man arrested for photographing santa and child

[huskerwebhead]

LOL, in the current age the first instinct is to cause a scene so you get some publicity. Get some people on your side, or sue whoever wronged you.

That too....

 

[Morg]

but from the parents standpoint they were looking out for their kids. Better safe than sorry.

I lay odds they don't know what some of the things their kids are doing, wouldn't surprised me if some of them did or seen sexting or other shenanigans

 

[NotAHenchwench]

Personally, I think everyone wore their idiot caps a little too tightly in this situation.

I think it's ridiculous to assume that everyone is a pedophile or a predator. I'm not suggesting to let your guard down.. but come on people. A few days ago I was in a grocery store and I said hello to a little girl and her mother looked at me like I was going to hurt her.

Over-bearing parents are the reason society is declining. I'll correct that.. over-bearing, self-righteous parents are the problem. The worst is when they're entitled too.

 

[Ion Kenshin]

Personally, I think everyone wore their idiot caps a little too tightly in this situation.

I think it's ridiculous to assume that everyone is a pedophile or a predator. I'm not suggesting to let your guard down.. but come on people. A few days ago I was in a grocery store and I said hello to a little girl and her mother looked at me like I was going to hurt her.

Over-bearing parents are the reason society is declining. I'll correct that.. over-bearing, self-righteous parents are the problem. The worst is when they're entitled too.

I agree with this. Sometimes parents take these things way to overboard IMO

 

[Paradoxium]

I recall a story where on a plane, a flight attendant told a man he is not allowed to sit next to a child. The assumption made is all men with children = pedophile. Anyways that story ended when the flight attendant found out he was the child's god damn FATHER.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Again, this comes down to people thinking they are entitled to do whatever the hell they want and nobody can question them. Seriously, how hard would it have been for the guy to simply explain to the police what he was doing there and why he was taking the pictures? Instead he decides to immediately get all defensive and snap pictures of the police and then start resisting. Calm down people....just explain the situation.

How do you know he didn't try to calmly explain his situation to the police? Cops can be *******s. He probably took their picture to report them for harassing him. The fact that they took his camera and threw it to the ground shows they were acting just as impulsively as he is.

 

[NotAHenchwench]

I agree with this. Sometimes parents take these things way to overboard IMO

My favorite thing is when parents bring their small children to a nice restaurant. Now, I realize there ARE well behaved kids out there... but, when your child is WAILING at the top of their lungs, and you think that ignoring their cry for attention is going to do everyone a world of good then YOU can pay for MY meal.

Or, better yet. I was sitting with a friend in a movie theater before seeing an R-rated movie. I occasionally curse in day to day conversation. Sitting next to me was an 8 year old. I think I must have said the F word because his mother GRABBED my arm and told me to watch my mouth around her child.

Sorry to get off topic... some things just make me mental.

 

[Ion Kenshin]

Yea sadly these males near children always get that pedo start from people unless it is blatantly obvious that they are related in some fashion.

 

[Ion Kenshin]

My favorite thing is when parents bring their small children to a nice restaurant. Now, I realize there ARE well behaved kids out there... but, when your child is WAILING at the top of their lungs, and you think that ignoring their cry for attention is going to do everyone a world of good then YOU can pay for MY meal.

Or, better yet. I was sitting with a friend in a movie theater before seeing an R-rated movie. I occasionally curse in day to day conversation. Sitting next to me was an 8 year old. I think I must have said the F word because his mother GRABBED my arm and told me to watch my mouth around her child.

Sorry to get off topic... some things just make me mental.

Says the mom who takes an 8 year old to an R rated film.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I think the guy taking the photos took just about every wrong turn he could've. First taking pictures of kids on Satna's lap, take away that the guy is a actual photographer, you wouldn't find it odd that some dude all by himself is taking pictures of kids? He was right to delete the pictures, but then he passes right by the Santa area again? I'm sure he could've taken a different route, the parents in line were probably talking to the officers asking for someone to look at for middle aged dudes taking pictures of their kids. Then when the officers come over and start questioning him he tries to take their pictures? Things could've easily been handled by explained the situation, but guy needs to take out his camera, c'mon, that's what got you in trouble in the first place! In my opinion the guy he was just really stupid about the entire situation, don't feel sorry at all.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

How do you know he didn't try to calmly explain his situation to the police? Cops can be *******s. He probably took their picture to report them for harassing him. The fact that they took his camera and threw it to the ground shows they were acting just as impulsively as he is.

Both articles mention he tried to take their picture before attempting to answer their questions, that would set off an alarm to me if I was an officer. Why does he need my picture if there's a perfectly reasonable explanation?

 

[huskerwebhead]

How do you know he didn't try to calmly explain his situation to the police? Cops can be *******s. He probably took their picture to report them for harassing him. The fact that they took his camera and threw it to the ground shows they were acting just as impulsively as he is.

If he tried to talk calmy to the police and explain things he didn't indicate it in his description of the encounter:

He saw one of the two men who had stopped him talking with police and mall security.

"I thought, how crazy is this, all these officers for taking pictures of Santa Claus," Rensberger said.

Rensberger said Basford stopped him and said, "Why are you taking pictures of kids?"

"I can't believe you are asking me that," Rensberger said to the officer. "Do you mind if I take a picture of you?"

Rensberger said he reached in his pocket and pulled out his camera and raised it to take a picture of the police officer. Basford grabbed the camera to prevent him from taking a picture, which is when Rensberger said he took his free hand and brought it up to the small camera because he was afraid it was going to drop on the ground.

I never said the police didn't take things too far, but merely pointed out that everything could have been avoided had he simply explained "Hey, I'm a professional photographer, I was taking pictures of the scenes not the children. I apologize for any misunderstanding." Odds are it would have ended at that. Worst case, the Police might have taken him into custody anyways just to be safe or in accordance with some sort of procedure in the Mall. The Mall owner did mention they require photographers to check in the with Mall before doing any official Photography. Granted, this guy wasn't doing official photography but he could have offered to do it at that point to avoid further issues. He didn't. He made no effort to calmly discuss the situation. Instead he (per his statements) got defensive and pulled out his camera to take pictures of the Officer. He decided to be an ass and the police was an ass back. Neither was probably appropriate, but it all likely could have been avoided if he didn't decide to be an asshat.

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

did the people who say the guy was wrong for taking the photo read the second article i posted. he photographed everything there, the child was a small part of the photo, in the corner of it

 

[Morg]

Says the mom who takes an 8 year old to an R rated film.

you mean both, I seen dad's take their kids to R rated films

 

[Ion Kenshin]

you mean both, I seen dad's take their kids to R rated films

Oh I have too. I was just referring to the woman she mentioned in here story but yea I have seen parents period with young kids in R Rated films.

 

[Morg]

Oh I have too. I was just referring to the woman she mentioned in here story but yea I have seen parents period with young kids in R Rated films.

That something always bothers me, I would never take a child to a r rated movie I know that has extreme violence and nudity and probably a sex scene too. I'm not a prude but I think a parent is a idiot thinking that's a good way to spend time with your kid

 

[amazingfantasy15]

did the people who say the guy was wrong for taking the photo read the second article i posted. he photographed everything there, the child was a small part of the photo, in the corner of it

Those were the photos of the choir, he had already deleted the photos of the kids on Santa's lap.

 

[Ion Kenshin]

That something always bothers me, I would never take a child to a r rated movie I know that has extreme violence and nudity and probably a sex scene too. I'm not a prude but I think a parent is a idiot thinking that's a good way to spend time with your kid

I dont have a hughe issue with it...again depending on age. What I hate are the parents who allow their kids to see these things but complain that their kids use bad language or excessive violence. They are just as bad as the parents of 7,8,9 year old girls who used to complain that their kids dress too sexy or too much like Britney Spears. THEY ARE 8 ****ING YEARS OLD...WHO IS BUYING THEIR CLOTHES. If you 7 year old daughter looks like a ****e it's because you bought her a ****e's outfit. Parents need to take control of their prosti-tots.

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Both articles mention he tried to take their picture before attempting to answer their questions, that would set off an alarm to me if I was an officer. Why does he need my picture if there's a perfectly reasonable explanation?

Set what alarm off?

He took a picture of some cops, maybe he is plotting a terrorist attack? Maybe his camera has a hidden laser beam in it?

C'mon...

The cops overreacted, thusly getting a overreaction out of the guy. I mean if a cop knocked my camera out of my hand and it broke on the floor, that is going to get a negative reaction out of me. I don't give a **** if they are cops, you break my property, you're gonna get a ear full.

 

[Majic Walrus]

He didn't get "arrested for photographing santa and a child", he got arrested for whatever happened with the cops. The article says the argument got heated after the officers questioned him why he was taking pics of the kids, he probably didn't have a press pass or anything (I'd be questioning him as well). The guy got pissed and took pictures of the cops without they're permission. All it takes is non-compliance with police to land yourself in hot water.

^this.

The guy apparently didn't even get arrested for anything. Just detained and questioned.

Why?

Cause some parents got freaked out at a dude taking pictures of their little kids and when they contacted the police the officer was required to go investigate. So what does this guy do instead of trying to explain everything and delete all of the offensive pictures from his camera? Pictures that, by the way, can't be used anywhere in any sort of publication until he gets permission from the parents anyway.

Instead of that he does this:

"I can't believe you are asking me that," Rensberger said to the officer. "Do you mind if I take a picture of you?"
Rensberger said he reached in his pocket and pulled out his camera and raised it to take a picture of the police officer"

He just ignores the officer's question and moves right on into taking more pictures of people without their permission! The cop has gotten a report of a suspicious person taking pictures of kids. When made an attempt to question the suspect at the scene the suspect did not give any information and attempted to continue to take more offending pictures.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I knew Walrus was going to come in here and defend the cops.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

Set what alarm off?

He took a picture of some cops, maybe he is plotting a terrorist attack? Maybe his camera has a hidden laser beam in it?

C'mon...

The cops overreacted, thusly getting a overreaction out of the guy. I mean if a cop knocked my camera out of my hand and it broke on the floor, that is going to get a negative reaction out of me. I don't give a **** if they are cops, you break my property, you're gonna get a ear full.

Well, wouldn't you find it odd if you asked someone a question and instead of answering the question they pulled out a camera to take picutes of you. I'd think something's not right with this guy.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I knew Walrus was going to come in here and defend the cops.

How do you defend the photographer? He's the one who did almost everything wrong in the case.

 

[huskerwebhead]

Set what alarm off?

He took a picture of some cops, maybe he is plotting a terrorist attack? Maybe his camera has a hidden laser beam in it?

C'mon...

The cops overreacted, thusly getting a overreaction out of the guy. I mean if a cop knocked my camera out of my hand and it broke on the floor, that is going to get a negative reaction out of me. I don't give a **** if they are cops, you break my property, you're gonna get a ear full.

You have a few things wrong here. First, nobody broke his camera. Where does it indicate his camera was dropped, or "thrown" to the ground by the police? He said he tried to bring his hand up to keep it from falling, but nowhere does it indicate it was broken at all in this confrontation.

Second, the Police were doing their job. Parents alerted Mall Security which included Police and they responded to question the man. HE overreacted thus blowing the situation out of control. The Police didn't react (over or otherwise) until he refused to answer their questions and started snapping pictures. Regardless of how the end result was handled HE made the situation worse. Period.

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

I've been doing photography for a couple of years now. Anytime I have any kind of camera with me, people tend to get very edgy for some reason. Like I'm going to return home to my dark basement, hang photos of them and **** off.

I've never had a problem with people but my friend was filming a scene with his friends and some kid walked in front of the shot. The Dad freaked out calling them pedos...They captured the fathers freak out on cam incase he went to the police.