1. I would definitely be a bit apprehensive (and say something) if someone were taking pictures of my children out in public. But, if someone wants to take pictures of his own children, that's his business. This dad even showed everyone his pictures. They should have left him alone.

Posted at 7:14PM on Jul 19th 2008 by Jenni

2. They don't call it "public" for no reason...if you are afraid to live your life, or afraid for your children (ie...paranoid) then DON'T go out in public!!! No, I don't think I would want someone snapping candids of my children, but for goodness sake, this man PROVED he was taking pictures of his OWN children! People, there are WAAYY more important things to make a fuss over!

Posted at 9:58PM on Jul 19th 2008 by roby

3. As another poster noted, everything on the street or beach is in the public domain and it is not against the law to photograph. It is just plain common courtesy, however, to ask persmission before taking a picture of other people or their children.

Posted at 2:22AM on Jul 20th 2008 by Bill

4. How sad , we have nothing better to do than sit , stand around & judge . I wonder how empty my photo albums would be If my Mom & DAD hadn't been allowed to take snapshots of fabulous friends & memories. NOW , I have to worry about filling up my son's photo albums with him & his Buddies, My nieces & nephews ..His prom date in the 8th grade ? His Graduation pics of him & his buddies....
Geez He's a sophmore now ...should I get him to sign a release form ? and have the parents of other kids sign it too ~!

GET A LIFE people.

Posted at 5:24AM on Jul 20th 2008 by Melanie

5. something tells me that if it was the mom taking a picture nobody would have said a word.... that my friends is sad.

Posted at 8:38PM on Jul 21st 2008 by Jim

6. what is wrong with everyone. A parent is taking photos of his children for many reasons none of which should be a problem or the business of anyone else. What has happened to our society that we drop our jaws and point fingers when a parent snaps a photo of their child. And you thought Big Brother was going to be a problem. We have turned into a group of raving lunatics.

Posted at 9:52PM on Jul 19th 2008 by debbie goldschmidt

7. That's just terrible. A parent should be able to take photos of their
own children out in public without being called a pervert. How embarrasing for the poor dad.

Posted at 9:56PM on Jul 19th 2008 by Karen

8. Anyone is allowed, by law, to take pictures and record anything that happens on public property. Anything. Celebrities, cars, kids, whatever they want. That's just the way it is.

Posted at 9:59PM on Jul 19th 2008 by SheriR

9. actually there are situations on public property where you're not allowed to record or photograph period, case in point, going over bridges ie the verrazano from long island to staten

Posted at 11:41PM on Jul 19th 2008 by angel

10. I'm so sick of hearing crap like this. Who's the real weirdo here? The parent who suspected him, what's going on in that person's mind? He's not sick, but the parent??? The jury is still out on that.

Posted at 9:59PM on Jul 19th 2008 by tigerlily

11. Anyone should be able to take pictures of their own children. Several times when my children were young and we were at disney I had some vistors from an Asian county want to take a picture of my kids. With them, first time I thought is strange but then was informed that is was just taking pictures of where they were and who was there.

Posted at 1:52AM on Jul 20th 2008 by Kay

12. i take pictures of my kids all the time in public places and not once was i accused of being anything but a loving mom who wanted memories thru pictures of my children growing up. I treasure those pictures as i look back thru the years. It just goes to show how times have changed but that dad was just being a dad taking pictures of his kids as he should be able to do without being questioned. What a terrible thing for someone to make more of this.

Posted at 10:00PM on Jul 19th 2008 by mindy

13. what has be come of family mento

Posted at 10:01PM on Jul 19th 2008 by anita

14. I feel bad for the dad and I know it's ridiculous, but honestly, the people that accused him of being a pervert probably didn't stop to think that maybe the guy was related to the kids he took pics of. They are wrong for jumping to conclusions BUT we live in a society where men are not expected to take care of their children. Think about it. They put diaper changing tables in women's restrooms but not men's. They talk about a "women's choice" for abortions, but not the guy's. If a woman were taking the pictures, I bet people would have assumed she was their mother and no one would have stopped her.

Posted at 10:16PM on Jul 19th 2008 by Kim

15. kim i don't know how many mens rooms you jave been in but they do have changing tables in them

Posted at 1:03AM on Jul 20th 2008 by mark

16. Kim, I can tell you've not been in many men's restrooms. Diaper changing tables are prolifertate in public places. Walmart has them as do most travel plazas on the interstate, as well as large dept stores, grocery stores, public facilities in malls, etc, etc etc. Ask your husband or boyfriend.

Posted at 1:15AM on Jul 20th 2008 by txarmadillo123

17. kim,
alot of men, most in fact take care of their kids, I take mine to the park and such, all the time...and there are changing tables in most mens rooms as well..??? siily comment kim

Posted at 5:50AM on Jul 20th 2008 by robert

18. As a widowed father of three small kids, I'm totally offended by your assumptions that dads don't take care of their children. While there are places that don't have change tables in men's rooms, that is an effect of bad planning by the builder, and not a reflection of fathers.

In my city, I'm constantly finding places that don't cater to single fathers. For example, try to find a gym that has free play areas for children. All the gyms I could find are "women only".

When I take my kids out, there's always one person who asks me "Oh, babysitting day for daddy, is it?" I'm not a babysitter, I'm a parent, and should be respected as such.

Posted at 8:36AM on Jul 20th 2008 by Paul Cyopick

19. I didn't mean to say that dads don't actually care of their children! Only that society doesn't expect them to. I didn't know that men's restrooms were updated recently over the last few years, but there used to be a time when they hardly ever put diaper changing tables in there. I'm glad architects have caught up since then. My mistake! Sorry, didn't mean to offend the caring dads out there. But you guys can at least agree with me that if a woman were taking the pictures, they would have just assumed she was the mother, eh?

Posted at 1:37PM on Jul 20th 2008 by Kim

20. It's hard to know what to do in a case like this. I think the others acted inappropriately by attacking the parent taking pictures of his children. If I felt uncomfortable in that situation with my own grandchildren (our daughter is grown) I would stand in front of my grandchildren blocking them from the camera but not blocking the photographer from taking pictures of his kids. I may even ask him to wait until we could leave the scene. However, the important thing to remember is that when adults are in the presence of children they must do everything to avoid upsetting the children or setting a bad example. If you don't want your children photographed inadvertently by someone else take you kids and leave if nothing else works.

Posted at 10:26PM on Jul 19th 2008 by mjtlewellen