[Linux-aus] Designated Photography Space at LCA?

[Russell Coker]

On Sun, 20 Feb 2011, "Greg 'groggy' Lehey" <grog at lemis.com> wrote:
> On Sunday, 20 February 2011 at 12:08:39 +1000, Don Knowles wrote:
> > In view of the heat in the discussion, why not plan a designated
> > space or place set aside for those who wish to photograph people at
> > the conference, and those who don't mind being photographed.
> 
> What a horrible idea.  I'm sure you mean well, but this is really
> going over the top.

I agree that having designated areas in the overall conference area seems like 
a dubious idea.  But having designated areas within each lecture hall for 
people who don't want to be in the background could be an option - although 
people who don't want to be photographed can probably look at the camera 
locations and work this out for themselves under the previous environment.

> > That gives reluctant photographees the opportunity to move away and
> > not be included, and photographers need only ask if someone appears
> > to be "backing into" the designated space unconsciously. After all,
> > the back half of most people will only spoil a photo :-)
> 
> I prefer to take unposed photos.  I can accept that some people don't
> want photos taken of them, and I wouldn't oppose an area where you
> *can't* take photos, though I think it's a little silly.  If people
> don't want to have photos taken of them, then maybe they shouldn't be
> appearing in public.

Under Australian law I believe that is the case, but it doesn't seem 
reasonable to claim that the standards for a conference should be the bare 
minimum required by law.  Every corporation has standards that are a lot more 
stringent than required by law.

> This seems to be a particularly liberal interpretation of the term
> "harassment".  I'm having a hard time with the issue in the first
> place.  I'm certainly not in favour of harassment, but as I wrote a
> few weeks ago (http://www.lemis.com/grog/diary-feb2011.php), there are
> laws against it.  There are also laws relating to what photographers
> may and may not do.  Conference organizers should help enforce them.
> The conference web site should make this clear.  But that's really
> all.  In this particular instance I'd be inclined to say "the
> conference is a public place, and laws regarding photography in public
> places must be respected".  No more.

http://etbe.coker.com.au/2011/02/10/lca2011-harassment/

I've discussed such things with some feminists and their experience seems very 
different.  I've written my analysis of the discussion of the LCA incident at 
the above URL.

-- 
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