Big Brother in Memorial Park

does anybody know how long those surveillance cameras have been up over near the duck pond?

are they really necessary? is there no privacy anywhere anymore?

Privacy and public places don't mix.

More than 5 years at least

Dang I thought this thread was about Janis Joplin's band

Speaking of Janis Joplin, I miss Scully's old avatar

Hate to be the one to tell you this but those turtles aint really turtles. Does the phrase amphibious animatronic paramilitary unit mean anything toy uo?

"toy uo" is obviously code. We can no longer trust Robert_Casotto.

arturosfan said:
does anybody know how long those surveillance cameras have been up over near the duck pond?
are they really necessary? is there no privacy anywhere anymore?

You're looking for privacy in a public park?

I assume it's PITA. They're monitoring the duck and turtle population to ensure no one is trying to take a turtle home with them.

Wow, rough crowd. You would think aurturosfan was a conservative from the disrespect he is getting.

Personally, I am of very mixed feelings about the proliferation of cameras in public spaces. I am also very aware of the reasons and incidents that led to the placement of these cameras and the ones in Maplecrest as they were discussed extensively at the time.

They might also have something to do with Tau - it was vandalized a couple of times in the past.

Really? There are cameras on Stoner Hill?

Last year a wackoman in the park told me the cameras were there so police can monitor and ticket people walking their dogs off leash. Ha! A number of people have been mugged in park / vicinity at night, if cameras aren't being monitored for that no doubt anyone at the police station gives a hoot about Fluffy meandering around free range.

Wackoman has earned his name, it appears.

those cameras have night vision?

Fluffy has been in the park?

arturosfan said:
are they really necessary? is there no privacy anywhere anymore?

They were placed there after the notorious "crip" gang took over MMS and started terrorizing the locals by writing on the walls of the bathroom stalls.

What kind of privacy are looking for? My general thought is that anything you wouldn't want seen by others (in person or on camera) is probably best suited for the privacy of your home. I doubt they're regularly monitored, probably just reviewed at random or following incidents of crime in the vicinity of the park. All to say, I could care less about them and if they help deter crime in the park, I'm all for it. Maybe they should extend to the bike stand at the train station.

Public does not equal private.

It is an oversimplification to equate "public space" with "space in which one is under constant surveilance."

arturosfan said:
does anybody know how long those surveillance cameras have been up over near the duck pond?
are they really necessary? is there no privacy anywhere anymore?

The town is trying to combat a growing problem of gang rape committed by mallard drakes.

http://www.enature.com/expert/expert_show_question.asp?questionID=22184

Robert_Casotto said:
there is simply no reasonable expectation of privacy in a public park. Hence the "public" park.

what do you mean by that exactly? you like being watched everywhere you go?

max_weisenfeld said:
It is an oversimplification to equate "public space" with "space in which one is under constant surveilance."

I agree. A recent episode of WNYC's Radiolab about the domestic civilian use of a ubiquitous surveillance technology developed for the war in Iraq explores this issue in an interesting way:

http://www.radiolab.org/story/eye-sky/

'...they figured out how to watch an entire city all at once, all day long. Whenever a bomb detonated, they could zoom onto that spot and then, because this eye in the sky had been there all along, they could scroll back in time and see - literally see - who planted it. After the war, Ross McNutt retired from the airforce, and brought this technology back home with him.'

arturosfan said:

Robert_Casotto said:
there is simply no reasonable expectation of privacy in a public park. Hence the "public" park.

what do you mean by that exactly? you like being watched everywhere you go?

It's not "everywhere I go". The cameras are places where they are for a reason, same as with those perched above streets. And no, I've no issue with it. I've nothing to hide from those entrusted with my safety.

I think you are the first on this thread to equate public space with constant surveillance. I don't think anyone here condones being constantly watched, however it's naïve to think your actions will always remain private while utilizing a public space.

max_weisenfeld said:
It is an oversimplification to equate "public space" with "space in which one is under constant surveilance."

If you are going out in public, it's best to always remember there's a good chance someone will see anything you do. The only place you are guaranteed privacy is in your own home. And, unless you live alone, not even there.

Tempest, meet teapot.

Of course, we could always ask what arturosfan wanted to do that the camera thwarted...

;-)

ctrzaska said:

arturosfan said:

Robert_Casotto said:
there is simply no reasonable expectation of privacy in a public park. Hence the "public" park.

what do you mean by that exactly? you like being watched everywhere you go?

It's not "everywhere I go". The cameras are places where they are for a reason, same as with those perched above streets. And no, I've no issue with it. I've nothing to hide from those entrusted with my safety.

some cameras you dont see . im sure you are being watched most of the time you leave your house

yahooyahoo said:
I think you are the first on this thread to equate public space with constant surveillance. I don't think anyone here condones being constantly watched, however it's naïve to think your actions will always remain private while utilizing a public space.

max_weisenfeld said:
It is an oversimplification to equate "public space" with "space in which one is under constant surveilance."

This thread is about cameras in public spaces, a new and growing phenomenon which I personally think has not been examined with sufficient diligence.

max_weisenfeld said:

yahooyahoo said:
I think you are the first on this thread to equate public space with constant surveillance. I don't think anyone here condones being constantly watched, however it's naïve to think your actions will always remain private while utilizing a public space.

max_weisenfeld said:
It is an oversimplification to equate "public space" with "space in which one is under constant surveilance."

This thread is about cameras in public spaces, a new and growing phenomenon which I personally think has not been examined with sufficient diligence.

But to focus on cameras operated by the police is to focus on just a fraction of the cameras out there. They are everywhere - police surveillance, private surveillance and a gazillion smart phones.