Today was my father’s birthday. We (dad, sister and I) passed an arcade and I thought it would be a fun idea to go in and play some games. We saw some people playing an arcade game I’ve never seen before, where they face the machine and frantically hit things that light up on the screen (EDIT: they were NOT kids, either late teens or early 20s). Kind of like DDR but with arms. Four of them were doing it together, and there was a crowd of us behind them watching them do it. One of them was recording themselves. I’d never seen it before so I filmed a short clip (five seconds) of them, from where I was, ie behind them.
A white teenage girl came up to me and quite brashly asked if I’d gotten their permission before filming. I was surprised and said no, buts it’s just of their backs, they’re not identifiable, but I can ask them once they’re done. She said it’s not cool to film people without their permission. I said ok I’ll ask them when they’re done..
They finished their game, and I asked two of them, saying I’d filmed a short clip of them, was that ok? They said it was fine. The other two were in a conversation.
I walked back to my dad, the girl was watching me, I told her they were fine with it. She said what about the other two? I said I’d check with them once the were free.. a bit later, I asked the boys, they said they were fine with it.
I went back to the young girl and said they were all ok with it. I told her I understood her point however the way she went about it making it with me was pretty rude. I told her it was my dad’s birthday and she’d really ruined a nice moment for us. I said I understand she’s young, and white, and righteous but she does not need to be so bitchy about it and should be more mindful of how she comes across. Her schoolmates went “ooooooohhh” after I scolded her. I walked away.
I feel uncomfortable with this, but I can’t pinpoint why. Her tone, her stance, her whole demeanour was very in your face/righteous and rude however I’m a lot older and I realise I may have embarrassed her in front of her friends. I also understand her point, though to me it was an innocent capture of literally seconds of people who couldn’t be identified- I will certainly be more mindful in future.
AITAH ?
You started filming random people without their permission? You’re an asshole without me reading anything else
YTA
If you often find yourself filming random kids in public, you’re gonna have a lot more trouble in the future than one of them telling you to fuck off, tbh.
YTA
YTA, she was absolutely right, you do not film people without their permission, why did you need to film them, what were you going to do with it?
The girl spoke up. Good on her. Particularly if you’re an adult (you don’t say your age just youre a lot older) filming children you don’t know is absolutely not allowed.
If I was one of their parents I’d of called you out too.
If you are an adult, filming children without their parents consent for an unclear reason it’s got gross vibes all over.
YTA that’s creepy af
YTA.
You’re allowed to film people in public, thats just how that goes. But there’s no reason for you to engage in any kind of argument or debate with a teenager. Just tell them to mind their own business and walk away
I wouldn’t like to be filmed with out my permission. She was a bit nutty, you were a bit rude in filming w/o permission. What does the fact that she was white have to do with anything? Would it have changed the situation if she was another race? Or Martian? Don’t make everything about race.
Yta
So, you just randomly filmed people having fun in public? That is not ok. And why did you make it about her being white? What does her skin color have to do with it?
And as for ruining a nice moment, you decided to do something shitty. You could have just not done that and the moment would not be ruined. And then you blamed her for it.
YTA. Don’t film minors (or anyone, but especially minors) without their permission. What you did, while legal, was a major faux pas.
25 years ago it would have been seen as weird and creepy to film kids you don’t know at an arcade. Just because we walk around with cameras in our pockets doesn’t suddenly make it OK.
You didn’t “school” anyone. The girl was right, and I’m glad kids are being more careful about being filmed nowadays. That attitude should be encouraged!
>I said I understand she’s young, and white, and righteous but she does not need to be so bitchy about it and should be more mindful of how she comes across.
“Young, white, and righteous”? You seriously said that? Jesus Christ.
Edit: a word
Love the way you throw out the insult “young, white, and righteous”. What does being white have to do with it? You’re filming CHILDREN without their permission, who are significantly younger than yourself. This behavior would be seen as being problematic almost anywhere. The girl you spoke to may have been an older sister of one of the kids you filmed, and felt herself responsible for their safety. To her, you looked like a creep. To be honest, I agree with her. YTA.
YTA you foul racist weirdo filming kids.
I’m a black woman (just to let you know I’m a poc); what does her being white have to do with anything?
“White and righteous” 🙄
You’re either a troll, or one of the rudest people I’ve seen on here.
At any rate, you filmed someone without their consent, so…
YTA.
White (but def not righteous, lol) woman here, and I completely agree with your assessment. OP’s a rude (and creepy) AH. Or a troll.
Adding my own reason for AH judgement: You don’t film ***minors***, **period**, ***especially*** if you’re “a lot older” than them, and **not** related to them/**don’t** have their parents’ permission to film them.