lynnb
Veteran
Sorry to hear about your experience. For reference, here's a broad guide to photography in public places in Australia.
Your experience is not all that uncommon. It's happened to me, and also to work colleagues of mine. Sadly some societies seem more inclined towards paranoia than towards making objective assessments of risk.
If the swim centre is private property they have every right to ban photography or to request that people not take photos. Many privately (and also publicly) operated venues have signs up prohibiting photography. In practice, I have noticed they usually ignore women with cell phone cameras because they believe (erroneously, in fact) that they do not pose any risk to children; while middle aged men with single-purpose cameras (rather than cell phones) get undue attention. That's a sad fact of life.
The best strategy in my opinion is to deal confidently, politely but firmly with people and try to allay their fears. Perhaps ask them how their husband would feel if your wife behaved aggressively towards him when he had her kids at the pool. Would she expect him to stop taking pictures of his own children?
When people feel that children's safety is at risk, no matter how unreasonable that belief may be, they are usually not inclined to listen to reason. They are acting on emotion, not reason. Sometimes, it might be better to just walk away, and take your boy somewhere else. You don't want to take him places where you'll feel uncomfortable. Your time with him is too precious for that.
Your experience is not all that uncommon. It's happened to me, and also to work colleagues of mine. Sadly some societies seem more inclined towards paranoia than towards making objective assessments of risk.
If the swim centre is private property they have every right to ban photography or to request that people not take photos. Many privately (and also publicly) operated venues have signs up prohibiting photography. In practice, I have noticed they usually ignore women with cell phone cameras because they believe (erroneously, in fact) that they do not pose any risk to children; while middle aged men with single-purpose cameras (rather than cell phones) get undue attention. That's a sad fact of life.
The best strategy in my opinion is to deal confidently, politely but firmly with people and try to allay their fears. Perhaps ask them how their husband would feel if your wife behaved aggressively towards him when he had her kids at the pool. Would she expect him to stop taking pictures of his own children?
When people feel that children's safety is at risk, no matter how unreasonable that belief may be, they are usually not inclined to listen to reason. They are acting on emotion, not reason. Sometimes, it might be better to just walk away, and take your boy somewhere else. You don't want to take him places where you'll feel uncomfortable. Your time with him is too precious for that.
