Dotty Parker

none of my business

I went to the credit union today to take some pictures of the decorations I made and to drop off business cards. So there I was, taking pictures, not thinking about much except for my little baskets. I put my wee camera down and was sorting through stuff I was going to leave behind when this guy came up to me and asked if I'd asked permission to take pictures of people.

Well, no. Why would I ask permission to take pictures of people when I wasn't even thinking that I was taking pictures of people? I didn't really want to have people in my pictures. I was probably going to block them out, but no. It didn't even cross my mind to ask permission.

So Mr.NoPhoto went on to say that there is just "too much surveillance in this world. Especially in North America." (I can almost guarantee you that's what he said, word for word. Talk about surveillance. That's just my head.) It struck me as such an absurd thing to say. For so many reasons. At least three of which I will enumerate now:

North America, while full of surveillance cameras, isn't unique in its use of them. Watch COPS or World's Worst Drivers. They go off to countries other than the U.S. or Canada or Mexico. There are surveillance cameras providing the footage. I don't believe that the U.K. has fewer surveillance cameras. And how about South Africa? And Japan? Shall we go on? With the exception of countries without electricity (and I don't know what those countries are) there are enough surveillance cameras to make the U.S. not so unique.

Too much surveillance in this world, he says. Okay. We'll grant he's correct. What in the hell does that have to do with me? I wasn't watching anyone. I wasn't using surveillance techniques. Although I will grow more likely to do so whenever I see that guy.

Too much surveillance, take two. Okay boys and girls. Where are there always a lot of video cameras? In a bank. A BANK. We're in a stupid bank and he's worried about my five pictures? A bank!

Pick your battles, fella. (I probably ought to, too.)

At any rate, in the end I checked my photos and there were no visible heads in the pictures. That semi-satisfied him, or at least took the wind out of his sails. Then he said thank you for listening, understanding, something. I said thank you for explaining that to me, letting me know something something.

And I still have to say, though, if you're worried about surveillance, stay out of a bank. A bank!

Posted by dotty at December 3, 2003 11:47 PM