I Still Can't Believe This

@WorDazza (15830)

Manchester, England

March 5, 2021 4:37pm CST

I was reminded of this particular incident while reading the swimming discussions recently posted by @JudyEv . About 15 years ago my son was taking part in a swimming gala for all of the regional boy scout troops. Everyone attending was asked not to take cameras into the pool area but our annoyance at this restriction was tempered somewhat when the photographer from the local newspaper arrived and informed us that they were doing a two page spread with loads of photos. A fine afternoon was had by all. The photographer was very active and seemed to be getting plenty of action shots and made sure he captured all of the medal presentations. Circulation of the next issue of the local rag probably doubled as everyone who'd been present at the swimming gala bought a copy only to discover not even a single column inch devoted to the event. The leader of my son's scout troop called the newspaper offices to enquire as to why they had led us down the garden path only to be told they hadn't sent a photographer to the gala and knew nothing about it. The police were called but to this day the phantom photographer has never been found. I can only hope karma has caught up with him.

13 people like this

13 responses

@JudyEv (338698)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Mar 21

Thanks for the mention but that's incredible. What did he hope to gain from the photos if he didn't sell them or whatever? Lots of others at our event had cameras and phones but we were the only ones allowed between the barricades and the pool edge. A newspaper guy (we think) turned up at some stage but only for half an hour or so. He was very curt to Vince but was taking names so I guess he was from a paper.

2 people like this

@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

6 Mar 21

I strongly suspect photos of youngsters in swimwear were for what you might call personal use!! The fact your guy was very curt and buggered off after half an hour would suggest he was a real journalist.

2 people like this

@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

6 Mar 21

@JudyEv You would expect someone in that line of work, dealing with people, to be somewhat more outgoing and conversational.

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@JudyEv (338698)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Mar 21

@WorDazza Yes, I think so. Vince just said 'hello, where are you from'. He said 'where are you from' and kept walking. Perhaps he found it confronting; expected an argument or something. Who would know?

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@CarolDM (203422)

• Nashville, Tennessee

5 Mar 21

Oh wow that is very scary. Too bad this happened.

2 people like this

@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

5 Mar 21

Just goes to show how easy it can be to fool people. I've been on my guard ever since though!

2 people like this

@CarolDM (203422)

• Nashville, Tennessee

5 Mar 21

@WorDazza This world is full of evil and crazy people. You do have to be so careful. Always.

2 people like this

@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

5 Mar 21

@CarolDM Very true. I really hate having to be suspicious of people but sadly we have no choice these days.

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@much2say (55350)

• Los Angeles, California

5 Mar 21

How strange! How crazy that someone was able to coordinate that

. Not cool

.

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@much2say (55350)

• Los Angeles, California

6 Mar 21

@WorDazza I wonder what was done with all the photos, if he had indeed even taken any photos (what a creep in any case).

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@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

5 Mar 21

You just don't expect somebody could be so blatant.

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@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

6 Mar 21

@much2say I must admit I just assumed he had added the photos to his sick collection. I never even thought he mightn't even be taking any and was just getting a kick out of being there.

2 people like this

@kaylachan (68559)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

5 Mar 21

I sure hope so, too. I would hate for someone to take advantage of a situation like that. That just seems wrong on all levels. Kind of creepy too when you think about it.

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@kaylachan (68559)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

6 Mar 21

@WorDazza People are getting bolder by the day.

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@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

6 Mar 21

Extremely creepy. Must have took some nerve though. He would have been in serious trouble if any one of us had discovered the truth. He'd have been hoping for the police to come and rescue him!

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@MALUSE (69373)

• Germany

5 Mar 21

This man was definitely a crazy attention seeker. At least there was no financial loss for any of you.

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@MALUSE (69373)

• Germany

6 Mar 21

@WorDazza Oh dear! I see that I'm too naive for this world. :-(

2 people like this

@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

6 Mar 21

@MALUSE Well when you don't think in that way yourself it's easy to attribute less sinister motives to the actions of others.

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@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

5 Mar 21

I don't think it was attention he was seeking. Photographs of children in swimwear is probably nearer the mark!!

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@DianneN (247186)

• United States

5 Mar 21

Holy moly! How bitter you must have felt! I didn’t have Judy’s talent, but took photos myself no matter the rules, Both my boys were on various swim teams. How cruel is that!?!

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@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

5 Mar 21

Just hope he got his comeuppance if he tried to pull that stunt again elsewhere.

2 people like this

@DianneN (247186)

• United States

5 Mar 21

@WorDazza It sounds so weird, but I believe in karma. What a freak!

2 people like this

@stephcjh (38473)

• United States

5 Mar 21

Oh my. That is terrible. I just do not know what is wrong with some people.

2 people like this

@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

5 Mar 21

When you consider how many people were there I'm amazed that we all fell for it.

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@Shavkat (139401)

• Philippines

6 Mar 21

If I were in this situation, I would be terrified.

2 people like this

@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

6 Mar 21

He would have been terrified if we'd realised what he was up to.

2 people like this

@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

15 Mar 21

Oh my, that beggars belief, especially as he could have had no financial gain from it.

2 people like this

@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

15 Mar 21

Indeed. We all suspected financial gain wasn't on his mind!!!

2 people like this

@RasmaSandra (79397)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

6 Mar 21

That is very interesting and yes, I do hope that he has got his due, Wonder what he wanted with those photos a scary thing to consider and I am glad nothing happened,

2 people like this

@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

6 Mar 21

We all tried not to think about where those photos might have ended up.

2 people like this

@Fleura (30172)

• United Kingdom

10 May 21

That is creepy - and also maddening that the organisers let him in and banned you all from taking photos so everyone ended up with nothing - I bet you were furious!

@Namelesss (3365)

• United States

6 Mar 21

That is really disturbing. I bet everyone learned to check credentials after that and what a bummer for the kids.

2 people like this

@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

6 Mar 21

We all told our kids that the newspaper just didn't have the column space for the story.

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@Deepizzaguy (102110)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

5 Mar 21

Do not panic since karma will come back to haunt the photographer. It is a fact of life.

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@WorDazza (15830)

• Manchester, England

5 Mar 21

Here's hoping. I strongly suspect, if he continued pulling that stunt, he would eventually be rumbled and would end up wishing he's been caught by the police first.

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@Deepizzaguy (102110)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

6 Mar 21

@WorDazza That is true.

2 people like this