Every time there's a traffic accident or a fight in the street or somebody trips and falls or there's a loud argument or any other thing out of the ordinary (especially if someone is getting hurt in one way or another), dozens of people pull out their bloody cell phones and start filming. Nobody calls the police or an ambulance and nobody tries to help out. Pulling out a camera has become people's instinctive first reaction. It's as if they see an opportunity to become famous or earn money, and that trumps every other possible response.

Even in everyday situations where nothing extraordinary is happening, people can pull out their cameras. Perverts try to capture glimpses of skin, sleazeball wannabe journalists stick their cameras in people's faces and ask questions, YouTube fanatics are on the hunt for the next shot that will earn them 100000 views...

Seeing people standing everywhere with their stupid phone cameras and a mesmerized look on their face is seriously starting to creep me out.

Anybody agree or disagree?

I have never seen anything like that. Where the heck do you live, anyway?

Genesia said:

I have never seen anything like that. Where the heck do you live, anyway?

I have seen it happening all over the US, so don't be ridiculous and start pretending like it's not happening in your country. It's a worldwide phenomenon, just check out the results on YouTube, CNN etc etc. The only question is if you find it disturbing in any way or not.

I've seen this too. It's fucked up.

retina said:

Genesia said:

I have never seen anything like that. Where the heck do you live, anyway?

I have seen it happening all over the US, so don't be ridiculous and start pretending like it's not happening in your country. It's a worldwide phenomenon, just check out the results on YouTube, CNN etc etc. The only question is if you find it disturbing in any way or not.

Really. You've been "all over" the US, have you?

Obviously, I don't find it disturbing - since I've never seen anyone doing it.

I've personally never seen this happen, but I don't doubt that it does in certain areas with certain demographics.

[Edited 10/8/10 14:08pm]

Genesia said:

retina said:

I have seen it happening all over the US, so don't be ridiculous and start pretending like it's not happening in your country. It's a worldwide phenomenon, just check out the results on YouTube, CNN etc etc. The only question is if you find it disturbing in any way or not.

Really. You've been "all over" the US, have you?

Obviously, I don't find it disturbing - since I've never seen anyone doing it.

Yes, I've been to 31 states spread all over the country.

Number23 said:

I'd never take pictures of other people's misfortune, though. Just my own.

Me too.

Well, my misfortune...not yours.

JustErin said:

I've seen this too. It's fucked up.

Agreed.

I think that because the technology is so readily available these days, people tend to overuse and get addicted to it. New tech is this era's opium.

JustErin said:

Number23 said:

I'd never take pictures of other people's misfortune, though. Just my own.

Me too.

Well, my misfortune...not yours.

I'd much prefer to photograph both of yours than mine

Number23 said:

Mm. I'm quaking at your moral judgement at a recent misdemenour of mine. I was in a wee car accident a few months ago - the car flipped on a wet country road and slid on its back though a fence. I managed to get out quite easily and was greeted by the sight of two horses parading curiously around me and the vehicle. My only thoughht was - this is going to make a great picture for my newspaper next week. Luckly, the farm was in my circulation area. I clicked away a few times before calling the police. In the paper, I blew the picture up big on the front page and wrote the article with the angle that this danger road needed traffic calming measures before some idiot speeding driver was killed. No, I didn't mention my involvement in the incident.

Well you're a journalist (right?) so it's basically your job to do things like that. And it's not like I think phone cameras should never be used. I just think it's creepy how it's the first and only thing a lot of people resort to. It creates another layer between us and the reality around us, and I don't think we need that.

Number23 said:

I'd never take pictures of other people's misfortune, though. Just my own.

See, that's a good rule of thumb right there.

retina said:

NDRU said:

Number23 said:

retina said:

Well you're a journalist (right?) so it's basically your job to do things like that. And it's not like I think phone cameras should never be used. I just think it's creepy how it's the first and only thing a lot of people resort to. It creates another layer between us and the reality around us, and I don't think we need that.

Christ, you'll be really pissed off once your grandson becomes a wave of code travelling though the universe outside of time, disrance and singular perception.

Yes, that would indeed creep me out too. lol

Genesia said:

retina said:

I have seen it happening all over the US, so don't be ridiculous and start pretending like it's not happening in your country. It's a worldwide phenomenon, just check out the results on YouTube, CNN etc etc. The only question is if you find it disturbing in any way or not.

Really. You've been "all over" the US, have you?

Obviously, I don't find it disturbing - since I've never seen anyone doing it.

Pull your head out of your ass!

Hey just be glad ya'll americano's didn't catch on to the "happy slapping" craze here in the UK. Basically kids run up to someone and smack them over the head as hard as they can and run away, while their friends film it and then put it on the internet. A really idiotic thing, on the news a few months back it showed 2 kids in London doing it to an elderly man standing with his grand-daughter, they hit him so hard he fell down and hit his head on the pavement & died of brain damage

retina said:

JustErin said:

I've seen this too. It's fucked up.

Agreed.

I think that because the technology is so readily available these days, people tend to overuse and get addicted to it. New tech is this era's opium.

I'm finding that despite the advances in technology of all kinds, people are by and large still stupid and they will to stupid things no matter how advanced the gadgets they happen to own. In fact, they might be getting dumber. It annoys the crap outta me.

retina said:

Every time there's a traffic accident or a fight in the street or somebody trips and falls or there's a loud argument or any other thing out of the ordinary (especially if someone is getting hurt in one way or another), dozens of people pull out their bloody cell phones and start filming. Nobody calls the police or an ambulance and nobody tries to help out. Pulling out a camera has become people's instinctive first reaction. It's as if they see an opportunity to become famous or earn money, and that trumps every other possible response.

Even in everyday situations where nothing extraordinary is happening, people can pull out their cameras. Perverts try to capture glimpses of skin, sleazeball wannabe journalists stick their cameras in people's faces and ask questions, YouTube fanatics are on the hunt for the next shot that will earn them 100000 views...

Seeing people standing everywhere with their stupid phone cameras and a mesmerized look on their face is seriously starting to creep me out.

Anybody agree or disagree?

I haven't witnessed it all that often myself, maybe once or twice that I vaguely remember, but I don't doubt for a second that it happens rather frequently. The internet didn't film all the bullshit cell phone videos out there itself.

Here in L.A that happens all the time

I also see people at school, the gym, walking randomly or w/e taking pics of themselves lol

Same thing happened a lot growing up in Texas before i moved here for college.... I have become used to it shockingly

TheScouser said:

Hey just be glad ya'll americano's didn't catch on to the "happy slapping" craze here in the UK. Basically kids run up to someone and smack them over the head as hard as they can and run away, while their friends film it and then put it on the internet. A really idiotic thing, on the news a few months back it showed 2 kids in London doing it to an elderly man standing with his grand-daughter, they hit him so hard he fell down and hit his head on the pavement & died of brain damage

That's terrible.

And see, they probably wouldn't even think of doing it if it weren't for the cameras and the possibility of putting it online. At least it wouldn't turn into a "trend" that they keep on doing and that starts to influence others to do the same.

babynoz said:

retina said:

Agreed.

I think that because the technology is so readily available these days, people tend to overuse and get addicted to it. New tech is this era's opium.

I'm finding that despite the advances in technology of all kinds, people are by and large still stupid and they will to stupid things no matter how advanced the gadgets they happen to own. In fact, they might be getting dumber. It annoys the crap outta me.

I'm not sure that they're getting either dumber or smarter because of it, I just think that the result of whatever they are to begin with gets greatly amplified when you put new tools in their hands. It's kind of like with guns. A dumbass is still just a dumbass if you put a gun in his hand, but now all of a sudden his stupidity might allow him to shoot somebody.

I totally agree that it's annoying (and worse).

FauxReal said:

retina said:

Every time there's a traffic accident or a fight in the street or somebody trips and falls or there's a loud argument or any other thing out of the ordinary (especially if someone is getting hurt in one way or another), dozens of people pull out their bloody cell phones and start filming. Nobody calls the police or an ambulance and nobody tries to help out. Pulling out a camera has become people's instinctive first reaction. It's as if they see an opportunity to become famous or earn money, and that trumps every other possible response.

Even in everyday situations where nothing extraordinary is happening, people can pull out their cameras. Perverts try to capture glimpses of skin, sleazeball wannabe journalists stick their cameras in people's faces and ask questions, YouTube fanatics are on the hunt for the next shot that will earn them 100000 views...

Seeing people standing everywhere with their stupid phone cameras and a mesmerized look on their face is seriously starting to creep me out.

Anybody agree or disagree?

I haven't witnessed it all that often myself, maybe once or twice that I vaguely remember, but I don't doubt for a second that it happens rather frequently. The internet didn't film all the bullshit cell phone videos out there itself.

Exactly! You'll probably be seeing it more and more, as technology continues to spread. Maybe one day we'll have cameras in our sunglasses that we can switch on by just tapping the rims, who knows? Either way I strongly doubt that we'll ever again feel safe from being filmed by random strangers, especially in situations when it's the last thing we'd want.

Gunsnhalen said:

Here in L.A that happens all the time

I also see people at school, the gym, walking randomly or w/e taking pics of themselves lol

Same thing happened a lot growing up in Texas before i moved here for college.... I have become used to it shockingly

Yeah, it's not a good thing that it's become so common that people let their guard down and stop questioning it. I mean, often it's not malevolent in any way, but I still think it's scary if it becomes second nature both to invade people's privacy at inopportune times, and for people to allow their privacy to be invaded. We'll feel like we've lost some of our peace of mind. And all of a sudden a very undesirable video will turn up online.

I'm not seeing this here in Germany. If someone falls or is in an accident of some sort, people still stop here to go assist the person until help arrives. If people started filming all over the place for no apparent reason, I'm sure it would freak me out too. But being a subway rider and very active in my city I don't see any of this. I even still know people who refuse to carry cell phones period.

Ottensen said:

I'm not seeing this here in Germany. If someone falls or is in an accident of some sort, people still stop here to go assist the person until help arrives. If people started filming all over the place for no apparent reason, I'm sure it would freak me out too. But being a subway rider and very active in my city I don't see any of this. I even still know people who refuse to carry cell phones period.

also, if I recall correctly, if you witness an accident it's your duty to lend assistance (can't remember if it's law or not, it's been too long...)

There was something when I took my drivers test about it being an obligation... (SO not sure though...). I know you're required to pass an emergency first aid course though.

retina said:

Gunsnhalen said:

Here in L.A that happens all the time

I also see people at school, the gym, walking randomly or w/e taking pics of themselves lol

Same thing happened a lot growing up in Texas before i moved here for college.... I have become used to it shockingly

Yeah, it's not a good thing that it's become so common that people let their guard down and stop questioning it. I mean, often it's not malevolent in any way, but I still think it's scary if it becomes second nature both to invade people's privacy at inopportune times, and for people to allow their privacy to be invaded. We'll feel like we've lost some of our peace of mind. And all of a sudden a very undesirable video will turn up online.

Not a matter of "allowing".

You're outside. Someone breaks out the camera and starts video tapping you.

You say "STOP!" They don't and continue.

Now what? You get an assault charge for hitting them or what?

I mean what recourse do you have if the person continues taking video even after you've asked them not to?

Call a cop? They'll be gone by the time you get one.

It's a brave new world!

retina said:

Every time there's a traffic accident or a fight in the street or somebody trips and falls or there's a loud argument or any other thing out of the ordinary (especially if someone is getting hurt in one way or another), dozens of people pull out their bloody cell phones and start filming. Nobody calls the police or an ambulance and nobody tries to help out. Pulling out a camera has become people's instinctive first reaction. It's as if they see an opportunity to become famous or earn money, and that trumps every other possible response.

Even in everyday situations where nothing extraordinary is happening, people can pull out their cameras. Perverts try to capture glimpses of skin, sleazeball wannabe journalists stick their cameras in people's faces and ask questions, YouTube fanatics are on the hunt for the next shot that will earn them 100000 views...

Seeing people standing everywhere with their stupid phone cameras and a mesmerized look on their face is seriously starting to creep me out.

Anybody agree or disagree?

I had to laugh but it is a sad thing.