Got a somewhat wild story for you all

[XISMZERO]

If ever you want to be reminded how random the world can be and how irate people can be along with it, hear what happened to me a few days ago, taking pictures on my car rides as I typically do.

A few days ago, I was in Rocky Hill on the Silas Deane Highway coming home from a short trip I had taken earlier in the day. I stopped at a Dunkin' Donuts on the highway, snagging a few pictures of the building. I drove around the building, getting a picture of the back of the building. As I left the lot, I took one last photo of the front when suddenly, a black pick-up truck behind me honks his horn.

Following the honking came a fury of yelling on the part of the driver.

He screams, not exaggerating here, obscenities to the tune of "What the f*** are you taking a picture of?" Mind you, this angry man had his wife in the front seat, his young daughter in the back seat, screaming and swearing at me for taking a picture of what he thought was me taking shots of people's cars.

I then fired back at him, repeating it was not his business, not his concern as to what I was doing. I am not a confrontational person, I take my pictures, mind my own business -- and have learned to do so over the years doing what I do -- shooting pictures in public of places that might not be typical sites.

He then threatened me, that he was going to call the police and get my license plate number to which I told him to go right ahead, I was doing nothing wrong. I even showed the paranoid man my pictures, assuring him there were no cars in my pictures. I didn't have to do this, but this man was clearly paranoid, beyond rational.

He then peppered me with insults; calling me one of those whackos, and that I look like a whacko, asking who takes pictures of buildings to which I told him maybe I am a whacko. He then told me I was scary looking to which I looked him dead in the eye telling him he was scaring me.

His wife didn't say anything and I kept my class with them both in the car, watching what I was saying being a better man than he. Not surprised she, his wife, didn't say anything... the guy probably beats his wife. He was a crazed, hysterial, violent sounding, tempermental guy. I left, telling him to "have a nice day, sir" and that I was going to be on my way to which he got my plate number.

If the police didn't laugh him off the line for reporting a photographer, I was actually hoping to get a call from the police, so I could warn them this freak is on the loose.

In my years, I've never had a confrontation like this, to this level. I was a tad shaken up afterwards, but I wasn't fearful of the man and of course, thought of many things I would've liked to say to him after it happened.

What do you all think? Ever been in a situation like this -- with a family man!? I feel bad for his wife and child -- she married a absolute nut, possibly harmful person.

Here's the shot I took (the first one).

[C. Fontaine]

That's crazy.  The only time I've been asked WTF for taking pictures was at the Hyde Park Ames, which was a sort of local hangout.  These kids were playing suicide with a tennis ball and thought I was taking pictures of them.  Although when I told them I was taking pictures of the building they got off my case!

[NJxxJon]

Originally posted by XISMZERO
If ever you want to be reminded how random the world can be and how irate people can be along with it, hear what happened to me a few days ago, taking pictures on my car rides as I typically do.

A few days ago, I was in Rocky Hill on the Silas Deane Highway coming home from a short trip I had taken earlier in the day. I stopped at a Dunkin' Donuts on the highway, snagging a few pictures of the building. I drove around the building, getting a picture of the back of the building. As I left the lot, I took one last photo of the front when suddenly, a black pick-up truck behind me honks his horn.

Following the honking came a fury of yelling on the part of the driver.

He screams, not exaggerating here, obscenities to the tune of "What the f*** are you taking a picture of?" Mind you, this angry man had his wife in the front seat, his young daughter in the back seat, screaming and swearing at me for taking a picture of what he thought was me taking shots of people's cars.

I then fired back at him, repeating it was not his business, not his concern as to what I was doing. I am not a confrontational person, I take my pictures, mind my own business -- and have learned to do so over the years doing what I do -- shooting pictures in public of places that might not be typical sites.

He then threatened me, that he was going to call the police and get my license plate number to which I told him to go right ahead, I was doing nothing wrong. I even showed the paranoid man my pictures, assuring him there were no cars in my pictures. I didn't have to do this, but this man was clearly paranoid, beyond rational.

He then peppered me with insults; calling me one of those whackos, and that I look like a whacko, asking who takes pictures of buildings to which I told him maybe I am a whacko. He then told me I was scary looking to which I looked him dead in the eye telling him he was scaring me.

His wife didn't say anything and I kept my class with them both in the car, watching what I was saying being a better man than he. Not surprised she, his wife, didn't say anything... the guy probably beats his wife. He was a crazed, hysterial, violent sounding, tempermental guy. I left, telling him to "have a nice day, sir" and that I was going to be on my way to which he got my plate number.

If the police didn't laugh him off the line for reporting a photographer, I was actually hoping to get a call from the police, so I could warn them this freak is on the loose.

In my years, I've never had a confrontation like this, to this level. I was a tad shaken up afterwards, but I wasn't fearful of the man and of course, thought of many things I would've liked to say to him after it happened.

What do you all think? Ever been in a situation like this -- with a family man!? I feel bad for his wife and child -- she married a absolute nut, possibly harmful person.

Here's the shot I took (the first one).

Just put people in there place. If I was with you it would have been different .....not violent. I have a chick friend who would be a guys butt.

[farmingtonvalleymall]

Sorry to hear this. Sounds like this loser is waging his own "war on terror" to keep the public safe :duh:

[nims57]

It was none of his business, AND you should not have showed him your pics. People have made fun of my interests in the past. That said, none of their business!!!

And I expect reasonable privacy in my car.

[dmx10101]

thats crazy, I dont even know what to say about that guy..

[wwefan101]

 haha i got yelled at by a kid for takeing phots pasing a peting zoo lol

[Marc82]

There are a lot of crazies out there in the world.  When I used to work at Price Chopper I sometimes worked 3rd shift. On 3rd shift I had a customer all mad because their weren't any Fresh Rotissare Chickens as advertised in the sales circular. I told him because it was 3AM and to come back in 8 hours.

[wwefan101]

 haha lol evey one should know they dont put stuf like that out until at least 11 am

[Caldor1999]

only problem i ever had with taking pictures was the time i went to the caldor in middletown  years ago

theirs a hallway that leads to were caldor use to be and at one time it was filled with stores now there all gone now exciped for this dental place and when i went there people keeped staring at me the whole time i just looked at them and said its for a web sight and they juts gave me a weird look and then stopped

[drpep]

 I was followed from Rowland, NC; where I shot a few pictures of a motel and hamburger stand from my car; to South Of The Border, SC, a distance of about 5 miles.
 Guy wanted to know what I was taking pictures of. I explained and he just could not understand who would and why anyone would take pictures of old retail. He kept asking me what I got from doing it. I finally walked away.

[nims57]

Originally posted by drpep
 I was followed from Rowland, NC; where I shot a few pictures of a motel and hamburger stand from my car; to South Of The Border, SC, a distance of about 5 miles.
 Guy wanted to know what I was taking pictures of. I explained and he just could not understand who would and why anyone would take pictures of old retail. He kept asking me what I got from doing it. I finally walked away.

That sounds so scary! Was he the business owner?

[drpep]

 No idea who it was. The guy was not nasty.

[XDeSuEhTX]

A think a lot of people somehow suspect terrorism when they see a random person taking photos of a public place, all by themselves. Especially when it's something as strange as a donut shop or a discount store...

That's why I like to stay in my car when attempting it.