Is there something wrong with me?

[RSKY]

Didn't finish the last post. The world has changed the last ten years or so. I am much more cautious in my dealings with strangers.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Pay it forward!

It's your life to enjoy

or not.

I enjoy my life. I don't need your preaching.

 

[oosik]

My property is not in the middle of nowhere - its on the far side of nowhere. The outer gate on the mile long driveway is posted. Folks that know me or have business with me come to the house and let me know they are there. Been here 34 years and only twice have folks "jackrabbited" when I came out of the house to talk to them. Otherwise, many folks open the outer gate with the big no trespassing sign and end up in my yard with the excuse - they are lost.

Only once did I encounter an individual that challenged my right to ask him to leave. I don't know/care if he was drunk, on drugs or just belligerent. The state police didn't seem to care either as they cuffed him, impounded/towed his pickup and put him in grey bar city. He actually told the officer that there was no way in h--l that he was going to leave my property. Maybe he was just an idiot.

I would think that common decency would indicate that the three come and talk to you about being on your property, etc,etc.

 

[k0ua]

One problem is that many harmless but stupid people have no common decency. Then you have the small minority of people that are worthless pieces of human crap that are intending to steal from you or harm you. Like I said before, most people are good, some are harmless but stupid and uncaring, and some are evil.

 

[Code54]

I don't get too excited about people taking photos of the trees/woods/and such if it is from the public road. Now if you come back the driveway I would not care for it. If someone took the time to come up and introduce themselves and ASK if they could take photos of the trees/animals from my yard I would be fine with it if they gave me that feeling they are normal and legit.
As a kid we did not have much property so I would ask people to hunt on their land or even just hike. A lot of people were VERY nice and allowed me to but I would have NEVER just went and did it without asking permission. Even when turned down it never bothered me, always thought it was theirs and not mine so they were allowed to do what they want with it.

 

[Code54]

I've had similar instances with people taking photos on my property without asking. Last spring, a guy knocked on my door and handed me a copy of a photo he had taken around Christmas time of the snow and lights on the house and such. I just find it odd that they feel they have the right to do so. .

Having worked around some more artistic types (often in the clueless category) I am guessing he was really trying to be nice and share his work with you. If he took the time to print it, and deliver it to you I would imagine it was gesture of kindness and personally look at it as an opportunity to talk to someone that is a little different than myself and learn something new.

 

[k0ua]

Having worked around some more artistic types (often in the clueless category) I am guessing he was really trying to be nice and share his work with you. If he took the time to print it, and deliver it to you I would imagine it was gesture of kindness and personally look at it as an opportunity to talk to someone that is a little different than myself and learn something new.

How interesting, You see my first thought was his next move was to ask the homeonwer for money for his picture. Kind of like a "squeegeman" Cleans you car window at a stop light and holds his hand out for money.. By the way.....the glass is "half empty"

 

[Code54]

How interesting, You see my first thought was his next move was to ask the homeonwer for money for his picture. Kind of like a "squeegeman" Cleans you car window at a stop light and holds his hand out for money.. By the way.....the glass is "half empty"

Funny - that did cross my mind also..... I am hoping from the above statements it was just a friendly gift and not a ploy for money.
Our backgrounds/work sounds like they maybe similar and I share a lot of the caution you suggest. I worked for a while in an area where we had a lot of artistic types and became friends with some and learned they often look at things a bit different than I did. While I didn't always agree with their lifestyle/ideas it did help me broaden my view of things sometimes.
I must say I am trying hard to see the "glass half full" now a days but often think it is just broken and should be thrown out!

 

[QRTRHRS]

I don't get too excited about people taking photos of the trees/woods/and such if it is from the public road. Now if you come back the driveway I would not care for it. If someone took the time to come up and introduce themselves and ASK if they could take photos of the trees/animals from my yard I would be fine with it if they gave me that feeling they are normal and legit.
As a kid we did not have much property so I would ask people to hunt on their land or even just hike. A lot of people were VERY nice and allowed me to but I would have NEVER just went and did it without asking permission. Even when turned down it never bothered me, always thought it was theirs and not mine so they were allowed to do what they want with it.

My friends and I did the same. The difference is that if we were to fall and break a bone or something, we did not sue the landowner. The very idea that some idiot can be on your property uninvited or not, get hurt, and then sue you is rediculous.

We don't have to post. We only ask the sheriff to list our property as no tresspassing though I never have. My neighbors preserved woodlot is but that does not stop some people. My "super Hot" fence and briars do a pretty good job for the most part.

People slow and/or stop all of the time on the county road to look at our horses. Fine by us. We only have ever had one person inquire if we wanted to purchase a photo of our property. She identified herself and where she lived (local) before she asked about buying a photo. It was actually taken from an airplane and showcased our place very well. (I have had this experiance with prior properties and the photo did not properly encompass our place) Anyway, we ended up buying an enlarged frame print of our place.

Anyway, people will come onto one's property and immediately knock on the door, etc. trying to sell something or solicit, etc. While I am wary of such things usually based on the person's look and mannerisims, I won't get to alarmed. But to just waltz onto the place an start taking photos? Some places that would get you in the crosshairs.

Yes, there are more good than bad. To bad the bad are getting more brazen, more desperate and more protected at the taxpayers expense.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Many years ago I took my young son to a neighbor of my father in law. I introduced myself and asked if I could take the boy squirrel hunting out back on his farm
We talked for awhile and he said I ain't giving permission and I ain't saying you cant. It was something about getting sued and liability. But he said good luck. Then we went out back for a squirrel hunt. It was a good day. And I appreciated his point of view.

That was probably 30 years ago or more.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

I've had similar instances with people taking photos on my property without asking. Last spring, a guy knocked on my door and handed me a copy of a photo he had taken around Christmas time of the snow and lights on the house and such. I just find it odd that they feel they have the right to do so. During the summer my dog was going crazy barking. I looked out in my back yard and a guy was out there with a camera set up on a tripod taking photos. I think he was taking photos of planes passing on their way to the airport. He was oblivious to all the barking.

I would have let my dog out. Photo boy would no longer be looking to the sky.

 

[MossRoad]

Before you get too bent out of shape go to google earth type in your address and click on street view.

Taking pictures from the street (or outer space in Google's case) is perfectly legal. Physically entering someone's private property and walking around taking pictures is not. I'd have asked them what they were doing, and then told them to leave. And I'd record any license numbers, get a description of the people, etc... and report it to the police just in case it turned into something, or there were other problems in the area. Most likely, it was just people taking pictures and not thinking about trespassing. But you never know.

 

[4570Man]

Taking pictures from the street (or outer space in Google's case) is perfectly legal. Physically entering someone's private property and walking around taking pictures is not. I'd have asked them what they were doing, and then told them to leave. And I'd record any license numbers, get a description of the people, etc... and report it to the police just in case it turned into something, or there were other problems in the area. Most likely, it was just people taking pictures and not thinking about trespassing. But you never know.

We don't know how long his driveway is, but he said it faces a state highway. I'd guess Google street view and the pictures the couple took have a very similar view.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

They should have walked up, knocked on the door and asked permission. If they asked me, I would probably say yes
My property is on a private road. But I am trying to make it beautiful.....so I wouldn't be too surprised if someone wanted to take pictures....the 8 foot fence I am putting all around my orchard to fight of the wildlife should deter humans....if it doesn't then we need to have a face to face...I never come alone.

 

[MossRoad]

We don't know how long his driveway is, but he said it faces a state highway. I'd guess Google street view and the pictures the couple took have a very similar view.

I doubt it. They walked down the driveway and used the yard as a backdrop. That would indicate a view that you'd not see from the street, or they would have stood in the street and used his yard as a backdrop.

 

[oosik]

Many years ago there was a company that took aerial photos of large properties(mainly farms) and then would come around and try to sell the photos. That has gone by the wayside with software like Google Earth being available.

 

[Garandman]

They should have walked up, knocked on the door and asked permission. If they asked me, I would probably say yes.

Works for me.

 

[Looking4new]

I too have a property that is kind of secluded. I am totally surrounded by trees and the house is 250' back from the dead end road. I am the second last house on the road. When strangers arrive, IF they actually come to the house, I meet them on the front porch. That is where I am standing, they are still near their vehicle, the first words out of my mouth are, "you must be lost'. Usually, no matter what their response is I tell them this is private property and to please leave.
The second time isn't quite so polite. The third time IF there is one, I holler into the house, "call the cops and bring out the cannon". They leave. There is no cannon as in gun, but they don't know that.

 

[aczlan]

I don't get too excited about people taking photos of the trees/woods/and such if it is from the public road. Now if you come back the driveway I would not care for it. If someone took the time to come up and introduce themselves and ASK if they could take photos of the trees/animals from my yard I would be fine with it if they gave me that feeling they are normal and legit.

I agree. If they want to take a picture from the road (or the right of way), I cant complain. If they are on my property, they will be asked to leave and I will take a picture of them and their license plate.

Kind of like a "squeegeman" Cleans you car window at a stop light and holds his hand out for money.. By the way.....the glass is "half empty"

Ran into a bunch of those down in Argentina. We even had someone who washed the windows (with nasty dirty water) despite us saying no several times and then he expected us to pay him (we left and were cursed as rich stupid Americans even though we had 3 Americans and 3 Latinos (from Argentina, Uruguay and/or Paraguay IIRC)

Many years ago there was a company that took aerial photos of large properties(mainly farms) and then would come around and try to sell the photos. That has gone by the wayside with software like Google Earth being available.

Still happens around here. We bought a set at work a few years back to use on our website.

Aaron Z

 

[DrRod]

People stop at our cabin all the time because its 12 rough miles from the main road and by then they start wondering where they are. They always say the same thing, "where does this road come out." And people stop to ask if they can take a picture -- its a big traditional log cabin, admittedly photogenic. I've never encountered a hostile or unreasonable person there.

We allow walk-in fishing and hunting as this builds goodwill in the valley. Plus we let the stocking crews drive through the fields to the creek [we have the most heavily stocked trout stream in the state]. We even let Jimmy Carter fish there a few times.

But the one that amazes me is helicopters. We are close to a major bundle of pipelines that apparently need aerial surveillance a couple times a year. If they need to leave the copter for a few days they just set it down in the back corner of my lower field. Its a good place -- very secluded buy close enough to the road to walk out. Have never seen any people coming or going. It doesn't hurt anything but its always a surprise to see one.