# You're sitting around mind your own business in a public area... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 22, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664 "2011-03-22T23:54:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/21 "2011-03-23T15:18:27Z")
> [@](#): > > You’re sitting around mind your own business in a public area… Sorry, but I usually would rather not be approached in that setting. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/22 "2011-03-23T15:26:00Z")
I would feel uncomfortable about it and sheepishly decline. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/23 "2011-03-23T15:44:43Z")
I don’t like being photographed, especially by strangers . So no I wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/24 "2011-03-23T15:56:11Z")
Depends on where I’m minding my own business. Am I relaxed? Is it a casual setting? Am I trying to have a business lunch? Am I on the phone or just idly staring at the birds or something? If you are distracting me from something I am trying to get accomplished, if I’m feeling generous, I’d give you a withering stare and a hearty fuck off. If I had nothing else going on and your approach did not ping my Creep-o-Meter, I might. I still want to know what you want to do with the photograph and I don’t trust the word of a stranger who claims it’s for a photo project. For all I know, you’re some sick twisted pervert trying to collect photographs of women’s elbows for your spank bank. Perhaps if you can come up with some way to prove that you’re really doing this for a project and you will protect my privacy, then probably yeah. I like the idea of bringing a pile of photo releases that A) give you permission to reproduce someone’s image and B) binds you to respecting their privacy. You BOTH have to sign it. Now, if I’m sitting in a bar with my friends and I’ve had a couple drinks, I will not think it through and you will get your pic. So either target subjects who would have their guard down, or take steps to be prepared to show some sort of “I’m not a creepy pervert” credentials. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/25 "2011-03-23T16:04:15Z")
My best friend and I make a point of having our pics taken while flipping the bird in any situation where we find ourselves to be dressed up and around cameras. There’s some really good shots of us at prom, at his wedding, at a concert, etc. So I’d be totally into it and ask where I could see more. Those pics of me flipping the bird are already on the Internet. So, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/26 "2011-03-23T16:08:05Z")
> [@Al\_Bundy](#): > > Anybody who would take you up on it and let you photograph them would surely not be in touch with the world and pretty stupid as well. Once those photos are taken they could end up anywhere around the Internet. Potential employers are learning to check blogs, Facebook and so forth to learn about their candidates. Such a photo would reflect badly on the person. Of course, if you are low class and don’t care what people think about you, go for it. If the photographer doesn’t have your name, it won’t come up on any searches for you, so potential employers won’t find it by checking Facebook. Course that doesn’t mean that no one’s ever going to see it, ever, so I don’t think I would do it unless maybe if my face was obscured by my hand or something. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/27 "2011-03-23T16:10:04Z")
No, I would politely decline. I am suspicious of strangers wanting to take my picture. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/28 "2011-03-23T16:10:26Z")
I’d politely decline. If you were persistent, I’d become less polite. If you pulled out your camera anyway, I just might pull a Sonny Corleone. When you say: > [@](#): > > I do not accept failure and want to ensure I can execute on this project flawlessly. do you mean you want to make sure you get your one picture a day, or that you insist that any person you approach complies with your request? If it’s the second, be prepared for a rough year. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/29 "2011-03-23T16:26:15Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > If I had nothing else going on and your approach did not ping my Creep-o-Meter, I might. I still want to know what you want to do with the photograph and I don’t trust the word of a stranger who claims it’s for a photo project. For all I know, you’re some sick twisted pervert trying to collect photographs of women’s elbows for your spank bank. And the thing is, I am not naive. I am not especially upset over the idea that someone might be masturbating to a picture of me on the Internet. I am completely 100% positive it’s happened before, and will happen to every girl who is even of mediocre looks. But I’d like to choose when I am a voluntary participant as much as possible. Yes, you can just snap a picture in the street and the law says I have no recourse. But there is a huge difference in a picture of me just doing my thing and me flipping someone the bird. And on top of everything else I hate being bugged by people when I am just doing my thing. I grow more introverted every year! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/30 "2011-03-23T16:37:37Z")
> [@Al\_Bundy](#): > > Anybody who would take you up on it and let you photograph them would surely not be in touch with the world and pretty stupid as well. Once those photos are taken they could end up anywhere around the Internet. Potential employers are learning to check blogs, Facebook and so forth to learn about their candidates. Such a photo would reflect badly on the person. Of course, if you are low class and don’t care what people think about you, go for it. How exactly is a potential employer going to find this picture of you? Your name wouldn’t be attached to it. I suppose it’s possible that he might come across it by random chance, but the Internet is kinda big. And there are 6 billion of us out there. Wow. Talk about paranoia. I would do it for a random stranger. I wouldn’t do it if it could in any way be tracked back to me as a person. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/31 "2011-03-23T17:14:55Z")
I’d probably comply, then come back to the same spot the next day with a small bird figurine in the hopes that you’re up for a visual pun photo. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/32 "2011-03-23T17:44:43Z")
I took a photography class in college, and man, people who might otherwise be a little suspicious _totally_ let their guard down when I’d say sweetly, “I’m a student, and this is for a class project - I’m taking beginner photography!” Somehow, nefarious schemes and/or money-grubbing seem less likely with that sort of intro. (I have to say, **Al Bundy** ’s post set off my paranoia-meter as well. Sheesh, dude. Can’t find you in a search if the photo isn’t attached to your name in any way…) **Foolscap** - I love your pun!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/33 "2011-03-23T18:29:20Z")
This sounds like one of those tasks from a photo scavenger hunt game: #17 A complete stranger flipping you the bird. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/34 "2011-03-23T18:37:49Z")
A guy I know from the rock gym did a similar project called “Angry People Pointing”. He asked random strangers to… well… point at the camera while looking angry. ---
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/35 "2011-03-23T18:52:36Z")
I’d do it. No questions asked…or answered. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/36 "2011-03-23T18:56:33Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > How exactly is a potential employer going to find this picture of you? Your name wouldn’t be attached to it. I suppose it’s possible that he might come across it by random chance, but the Internet is kinda big. And there are 6 billion of us out there. > > Wow. Talk about paranoia. > > I would do it for a random stranger. I wouldn’t do it if it could in any way be tracked back to me as a person. Because people are readily identified by picture all the time. And how do you know the person won’t put your name on it once he has the picture? It’s very simple. Don’t do stupid things on camera and they can’t come back to bite you. That’s just common sense. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/37 "2011-03-23T18:59:02Z")
I wouldn’t do it. I’d politely decline, if you persisted I wouldn’t be as polite. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/38 "2011-03-23T19:00:47Z")
> [@Al\_Bundy](#): > > Because people are readily identified by picture all the time. And how do you know the person won’t put your name on it once he has the picture? It’s very simple. Don’t do stupid things on camera and they can’t come back to bite you. That’s just common sense. The thing is, while Al may be leaning a little towards paranoia, it doesn’t take strangers to find you. People who know you and have a bit of a grudge against you is all it takes. I have been tracked down and identified even though I used a different handle on a different website…no pictures at all. What’s to say they can’t do it with a picture? I’m not saying that you should live your life in fear that someone is going to find a picture of you and send it around and make everyone see it…but to say it can’t happen is just foolish. Of course it can happen. There are some people out there with amazing google-fu. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/39 "2011-03-23T19:01:02Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > If the photographer doesn’t have your name, it won’t come up on any searches for you, so potential employers won’t find it by checking Facebook. Course that doesn’t mean that no one’s ever going to see it, ever, so I don’t think I would do it unless maybe if my face was obscured by my hand or something. Bank robbers never think they will be identified from their pictures either, but they are. It’s just silly to “perform” for somebody because you believe you can get away with it and will never be identified. Again, if this is the normal low class nature of the person, they probably see no problem and will do just about anything. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664/40 "2011-03-23T22:06:30Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I would do it if there were assurances that this was simply a personal project and not some odd commercial scheme. If there’s money involved, I want a taste. If there’s money involved (commercially, not editorially/photojournalistically, and yes, precise definitions can get tricky), he’d need a signed model release from you before he could sell the photo, or you could sue his pants off. That said, if you simply explained your project to me, I’d delightedly flip you off with both hands because I think you’re **that** cool. 😃 I’d also ask for your business card/contact info, just to cover my ass (and to follow your project too, because it’s cool). So if you don’t have cards, you might want to put some together, even if it’s just your blog address and email. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-sitting-around-mind-your-own-business-in-a-public-area/575664.md?page=3)