Franconian Beer Message Board
A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law |
| Posted by Jason on 2020-08-27 11:42:02 |
| Tonight I visited Forchheim for a few beers. I visited the recently reopened Hebendanz, sat inside by the window with a nice view of the square. Got chatting to the 50 or so year old Franconian Kellner. All very pleasant. A little later, the bells rang for 8pm and I looked out of the window and the sky was a lovely pink colour with the Rathaus in the background. I leaned out and took a couple of photos of the square, above the heads of the outside drinkers. I heard someone say something about me taking a photograph, then the Kellner came back in and asked me quite rudely what I was taking a photo of. I said "bitte was?" and he said "we have data protection laws in Germany" and insisted I show him the photo. Ignoring the (usual) rudeness and self righteousness that I'm afraid is an everyday challenge here, I showed him the photo of the square. He seemed satisfied. Of course there was no apology or acknowledgement. As seemingly always here, he was correct in principle, and this is a note for all. If you take photos in public and people are in them without consent you have to be very careful about sharing them. Sure, the chances are low that you'll be 'caught' but some research yields plenty of warning that lawyers could well get involved. After all, it's a very straightforward law and doesn't take much work to prove. In many ways I agree with it, but that's not the point. Sometimes I feel like I've lived here all my life, that it's my home and that I'm accepted (being white, speaking the language with dialect and having a good job). Then things like his happen. As usual I'm afraid, politeness and common decency is often a veil that quickly falls. You're only as welcome as the situation remains mutually beneficial. All he had to do was ask, politely. Am I so British? |
| Followups: |
 A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by Barm on 2020-08-27 16:49:08 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by pivnizub on 2020-08-27 22:56:37 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by Andrew H on 2020-08-27 23:02:11 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by Uncle Jimbo on 2020-08-27 23:18:18 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by Jason on 2020-08-28 01:16:56 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by Jason on 2020-08-28 01:23:42 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by Jason on 2020-08-28 01:26:27 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by JohnRatcliffe on 2020-08-28 01:52:38 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by Barry Taylor on 2020-08-28 04:49:37 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by Barm on 2020-08-28 06:51:34 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by Jason on 2020-08-28 08:15:15 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by Barry Taylor on 2020-08-29 06:56:43 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by Jason on 2020-08-29 06:59:30 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by David Greenlee on 2020-08-29 09:52:28 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by gavin brooksbank on 2020-08-29 17:21:10 |
| A rather unpleasant experience : and a reminder of the law by Nick B (formerly ErlangerNick on 2021-02-17 09:56:01 |