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

Chic great story. I'm not brave enough to say anything. He hasn't smiled. Don't think it is him. I'm sure Dustin smiles a lot.

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

I think my tutor was talking bollocks on that one! It was a few years ago!

scurryfunge · 31/05/2017 20:23

I think your tutor was trying to encourage you to minimise any cause for complaint!

PlayOnWurtz · 31/05/2017 20:24

Quite possibly. Plus we were a mainly male class and for some reason parents trust women with a camera more than they trust men. Never understood that one.

SandyDenny · 31/05/2017 20:25

I'm agreeing with you Play about taking pictures in public, it's amazing how many people will swear blind that it's illegal to take a child's photo in public.

steff13 · 31/05/2017 20:26

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

Turn off the camera sound.

If the guy looks like Dustin Hoffman, he is probably used to having his picture taken. Ask him to take a picture with you. If it's him, he'll understand, if it's not, he'll probably get a kick out of it. :)

Whatsername17 · 31/05/2017 20:27

Don't do it. If it is him, he just wants to ride the train in peace. If it's not, he just wants to ride the train in peace. My dh often gers mistaken for Seth Rogan. People tend to ask rather than just take pictures!

lalalalyra · 31/05/2017 20:28

If you do take a photo, don't do what my friend did when she spotted Sebastian Vettel on the metro when on holiday - you can't take a discrete/creepy photo if your flash goes off.

HildaOg · 31/05/2017 20:28

It's creepy and obnoxious. Just because the law hasn't kept up with protecting people from others invasive abuse of technology doesn't mean that it's OK, it should be illegal. Don't do it.

MasuMara · 31/05/2017 20:29

How do you think the paparazzi have jobs if it was illegal?

PlayOnWurtz · 31/05/2017 20:31

Oh dear hildaog people can take pictures of whatever and whomever they choose. I've been subjected to people and their click happy phones before and I don't particularly like those malicious Facebook pages but if they're taking pictures in public spaces there is nothing you can do to stop it.

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

Mystery solved. He sneezed and said 'excuse me'. Not American.

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

You could ask his permission and say you're a fan. And look a total idiot if it's not him Grin

PlayOnWurtz · 31/05/2017 20:31

But if you have a good enough zoom you won't get caught Grin

PlayOnWurtz · 31/05/2017 20:32

Oh that's a shame wings although he does do a good British accent so are you sure? (Bet he stands up and is 6' tall)

Original poster
WingsofNylon · 31/05/2017 20:34

Ha ha! Play I love the notion that when actors come to England they put on British accents. Grin

OP posts:
PlayOnWurtz · 31/05/2017 20:34

It would be hilarious, especially the ones who are shit at British accents Grin

HildaOg · 31/05/2017 20:39

Play:if some stranger took a picture of me I would take the fucking phone off them and delete it. Or throw it out the train window. Entitled cunts only are until they pick on the wrong person.

Spookle · 31/05/2017 20:41

This pic is from a few days ago when he was at Cannes OP. Hold it up and compare.

Dustin Hoffman shines his light at Cannes

His new film sounds good..

In Noah Baumbach's "The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)," which is competing for the Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, he plays a mostly forgotten abstract artist whose failed ambitions and self-obsession have instilled deep neuroses into his children (Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Marvel).

Taking photo of stranger without permission
Original poster
WingsofNylon · 31/05/2017 20:41

It would upset me too but somhow more with a phony than an actual camera. My assumption being that with a proper camera they were attempting an interesting shot where as a phone would more likely to be for the purpose of sharing or posting into the internet. Both would make me uncomfortable.

OP posts:
steff13 · 31/05/2017 20:42

I don't think taking a picture of a stranger in public is illegal, but I would imagine taking and destroying someone's property is.

Original poster
WingsofNylon · 31/05/2017 20:42

Oh the new film does sound good. I never realised but I really like him as an actor.

OP posts:
user1468353179 · 31/05/2017 20:43

Smile at him and ask him if he's Dustin Hoffman. If he is, I'm sure he'll let you take a pic, if he's not, he'll probably tell you he's always being asked that question.

PlayOnWurtz · 31/05/2017 20:44

You would be breaking the law not them hilda