I Lost. YAY!!!

I had my nicest camera strapped around my neck.  I had gone to a nearby park to gather photos of the landscape for a project I wanted in my portfolio.  As I got past a group of young men I heard some shouting, and finally realized it was directed at me.  I turned to see two of the young men rapidly approaching me from the opposite side of a railed walkway.  They stopped as they got near my side and one raised his voice again.

“I wanna know why you’re taking my picture.”

That hadn’t happened.  Legally, if you’re in a public place you’re fair game for a photographer, but that’s not my style.  It didn’t seem like there was time to explain all that to this guy, however.

I picked a tone of voice that sounded like I thought sneaking his picture would be a terrible thing to do to him.  I faced him squarely and gave him my full attention, as if he was the most important person in the world.  “I didn’t take your picture.”

“Yes, you did, I saw you point your camera right at me.”  That also hadn’t happened.  At this point he was moving back around to the far side of the railing.  I am pretty sure that drugs or alcohol were part of the equation here, so this was a good development.  He was backing away.  My camera and I were not likely to sustain any damage.

“You were taking my picture.  Don’t let it happen again.”  He turned as stalked back to his group of friends.  I guess he told me.

If you are keeping score, a confused, possibly violent young man and his sidekick came at me in a confrontational manner.  The situation diffused without any physical contact, and the incident was closed.

I let this guy have his say.  I didn’t cower, but I didn’t complicate the discussion or try to have the last word.  He walked away feeling he had enforced his will on me and vented his anger harmlessly.  I strategically lost an argument.  It was worth it.