# Harry and Meghan New York Car Chase.....Bullshit? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 17, 2023, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184 "2023-05-17T19:24:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/121 "2023-05-20T19:27:23Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > People may _be_ allowed to now. I think they _shouldn’t_. I agree with this part, although that is not the law now I think it should change. > [@](#): > > I don’t think _anyone_ should be recognizably photographed without obtaining their specific, explicit permission (verbal is fine). That goes too far for several reasons, but even public figures shouldn’t have to put up with harassment from photographers, and certainly private citizens going about their business shouldn’t have to put up with any such inconvenience at all. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/122 "2023-05-20T19:54:11Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I don’t think _anyone_ should be recognizably photographed without obtaining their specific, explicit permission (verbal is fine). I don’t think you’ve thought this through. In that case, no one can take photos of any public park, plaza, fountain, building, street scene, beach, etc., without getting the explicit permission of the people in the photos. Taking a family photo? Better make sure there’s nobody in the background. I suppose you could argue that photos should not be _published_ without the explicit consent of the humans depicted therein, which is a better idea, but even then it would be impossible to ever publish a photo of Times Square or Central Park or anywhere humans congregate. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/123 "2023-05-20T20:31:52Z")
If H&M truly wanted complete privacy from the press after the event they should not have walked out the front door of the Ziegfeld Theatre where they allowed themselves to be photographed before getting into a waiting vehicle. They don’t do quiet exits, sneak out a back door to escape notice. No. They want it both ways to turn on and off the publicity machine at their whim. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/124 "2023-05-20T21:04:13Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > So, how many photographers follow an A-lister in NYC as he/she walks down the street, maybe doing some shopping? I seem to recall Jerry Seinfeld used to just walk around NYC like a normal person and when photographers found him he’d stop and chat with them, let them take a few photos, and then carry on with his business. I don’t remember if they agreed to leave him alone if he let them take some pics, but he evidently did not run away from them. But this thread is about H&M and what purportedly happened to them, and as I mentioned before, a whole other debate can be had about the possibility of H&M bringing this attention to themselves and creating more attention trying to get away from it. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/125 "2023-05-20T21:05:25Z")
The idea was that they would do the carpet pics, then be able to leave. That did not work out the way they planned. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/126 "2023-05-20T23:04:36Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > Staying in a hotel eliminates the entire problem. You know what a hotel in New York City must cost??? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/127 "2023-05-20T23:44:48Z")
NYC is apparently different from Los Angeles and another places - photographers don’t really follow people here ( except that one that followed Jackie Onassis) and the residents mostly ignore celebrities they see living their lives. My husband grew up down the block from Jerry Orbach and he was just Chris’s father to everyone in the neighborhood ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/128 "2023-05-21T00:30:53Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > My husband grew up down the block from Jerry Orbach and he was just Chris’s father to everyone in the neighborhood Orbach was famous for being a regular guy with non-famous friends. This isn’t to say he was unique. Louis Armstrong lived in a more or less regular house in Queens. Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems to me that celebrities are generally more isolated from the rest of us than they used to be. It used to be common to walk right by America’s most famous politicians (excluding the president) when visiting the U.S. Capitol. A concrete example of the change is that the general public is now barred from the free capital hill subway system used by members of congress. The Sussexes aren’t the only ones more concerned about their personal safety then their grandparents may have been. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/129 "2023-05-21T00:35:19Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > The Sussexes aren’t the only ones more concerned about their personal safety then their grandparents may have been. Couple dozen assassinations will do that to ya. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/130 "2023-05-21T00:44:09Z")
> [@slicedalone](#): > > Couple dozen assassinations will do that to ya. Queen Victoria went out amongst her people, the day after assassination attempts, to show she hadn’t been cowed. At least — when she was young. Unfortunately, guns started getting so reliable and accurate that continuing the policy would have been suicidal. ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/131 "2023-05-21T01:03:34Z")
Come on home kids!! Shouldnt have left Montecito in the first place…the sun finally came out. (gloomy spring) I live down the street from them and others, quite the pack of celebs here. People are fairly hands off, somewhat of a locals rule I suppose…Im just a poverty stricken surf(er), I might tell them to get off my beach! /joke ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/132 "2023-05-21T09:51:52Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > In that case, no one can take photos of any public park, plaza, fountain, building, street scene, beach, etc., without getting the explicit permission of the people in the photos I said “recognizably”. Out-of-focus background characters don’t count. > [@Dr.Drake](#): > > I suppose you could argue that photos should not be _published_ without the explicit consent of the humans depicted therein That is more what I mean, not personal photos, yes. > [@Dr.Drake](#): > > even then it would be impossible to ever publish a photo of Times Square or Central Park or anywhere humans congregate. Not without either getting their permission in some way, or obscuring their features, no. It might be that there are some places or occasions where there is an explicit waiver in effect, like certain tourist spots or parade events or suchlike. But that should be the exception rather than the rule. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/133 "2023-05-21T13:16:26Z")
> [@chela](#): > > If H&M truly wanted complete privacy from the press after the event they should not have walked out the front door of the Ziegfeld Theatre where they allowed themselves to be photographed before getting into a waiting vehicle. > > They don’t do quiet exits, sneak out a back door to escape notice. No. They want it both ways to turn on and off the publicity machine at their whim. Do you think people should be required to sneak out the back door? If photographers want to see them get into their car, and they are okay with that, why should that leave them open to intrusive stuff? ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/134 "2023-05-21T14:11:30Z")
I wish someone would open another thread to discuss the underlying legal/social issues here. Not sure where would be best, and it may well end up in the Pit anyway. I’m too lazy and unsure how to phrase it, but the underlying question has little to do with Harry and Meghan, and everything to do with the rights of a free press, the nature of capitalism, how the rights of celebrities differ from those of regular folks (if at all), and other, deeper subjects than whether H. and M. getting chased through Manhattan is or isn’t bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/135 "2023-05-21T14:40:04Z")
By now they know how it will go down. They decided to start a game of cat and mouse rather than just drive away serenely into the night. To hell with the slow moving parade of paps behind them. And yes get the pics go back inside leave quietly and privately from another exit to their destination. What’s wrong with that tactic. That is if they’re not interested in the surrounding drama, playing it up to garner sympathy. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2023, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/136 "2023-05-22T18:02:20Z")
H&M may be an exception, since they were born into this. On the other hand, they do seem to be engaging in activities that they must know will elevate their visibility. I just find it hard to feel bad for people who gain immense wealth and privilege by being in the public eye and then whine about the public eye. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/137 "2023-05-23T18:45:41Z")
If they’re gonna play the game then why not have some fun? It’s not like these two don’t have access to hoards of outfits and heaps of makeup artists. Hire a matching car, unexpectedly veer into an underground parking lot and switch cars. Hire an assistant that could stand in as a body double, switch outfits in the car! I reckon you could get pretty slick at it after a few tries. Sounds more fun than driving around for two hours anyway. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184/138 "2023-05-23T22:59:58Z")
Or hire six assistants, with six lookalikes for your spouse, and have them get into six different cars driving in six different directions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-and-meghan-new-york-car-chase-bullshit/984184.md?page=6)