Groundspeak Portal

Over in the other forums, they're always complaining about urban micros getting people into trouble.  I've been caching for about 5 years now.  In those 5 years, I've been bothered by LEOs or psychos about a dozen times.  That's only 2-3 times a year.  And most of the caches I've done have been urban caches.

So I think this is weird.  I've only been waymarking about six months.  And while waymarking in those six months:

    1.  In a park, a woman follows me into the woods and accuses me of stalking her. Then she wants to know why I'm there, what the gps is, what the pda is, what the camera is for, if I was taking pictures of her...
    2.  I get threatened by a security guard for taking pictures in a shopping center parking lot.
    3.  I'm taking pictures of a restaurant.  The owner corners me in the parking lot (literally with his car) so he can play 20 questions.
    4.  When messing with my text messages on my phone, I get kicked out of a museum for taking pictures.  The phone didn't have a camera.
    5.  I'm walking through Victoria, Texas.  Some dude chases me down in his car, starts hollaring at me, and accuses me of 'trespassing' on his property because I took a picture of his building, a zero-lot-line building on the NRHP.

Is this common when you're waymarking?  Or is it just me?

I find it much easier waymarking.  Nothing to worry about just act like I am taking pictures like any tourist.  Sometimes people look at me a bit strange when I am taking a picture of  something they can't figure out why any one would want a picture of.  In general I try to avoid getting other people in the pictures.

Note to self - do not go waymarking with JimmyEV.

 

 

Actually I have been asked more questions while out waymarking than geocaching.  I'm not sure what the deal is, but I'm sure I looked more suspicious putting a suspicious container in a guardrail along a busy street than I do taking a picture of a building.

 

When I am near my home area, I will come back another time to take more picutres if things just "do not feel right". There are a couple of instances where I tend to be very careful. Playgrounds as children are present and I just dont want to even be considered as a stalker or pedo. Another time, I was going to get a picture of a fountain, but there were some guards changing the money in an ATM. Since they were armed, I figured I could go back later to get a picture.

Overall, I am paranoid. At least I do not go around straddling statues.

Discression is the better part of valor.

I haven't had any real run ins yet while waymarking, however I am conscious that they could happen and try to prepare for them. I also try to present myself in a casual manner. When people see me I want them to either think I am:
 1) an oddball tourist or
 2) an individual who is supposed to be taking the photo.

I have even taken out the orange vest of invisibility on a few occasions to give my photo taking an aura of authority.

 People in general are paranoind about cameras. If you take a photo in a manner that is unique you must be up to no good. This is often the perception of a concerned observer and especially of overzealous individuals in positions of authority.  If you are on public property you have the right to photograph just about any object. That is why I have a copy of "The Photographer’s Right" in my camera bag. Every serious waymarker should know what is allowed and what is not in regards to photo taking and this is a great resource for those who may find themselves in trouble for taking a photo of the local post office or city hall.

I try to avoid getting pictures of people as well. The way I handle it is this; I hold my camera in a visible "waiting position" and then I intentionally "look" like I am waiting for them to get out of the way. People usually notice and I mark it up to politeness when they move into another location and allow me to get the photo.

Several years ago BW (before waymarking) I accidentally got the participants of a drug transaction in my viewfinder. I hadn't taken a picture of them but they were upset and nervous and so was I.  I beat a hasty retreat and disappeared when the yelling and threat of pursuit became a possibility. I don't think my photographers right brochure would have helped in  that case. As always it is best to be cautious, considerate, and prepared for a confrontation if one arises. 

PS. Maybe JimmyEv needs to invest in an orange vest of invisibility too.

I always ask the person at the register when I take pictures inside a building. Lots of companies think you are a competitor trying to glean some business intelligence with your camera. You get in the same kind of trouble if you go into stores and start writing down prices of things.

Taking pictures of kids will also often get you in trouble. Unless you have a kid with you I'd avoid taking pictures of populated playgrounds.

It's true that you have certain rights as a photographer. However, don't be surprised if you are looked at as suspicious. You're taking unusual photos of things that normally don't get photographed, and considering all of the guilty consciences out there you may not know you're accidentally showing a cheating spouse in a photo!

The lower level of suspicion is one of the things I like best about waymarking.  Look, I just want to see the pretty fountain.  BW, it took a geocache to get me to that spot.  Does searching in the nearby bushes to sign a strip of paper in a bison capsule add much to that experience?  Not really... in several ways it detracts from it.  If I spend 10 minutes at that fountain for a geocache, four minutes will be spent searching and logging the cache, four will be spent trying not to look suspicious while muggles walk by, and two will be spent in pure admiration of the fountain.  If I'm there for waymarking and spend 10 minutes, the entire time is spent looking at the fountain and figuring out how to take the nicest set of photos that are possible.  I don't have to worry about giving away the cache location, and I don't have to wait impatiently until "the coast is clear," except for people to get out of my camera viewfinder.  I am enjoying and learning more about the places I visit.

Offhand, I can only think of two issues with waymarking that even begin to approach the dozen or so law enforcement and angry muggle encounters I've had while geocaching.  The first was when I went into an office building that's on the National Register of Historic Places, because I wanted to photograph the ten-story high circular atrium.  Problem was, the security guard desk was in the middle of the atrium.  So I asked if it would be OK to take pictures, and he asked why, and I said they were for a website that documents the National Register landmarks.  The guard was nice enough to call the building manager, who said if I wrote to him with details and the website checked out as non-commercial and legitimate, I could have a full tour of the building's interior.  I thanked the guard and left, and I may someday get in touch with the building manager directly.  It is a stunningly beautiful early 1900's office building.

And, a few weeks ago I actually walked away from the opportunity to waymark a Starbucks.  It was inside a Target store, right next to the cash registers and customer service desk, and lots of employees were watching me.  Recalling a forum post saying that pictures aren't allowed inside Target, I decided to leave without a waymark.  The vibes just didn't feel right, and I've walked away from many an urban geocache when I've had the same feeling.

geobwong2k:

Overall, I am paranoid. At least I do not go around straddling statues.

Discression is the better part of valor.

I also enjoy straddling Static Artillery Pieces.  Discretion is the worst roadblock to having FUN.

coinsandpins:

Note to self - do not go waymarking with JimmyEV.

  No doubt!  Maybe it's a Texas thing.  If people ask me, I often just talk about the website, but I've been known to make up stories too.  I told some skateboarders who asked why I was taking pictures of a sculpture that I was doing a survey of public art in Auburn (WA).  Anyone who knows the town of Auburn is probably spitting their coffee out laughing right now.  Let's just say it would be a VERY short survey.  So far I've only been questioned by kids who aren't afraid to question a stranger about weird behavior. 

I have been avoiding waymarking a firehouse because I figure I'll have to explain myself for that one.  I find that I  am more likely to waymark in categories where it would seem pretty natural to take photographs of the site/item - fountains, old buildings, sculptures, overlooks... That sort of thing.

the leprechauns:

The lower level of suspicion is one of the things I like best about waymarking.  Look, I just want to see the pretty fountain.  BW, it took a geocache to get me to that spot.  Does searching in the nearby bushes to sign a strip of paper in a bison capsule add much to that experience?  Not really... in several ways it detracts from it.  If I spend 10 minutes at that fountain for a geocache, four minutes will be spent searching and logging the cache, four will be spent trying not to look suspicious while muggles walk by, and two will be spent in pure admiration of the fountain.  If I'm there for waymarking and spend 10 minutes, the entire time is spent looking at the fountain and figuring out how to take the nicest set of photos that are possible.  I don't have to worry about giving away the cache location, and I don't have to wait impatiently until "the coast is clear," except for people to get out of my camera viewfinder.  I am enjoying and learning more about the places I visit.

I agree with Lep totally on this.  I have more positive contact with people while waymarking and at times welcome "muggles" as they often can give you information not available elsewhere.  I have had people ask why I was taking a picture of one building when the better building is across the street and will point out some detail of the building I would have missed.  The building across the street often is on my list and it great to get their input.  Also while taking pictures of an old convent in St. Louis, I had a conversation with an older lady about how great the day was for taking pictures and how wonderful the convent looked.  The older lady was an 80+ year old nun who had been in the order for 63 years.  She invited me in and brought be on a private tour of the entire convent explaining history as we walked. I have found most people like to talk about their buildings or sites especially if there is some history involved. 

You know what I love about the Waymarking Forums in the Groundspeak Portal???

It is all the things I am learning from you guys.  I have never considered actually talking to the people at the locations I've been to, instead I usually do my own research.  But after reading the benefits of interacting with the people at the locations, I will give this some serious consideration.  To be truthful I have talked to the people at two of my listings, but that represents less than one percent.

Thanks, yet again, for giving me something to consider that varies from my usual routine.

BQ

the leprechauns:

I also enjoy straddling Static Artillery Pieces.  Discretion is the worst roadblock to having FUN.

  LMAO!! 

the leprechauns:

geobwong2k:

Overall, I am paranoid. At least I do not go around straddling statues.

Discression is the better part of valor.

I also enjoy straddling Static Artillery Pieces.  Discretion is the worst roadblock to having FUN.

Wow, this is the biggest "Sit-by-me" statue that I have ever seen!

hikenutty:

the leprechauns:

I also enjoy straddling Static Artillery Pieces.  Discretion is the worst roadblock to having FUN.

  LMAO!! 

I heard the Lep was packing a "piece" but now I have a case of envy!

BQ

I haven't had anything negative like that.
A woman came out of the City of Euless offices when kaon and I were waymarking one of the Time Capsules and started quizzing us about geocaching in a friendly way.  We explained waymarking to her. Later I sent her an email with a link to the Time Capsule she "caught us" with. WMNWR

Oh, around Thanksgiving of 2006 I was on someone's front porch photographing the historical marker and the owner pulled up and said we were the first to stop and asked if we wanted a tour!  Unfortunately we couldn't take her up on the offer. WM11EE

Another, more recent historical marker was at a church. The marker was granite and hard to read so I was transcribing it using a notebook computer. I was sitting on the ground and the wife was reading it to me.  The pastor of the church came over and talked to us and gave us a brochure that had most of the info on it.  WM16EH

Note that I didn't explain waymarking to these last two...I just told them we were looking at historical markers.

It's this kind of story that made me decide to log a visit for each of my own waymarks.

I've avoided waymarking any government buildings for that reason.  I'll try to log a visit, if possible, if I visit, but I won't do the whole process on post offices or city halls. 

I'll do courthouse historical markers though.

You noticing a trend?  Historical Markers are good excuses!!!

I was kicked out of a target for taking a picture of a starbucks some guy just asks me to leave i ask why he says because i was taking pictures. I also was a t a local shopping center taking a picture of a fountain and some security guard drives his car and parks three feet away from me then follows me as i bike away until i left the area I think it can be intrerepted the wrong way

Apparently Lep is happy to see everybody

Yep, this can be a problem  I've only be hassled once about a geocache which happened to be near a school, supposedly with permisision, but evidently the message didn't get through to the security guard!

On the other hand, I've been questioned a lot about taking waymark photos.  I even had a policeman tell me that I couldn't take a picture of a restaraunt!  He wrote me up on a form -- just in case I popped up somewhere else or there was another complaint!  Very unnerving.

Usually, the problems arise at business places.  I never try explaining waymarking.  Usually I just pass it off as a tourist thing, or as my strange hobby.  With that one exception, this has always sufficed.  I've never been hassled at government places, but there are certain categories I probably will never do -- like military installations, nuclear plants.

I don't know, does waymarking have a disclaimer similar to geocaching.com?  We really should!

this can be a problem just recently i was gc and a security guard at a shopping center came out and said that he thought i was traficing drugs then i showed him the container and explained gc and he ended up saying he  might try it

Guess who I got a phone call from today!??!?!?!?

If you guessed the Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Police, or the police in general.... 10 points!


Apparently 3 weeks ago at 8:40am I stopped in a parking lot of a strip mall containing a SUBWAY restaurant to get the picture and coordinates.  Since SUBWAY doesn't open till mid morning around here, I thought nothing of it.

Fast forward to tonight at 5:00pm.  The phone rings and it's the police asking if I drive this, with license plate that and finally gets to "Did you take a picture....?" to which I proudly say "Yup, that's me!".  Well seems that the staff member was already inside and was concerned, even came out but I had already started to drive away {which I can certainly see how that would raise suspicion} and I didn't stop when she came out.  Honestly, I didn't see anyone and with the early hour didn't give it a second thought.

In fairness, I didn't need to get out of the car to take the image so I didn't.  Goes to show, when taking photos of things... take your time and be obvious.  If you rush, it looks like you are up to no good.

After a pleasant discussion with the police officer, we both agreed that it would be a good idea for me to stop in with some print outs for the owner of the SUBWAY.  The police officer was calling them back to explain what I was doing anyway, but since people in the future might actually visit the Waymark or that one owner may talk to another and so on... awareness is a good thing.

On the lighter side... try to picture my wife trying to figure out why I'm all chipper and chatty while talking with the police on the phone.  Yup, I was not about to contain my enthusiasm about what I consider a hobby.

BQ

BQ, only you would turn a call from the police into a way to preach waymarking!    I like your style.

 

If anyone gives me trouble, I just play stupid gringo. It works wonders.

When taking pictures in a train station in the UK, I got stopped by a transit police that told me that I was not allowed to take flash pictures.  Regular pictures were ok.

Made no sense to me, but I put the camera away and waited for the train. Well, had enough pictures anyway.

I was taking pictures of a historic fort and the security came and said no pictures were allowed.  I said, "umm....at a historic fort?"  It seems that the historic fort was owned by the state mental hospital next door and they considered it part of the hospital campus.  He waited there and made be delete all photos of the fort.  Luckily I have a 12x zoom and could take pictures from the road. It seems ridiculous because patients don't come to that part of the "campus" and the fort is billed as a tourist attraction.  What kind of tourist comes without a camera?  I just noted in the waymarks that any photos have to be taken from the street - no cameras on the premises.