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Trip reports/photos should they be allowed?
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Posted by: too_tall

I filed a trip Report Trippin in St Pete

I took a number of pictures and wrote about my experiences and my observations. In doing so there are some who think I violated the rights of others or even the law. I have created this thread to discuss the pros and cons of these trip reports even though we are writing about others besides ourselves without their permission and taking photos (with their permission) and then putting those photos in a public forum like this without specifically getting permission to put these photo in a public forum.

I thought it would be a good idea to discuss it here and in detail rather than have a debate in the middle of my trip report or every trip report that comes down the pike.

Now just to make things interesting (to me Im twisted) I am going to add a poll if I can figure out how

Bill

Posted by: I/O

Having followed to some extent the authors trip report here and elsewhere, I happen to like the fairly open and honest way he has gone about it.

However in general terms (Nothing angled at the author of this thread specifically) I think it is a bit crass to post photos of other people you don't know very well in an individual situation period. Of course is is personal choice and all are different in their thinking. As regards to legallity, it is beyond my field of expertise.

Another side factor which many don't consider is this. There is a good chance at a later time of finding a partner, are you really keen for her to find information here with a list and photos of every woman you have met whilst travelling. She might laugh and she might not. Lots of Russian girls spend a lot of time surfing. You'll be surprised what they find.

The internet is a much smaller world than some imagine. Food for thought........

Posted by: too_tall

For the purposes of tact (not what is legal and what is not)

I voted 7 which is a combination of 1,5 , 6

I tried in my trip report to obscure the identity that I wrote about and I tried to obscure the identities in the photos by painting over the eyes.

I was given permission to take these photos. But I was not given specific permission to post these photos on a public forum.

I am NOT a lawyer and don't pretend to know the law. I do know that magazines like the National Enquirer, people magazine and a multitude of others would not be in business if they had obtained permission for each of their photos they publish.

I am positive that Princess Di did not give permission to print a photo of her preggers in a bikini taking a dip in a lake on private property. I am also sure that Britney Speers did not give permission to paste her muffler sans hair all over the internet.

Did I bring up enough to encourage spirited debate without calling each other names?

Bill

Posted by: sidney

With all the web cams in operation there are probably few of us here in the US that haven't had our photo on the internet.
Sid

Posted by: Seaview

Quote:

I assure you that unathorized publication of pics even on the web can be acknowledged a violation of privacy. Yes, thousands of people do that but they do not reveal their names and full identity as you do. Think about it.

It probably needs clarification.

I appreciate that you didn't post girls's names, adresses and phone numbers here.

I mean that people that post pics of other people without their permission usually don't post their own pictures side by side.

So it's actually impossible to find an author of the pic and therefore impossible to sue him (her).

Anyway, there are not too many cases when ordinary people managed to win in court claiming that their privacy was violated. What I can recall... (Peck v UK, 2003). The guy received more than £7,000 compensation from his local council because they gave the media organizations his CCTV footage .

So it's not the question of law obedience, to be honest, just the question of tact.

Posted by: too_tall

I wasn't going to file a trip report at all and certainly not with photos. But I have gained so much by these forums I thought after 5 trips I would let share some of my observations with others like the people before had done with me.

I did disguise the names of those involved and most likely should have left it at that. With some prodding I put out some photos with the eyes missing. I tried to make it difficult to figure out the identity of those that were in the picture except for myself.

I can't most likely put the genie back in the bottle.

My previous entry on this thread was to encourage a debate on this issue and not specifically what I did. But what I did is of course open for debate.

My two kopeks

Bill

Posted by: Seaview

Quote:

Originally Posted by too_tall

I wasn't going to file a trip report at all and certainly not with photos. But I have gained so much by these forums I thought after 5 trips I would let share some of my observations with others like the people before had done with me.

I did disguise the names of those involved and most likely should have left it at that. With some prodding I put out some photos with the eyes missing. I tried to make it difficult to figure out the identity of those that were in the picture except for myself.

I can't most likely put the genie back in the bottle.

My previous entry on this thread was to encourage a debate on this issue and not specifically what I did. But what I did is of course open for debate.

My two kopeks

Bill

Bill, I am very sorry if I distressed you.

I think your trip report IS very informative and gives a lot of info to other guys. I personally can hardly imagine going out with three guys in one day

, but it's another side of the story. We are all different.

But, please, be careful with posting pics of girls. At least, make sure you "blur" or "cut out" a bigger part of their faces.

Good luck in your search.
Have a nice time in St. Petersburg

Posted by: Seaview

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidney

With all the web cams in operation there are probably few of us here in the US that haven't had our photo on the internet.
Sid

True.

But it depends on the context. The pic of you on the internet is not a problem.

The pic of you cuddling with an unknown Russian lady on Russian website (witty detailed trip report attached), potentially available for your Russian wife (girlfriend) might change your opinion a bit.

Posted by: Dave_N_Elvira

Issue I would see here is some of these ladies may be talking to other men. If one of these ladies had been talking to someone else for a few months and the agency pressured her into meeting you, how would you think she would feel if the other man saw her photo with you on the internet and gave her the third degree about it. I believe you mention you had been involved in such a scenario already.

Times I believe posting ladies photos are ok is:
a) When you have questions about the ladies integrity or suspect she is a scammer. By plastering her face all over the internet it warns potential victims.
b) When you know your relationship is definitive. For example I didn�t show any pictures of Elvira after my second trip publicly. Only people who saw her photo were close friends. Although I knew she was the right lady for me I held off posting any photos until after the third trip when we got engaged.
c) Anything with cockatoos LOL!

Posted by: Seaview

This post disappeared for some reason, so I post it again.

Hi, Too Tall.

As a Russian woman I was furious to see these pics. THese girls hope to meet a life partner. Their potential life partner (not you, obviously) might go to RMP to get some info about RW-WM relationship... All guys are different. Some of them do accept a situation that we also meet other guys trying to make a choice, some not. You can make two people unhappy just for the sake of fun and nice trip report. Do you really want it?

As a media manager, I assure you that unathorized publication of pics even on the web can be acknowledged a violation of privacy. Yes, thousands of people do that but they do not reveal their names and full identity as you do. Think about it. I don't have anything against your report - it is really cool, a lot of funny observations, very well written, by the way. But you should make pics TOTALLY unrecognizable. In this case, you won't hurt anybody and you will be within the limits of lawful behaviour.

Did you inform the girls, you were going to put their pics on the web? I doubt it.

One more point. When you, guys, post here a pic of a girl from a dating site without her permission (suspecting her of scam or just sharing a pic) it's ok, because she already agreed to make it public. But it doesn't refer to her other pics that she might sent you later on "for your eyes only".

Unathorized celebrity pics is an entirely different story. You don't want to read a thesis on privacy law, do you?

THank you

Posted by: Jerico

Well I think if the women let you take thier pictures with you you can show them to anybody you want or post them IMHO
I mean you didn`t just take pictures of them walking around on the streets.
They came to meet you for dinner or whatever.
If they didn`t want thier pictures taken they should of said something.
Its not like they are provocative pics or something.
They seem like normal friendly pictures.

As for copyright laws on pictures of Russian women?
I wouldn`t be to worried about that when i can walk the streets of Moscow and buy any windows program or movie DVD on any corner and the movie has just hit the theaters in the USA.

Just my 2 kopecks
Jerry

Posted by: too_tall

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaview

Bill, I am very sorry if I distressed you.

I think your trip report IS very informative and gives a lot of info to other guys. I personally can hardly imagine going out with three guys in one day

Seaview you have a good point, I tried to obscure the pictures but possibly not enough. Don't worry about distressing me, I did this and can face any music if so required. I am not a photo expert and dont know how to blur the faces. I put the picture in microsoft paint and using the eraser feature erased the area around their eyes.

The part about Princess Diana and others was to encourage debate and maybe bring up some other ideas and issues that might not have been brought up otherwise.

Maybe at the end of this we can come up with some ideas that will be beneficial to future reports.

Take care,

Bill

Posted by: Cheburashka

Good grief!!!! Write the reports Post the pics!

Posted by: mistermopar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheburashka

Good grief!!!! Write the reports Post the pics!

Well put Cheb.

Hey...if you are going to start about pictures in your trip reports,then you might as well do the same thing when you think about posting a pic of a scammer or anything else.

I always post photos with my reports and have never had anyone say a bad word about it,only possative comments.

Randy

Posted by: firemansam

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaview

This post disappeared for some reason, so I post it again.

Hi, Too Tall.

As a Russian woman I was furious to see these pics. THese girls hope to meet a life partner.

There should be a "most" or "mostly" in there somewhere because as reported, one of these lasses was well and truly married and was just looking to get her rocks off with a stranger.....

Posted by: cedarwind

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheburashka

Good grief!!!! Write the reports Post the pics!

AMEN,

Posted by: clark

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaview

This post disappeared for some reason, so I post it again.

Hi, Too Tall.

As a Russian woman I was furious to see these pics. THese girls hope to meet a life partner. Their potential life partner (not you, obviously) might go to RMP to get some info about RW-WM relationship... All guys are different. Some of them do accept a situation that we also meet other guys trying to make a choice, some not. You can make two people unhappy just for the sake of fun and nice trip report. Do you really want it?

As a media manager, I assure you that unathorized publication of pics even on the web can be acknowledged a violation of privacy. Yes, thousands of people do that but they do not reveal their names and full identity as you do. Think about it. I don't have anything against your report - it is really cool, a lot of funny observations, very well written, by the way. But you should make pics TOTALLY unrecognizable. In this case, you won't hurt anybody and you will be within the limits of lawful behaviour.

Did you inform the girls, you were going to put their pics on the web? I doubt it.

One more point. When you, guys, post here a pic of a girl from a dating site without her permission (suspecting her of scam or just sharing a pic) it's ok, because she already agreed to make it public. But it doesn't refer to her other pics that she might sent you later on "for your eyes only".

Unathorized celebrity pics is an entirely different story. You don't want to read a thesis on privacy law, do you?

THank you

I have to disagree with you Seaview. This is an area that I am also familiar. I am not familiar with any kind of differences in international law but in America one's permission is not required to either take, post or publish their picture or likeness. Whether it falls within the guidelines of ethics or "good taste" would be subjective. As americans our pictures are taken many times a day just by walking down the street or entering a grocery store or using an ATM machine. None of these require permission and is sole property of the person/company actually taking the picture.

This thread could go on and on about what is "right" or "ethical" but the bottomline line is "legally".

Legally, if Too Tall took the pictures they are his to do with as he chooses.

Morally or ethically, if one posed for Too Tall's photos, it is a reasonable assumption that they approved of the photo. Unfortunately they have no imput other than what Too Tall allows them to have.

Further, should Too Tall decide he wishes to post photos he owns to help tell his story, whether it is on the internet, published in a book or the daily newspaper, approval from subjects in the photos is not required.

Legal civil suits can be filed, but rarely ever win. A "release' is normally used as a waiver to prevent law suits from being filed and thus protecting the owner from legal expense.

Too Tall, if you wish to post your photos you may do so without approval from anyone.

Posted by: bushman

Bill

You mentioned in a couple of your posts about the trouble it caused you when you were identified by somebody. I think it is bit of a "voyeur" approach to show pictures of all the girls you date, particularly if they are not aware they wil lappear on the net.
I feel that the trip details, which are very good by the way, are adequate without any photos, but no harm if the girls have agreed.
If you found your future wife's photo and details of one her previous liaisons appearing in someone else's trip how would you feel?

On another site, there is someone who just takes photos of girls on the street that he sees on his trips to Russia, very strange!

Posted by: Cheburashka

Quote:

Originally Posted by bushman

If you found your future wife's photo and details of one her previous liaisons appearing in someone else's trip how would you feel?

I would feel like she is a woman with a past history. So what? Many of the ladies on Russian dating sites have been married before. I am sure they probably had sex with their husbands. They have a past which includes photos of themselves with other love interests. And I am secure enough in myself and my own manhood to not be intimidated by what any lady that I love might have done with other men.

Those photos were not coerced or taken secretly by spy cam. They were posed, staged, and done in full agreement of the ladies.

They do not show the ladies in any uncompromising positions. There is no nudity or any action that might come back to shame the ladies. In fact, I think they make each and every one of the ladies photographed look beautiful, fun, sexy, and sweet. I can't see anything that could bring anger or shame to any of the ladies in those photographs.

And lastly, they are not posted on a porn site or a site that is sleazy. Our site is professionally done, has a stellar reputation, and is a site about relationships with people is FSU. Why would anybody from a dating site in Russia object about their pictures be posted on a site where men frequent and subscribe to dating sites in Russia?

I pray that all of those ladies find a man who can love them for who they are and not who they have dated. It is what type of person they are which should speak volumes to future mates, not what clubs they were photographed in. May the shallow deluded men who want to believe they are virginal door mats just to satisfy their low self esteems stay as far away from them as possible.

Posted by: mistermopar

The RMP has a photo gallery and people never say anything about posting photos in there,so why would posting photos in a trip report be any differant.

Randy

P.S. I hope Bert dosn't mind me posting his pic here.LOL

Posted by: too_tall

In each of the posts everyone fails to note that I removed their eyes which is their most easily recognizable feature. Those who had photos on marriage agencies were glamor type shots and their hair and makeup, lighting and other features were quite different. In many of the photos the woman is also bundled up further obscuring identifying characteristics.

I do not want to encourage anyone to try to figure out who each woman is, but I did try to protect their identity to a point.

I am not confidant at all that years later if these girls get married to someone that it would be easy for someone to see their wife is with me, and if she was we were simply posing for a picture. I put my arm around friends, girl friends men and women alike when taking photos. Having my arm around someone (especially a man) does not indicate anything except we had a photo taken.

just my two kopecks,

Bill

Posted by: clark

Cheb I agree with your assessment 100%. These ladies (or most) have photos already posted on the internet for the purpose of meeting prospective mates. Their picture being posted here would for all intense purposes futher their cause. These particular ones Too Tall has posted with the eyes whited-out takes on an aire of sleeze BECAUSE they are whited-out.

They are photos of a meeting for Chrissakes. No nudity, no oral or double anal. Just a meeting of two people. Should such a picture offend the lady she shouldn't have permitted it to be taken. Also, if it offends a prospective future husband, he'd do well to get a grip on the reality of the situation. It's highly likely she's met many more men that she didn't pose for a photo with.

Posted by: Jerico

Quote:

Well put Cheb

Quote:

P.S. I hope Bert dosn't mind me posting his pic here.LOL

Hehehe to funny Randy

Jerry

Posted by: clark

Quote:

Originally Posted by too_tall

In each of the posts everyone fails to note that I removed their eyes which is their most easily recognizable feature. Those who had photos on marriage agencies were glamor type shots and their hair and makeup, lighting and other features were quite different. In many of the photos the woman is also bundled up further obscuring identifying characteristics.

I do not want to encourage anyone to try to figure out who each woman is, but I did try to protect their identity to a point.

I am not confidant at all that years later if these girls get married to someone that it would be easy for someone to see their wife is with me, and if she was we were simply posing for a picture. I put my arm around friends, girl friends men and women alike when taking photos. Having my arm around someone (especially a man) does not indicate anything except we had a photo taken.

just my two kopecks,

Bill

Too Tall, I actually feel you've done them an injustice by whitting out the eyes. You could have taken it a step farther and PhotoShop them out all together. Or perhaps changed their body style or clothes. Maybe whitted out identifyable body parts as well. I could understand them being upset because you've altered their appearance.

I know what you did and why. Personally I think you overreacted to the puritanical rants of a few. IMHO

Posted by: Khashyar

First of all, I want to say that I appreciate that TooTall took the time and effort to post his trip report in this thread-- I think that a lot of RMP members are interested in reading his experiences during his trip.

Secondly, I want to read all of these these posts carefully, and post my thoughts about what is the best policy regarding posting photos of women met on a trip.

My initial thought is that the important thing is to not have anyone be recognizable in photos posted in a dating thread.

Of course, if names and other identifying info is removed, then the real question is about posting photos....

I would not post a photo where a woman is recognizable in a trip report.

The question is whether there is a way to post a photo of a woman without identifying her? Can you blur the face, or obscure the photo in a way so that she will not be recognizable?

I personally think that if you can obscure the face, then you can post a photo of yourself with that person.

But, I want to read everyone's posts carefully about this issue...

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

I have just finished reading all of the posts in this thread.

I don't have much to add other than: what is the most ethical approach to posting photos of other women in trip reports?

I would want to protect their privacy, so I think that we should not post real names or contact information.

I believe that if one of the women contacted us and asked us to remove their photo, then we would probably do this out of respect.

This is a little bit of a grey area, because ToTall did make an effort to conceal the identity of the woman he was writing about.

I think that in general, we should not post photos of women we dated on "Trip Reports," but I think that if the identity of the people are concealed (like with blurring the faces, or whitening some of the faces, then that is o.k.

Regarding the photo galleries... I think that RMP members are able to upload photos that they have taken to the photo galleries. The Photo Galleries are basically a PRIVATE gallery (you can only see some randam thumbnails posted, but not the fukll size photo), where only registered forum members can go and see the full-sized photos there. So, I don't think that we need to place restrictions in the photo galleries.

But, if a woman with a photo posted in a trip report contact me and asked that she wanted to remove her photo, then I probably would.

So, I think the policy that we should adopt now is:

1) no real names personal information in trip reports

2) post photos (if you can conceal the face in some way-- whitening the eyes, blurring the face, etc).

Khashyar

Posted by: Jerico

Well I think if you have to blur the faces whats the point of showing the picture?

Unless there is some building your showing in the background or monument or something.

Also I find it kind of interesting seeing some of the pictures of these women ( real pictures not fluffed up)
Just my take.

Jerry

Posted by: mistermopar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerico

Well I think if you have to blur the faces whats the point of showing the picture?

Unless there is some building your showing in the background or monument or something.

Also I find it kind of interesting seeing some of the pictures of these women ( real pictures not fluffed up)
Just my take.

Jerry

I think you got it Jerry,why bother posting the photo then in the first place if you have to blur the faces.

I enjoy seeing the people that my friends are going to visit.

Randy

Posted by: Khashyar

We can talk more about what the guidelines should be.

Don't you think that it is better to have photos like TooTall posted (with the eyes whitenened out) than haaving no photos at all?

We have to do what is fair to both the men interested in those kinds of threads, and the Russian women being pictured in them.

Khashyar

Posted by: Cheburashka

What are you guys talking about? A thread of blurred faces will be A GREAT way for people to see and appreciate Russia.

Posted by: Khashyar

Or you mean something like this....

Posted by: mistermopar

Hi Khashyar,I reaaly don't see what the problem is with posting photos of my friends,they are clean photos,nothing sexual,or crime taking place in the photos.

It helps tell a story.

Randy

Posted by: Khashyar

...I think that she is not really recognizable....

Posted by: Khashyar

By the way, that's Petra Nemcova above (a Russian model).

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermopar

Hi Khashyar,I reaaly don't see what the problem is with posting photos of my friends,they are clean photos,nothing sexual,or crime taking place in the photos.

It helps tell a story.

Randy

Hi Randy,

Of course there is nothing wrong with posting photos of your friends (if you believe that they do not mind and they do not object after it is posted).

Khashyar

Posted by: mistermopar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khashyar

Hi Randy,

Of course there is nothing wrong with posting photos of your friends (if you believe that they do not mind and they do not object after it is posted).

Khashyar

Thank you Khashyar.

Randy

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermopar

Thank you Khashyar.

Randy

Of course, Randy.

We should be reasonable about the photo policy.

Khashyar

Posted by: clark

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khashyar

Of course, Randy.

We should be reasonable about the photo policy.

Khashyar

Khashyar

I haven't seen anyone "unreasonable" about posting photos. I have really enjoyed the members photo gallery which in essence is the very same thing. There were I believe (2) posters to Too Tall's thread who seemed to object apparently from their own personal beliefs.

Personally, I am more of a pureist. Photos help to tell the story. As long as there is nothing obscene, degrading or pornographic I see them as adding information to the reader and validity to the author. Personally I find an altered or defaced photo as condescending and a moot point. If one must alter or deface whats the point of the photo. I believe most of the members are here to share information and stories. Unaltered photos are an important ingredient to both.

I vote for posting photos with or without trip reports unaltered. In the effort of remaining fair and good taste, should you have someone who objects to having their picture posted, I say remove it. Provided you can determine it is the person in question who is objecting. By all means leave personal information out.

I too really enjoyed Too Tall's trip report. I find it shameful he had to censor innocent photos to appease a few. I look at it as the shoe on the other foot. Would I object if some RW were posting photos of me they owned on a website where they were discussing dating and relationship topics? Absolutely not. Infact I would encourage it. Denying one an opportunity to post unaltered pictures dilutes the forum. IMHO

Posted by: mistermopar

WOW,nicely said Clark.

Randy

Posted by: clark

Heh hehe.....thanks Randy. I just calls'em likes I sees'em

Posted by: gonlaz

Pictures are posted all over the internet, the ones he posted are truly harmless, what is the problem here? Really, a stranger posed for a picture, and I am quite sure each girl didn't say "do not share these pictures" but the site belongs to at least one person that I know of (sorry I do not know who all runs the place) and if he/she/they decide to ban photos then so be it.

I do have to ask though, I see all sorts of couple photos, friend photos, et c on the front page when I log on each day, what exactly is the difference than from what Too Tall posted?

Posted by: Big wheel

Hey too tall are you a lawyer? Did not read all the posts, And all I have to say is, who care! the pictures where taken in a public place and I feel it is than public domain. Are you tell us that we should get every one every business the town and everything that we see from the light polls to the maker of the street permission to have a picture? THINK ABOUT IT WHERE DOES THIS BS END??? who the HE

L care. The U.S. and the world is mess up due to people like you worrying about stepping on some one toes. And the same to the people who's out there saying you cant do that because it not what I want believe or I just don't like it. su

k it up and deal with it. And if any one don't like this post I don't care it is my words! If anyone find misspelled word or misplace words you may correct me, i will not sue you.

Posted by: too_tall

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big wheel

Hey too tall are you a lawyer?

No I am not a laywer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big wheel

And if any one don't like this post I don't care it is my words! If anyone find misspelled word or misplace words you may correct me, i will not sue you.

I have reread my own report and there are several words spelled wrong and grammar errors as well. You made a few errors in grammar and spelling in your post but I think got your point across and I understand it, and I am far from perfect myself.

The reason I created this thread was to keep a debate (now several pages long) out of my trip report.

I whited out the eyes myself first before posting the pictures not because somebody told me to or suggested it. I did it to protect the privacy of the women in the photos.

I agree there is too much litigation in our society and that it is causing a multitude of problems and needs to be solved. But this is a subject beyond the scope of this thread or unfortunately our politicians.

Just my two kopecks

Bill

Posted by: firemansam

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khashyar

...I think that she is not really recognizable....

Um Kash, I take offence to you posting pictures of my fiancee in this forum...

Cheers,

Sam.

Posted by: clark

Quote:

Originally Posted by too_tall

No I am not a laywer

I have reread my own report and there are several words spelled wrong and grammar errors as well. You made a few errors in grammar and spelling in your post but I think got your point across and I understand it, and I am far from perfect myself.

The reason I created this thread was to keep a debate (now several pages long) out of my trip report.

I whited out the eyes myself first before posting the pictures not because somebody told me to or suggested it. I did it to protect the privacy of the women in the photos.

I agree there is too much litigation in our society and that it is causing a multitude of problems and needs to be solved. But this is a subject beyond the scope of this thread or unfortunately our politicians.

Just my two kopecks

Bill

Too Tall......I've really enjoyed your trip report. However, I feel you've done a disservice to the ladies in the pictures by whitting out the eyes. I see the pictures as harmless either way but if it's their privacy your concerned about, why post the photos at all?

Posted by: bingism

Hmmmm.... I had to think about this one. I would agree that it is wholly unnaccetpable to post pictures alongside one of those "look at all my conquests" trip reports that we have all come across in the past (not here thankfully). There's no correct answer, but I'm pretty sure that if I posted a picture of Zhanna and I on here, there would be no particular problem. In fact, with so many site such as MySpace and the like, I that this is not so much of an issue.

Too Tall, I personally found that you had written well, with tact and detail which was both interesting and informative. In this context, I feel that your trip report was added to by the photos and I would honestly be surprised if anyone could take offence. IMHO, there is nothing wrong with this and I think that we, the community, need to take responsibility for what we post. I agree with Randy when he mentioned posting pictures of friends. By going down the route of "never post a picture if you could recognise the person" I think that we would be running the risk of detracting away from what most people are doing here... meeting with people from all over the world with a view to possibly settling down and sharing some of thoughts with each other; we're not looking for property that needs to be protected from view or treated any differently to how we would any other friend.

Finally, I think that this is something that each person needs to decide for themselves - I honestly hope that we do not have a "ruling" on this.

Posted by: too_tall

I have to say that I agree with Bing.

I think that a member should use his best judgement as a rule. If someone
abuses this then the moderator steps in just like he would with other posts.

In my report I wanted to protect the womens privacy, but I can see if a definite hard rule was applied it could go too far. I have had a bad experience on another forum when I gave just a little information and it caused a big arguement with me and a woman on my last day (on a different trip). The making up part was nice however.

Just my two kopecks

Bill

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by firemansam

Um Kash, I take offence to you posting pictures of my fiancee in this forum...

Cheers,

Sam.

She was writing you too?

ffair:

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by bingism

Hmmmm.... I had to think about this one. I would agree that it is wholly unnaccetpable to post pictures alongside one of those "look at all my conquests" trip reports that we have all come across in the past (not here thankfully). There's no correct answer, but I'm pretty sure that if I posted a picture of Zhanna and I on here, there would be no particular problem. In fact, with so many site such as MySpace and the like, I that this is not so much of an issue.

Too Tall, I personally found that you had written well, with tact and detail which was both interesting and informative. In this context, I feel that your trip report was added to by the photos and I would honestly be surprised if anyone could take offence. IMHO, there is nothing wrong with this and I think that we, the community, need to take responsibility for what we post. I agree with Randy when he mentioned posting pictures of friends. By going down the route of "never post a picture if you could recognise the person" I think that we would be running the risk of detracting away from what most people are doing here... meeting with people from all over the world with a view to possibly settling down and sharing some of thoughts with each other; we're not looking for property that needs to be protected from view or treated any differently to how we would any other friend.

Finally, I think that this is something that each person needs to decide for themselves - I honestly hope that we do not have a "ruling" on this.

The best policy might be to use ones judgement, but to post photos while being respectful to a woman.

Then, if a woman asks us to remove her photo, then we respect her request.

Khashyar

Posted by: bingism

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khashyar

The best policy might be to use ones judgement, but to post photos while being respectful to a woman.

Then, if a woman asks us to remove her photo, then we respect her request.

Khashyar

I think that this would seem sensible. Luckily this is a community of mainly respectable and well meaning people... anyone abusing the system will soon be called out by the other members - almost a self-regulatory system so to speak.

Thanks for not being heavy handed

Posted by: too_tall

I was looking at the poll, only 22 votes. Perhaps it was closed a little early since there have been well over 700 visits to this thread, but I am kind of glad to see that nobody voted either 3, 4, 8 or 9.

Once Bing posted his view, I think it summed up most of the opinions.

1) Trip reports and photos should be allowed on a public forum with few if any restrictions 13 votes 59.09%
2) Trip reports DA, photos Nyet 1 vote 4.55%
3) Trip reports Nyet, Photos Nyet 0 0%
4) Trip reports Nyet, Photos DA 0 0%
5) Trip reports that describe the event
but try to obscure their identity? 2 votes 9.09%
6) Photos that are of people with
attempts to obscure their identity? 1 vote 4.55%
7) A combination of options 1, 5 and 6 5 votes 22.73%
8) Nyet on everything all public discourse
should be banned and regulated by the state 0 0%
9) Da there is no privacy in the world !!!
Put everything out there 0 0%
10) Something else please explain in
your comments 0 0%
Voters: 22. This poll is closed

Posted by: too_tall

Quote:

Originally Posted by clark

I wrote a pre trip report before my very first trip to Odessa on another forum. A member of the other forum figured out who the girl was that I was meeting. He liked her as well and he caused a great big fight between us. (the make up sex part was great however)

So as a result of this I never really made any more posts. I just read the reports of others and learned from them. I have spent many many hours online reading and learning from others.

I thought that since I had learned so much from others that I really should do something myself. I should write something that others following in my footsteps can learn from as well. I finally decided to do the trip report and not to include any pictures.

I am not sure what actually caused me to post the pictures but I was going to make sure that someone didnt call or write one of these girls and say too tall (they would know this is me) wrote all about you...........and it was sooooo funny.

If I wrote another report I would most likely do it the same way. I might check my spelling a little better.

Posted by: zaniac

I'm all for trip reports and to some degree pictures. Trip reports are a good thing as they allow readers to follow other people's travelling experiences.

Names - I would only use the first name of a person if I really felt I had to use it. I'd never use their second name as it would be unfair to reveal all and not hiding their full identity.

Photos - I wouldn't display a photo of any person I was talking about on any forum unless I was given permission by that individual. Alternatively I would only display a photo of the person in a photo, if that individual requested me to do so.

However if the person was a scammer then I'd forget that and blow their cover as best as possible.

Posted by: too_tall

I asked the moderator to remove most of the pictures. The pictures that remained I had permission to post them.

I ended up with a black list on antedate. It is a forum of angry women who consider me to be a sex tourist.

I did not even have sex when I visited Russia!! But I am black listed like the married men who seek women.

I made this decision myself. On my next trip I will likely not post photos of others besides myself.

Bill

Posted by: Seaview

Quote:

I ended up with a black list on antedate. It is a forum of angry women who consider me to be a sex tourist.

Sorry, Bill, but you did your best to make it happen.

I hope that now you see the difference between other guys who posted pics of their girlfriends, wives or just girls in the streets and you peacocking with 20 different girls during one trip.

Quote:

I did not even have sex when I visited Russia!! But I am black listed like the married men who seek women.

Girls interested in relationship with Westerners visit the same sites as you. Any of your "girls" could find the pics by accident and report the situation to her agency or male blacklist sites. Many people on RMP warned you about this.

Posted by: too_tall

Seaview, your point has been consistant and my view on this has changed.

I don't deserve a 22 page hate piece on me however, especially after I had the photos removed. I am no longer on the black list, but on a trip reporter list for causing harm to all Russian women.

Just my two kopecks,

Bill

Posted by: AndyGump

How do I add my vote to this Poll?
What is the URL for:
antedate
a forum of angry women

Posted by: Zmejka

Andy, the forum has another name - if you want to form your own opinion you can pm me, i'm not sure about posting it

Posted by: too_tall

I hope that others will learn from my mistake and not post photos without permission.

I also hope that guys still post reports of their experiences in the FSU. I have always read them with zeal.

My dva kopecks

Bill

Posted by: blucatz

Whoa! you were with 20 different girls during one trip and no sex? Whats wrong with this picture?

Posted by: joelunchbox

I don't think anything is wrong with that picture.
I think it may be called....let's see....
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
If you are going to have sex, you don't need to go to Russia.
Set your sights a little higher.
Let's face it, sex is about as base an instinct as can be.
Thanks for the after trip report.
I didn't see anything wrong with the pictures but.......
they weren't of my fiance
and
they weren't of me!!

Posted by: freebird

Quote:

Originally Posted by too_tall

I hope that others will learn from my mistake and not post photos without permission.

I also hope that guys still post reports of their experiences in the FSU. I have always read them with zeal.

My dva kopecks

Bill

I hope the RMP will be able to make a section for trip reports to make it easier to find them, it has been talked about earlier....

Posted by: too_tall

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebird

I hope the RMP will be able to make a section for trip reports to make it easier to find them, it has been talked about earlier....

Yeah, I agree and they should keep it about trip reports and pretrip reports and not about everything else under the sun.

Just my two kopecks,

Bill

Posted by: Cheburashka

Hey Too Tall, has all the hubub died down from your "great pic posting scandal"? Are the Russian ladies still getting their panties in a wad over your travel reports over at the other forum?

That was too much fun to watch.

Posted by: too_tall

Yeah, I think so. I quit worrying about it and then so did they.