HawthorneVillager.com

There was a fire at a home near me at Holly and Bessy Trail yesterday... I hope everyone is okay.

I understand the crowd gathering to see what's happening, that's to be expected, but the people recording it with their camera phones need to reevaluate their lives.

This wasn't 9/11, so if you're excited to capture the footage, you need to get out more often. But more importantly, this is a major trauma to the homeowners. The last thing they need is amateur photographer/videographers breaking out their cameras to capture this. It's really an invasion of privacy that happens to occur in view of the public.

I saw a kid on a bike with a camcorder, I'll give him a pass because he's a kid. But the adults should have more sense than that.

Thanks for letting me vent.

The funny thing is that most news stations actually encourage it.

I admit that I used to take pictures with my cell of car accidents. But one day it dawned on me that if I was in their shoes I would not like to have photos snapped of my misfortune. And I haven't done it ever since.

I fully understand if it's a major story, I have no issue with that. If you recorded the tornado in Milton for example, it can be very newsworthy. This was a "small" fire. I'm not dimishing the magnitude of it for the homeowner and surrounding neighbours that may have been affected, I mean small in that the fire department had quickly controlled it. There really was no need for anyone to record it.

And funny you mention taking photos of a car accident. Maybe you have one of me flipping you off . A couple of years ago I was in a minor chain-reaction accident (guy behind me was hit, pushed into my car, which pushed me into another, and so on). Sure enough, someone driving by holds out their camera phone. Myself and another one of the drivers involved saw it and we both instinctivley gave him him the bird.

I bet most of those who bring out the camera phone constantly are probably those most vocal about "big brother" watching us through cameras on street corners and whatnot.

I just felt really bad for the owner of that home. Obviously he/she had bigger concerns than camera-toting nudniks , but that's just adding insult to injury.



Exactly! As a parent, this creeps me out so much that anyone can be snapping pics of my kid without anyone being aware of it.

You mean to tell me that cell phones haven't been banned in change rooms?? That's just an open invitation for perverts to discreetly videotape/snap pics of our children...or us!

Its unfortunate but true.. however it gets a little much when the Leisure centre bans cameras at the pool. I want some pics of my 2 year old in the pool.. i'm not interested in taking any other kids shots.

Anyways, back to the poster, I do yank out my camera phone sometimes.. most of the times its to send to my wife 'wow look at this'. Its harmless. I think the invasion of privacy angle is pretty light when you are taking a picture of a burning structure. I can understand why you'd want to flip the guy off that was taking your picture during an accident.

Glad to hear everyone is okay, suzeq!

If I were a victim, I would agree with everyone on this but, if the fire was started by the local arsonist, maybe these cell phones will capture him/her. They tend to stay and watch their handywork for thrills (sexual and mental). Just be prepared to have your cell phone seized for evidence. I myself don't mind you getting a pic of me picking my nose, if the technology can capture whoever might attack a child of mine and bring them to justice. It was video that helped capture the killers of Victoria Stafford.

And for those taking pics of accident scenes. Well, while posting their pics they may see one of a relative who has been dismembered in an accident - then they will understand the pain.

Today's technology is certainly a double edged sword.

There's a massive difference between the local media outlet covering it versus someone who happens to have a camera handy.



Rather than speculate as to what your reaction would be, just look at suzeq who was affected by the fire to see how those involved feel about camera-toting neighbours.