Annoyance:: Rude people

[Murph]

I was at the McNay this morning taking a few photos, I was sitting by the pool composing a shot when these two women from Mexico walked right into the frame (I know they were from Mexico because a) they were speaking Spanish, and b) another local hispanic couple also commented on them). They looked right at me, knew I was getting ready for a shot and just kept getting in my way.

I said nothing, just sat there, pointedly holding my camera, and finally they walked out, and then TURNED AROUND AND WALKED BACK IN AS I WAS TAKING THE SHOT! The couple told me that they walked between a photog taking bridal photos, and he was annoyed and told them to get the F*@k out of his shot after they did it twice. They looked stunned that anyone would talk to them, and give them an order to move...

I have also had this happen at the Alamo, when another Mexican couple kept stepping in front of me, that time, I finally asked him to move for a moment, and he got upset that I would dare ask him to move. What is it with some people? Can they not see that we are taking a shot and will be done in a moment? Rant over.

[NoLight]

Murph I feel your pain!!!!!!

[TxLerman]

I have been there and I still get pissed just thinking about it. My family and I were at Disney. In the lobby of hotel, I set up my tripod and lights to take some shots of my sons. While we are taking pictures, this woman plants her kids just to the camera's left and she starts video taping them. She knows we are there because she looked at my set-up for awhile. Anyway, as you can see below, she backs right into our picture. I fire my flash at her a few times and the stupid woman is oblivous. You can see my boys' reactions. When she realized what she did, the woman said nothing. I was tempted to walk in front of her video camera and see if she would have liked it.

[Toad]

Originally Posted by TxLerman

I was tempted to walk in front of her video camera and see if she would have liked it.

If I am feeling really nasty, I'll start taking tons of pictures of them, really obvious like. Then when they say something, I respond with "Well, I figured that since you kept walking in front of me when I was trying to take a picture that you wanted your picture taken. I figured after the third time you did it, I'd grant your wish."
Toad

[johnastovall]

What do you expect when shooting in public places? Learn to deal with it.

[mwaldrop]

Old fashioned manners and consideration for others has certainly taken a back seat to self indulgence in our world today. I can't tell you how many times I've waited on someone to finish a photo or avoided their video because it is just the right thing to do.

And while we know you can expect people to be rude and inconsiderate, it is always annoying when it happens and especially when it is something you would never do to someone else, whether it is taking pictures in a public place, cutting in line, being rude in traffic, or whatever.

[Michelle Allmon]

I was trying to take pictures of my sister's kinds when I first moved here, this little boy kept following us and walking into them. I don't know where his mother was. Yeah, it's annoying but what can you do? At least we can shoot in public. Could be worse.

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by Murph

I was at the McNay this morning taking a few photos, I was sitting by the pool composing a shot when these two women from Mexico walked right into the frame (I know they were from Mexico because a) they were speaking Spanish, and b) another local hispanic couple also commented on them). They looked right at me, knew I was getting ready for a shot and just kept getting in my way.

I said nothing, just sat there, pointedly holding my camera, and finally they walked out, and then TURNED AROUND AND WALKED BACK IN AS I WAS TAKING THE SHOT! The couple told me that they walked between a photog taking bridal photos, and he was annoyed and told them to get the F*@k out of his shot after they did it twice. They looked stunned that anyone would talk to them, and give them an order to move...

I have also had this happen at the Alamo, when another Mexican couple kept stepping in front of me, that time, I finally asked him to move for a moment, and he got upset that I would dare ask him to move. What is it with some people? Can they not see that we are taking a shot and will be done in a moment? Rant over.

While you have every reason and right to be angry that these people were rude and got in your way, is it your intent to say they did so because of their ethnic heritage? Do you also mean to infer that all members of this race or people from their country are rude?

The reason I ask this is that I feel your message reads that way. Would you be offended if someone made this inference about all people who speak English and come from the United States (or Texas for that matter)?

I'm not trying to be politically correct or excuse them for their actions, but ask you to consider what your reaction would be if the shoe were on the other foot. I think you could have made the same point without mentioning their race or your guess about their country of origin (BTW, there are many countries that have Spanish as their main language other than Mexico).

[Murph]

No, not at all. Its just that in several encounters with people from Mexico they seem to have a different perspective on what is rude. My wife (who is hispanic) and her sister also have commented on this when they go shopping. I have had others be just as rude, and it annoys me, since I attempt to show politeness when I interact with others. I have spoken with my inlaws at length about this, because it bothered me at first, and their observations were pithy, direct, and in my father in laws case, downright rude. It seems that some of the upper middle class Mexicans have a different attitude on rude, and what is expected of others. My wife saw it at the hospital when she gave birth to our second daughter, a very nice lady from Mexico had gone into labor, and was rushed to the hospital. She had to ask my wife (in spanish) how to do some basic things, because she was used to servants doing them for her.

Not politically correct, not being rude, I have no animus towards people of Mexican heritage (I sure would not have been married to my wife for 18 years if I did, especially after standing up to my family to marry her), its just that they seem to see things differently in terms of rude.

When I see a photographer shooting, I keep out of their way, try not to intrude, and I have taught my kids the same thing. And the reason I mentioned it, is that it has happened more than once, and it struck me as odd for some reason. Also I learned while living in Germany and Japan, to not be the "Ugly American".

[Cope]

Originally Posted by Murph

No, not at all. Its just that in several encounters with people from Mexico they seem to have a different perspective on what is rude. My wife (who is hispanic) and her sister also have commented on this when they go shopping. I have had others be just as rude, and it annoys me, since I attempt to show politeness when I interact with others. I have spoken with my inlaws at length about this, because it bothered me at first, and their observations were pithy, direct, and in my father in laws case, downright rude. It seems that some of the upper middle class Mexicans have a different attitude on rude, and what is expected of others. My wife saw it at the hospital when she gave birth to our second daughter, a very nice lady from Mexico had gone into labor, and was rushed to the hospital. She had to ask my wife (in spanish) how to do some basic things, because she was used to servants doing them for her.

Not politically correct, not being rude, I have no animus towards people of Mexican heritage (I sure would not have been married to my wife for 18 years if I did, especially after standing up to my family to marry her), its just that they seem to see things differently in terms of rude.

When I see a photographer shooting, I keep out of their way, try not to intrude, and I have taught my kids the same thing. And the reason I mentioned it, is that it has happened more than once, and it struck me as odd for some reason. Also I learned while living in Germany and Japan, to not be the "Ugly American".

Murph, in my experience with such things, it is usually the females who are rude, and not the males. This is not a sexist comment, but based on years of observation.

At my grandson's swimming lessons, parents watch from one of two enclosed rooms with one way glass. There are signs everywhere asking parents not to stand in front of the windows. One day a woman kept standing in front of my wife to watch her child. My wife asked her politely several times to move, but to no avail. Finally she tapped the woman on the shoulder and told her she had a cute butt, but she could not see through it. The woman finally took the hint and moved over (never did sit down).

[Breezy]

Oh I pissed some woman off at the Dino Valley park ( I think that is what it is called)
My one son LOVES Dinos and I was taking their pics with the 2 out front. Had them on the fence started taking the shot and 2 kids come running up. No biggie I wait. They climb all over the fence for a while then mom decides to sit her kids right beside of mine and start shooting. Why couldnt' they have went to the other dino first? Then we could have taken turns but NO. Then she proceeds to walk in FRONT of me. I said excuse me really loud. Do you not see that "I" am trying to take pics??? She looks at me and mumbled something under her breath at her dh. And just stood there. I yelled to dh who was with the kids. That apparently some people are just idiots and don't give a flying flip about anyone but themselves lol. She got all huffy and walked off without her kids lol. But it worked.

Usually I look with the other eye at people coming and going but if someone intentionally stands in front of me yeah I will be rude and tell them to move :D.
So I feel your pain Murph

[Breezy]

haha I will have to remember that Alan, I have said a time or two that "I don't want her ass in the pic" when dh starts griping cause I haven't taken the pic but never been a smart ass like that I will have to remeber that one lol.

[snidow]

I can not even count the number of times someone has walked into a photo, scared off a bird, animal, etc . Like they can not see me with the tripod, huge lens and all. I also like the ones that stand next to you trying to see what it is you are photographing, I've even pointed my camera at nothing just to mess with them . I've had little kids ask of they can look through my camera / lens which of course I have to politely say no to. Sorry but not going to let some kid handle the camera. I try to stand out of peoples ways, sometimes you just don't see them in time and I say sorry when I do walk into the view. But boy there are so many others that just don't give a rip.

[kenw]

Hand them your 'business" card, which has a website on it like "www.stupidhoustondrivers.com" on it and tell them they can see their pics in about 24 hours.......

of course, you might need a more appropriate address, like "www.stupidoturistas.com" or whatever. perhaps a handy assortment for various locales....

[tiffany]

not trying to start anything, but what's the point in telling us that the women were mexican?

but yes, people walking into your shots are annoying.