Les, I would like to get your take on the camera issue. I know that you had a run-in with the one guy, but, overall, did you feel that the camera usage by unrelated members of the group is on the rise? If so, is it detrimental to TTR? Marsh
I have to say things got worse after I took the guys camera off him because I found myself lookin g out for this kind of behaviour. I had to warn 2 scum bags during our 2nd week lingerie evening, they were just walking round on thier own taking pics of only the women who were in undies. I even saw Mario warn one guy. I stopped them taking pics of Lynfa but one old guy did ask so we let him as we ain't against pics but be respectfull. Lots of people came onto me and said they'd heard what happened with the guy by the pool and all were very thankfull as they and many others hate men taking pics of them topless but are too scared to say anything. I have a very short fuse but i was very nice to the guy. Have to tell you all this....he came over to us a few hours later and said he was filming the women topless becuase he was a plastic surgeon and he said that gave him the right.
The RIGHT?!? like I said before, this guy gave me the creeps the first time I saw him, but at least I know he wasn't taking pics of me!!! LOL (unless it was for the "before" files :lol: )
I have brought a camera with me every trip(8) and I find it more of a pain. I don't want to babysit it when at the pool. By the time I pull it out and turn it on and point and focus it the action is over. So it stays in the room. I usually just snap a few from the balcony the last day before I pack it away. I just rely on my photographic memory.
Having only been once, not multiple times, I don't have a huge base of knowledge to go on here. That said we do frequent Mexico and the Caribbean a fair amount and we do seek to go to places that permit topless sunbathing on the beach or at the pool as my wife enjoys this. We had this discussion a number of years ago as digital cameras became popular and people started emailing around photos, posting them on newsgroups, etc. that the possibility exists that she could wind up on some website somewhere. Her attitude was "well, there are a thousand other people that they may want to be aiming their cameras at other than me, and if I wind up on someone's website with my boobs out, I'm sure I'm not going to be the most popular photo there." And, also "And all our friends and even our kids know that this is where we go and what I do ... so I'm just not worried about it." Someone else did say this on this thread - the chances of someone finding a photo of you attached to YOUR NAME are close to slim and none unless it was posted by you and it puts your name on it. Now, do I think cameras should be banned at the resort - perhaps in some situations, yes - I don't see the value of cameras at lingerie night, or at The Quest or other events where there is significant nudity. Now that said, when we were there: Did I take pictures at those events? Yes. Were they pictures of people I didn't know? Some, yes. Do I share them with people that don't know me? No. But I have to agree with Diamondheaded here ... taking cameras away also takes a significant level of fun away. I do totally agree with both the "peer pressure" and "call security" types of responses to camera skeeves that walk around shooting pictures. But I have a few additional ideas for dealing with camera skeeves who just walk around shooting pictures. 1) LARGE group pressure will really shut people down - case in point is what happens at Wrigley Field when the opposing team hits a homer into the bleachers - the entire stadium starts yelling THROW IT BACK! THROW IT BACK! until the fan relents and whips the home run ball back to the field. And if the person doesn't throw it back, then the entire stadium starts yelling "ASSHOLE! ASSHOLE!" My thinking here is that if you could get the attention of a large portion of the bunch at the sexy pool and get them all screaming at once at the skeeve with the camera, then they are likely going to get the hint that their activity isn't welcome behavior. 2) Ok, this is more juvenile and could result in a fight, but ... how about walking up behind the douchebag with the camera and yanking down his pants while at the same time, someone stands in front of him and starts taking his picture. 3) As an adjunct to that, how about organizing a bunch of people to walk up to the skeeve with the camera and all just stand and block his view and start snapping pictures of him and saying "Oh, I'm going to post this on skeeveswithcameras.com" ... in other words, make him look like an ass. 4) If you see one of these skeeves and then later see him with a wife/girlfriend, etc., how about walking up to him and embarassing him with "hey, I saw you taking all those nude photos of my wife. You must have great pictures, of your wife, can you arrange for me to do the same thing with your wife tomorrow?" 5) Organize a bunch of folks with towels to walk up in front of the guy, and block his view by holding up a bunch of towels and then all start yelling "camera skeeve, camera skeeve" ... something to both thrwart the efforts to shoot, AND make him feel like an ass. In other words, public embarrassment will drive the skeeves out. Make them feel like the pariahs that they are, and they will stop. And maybe word will get out in the skeeve community and they will stop coming. One last thought: it would appear that the "frequenters" here have a good relationship with the animation staff at the resort. Could you have a chat with Chinos, or whoever is in charge now and ask them to spot these assholes and make public embarrassments of them? Happy Friday y'all.
Your remedies for skeeves around the pool are certainly comical, although may be more trouble than they are worth. Asking Chinos (or T or Chris) would be the most effective, however those guys are only around the pool a couple of hours per day at most. I usually know half or more of the people (and what gals they are with) at Casino/lingerie night, and most of the camera issues come from single guys that are there with a bunch of other single guys.
"But I have to agree with Diamondheaded here ... taking cameras away also takes a significant level of fun away. " was this a typo? how does taking the cameras decrease the level of fun. We've seen the complete opposite. When cameras are not present people are more apt to participate and do wilder things (ie Quest).
*LOL*.. it's funny that he even tried to use that logic. I don't care if he was telling the trough, it still doesn't give him the right. If I was a cop would that give me the right to frisk your wives by the poolside *LOL*
