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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Taking photo of stranger without permission

68 replies

WingsofNylon · 31/05/2017 19:56

Totally inappropriate right? I'm on a train sitting opposite a passenger who I believe to be Dustin Hoffman. It is probably not but thats not the point. Friend has asked me to secretly take a pic for her. Do people do this?! She was surprised when I said no. AIBU to refuse?!

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 31/05/2017 19:58

You have to ask? The internet is full of photos of strangers for one reason or another.

Yes it's rude and intrusive.

Why doesn't your friend take the photo herself if she wants one that badly?

WonderWhippet · 31/05/2017 19:59

Hey? Of course people do it, all the time.

If you don't want to then don't, although if you change your mind please post it here so that we can all decide whether or not it is Mr H Grin

Ta

FakePlasticTeaLeaves · 31/05/2017 19:59

I assume the friend is not there?
It is intrusive yes.

Fightingthefire · 31/05/2017 19:59

Post a photo or it didn't happen. Grin

Original poster
WingsofNylon · 31/05/2017 20:04

Yes friend isn't here. I wish I had the balls to take and share the pic with you all but I don't. I'd feel so guilty.

OP posts:
Empireoftheclouds · 31/05/2017 20:05

It's so easy to take a pic on your phone just hold it skightly up and make like you are reading something

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 31/05/2017 20:05

Legal but creepy as fuck

PlayOnWurtz · 31/05/2017 20:06

In a public space you're allowed to take photos of whomever you choose but with children it's groups of 3 or more and you don't need permission from parents under 3 you do.

SaucyJack · 31/05/2017 20:08

I think it's less weird to take a pic of a stranger if it is actually Dustin Hoffman. I'm sure he's used to being photographed. You could always ask him?

TyneTeas · 31/05/2017 20:08

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/04/photograph-strangers-train-tumblr

Interesting Guardian article about is it ever okay to

BillyButtfuck · 31/05/2017 20:09

It's weird

Original poster
WingsofNylon · 31/05/2017 20:09

Oh! I didn't kknow that. Still feels wrong and creepy. Especially of someone's face.

OP posts:
PlayOnWurtz · 31/05/2017 20:10

Morally it's dubious if it's ok. Legally its fine

Original poster
WingsofNylon · 31/05/2017 20:10

Now i really want to. Though becoming more sure that it isnt him.

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 31/05/2017 20:11

PlayOn, where did you get that info? There's no such ruling.

Original poster
WingsofNylon · 31/05/2017 20:11

Fairly sure he is going to get up and move if I keep looking at him.

OP posts:
SandyDenny · 31/05/2017 20:12

Playonwurtz - is that right about groups of children, I had to look the rules up for someone recently and I don't remember anything about any limits about group size or the age of the children, Where do did find that, I may have given someone the wrong information, I'm going to need to check into that

I was in a similar situation to you OP recently but didn't take the photo as I was worried about the camera sound on the phone Smile

Tangoandcreditcards · 31/05/2017 20:13

Weird. My friend once was at an airport (in the upper class lounge) with a man she thought was Dustin Hoffman. So she took a sneaky pic to send me and when she looked at the pic he'd obviously clocked her and was waving at her. It was Dustin Hoffman.

So he's probably used to it (if it is him!). But I wouldn't do it!

millifiori · 31/05/2017 20:13

Difficult one. I took a photo of a stranger the other day. Normally wouldn't, but this man had a golden pyramid on his head, so I reckoned he was happily drawing attention to himself. But DS2 was disgusted at me, and really told me off for it. I've never done it before and probably won't again but I do now have a photo of a man with a pyramid on his head

PlayOnWurtz · 31/05/2017 20:14

Years of doing street photography.

this website simplifies it

PlayOnWurtz · 31/05/2017 20:15

It may have changed but it is what I was told years ago by my tutor. They were often wrong but it helps when standing your ground taking photos of children and you don't look as dodgy taking a group as a singleton

scurryfunge · 31/05/2017 20:17

PlayOn, that's just advice, not law.

ChicRock · 31/05/2017 20:17

True story - in London for work, there was a guy opposite me on the tube who was the double of Denzel Washington, he kept catching me looking at him, and when he caught me again as I was about to step off I said to him I was sorry for staring but he really looked like Denzel Washington. He smiled and said "yeah I get that all the time". It was him.

ChicRock · 31/05/2017 20:18

To add - this was in the days when mobiles were the size of a house brick and didn't have cameras. I'd have sneaked a photo if I could.

SandyDenny · 31/05/2017 20:20

Thanks for the link playonwourtz but I don't see where it says anything about group size or age of child but good to see it does contradict the urban myth that you can't take pictures of children in a public place