Sunday, June 06, 2004

CAN YOU PICTURE THAT?

I know. People have been talking about the proposed subway photography ban for a while now. But the more I think about this, the more upset I get. There's a difference between a tourist or resident snapping a photo of something interesting in the subway (and let's face it, there's always something interesting happening in the subway) and a terrorist casing the joint for "good bomb areas."

I'm all for security, really. But there's got to be a middle ground, right? Maybe licensing is the way to go on this one. If there's a structure in place allowing for the purchase and use of guns in order to ensure public safety (background checks, waiting periods, etc), then a system to make subway photography both safe and permitted should be doable. Right?

The concept of having "press exceptions" to the ban is something I can get behind, but who's considered press? Are all of us potential members of the press? I think most bloggers would see themselves as some sort of news source, at least in some capacity. I know freelancers, who aren't beholden to one publication or another, certainly view themselves as members of the press. And what about members of the international press? Like, oh, I don't know, Al-Jazeera? Do they get a press permit, too?

I don't know about this whole thing. Seems like a limit on artistic creativity to me. And I don't like that.

2 Comments:

At 2:46 PM, June 06, 2004, Blogger Drew said...

Nah, I really don't have a problem with anybody taking a picture in the subways. And with the advent of cameraphones, the whole notion of trying to kill photographs is pretty much moot anyway. A terrorist could always just go to the subway with a couple of buddies and say "Hey, how about there?" if they wanted to anyway. Or draw a little sketch. I think it's more a 1984 freedom of info kind of issue than a terrorist issue anyway. The more people armed with cameras, the less bad people can get away with doing bad things (Rodney King, Iraq prison, yadda yadda.) Cameras for all, I say.

 
At 2:02 AM, June 13, 2004, Blogger Paul said...

The photography ban should only be used against people who are already suspicous. It should give law enforcement the power of confiscating film and asking accusatory questions. Detainment if reasonable suspicion of terrorist activity exists, so futher investigation can occur.
The problem law enforcement has with preventing terrorism is that Police have very little power unless a crime is committed or is attempted. A small amount of power against suspcious photographers can go a long way.

 

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My Urban Kvetch: CAN YOU PICTURE THAT?

Sunday, June 06, 2004

CAN YOU PICTURE THAT?

I know. People have been talking about the proposed subway photography ban for a while now. But the more I think about this, the more upset I get. There's a difference between a tourist or resident snapping a photo of something interesting in the subway (and let's face it, there's always something interesting happening in the subway) and a terrorist casing the joint for "good bomb areas."

I'm all for security, really. But there's got to be a middle ground, right? Maybe licensing is the way to go on this one. If there's a structure in place allowing for the purchase and use of guns in order to ensure public safety (background checks, waiting periods, etc), then a system to make subway photography both safe and permitted should be doable. Right?

The concept of having "press exceptions" to the ban is something I can get behind, but who's considered press? Are all of us potential members of the press? I think most bloggers would see themselves as some sort of news source, at least in some capacity. I know freelancers, who aren't beholden to one publication or another, certainly view themselves as members of the press. And what about members of the international press? Like, oh, I don't know, Al-Jazeera? Do they get a press permit, too?

I don't know about this whole thing. Seems like a limit on artistic creativity to me. And I don't like that.

2 Comments:

At 2:46 PM, June 06, 2004, Blogger Drew said...

Nah, I really don't have a problem with anybody taking a picture in the subways. And with the advent of cameraphones, the whole notion of trying to kill photographs is pretty much moot anyway. A terrorist could always just go to the subway with a couple of buddies and say "Hey, how about there?" if they wanted to anyway. Or draw a little sketch. I think it's more a 1984 freedom of info kind of issue than a terrorist issue anyway. The more people armed with cameras, the less bad people can get away with doing bad things (Rodney King, Iraq prison, yadda yadda.) Cameras for all, I say.

 
At 2:02 AM, June 13, 2004, Blogger Paul said...

The photography ban should only be used against people who are already suspicous. It should give law enforcement the power of confiscating film and asking accusatory questions. Detainment if reasonable suspicion of terrorist activity exists, so futher investigation can occur.
The problem law enforcement has with preventing terrorism is that Police have very little power unless a crime is committed or is attempted. A small amount of power against suspcious photographers can go a long way.

 

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