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Privacy of Photos on the Internet

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BeastxInxRepose
S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W
BeastxInxRepose
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March 8th, 2009 at 11:46pm
I've seen this argument crop up now, several times in the Media Forum, so I figured I bring it over here instead.

I don't know about the other threads, but especially in the Gerard Pics thread, there's been a disagreement over the posting of pics of the Ways (and other band members and "personal" photos) of them. There have also been pics posted of the band with some young children.

Most of these pictures are initially found on either Buzznet or through Facebook/MySpace.

Do you think once these pictures are posted, even on one website, they're completely fair game for everyone else in the world to re-post willy-nilly at their own will? Especially with personal pictures (baby pictures, proms/weddings/drivers licenses, etc.). Do the same rules apply to pictures with other young children in them? Is there a line of discretion? Should such pictures only be posted with permission from the original poster? What about personal responsibility to not allow such photos to be leaked further?
girl interrupted.
Salute You in Your Grave
girl interrupted.
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March 12th, 2009 at 04:32pm

well, i think that when people upload any type of pictures, they already know that, as much as it would be nice to ask permission,
many people aren't going to, and they're kinda letting themselves in for it. if they are that bothered about people taking their photos,
they shouldn't upload them. or they could even use Paint to put their name in the corner, it's not exactly hard.

reposters should ask permission, yes. but they don't, and in all honesty, i don't think that's going to change.
make some noise;
Jazz Hands
make some noise;
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March 19th, 2009 at 10:28am
^ Agreed.
Tallulah
Admin
Tallulah
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March 19th, 2009 at 06:07pm
please expand on your opinion. It's not enough to simply agree with a comment. Check the rules. Thanks.
Incognito.
Bleeding on the Floor
Incognito.
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March 31st, 2009 at 04:08am
If you're going to upload a picture, especially if it's with a celebrity then of course people are going to copy it. I think I have atleast four pictures of Randoms with members of the band.
as for the personal photos of the members, i geuss if theyre on the web it's not like theyre entirely private is it. Basically if you upload anything to the net you can't get pissed at people copying it
Mindfuck
Always Born a Crime
Mindfuck
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March 31st, 2009 at 11:44am
I believe that once you post something on the internet then it's fair game. Even if it's a copyrighted image, for example. I mean, people copyright pictures on Flickr all the time, but people still use them all over the place.
If someone has a photo of Gerard with some small child then let them post it if they feel like it. I don't see why people get in such a huff about these things.

If you post a picture of Gerard Way on Buzznet publicly, then you should prepare for it to be spread like wildfire. And if you're not prepared for that happening then you're incredibly naive about the internet.
Person0001
Always Born a Crime
Person0001
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April 1st, 2009 at 01:56pm
Mindfuck:
I believe that once you post something on the internet then it's fair game. If you post a picture of Gerard Way on Buzznet publicly, then you should prepare for it to be spread like wildfire. And if you're not prepared for that happening then you're incredibly naive about the internet.
Yeah, but what if the person who posted the picture wasn't authorized to do so?
Mindfuck
Always Born a Crime
Mindfuck
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April 3rd, 2009 at 02:49am
^But how are we supposed to know that? If a picture of Gerard pops up on Buzznet from a random user and then it's posted on INO, how are we supposed to know the origin of it? We don't most of the time. We don't know if the person was "authorised" to or not.
Person0001
Always Born a Crime
Person0001
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April 3rd, 2009 at 11:07am
Mindfuck:
If a picture of Gerard pops up on Buzznet from a random user and then it's posted on INO, how are we supposed to know the origin of it? We don't most of the time. We don't know if the person was "authorised" to or not.
True, but if the picture looks extremely candid and personal, bets are that it was stolen from someplace. Sometimes the poster admits that as well. I just hate buzznet LOL
jules
Bleeding on the Floor
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April 3rd, 2009 at 02:03pm
I actually took down many a pic pf meeting bands or candid's because a friend of a friend "borrowed" to show their pals.

I honestly believe unless it is public, and no I do not believe private myspaces are public, it isn't fair game. Scott's wife's page was not fair game. Pictures of the guys as kids or their parent's home is not fair game. Pictures of Grandma Elena are not fair game. And pictures of mini gee shouldn't be fair game.
Tallulah
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Tallulah
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April 3rd, 2009 at 03:51pm
The problem is that a lot of candid photos of MCR are actually leaked by the band themselves or their close family. I know of at least 4 or 5 occasions when one of the band members themselves allowed pictures to be public property. If the band or other people in that matter are so offended by the matter they would take action against the sites that advocate those photos being published.
jules
Bleeding on the Floor
jules
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April 4th, 2009 at 10:33am
Valid points! But alot of times the individuals doing it are preteen or teen girls and I don't think any celeb wants to be perceived as attacking their fanbase.

My issue is when there isn't a leak, permission, or even the realization that putting up the Christmas pics for family and friends to see will result in having your family holiday blasted all over buzznet. Sometimes, that celeb is just a family member or friend that happened to be in the picture.

My frustration is directed at the Ashlee's of the world, who troll through myspace pages until they find the gem of Gerard, age 6 on Christmas morning with Nonna or going to someone's blog and taking their pics and passing them off as their own.

Or who lurk behind shelves at the Walmart to take pictures of Lin and Gerard shopping for groceries. But that's a whole 'nother topic.

I think the argument becomes a moot point if the celeb or the friend sanctions or leaks it knowingly.

To me, there are 3 separate and yet intertwined issues at play here:

1) Whether you believe that anything you place on the internet is public and fair game.
2) Whether or not you believe that because someone becomes a celebrity, anything they are involved in becomes fair game.
3) With the freedom and lack of control of content on the internet, what is the younger fan's perception of privacy?

I think this is an interesting discussion and very relevant as we are now a world completely immersed in the electronic medium.
deafening_silence
Thinking Happy Thoughts
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April 4th, 2009 at 02:38pm
The instance with the child and Frank. I remember the circumstance about that. Basically, the lady posted the picture on a website to show her friends and family. Yes, she shouldn’t have posted the pic if she didn’t want it floating out in the interweb. But, after it was posted elsewhere, she made an honest plea to have the picture removed from this site as well as other sites. That was her son in that pic and as a parent, she wanted the picture deleted for her own child’s protection. The child was underage and the request was from the child’s mother. The request should have been honored. Instead, people tried to defend their actions. While it was a mistake to post the picture instead of sending it via email to trusted persons, her request should have been honored immediately.

I disagree with the posting of personal pictures. Pictures of the guys taken prior to their MCR days (prom pics, school pics, license pics, etc) should not be posted. Pictures taken in their homes, family homes, with loved ones (without their knowledge) etc, are not open to posting either. I’ve come across some, and when I see them posted, I cringe. Unless they release the photos, (LOTMS) pics were released to the public, private pics are not open to posting.

And a lot of people don’t respect the person who actually took the pictures. The example I think of is this pic. Image
I’ve seen three versions of this picture. One as it was originally posted by the photographer. One where the photographer’s name was cropped out. And the worst was one where the photographer’s name was deliberately removed and someone decided to add their tag to it, right in the middle. I don’t understand the thinking behind that last one. I would love to post some pics I’ve taken of the guys at concerts but I don’t want them stolen. I don’t want someone removing my tag and claiming them as their own. This is why I don’t post my pics. In fact, as just a trial effort, I posted a pic of matt cortez from a show last year. Someone decided to take it, remove my tag and write crap all over it. It won’t happen again, if I can help it.

To address jules points:
1. Not everything I post on a website is fair game. But knowing things are going to be taken regardless of my blatantly stated whishes, I won’t share photos with the general public. But, if I were a professional photographer, I would also only post pictures on a website that were meant to be distributed.

2. Just because someone is a celeb, doesn’t mean their entire life is open to the public. They have every right to lead a quite life if they want. Their celebrity should be treated like a job, IMHO.

3. It just seems there is a total lack of respect for some celebs. I’m not a younger fan, but from what I can see, there is a false sense of entitlement with artists and musicians, especially.

Someone younger, please answer Jules third question. I would really like to understand.
John St. John
Shotgun Sinner
John St. John
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April 4th, 2009 at 05:07pm
To answer jules questions:
1) Whether you believe that anything you place on the internet is public and fair game.

Yes i do, you'd have to be pretty stupid not to realise that if you post a picture on the internet it will be viewed and shared. It happens, the internet is a public place, if you dont like it then you shouldn't make the choice to post it. I mean it's not like anyone forces you to post.

2) Whether or not you believe that because someone becomes a celebrity, anything they are involved in becomes fair game.
Unfortunatly though this comes with the territory, Celebrities should expect it.

3) With the freedom and lack of control of content on the internet, what is the younger fan's perception of privacy?
I pretty much answered this in the first question

Also,

Quote
2. Just because someone is a celeb, doesn’t mean their entire life is open to the public. They have every right to lead a quite life if they want. Their celebrity should be treated like a job, IMHO.


The word celebrity simply means someone who is in the public eye, or a household name ect. The core job may not involve appearing in pictures, living your life in the public eye ect, however this is a part of the job. They wouldn't be celebrities otherwise.
Person0001
Always Born a Crime
Person0001
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April 6th, 2009 at 10:43am
I stand on the position that just because something CAN be done or said doesn't mean it SHOULD be. People need to use their own discretion before taking any action - they shouldn't need a law to prevent them from doing something questionable.
Just Steph...
Motor Baby
Just Steph...
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April 6th, 2009 at 03:23pm
Nothing on the internet is private.
If you don't want it floating around, don't upload it. Simple.
deafening_silence
Thinking Happy Thoughts
deafening_silence
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April 6th, 2009 at 09:24pm
John St. John:
To answer jules questions:
1) Yes i do, you'd have to be pretty stupid not to realise that if you post a picture on the internet it will be viewed and shared. It happens, the internet is a public place, if you dont like it then you shouldn't make the choice to post it. I mean it's not like anyone forces you to post.

1. you're right. no one forces you to post it. just like no one forces you to steal it either. you choose to ignore the wishes of the original poster. you choose not to honor or respect the photographer or their blatantly stated wishes. look, posting a pic on a public website, is free game for posting, saving, etc, and it's usually with the poster's blessing. i say that due to the photographer's name written somewhere on the pic. but if the poster clearly states, do not repost, then respect their wishes. it's really simple and straight forward.
Quote
2) Unfortunately though this comes with the territory, Celebrities should expect it.
celebs probably expected it when they are working. but they shouldn't expect it while in an intimate moment with friends and family. they are not trained monkeys that perform on command. giving someone a little respect, be it a celeb or joe off the street, is not too much to ask. or is it? sure, they are probably going to used to being hassled while they are in a book store. but one should question their timing if they want to disturb someone while they are just living their life.
Quote
3) With the freedom and lack of control of content on the internet, what is the younger fan's perception of privacy?
I pretty much answered this in the first question

celebrity = no privacy, is that right? to me, it seems like the false sense of entitlement i was referring to earlier.
Quote
Also,

The word celebrity simply means someone who is in the public eye, or a household name etc. The core job may not involve appearing in pictures, living your life in the public eye etc, however this is a part of the job. They wouldn't be celebrities otherwise.

true, being a celeb does mean a good portion of your life is exposed. but it doesn't mean every second of everyday is open. we working folks are lucky enough to actually "clock"out of our jobs and go home. what i do on my time is my business. you don't think celebs should have the same opportunity? don't they have the right to have some type of privacy in their lives? a lot of times, celebrity isn't something they fight for or work for. it comes to them. it's part of the fall out from being a working artist. of course, there are exceptions.
jules
Bleeding on the Floor
jules
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April 7th, 2009 at 02:04pm
Hypo: Lin and Gee have just had mini gee. Lin's sister takes a pic to show the family. Everyone is on facebook, so it is easier to share the pic that way. She posts it on her facebook, which is friends only. Ashlee, who is not a friend of Lin's sister or anyone in the family, but a fan of one of the bands, has somehow found Lin's sister's page via trolling through friend lists of Lin's niece, i.e. finds the connection, etc... She is aware the facebook is friend's only, i.e. private, and that Lin's sister has even asked those who are on her friend list to not repost. Ashlee posts the picture to buzznet. She is asked to take it down, but refuses saying it was on the internet, if Lin's sister didn't want it shared, she shouldn't have posted it, and that it is too late to stop the spread, so it isn't her problem.

Incidentally, Nurse, who knows who Gerard and/or Lin is via her kid, takes a picture of mini gee in the nursery, without anyone's consent or knowledge, and posts the same to her myspace page, which is also private. The pictures of mini gee are then reposted by Nurse's daughter and her friends. (Leave out the serious legal issues for Nurse.)

Based on many of the responses, in both cases many of you believe that both situations are the same and that in both cases, the picture is fair game because:

1) it was posted on the internet and hey, you didn't do, so why can't you repost?
2) Gerard and Lin are celebrities and the baby is an extension of them, therefore all 3 have lost any right to privacy.
3)Lin's sister should know that despite the fact she only wants to share with her friends and family, she posted it on the internet and she is Lin's sister, and Lin is married to Gerard and they are celebrities so through that association, she has no privacy rights as well and she committed the sin of posting the pic on her facebook, thus the picture is up for grabs.
Just Steph...
Motor Baby
Just Steph...
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April 7th, 2009 at 02:08pm
You can share a picture with friends and family without putting it on the internet.
jules
Bleeding on the Floor
jules
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April 7th, 2009 at 02:12pm
That wasn't even remotely the question. Yup you can, but you can also share a picture with your family and friends on facebook and myspace.