[Linux-aus] Photos at conferences

[Bret Busby]

On Tue, 21 Jan 2014, Russell Stuart wrote:

<snip>

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>
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> [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.".

--
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
....................................................