To think this woman overreacted?

[Theluckiestagain]

Took dcs to see Santa today. Think 'naice' middle-class, National Trust type venue. Was ticketed so we turned up at the allotted time with approx 20 other kids & respective parents / grandparents.

They usher us in to a room, kids sit on floor, adults on chairs around room. So far, so lovely. Kids all very excited. Most adults taking pics of their kids and Santa. A woman then pipes up VERY loudly 'Do NOT take pictures of my child!!' to an older guy across the room. The man says that he was just taking pics of his granddaughter not the woman's child. She says, very aggressively 'I do NOT give you permission to take photos of my child!!! Stop it immediately!!'

The bloke taking pics looked very bemused and reiterated that he was taking a pic of his grandchild. To be honest, it was very dark in the room and judging by the angle, he would probably have got the back of his grandchild's head. The woman's child wasn't really in shot. He said this and the woman just shouted at him more. He got rather upset, said he was leaving before he got cross then it all looked like it was kicking off. My DH (ever the peacemaker) said that they were spoiling what should be a lovely event for the kids, couldn't we act like adults? The older man left to find his wife, visibly upset and angry. The shouty woman then sat looking like someone had taken a shit in her handbag for the whole event.

There was a horrible, strained atmosphere until Santa stepped up and then it was all about the kids anyway.

Now, before you say it, I immediately thought about adoption/child protection issues (I work in a school, this is par for the course). But this woman was so aggressive, seemed like she just wanted a fight. She turned a lovely, innocent event into a near bloody fight.

The event guide actually thanked DH for diffusing the situation afterwards but I felt really sorry for the older bloke. I saw him and his family outside later....he looked bloody angry and shook up. The shouty lady was seen leaving her kids (aged about 9 and 6) to charge around unattended while she had a mulled wine and listened to carols.

I have just realised how dreadfully middle class this is, but if I'm honest, I immediately thought of MN when this happened. Who was BU in this situation?

I'm not sure if anyone has suggested this, but..

...could the child have been famous?

Sorry, couldn't resist. She sounds like an arse. Poor bloke.

Don't call me silly, but I just had a thought: do you think the child might have been famous?

Maybe she thinks there's a paedo round every corner but lets the children run riot when it suits her. Very odd behaviour.

Ha ha ha - laughing lots here.

Famous or not - taking photos of children is quite rightly surrounded by a few rules and regulations. You cant take photos of someone else's child without their knowledge and permission. She was within her rights to deny that permission, though it's not clear that the child was actually in the shot, and the interaction could certainly have been handled more diplomatically.

Yes I agree, she should have moved the child out of the way. She sounds like she enjoyed making a self-righteous fuss and drawing attemtion to herself.

Perhaps the child was famous?

I am laughing sorry op!

I think the woman was unreasonable unless the child was famous and even then she was bloody rude!

Of course she overreacted - what an unpleasant woman. The correct course of action would have been to go over to him and ask him politely and quietly to make sure he didn't include her DC in the photo. Some people are just completely ignorant though . What a shame for the bloke - he probably just wanted a nice day out with his DGC

Perfectly legal to photograph someone else child without permission anyway. Although there may be different rules for famous children.

Woman was BU. She could have just moved her potentially famous child if she didn't want them to be in the background of someone else's photo. She needs to get a fucking grip because her child is actually not that interesting to another GP. That poor man.

People are allowed to be dicks without having MH issues. I hate the way this gets trotted out so often on here.

I suspect that the issue was her child is famous.

Is it a massive dripfeed and the mum was madonna or Victoria beckham? Whether she was or not she was still very rude, poor bloke he must have felt incredibly embarrassed and angry

YANBU,

Well done your DH

I shall know what to ask the Mum (in a loud whisper) if I ever experience anything similar

Where does class come into it?

That's a genuine question btw, not a sarky one.

Two adults having a public argument...one of them described as shouty has all the makings of a Jeremy Kyle moment, unless I've missed something?

Melaniecheeks, you can take photos of whoever you want, without permission, even if it's a famous child but you can't use them for commercial purposes. It's good practice to ask, but it's not the law.

I don't like people taking pics that might have my dc in, but wouldn't cause a scene! I would probably just give them a bit of a "look".

mine definitely are not famous, though!

why zippy?

sorry zippidy

Why do people have this idea that you need permission to take anyones photo? I can take a snap of everychild I see if I wanted to for some reason. There are no rules or regulations. You dont own your image or your childs image.
Woman was being a dick.

I would imagine the 'class' reference is probably because it was an event at National Trust property and, at a guess, the OP thought, this sounds like a bit of a middle class cliche.

I've not rtft but any chance the child was famous.....?

It wasn't North West was it?!?!

how rude of the woman-but perhaps her child was famous?

As soon as I read the title I thought........could the child be famous!!!