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.

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.