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Shannon Master

Shannon Master is a Reader contributor. See staff page for published articles.

Photography Is Not a Crime

If you choose to have a child someday, I promise it will hit you like a ton of bricks. I avoided children at all cost most of my life. But low and behold, I ended up popping one out. It is more impossible than you can comprehend what occurs, but I can assure you it isn’t remotely related “kittens.” Your use of that comment as a defense alone proves your ignorance. If you want to know why parents are so protective, write a meaningful story on that. Do your research, talk to psychologists… then maybe you’d have some credibility. I mean, you write a blog for a free publication. Your problem is that you think you’re better than you really are. In my business, we call what you did “film immunity”. We think we’re above decency with cameras and film crews in our midst, but the “reality” is that we’re a vial bunch with a bad reputation. It’s up to the rare few to show some common sense, and at no time is that more important than with children. Just because something is legal does not make it right. It’s been legal for Wal-Mart to pay unlivable wages, it’s been legal for food companies to poison our food supply. Is that “right”? Until you finally “get it”, don’t expect sympathy from parents as you spout off righteous legal defenses trying to prove that you are right to do your job and they are “ridiculously sheltering” and unable to determine “fantasy from reality” in doing their jobs. Parents are not ignorant to public exposure – hell, many of them plaster their kids all over the Internet themselves. What you’re missing is that those are choices they are making on their own terms. You are overstepping your ethical bounds by not asking permission. And I’m not talking about a busy beach day shot – I’m talking about a blatant close up singling out one child. If you took a courteous second to ask if they minded first, most likely they would all say yes, but a rude and thoughtless person will always get a “no”. It is not your job to judge. You have no idea what custody battles are being fought, what unthinkable experiences these families may have been through or simply how private some people fight to be in a digital age. Your unfounded defense about the happy ending handshake and your afterthought gesture to respect his wishes is only to make yourself feel good. You have shown yourself to be not a “Diva” who speaks candidly, but to be an embarrassing member of the media. Your act of “cutting him off” as he tries to explain a different perspective than your own is a reflection of your narrow-mindedness – exactly the opposite of what a member of the media is supposed to be. Be careful how you’re treating the public and your readers. It’s one thing to be controversial and thought provoking, it’s another to be a bulldog. Trust me, I’ve been there and that bulldog can turn into a whimpering poodle looking for work in the blink of an eye. I know I would never hire you to represent my company after seeing this.
— June 24, 2011 2:43 a.m.

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