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I lived in one area for 56 years. I'm glad I did since I liked having roots.
12 years ago I moved across the country. Glad I did.
So, I'm glad I had one home for quite a while and I'm glad I moved where and when I did.
There are 30 people in my generation of the family. Sibs and 1st cousins. I am the only one that doesn't live in my previous state. The rest are still living there or are buried there.
When I see people from my old area it's always "it's a nice place to be from but I'm glad I'm gone."
Yeah, exactly... Dixie is a distinctly different culture from the Northeast/West Coast urban areas, language is one of the few things we share. Kinda like a Sicilian & a Swede in the EU, go-along to get-along but there are distinct differences, which is okay. To each their own. (I spent 20 years living in states far away from NYC.)
I probably have more in common culturally with someone living in London than rural or suburban Kansas or Texas say. (Part of that no doubt is being a second generation American with dual citizenship - not UK - & having worked in a very international atmosphere & currently living in a very ethnically mixed area, mostly foreign born.
Also I haven't owned a vehicle in more than 30 years & that's more than mere transport difference, that's a cultural break in a lot of ways. I walk all the time & sometimes take mass transit, something most Americans are unfamiliar with.
Also to address something brought up earlier, a European will typically answer with their nationality when asked where do they come from while most Americans when asked that in Europe apparently will typically reply with their state: "I'm from Texas!" etc... or so I've been told.
Naah, the difference between Dixie and Northeast or the West Coast is not remotely like the difference between a Sicilian and Swede. All areas in the US have far more in common than they are different.
We settled in a rural area because we enjoy having plenty of space around us. However, we both like big city experiences and international travel as much as we do wandering the desert southwest. Many of our friends are the same.
I’ve always lived within a half day’s drive from my birthplace or the city where I grew up. However, I have no desire to live there again. I prefer the company of like-minded people rather than a particular place.
Choosing a comfortable home base is different than travel preferences.
I think visiting a place is entirely different from living there.
Yes, of course. It was just my impression of that area in the suburbs of DC.
I was afraid that some neighbor would think I was some kind of marauder and call the police.
It's just that I had already had a bad experience before. I wouldn't say this because the majority here are Americans and someone can take it as a criticism of the United States.
But... well, I don't have anything to hide... the truth is that being in a small town in Virginia, called Strasbur, I went out to walk the streets and took a lot of pictures. In one of those I saw the only school of the town and I did the same: I took pictures of it.
Immediately two policemen came running and shouted at me. They took my phone away and started looking up in it. They asked for my documents, they asked for information about me... They didn't find anything. So they let me go. But a few hours later a policeman located me on the street and handed me a piece of paper that appeared to be a restraining order, or a warning. The next day I noticed that they were following me. So I hurried my departure from that town.
Days later, they visited my friend's house (in another small town nearby) to find out more about me. The worst thing was that only his elderly mother was in the house, and she was terribly frightened. Not only I was worried about myself, but I felt like I had gotten my friend and her mother in trouble. I felt terrible guilty.
all for a few silly photos. I wonder... in this age of so many technological advances, with Google Map... anyone can see Street View photos... It does worth to make such a fuss about some pictures???
My friend even consulted a lawyer, and she told her that I had been pretty reckless in taking pictures of a school. So I assumed that the photos would be considered a serious offense in the United States. But a few days later I visited NY and everybody there was taking pictures of everythings, and no one cared.
After that I heard some horrifying stories of Latinos taking pictures and the reaction of the police.
For that and a few other reasons, my visit to the USA was the first and surely the last. I don't think I'll ever come back in the rest of my life.
...
After that I heard some horrifying stories of Latinos taking pictures and the reaction of the police.
For that and a few other reasons, my visit to the USA was the first and surely the last. I don't think I'll ever come back in the rest of my life.
America has, to say the least, a fraught and complicated relationship with its police. It's a politically-laden topic, so we'll leave it at that... simply noting, that this is yet another layer of complexity that it takes a lifetime to absorb and to understand, and which is confusing for newcomers or tourists.
Back to the original topic, in much of what's termed the "third world", the expectation for everyone except perhaps for what amounts to the aristocracy, is to remain more or less rooted to the place of one's birth. This was also the case in Europe, prior to maybe a generation or two ago. Americans have generally been more mobile, perhaps because there's less of a village mindset, and more importance placed on advancement of one's career or business. Even so, outside of the major cities, one commonly finds persons who have been within say a 30-mile radius for generations. In such milieu, there's less emphasis on career/business, and more on family cohesion. Thus a difference in culture/values, which again becomes politically laden.
Yes, of course. It was just my impression of that area in the suburbs of DC.
I was afraid that some neighbor would think I was some kind of marauder and call the police.
It's just that I had already had a bad experience before. I wouldn't say this because the majority here are Americans and someone can take it as a criticism of the United States.
But... well, I don't have anything to hide... the truth is that being in a small town in Virginia, called Strasbur, I went out to walk the streets and took a lot of pictures. In one of those I saw the only school of the town and I did the same: I took pictures of it.
Immediately two policemen came running and shouted at me. They took my phone away and started looking up in it. They asked for my documents, they asked for information about me... They didn't find anything. So they let me go. But a few hours later a policeman located me on the street and handed me a piece of paper that appeared to be a restraining order, or a warning. The next day I noticed that they were following me. So I hurried my departure from that town.
Days later, they visited my friend's house (in another small town nearby) to find out more about me. The worst thing was that only his elderly mother was in the house, and she was terribly frightened. Not only I was worried about myself, but I felt like I had gotten my friend and her mother in trouble. I felt terrible guilty.
all for a few silly photos. I wonder... in this age of so many technological advances, with Google Map... anyone can see Street View photos... It does worth to make such a fuss about some pictures???
My friend even consulted a lawyer, and she told her that I had been pretty reckless in taking pictures of a school. So I assumed that the photos would be considered a serious offense in the United States. But a few days later I visited NY and everybody there was taking pictures of everythings, and no one cared.
After that I heard some horrifying stories of Latinos taking pictures and the reaction of the police.
For that and a few other reasons, my visit to the USA was the first and surely the last. I don't think I'll ever come back in the rest of my life.
And therein lies one of our problems, namely that innocent behavior can be misconstrued simply because "someone bad" might have done something similar with very different intentions. Many people "generalize" and lack common sense.
I was born overseas and on one occasion I returned "home" and took photos of all the places I could remember from my childhold, including the primary school. Fortunately school was not in session at that time.
I would not even dream of doing that here and now, given our current culture and how silly so many people are.
To paraphrase, some people are honest and decent, and some people are not. Instead of prosecuting people who do bad things there seems to be a tendency to prevent anyone from being able to do something bad.
A terrorist commits a horrific act and all of a sudden anyone of his religion or nationality is "assumed" to be a terrorist. Likewise, only a child molestor would take a photo of a school. It is based on ignorance and stupidity.
^^^Luis, it is a strange story about your experience in Strasburg, Virginia. My only question is, was school in session when you were taking photos? In some places, there have been incidents of adults "loitering" near schools when children are present. Keep in mind, schools have been the site of countless tragic mass shootings in the USA. Parents and school administrators don't like somebody outside the school grounds taking photos especially if school is in session. If you actually entered the school grounds, then the police had a right to determine why you were there. People in the USA have put up with so much tragedy around school shootings, don't get all bent out of shape thinking they were racists for giving you a brief shakedown at the schoolyard. Give me a break. Keep in mind those police officers might have kids that attend the school and they are trying to keep their kids safe.
My only question is, was school in session when you were taking photos?
I was taking pictures of the building, from about 20 meters to encompass the entire building.
I didn't see anyone, though this was on a Thursday morning in the month of October; So it's possible they were in session at the moment.
Yes, I know about the attacks that took place in schools in the United States and the susceptibility to that. But I never imagined that my attitude could be interpreted as a threat. My mistake, sorry.
........A terrorist commits a horrific act and all of a sudden anyone of his religion or nationality is "assumed" to be a terrorist. Likewise, only a child molestor would take a photo of a school. It is based on ignorance and stupidity.
Oh, not necessarily. If one is in LE long enough, one gets to the point where they see everyone as a crook.
But, two things. First, it is interesting how the physical profile for many of a kind of crook.......can also fit senior detectives, among other occupations.
Secondly, I think, right or wrong, the country if not the world is programmed to think like that. I was watching a flick where the movie cops are after someone who is a crack rifle shot, knows camouflage, is most effective in hand to hand, can scale buildings.....therefore, they must be ex special forces. I rather screamed at that for there are other sections of the military that can do that, too! But TV/Movies almost always give us only one conclusion that is the right conclusion to the very end.
Quote:
Originally Posted by recycled
^^^Luis, it is a strange story about your experience in Strasburg, Virginia. My only question is, was school in session when you were taking photos? In some places, there have been incidents of adults "loitering" near schools when children are present. Keep in mind, schools have been the site of countless tragic mass shootings in the USA. Parents and school administrators don't like somebody outside the school grounds taking photos especially if school is in session. If you actually entered the school grounds, then the police had a right to determine why you were there. People in the USA have put up with so much tragedy around school shootings, don't get all bent out of shape thinking they were racists for giving you a brief shakedown at the schoolyard. Give me a break. Keep in mind those police officers might have kids that attend the school and they are trying to keep their kids safe.
I think my last actual photo reconnaissance was in 2010 with another potential in 2012 as a film location scout. For the latter, I would carry a letter that I was that. For the former....I had letters, emails, sent out before to my profs of the subject and those that knew me that I was going down to a beach town to take pictures before development took it over. Back then, when I do photo recons, I would ride around on my mountain bike for it.
Further, in 2006, I was doing sample gathering on a jetty at one of the beach towns. The project was more for showing sampling techniques than a scientific study. Once again, before I went, I sent out emails and letters to profs in many disciplines. The studies I was doing, law enforcement, and marine biology. I think I informed fish & wildlife early on, as an additional, when I asked about licences I would need. On arrival, I ran into the beach constable so he knew. At his suggestion, I informed the Coast Guard when I started and when I was off the jetty, partly for security and partly for safety. I was operating alone so if I got knocked off the jetty, who would look for me.
As to my sampling materials, I was out there on the jetty in field clothes in a life jacket (again, in case I got knocked off the jetty) with sampling bags, notebooks, simple digital camera, Garmin GPS. Weeks later, as a courtesy and professional acknowledgement, I sent the profs outside of the discipline a copy of my report.
Long story short.......cover your 6.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Antonio
I was taking pictures of the building, from about 20 meters to encompass the entire building.
I didn't see anyone, though this was on a Thursday morning in the month of October; So it's possible they were in session at the moment.
Yes, I know about the attacks that took place in schools in the United States and the susceptibility to that. But I never imagined that my attitude could be interpreted as a threat. My mistake, sorry.
The catch being is....and this is a common thing with people....you know you are not a threat......but how does the other person know it?
Three things. First, once quite a while back, I saw a mother with child drop something out of her basket on the way to her car and she didn't know it. I picked it up, followed at a distance, and stood at stand off distance as she buckled her child in the car. I then announced myself at distance, why I was there, and asked permission to approach. She took her dropped bag and that was that.
One should consider all circumstances of the situation of the other person, such as in her case of an unknown chasing after her, her child not in a protective environment, intrusion on personal space, her defensive reaction, etc etc etc.. The protocol of approaching.
Secondly, I have been called hostile because I have given verbal warn offs to not approach for the exact same reasons and one more that we are talking about. After all, it is a known crook tactic to get close enough so they can put a knife against your guts and they will sometimes do that by feigning no threat. And that one more reason? I am deadly in HtH at point blank and at that range, there is no time to ponder "Is this a joke?".
Third, I have taken photos inside an in session school......but I was working on an ISD/SWAT project and was escorted around by the school resource officer. On that note, when I do a photo recon, I CASE THE JOINT with oodles of pictures! My background has trained me to come back with a report so my superiors can know as if they had actually been there. That kind of background is how I take technical pictures such as for Tactical Diagramming.
I suppose in all of this, there are the things of "differences" but it may come with age. That is, since we have survived to be older, have we learned not to assume innocence about ourselves or others? Are we different from others because of what we have done in life? Because we are older and have learned, is that why the not so experienced younger accuse us of overthinking a problem, when we realize and consider so many aspects of an issue, things that we have learned to look for, especially if we missed them when we were younger?
Last edited by TamaraSavannah; 03-15-2024 at 09:04 PM..
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