[Linux-aus] Photos at conferences

[Bret Busby]

On Tue, 21 Jan 2014, Bret Busby wrote:

> Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 13:36:01
> From: Bret Busby <bret at busby.net>
> To: Linux Aus <linux-aus at linux.org.au>
> Subject: Re: [Linux-aus] Photos at conferences
> 
> On Tue, 21 Jan 2014, Russell Stuart wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> [0]  That is why I typically advocate just leaving things alone and just
>>     saying "the rules of the conference are the laws of the land".
>>     Every Australian has a pretty good feel for what those laws are.
>
> The problem is that most people have no idea of eactly what laws apply in 
> Australia.
>
> We do not have legally binding human rights. The International Covenant On 
> Civil And Political Rights, which "entered into force" in Australia some 
> decades ago, is of no effect in Australia. The feral parliament saw to that. 
> Australia, at the federal level, has no binding human rights legislation. The 
> feral parliament has made sure of that.
>
> Despite what many people believe, people in Australia do not have a right to 
> own a firearm. Many people take the particular, much misinterpreted (or so I 
> believe) provision of the USA Constitution, regarding the "right to bear 
> arms", as being applicable in Australia.
>
> Australia does not have a right to freedom of speech. A man was locked up, 
> some years ago, for telling people, not how to vote, but, how they could 
> vote, in order to get their vote to convey what they wanted, in a federal 
> election. Voting for and only for, the person that a voter wants elected to a 
> parliament in Australia, is not legal.
>
> In relation to this particular matter, I believe that the simplest thing, is 
> to do what I would do, when wanting to take photographs at events - ask 
> permission first, and, if anyone declines, respect that. At a gathering, such 
> as a presentation, if a photograph is to be taken of the audience, or 
> otherwise of a group of people, then to state explicitly, something like 
> "I/We want to now take a photograph of the group that is present. If you do 
> not want yourself to be included in the photograph, would you please separate 
> from the group, until after the photograph(s) is/are taken." If the group is 
> the audience of a lecture/presentation, then I expect that they would be able 
> to "leave by side doors" and be out side of the room, while photographs are 
> taken, and, to be able to be called back in to the room, when the taking of 
> the photographs is completed.
>
> To ask "Do you mind if I photograph you?", of a single adult person (or, the 
> parent or guardian of a minor), and simlarly for a small group of peole, or, 
> otherwise, as mentioned above, for a larger group of people, so as to not 
> photograph any person who does not consent to being photographed, is, to me, 
> a matter of courtesy and respect, apart from any legal or moral 
> considerations.
>
> As Justice Bullingham would (I believe) say; "It is just a matter of common 
> sense.".
>
>

Oh, and, regarding people who may be willing to provide presentations, 
but do not, because they want to be not photographed, could provision 
not be made for these people, simply by, at the start of each 
presentation, the presenter stating "I am / am not willing to be 
photographed in my providing this presentation.", and, unless a person 
clearly hears from the presenter, that the presenter has so given 
permission, no photographs are to be taken of the presenter giving the 
presentation? If anyone arrives at the presentation, late, and therefore 
does not hear such declaration, then that person should not photograph 
the presenter making the presentation.

Once again, in the (I believe) words of Justice Bullingham; "It is just 
a matter of common sense.".

--
Bret Busby
Armadale
West Australia
..............

"So once you do know what the question actually is,
  you'll know what the answer means."
- Deep Thought,
   Chapter 28 of Book 1 of
   "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
   A Trilogy In Four Parts",
   written by Douglas Adams,
   published by Pan Books, 1992
....................................................