerned about the taking of pictures and video of peaceful and lawful marches. One likes to believe that the intent of the authorities is legitimate; maybe to record folks because they know some may be bent towards illegal activities. But the temptation for our government and other authorities to misuse this sort of data is overwhelming. History has shown us, time and time again, that monitoring of the populace always leads to infringement of civil liberties. Here in the States we had similar situations whenever there were anti-war marches or protests (excuse me…”demos” for you). Not only were the local police involved, but also the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and rumors that members of the military were also in attendance to take pictures and/or video. Many, including myself, were very concerned about the taking of pictures and video of peaceful and lawful marches. One likes to believe that the intent of the authorities is legitimate; maybe to record folks because they know some may be bent towards illegal activities. But the temptation for our government and other authorities to misuse this sort of data is overwhelming. History has shown us, time and time again, that monitoring of the populace always leads to infringement of civil liberties.

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