JD750 Loc: SoCal

This appeared on my neighborhood social media site:

“Hi all, I’m a babysitter in the neighborhood and witnessed some suspicious activity at the Costanso Fire Station 84 Park. There was an older man taking photos of children through the fence at the park. When I asked him what he was doing he responded with - “I remember when my kids were that young”. As he continued taking photos I took out my phone and took one of him. Please be careful at this park and others in general. I’ve encountered some interesting people here before but this was over the line. When you’re at a park it’s not only extremely important to keep an eye on your kids but the environment around them as well. I’m a caregiver and have to be proactive when I have children under my care. I have an obligation to bring attention to things that seem out of the ordinary. He didn’t seem like he was a photographer or a passerby that was admiring kids at play. His behavior was bizarre. Just trying to inform everyone to be aware! “

There were many replies. The general tone was supportive. Two typical replies that stuck with me are included below:

“Sorry, it's creepy and inappropriate. If you're a photographer, there are plenty of other ways to take pics of children, i.e, kids of friends, relatives etc. For me, taking pics of random kids is a reason to be suspicious. There are to many pedophiles around. It's our job to protect our kids, better over protective than not enough and something happen. This will be the next guy you see on the news being arrested for having thousands of pics of kids on his computer. Good looking out girl!!”

“In today’s world No one should be taking photos of any children they do not know through a gated fence in a public park period. That gate is open and if it is a father/grandfather he could have gone inside to take photos of his kids.”

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I’m not certain why you posted this.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Wow.
Years ago there was hardly ever a problem. Many people took photographs of kids having fun at parks and playgrounds, and they wound up in newspapers and such as something we used to call "Human Interest" shots or stories.

I keep waiting to see images of people in parks or towns with each of their faces turned to a flesh colored blob. That should be politically correct and "safe".

I'm going to have to go back to all my Disney shots and blob-out the people's faces. /s

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Maybe you're not old enough to understand.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

This should have been posted in General Chit Chat, which has 73256 subscribers, only 1500 less than this forum.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

60 or 70 years ago I had no problems taking photos of random kids.
Of course back then I was a random kid.

Yes, times have changed. When I was a kid we were free. We did not have (nor require) supervision. We did not have a schedule of activities (except some school sports for the jocks [which did not include me][and I don't know what the term is/was for girls in sports programs]). We climbed rocks. We swung on ropes across rivers (well, OK, streams). We used the playgrounds when nobody was there. We walked the railroad tracks (I only did that once, when I was 5). We made whiskey from corn. (It burned when we distilled it and nobody could get past the smell). We made our own pistol from a cap gun. It fired 22 shorts but was unable to break a bottle at point blank range. Nobody paid any attention. We were kids.

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

The word photograph ring any bells? That's what the guy was doing, suspiciously??

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

Great idea to take a pic of him. Evidence if anything happens around there in the future.
ID for the police to check out. And if he objects, all the more reason to show the police.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I was a free-range kid, and proud of it!
We learned more than the kids of today will ever know or understand, and had a ton more fun.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Sorry, I missed the point about the subscribers reference.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I hope I never am {I’m 71 right now}

SnappyHappy Loc: Chapin, SC “The Capitol of Lake Murray”

I’m with you Longshadow...growing old isn’t for sissy’s but that era of life experience makes me grateful that my childhood was in such a time, even if it was too long ago.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

So your eggs are healthier???


Great answer and I relate to this... "Stay out of the house until we call you!!!"

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yup, and yup.

Had to come in when the street lights came on...

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States