KnitWit: Rantings of a Rabid Knitter

Comment by Angela

July 4, 2006 @ 12:03 am

On Saturday you were my company on the long drive from my home to San Diego. We were almost there when we got to your episode when you apologized about the Fucking Guard episode and I got so upset I had to pull over and find a phone (but there were problems) then your new podcast is this. Sheesh. Carry. I love your podcast. *cookies cookies cookies* as Brenda would say. I’m so sorry that horrible woman did what she did to you with the photograph. Fuck her. I can’t believe she had the nerve/gall to get upset that you infringed upon her rights when… anyhow. You brightened my day Saturday and then on the remainder of my way home today. I love your podcast. ::hugs:: Keep up the good work.

Comment by ellen

July 4, 2006 @ 6:33 pm

Hi Carry,
when I heard your voice I knew right away that something was wrong. The weird thing is that I had just talked about taking pictures of other people with my husband. Years ago I went to a festival with my cutely dressed up baby. Several people took pictures of my son. It made me really uncomfortable because you never know what they do with them. As to you:
1. I liked the way you looked. I think it was a beautiful basket and I admired you for your idea to identify yourself with that flower. That was a brave thing to do!
2. If I had been sent a picture I would have assumed that this would allow me to post it. After all she did not send you a link with a copyright notice on her blog.
3. I think taking a picture of you, posting it and making fun of you is a much bigger offense than you posting it. She should have asked you for your permission!
I live in Canada and I do not know how they handle privacy here… But just yesterday they had pictures in the papers of young people urinating on the bottom of a war memorial. So I guess it is different here with criminals….
Please keep up your podcast. I enjoy it very much and I wish for you to enjoy it too!!!!

Comment by Liz

July 5, 2006 @ 8:24 am

Hi Carry,

I listen to you every week from England and I always enjoy your stories so I was mad to hear what had happened to one of my favourite podcasters. I agree with the other comments made. How dare that person do that?!

Can’t wait to hear the next episode of the story. Keep ‘em coming.

Lizzy x

Comment by Sherry W

July 5, 2006 @ 1:37 pm

This is a difficult issue. I think you have the right to ask someone to remove a photo of you. However, I’m not sure if I would want to insist that every blogger get written consent of someone in a public place. I frequently post pictures of random people in a park, ballgame, etc. I’m in favor of privacy, but not if it hinders free speech, artistic photography, etc.

I think the whole problem here is that she was making fun of you, not the photo. If she had posted a picture and gushed compliments, would you have still felt invaded? Perhaps that’s more of a slander issue then a privacy issue?

It opens up all kinds of other interesting questions too, like is a well known podcaster considered a ‘public figure’? Like a radio host, let’s say? I don’t know.

Comment by Kathy Gormley

July 6, 2006 @ 9:51 am

You were completely within your rights to tell her off for putting your pix on her website and then making fun of you. What gall! Then she gets upset when you tell her off. If she takes a picture of you she has to get a model release. You’re not movie star.
Chin up, kiddo. I love the podcast.

Comment by VIV

July 12, 2006 @ 2:19 am

I\’ve also often wondered about this privacy issue. I\’m not sure where I stand on it, though. I know I would feel very violated if my photo was published somewhere without my permission, especially if the comments about it were less than flattering. But realisticly, as you mentioned in the \’cast, in this age of digital cameras, phone cameras, survelleince cameras, etc. the chances of ending up in someone\’s photograph are pretty great. Would we have to ask permission of all the people in a crowd photo to post it publically? It must come down to how the picture is shown, similar to how cases of libel are argued.

In any case, I think you looked damn cute in that picture! Original and unique–and easy to find in a crowd! And I\’m enjoying your podcast more and more as you share your life with us. Thanks.

Comment by Arlene

August 21, 2007 @ 9:51 pm

I have to admit that I’m cautious about my photo being on-line (to the point of quasi-paranoia). My blog photo is of me…when I was 3. Good luck identifying me based on that. The only photo of someone else that I have, well I have 2 people. One is deceased & the other photo is just as out of date as my blog photo.

I also try to ask permission before taking someone’s photo (usually because they’re wearing some fantastic costume that I really admire). So I agree about the privacy issue.

Then I wonder about the art aspect. If I take a picture of a crowd scene? Or I catch someone in the shot that I’m taking of some natural wonder?

In a case like yours, Carry; it’s really obvious. Depending on what she said, it could qualify as libelous, and well, that’s illegal and actionable. Frankly, anything on line qualifies as published and should be treated as such.