man arrested for photographing santa and child

[amazingfantasy15]

Ok, if you don't want press to take pictures of your kids on Santa's lap, don't take them to the effing mall! Plain and simple. If he was photographing the entire Xmas scene, then wtf is the problem?

"Asking "Why are you taking pictures of kids?" IS accusatory.
No it's not."

Bull****! If I went out, and took Xmas pics of some Santa + kids, that = me a pedophile/assaulter? What the hell is wrong with people nowadays? Really?

YOU took them to the mall, YOU sat them on Santa's lap, and YOU are perching them up there to have pictures taken of them. STOP COMPLAINING! Take a family pic, not on Santa's lap...because more than likely, it's the Santa that is going to be the pedo instead of the person taking pics of a wonderful Xmas.

YOU are the parents that took them to the mall or whatever to take the Santa pics, therefore, YOU are resposnible for the taking of the public pics of YOUR child in the first place.

Really? I mean.....really?

You didn't read the article did you? He wasn't working with a newspaper/the press. While he was a professional photographer, at the mall he was just a random guy taking pictures. Yes, the parents took them to the mall to sit on Santa's lap and get pictures taken, but those pictures were to be taken by the people hired by the mall to take the pictures, not some random guy.

Let's say you went to Chuck E Cheese with your kid and while there some random guy walked in and started taking pictures of the kids there playing, would you be okay with that or think something creepy about the guy?

 

[bell110]

How does taking pictures of kids equate pedophilia? I think some parents are giving their children too much credit.

 

[huskerwebhead]

How does taking pictures of kids equate pedophilia? I think some parents are giving their children too much credit.

It's equated, unfairly or not, to potential pedophilia because very often sexual offenders of little kids will have pictures of their victims that had taken prior/during/after the molestation. Is it right to automatically think someone is up to no good when they are taking pictures with kids in the shot? I don't know. I'm not a parent so it's hard for me to comment on this. But I can understand their paranoia, however misplaced.

It's not like they ran over and tackled the guy immediately and then asked questions. They asked him to remove the pictures, then the police responded to a complaint from customers at the mall and questioned him. That's it. Could have been cleared up with just some words.

The cop was only doing his job when questioning the man. It seems they get a bad rap no matter what they do. Had they ignored the pleas from the complaining parents they would have been vilified for not taking them seriously.

 

[bell110]

It's equated, unfairly or not, to potential pedophilia because very often sexual offenders of little kids will have pictures of their victims that had taken prior/during/after the molestation. Is it right to automatically think someone is up to no good when they are taking pictures with kids in the shot? I don't know. I'm not a parent so it's hard for me to comment on this. But I can understand their paranoia, however misplaced.

It's not like they ran over and tackled the guy immediately and then asked questions. They asked him to remove the pictures, then the police responded to a complaint from customers at the mall and questioned him. That's it. Could have been cleared up with just some words.

The cop was only doing his job when questioning the man. It seems they get a bad rap no matter what they do. Had they ignored the pleas from the complaining parents they would have been vilified for not taking them seriously.

Well, most people victimized by sexual predators are from people they know and not complete strangers.

Maybe my attitude would be different if I were a parent, but if I saw someone taking pictures, I'd assume it was of the Christmas display.

As for the cops, it's hard for me to say. Yes, there is no problem asking questions. The guy sounds like he was being antagonistic by taking their picture.

 

[Scarlet spidey]

Let's say you went to Chuck E Cheese with your kid and while there some random guy walked in and started taking pictures of the kids there playing, would you be okay with that or think something creepy about the guy?

That depends. Is he walking up to kids, and taking pictures of them, or is he taking wide shots of the store, and kids happen to be in it?
Context changes the situation a lot.

 

[Majic Walrus]

It is common sense, if the police approach you and ask you a question the best course of action is to cooperate calmly. REGARDLESS of their tone or attitude. Nothing good will ever come from being a d**k back, ever. This is especially true if you are innocent.

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