Saturday, December 13, 2008

Lessons From A Neighborhood Webcam

By C.W. Nevius, San Francisco Chronicle
Last Saturday, we told you the story of Adam Jackson, who pointed a Web camera out the window of his Tenderloin (San Francisco neighborhood) apartment and created a hot Internet site.

Today, we tell you how it all went wrong, from a flurry of death threats to being targeted by cyberbullies. But just when it looked like the thugs had bullied Jackson into taking down his site, the community rallied behind the concept of neighborhood cameras. In fact, the interest may be stronger than ever.

There are lots of lessons here. For starters, Jackson has learned about privacy on the Internet: There isn't any. Second, neighborhood cameras work - for better or worse, they focus attention on life on the street.

And third, did you ever wonder why it is so difficult to get people to step up and try to make things better in troubled neighborhoods? It's because there are always some self-appointed guardians of the status quo who make it as difficult as possible. Continue Reading

21 comments:

  1. I've gotten everything Jackson has gone through. That's what happens when you stick your neck out.

    So, what you afraid of? When's 'Uptown Update' coming out of the closet?

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  2. Uptown has something more dangerous than a few graffiti artists. We have Helen who has a host of city inspectors and thugs at her beck & call.

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  3. We all know that Hell-en will and has send in a swarm of inspectors, stop picking up garbage and send in her minions such as Kaplan etc.

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  4. A camera in my alley (Malden/Magnolia) would no doubt capture a typical day of crime.

    A camera in the 46th Ward office, would no doubt
    capture the deceptive, slippery dealings of an office in denial.

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  5. Ok UU... I think it's ok that you finally tell people that you are actually Labor Ready.

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  6. It's been a long time since I was less than 18 and needed a grown-up to watch over me. Needless to say, I would rather not have someone else's cameras doing it, either. If you're so willing to give up your freedom in this manner, maybe you just don't deserve to have it in the first place.

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  7. What's Up Chuck?,

    you have no expectation of privacy on the public way. If you want to avoid being on camera never walk into a store.

    Now calm down and take a happy pill.

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  8. Whils't I may have no expectation of privacy on a public way, I signed no agreement to be filmed either. And, FYI, a store is private property and can do as it sees fit. I don't have to go in there should I opt not to.

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  9. Chuckie. You sound like the alderbeast who thinks SHE owns the public way. It's call the public good. EX. It may be your luggage but it will be search before you board a plane. Suggestion: don't pack that personal "massager" and don't commit a crime where it could be photographed.

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  10. Maybe someone can put a web cam pointed at Helen's office to see who is walking in and out of that place. Use the time stamp to id residents (they will be in and out in a brief moment as they will be rebuked by the staff) or the campaign contributors or cronies (there for LONG stretches of time and leave looking happy).

    Would be interesting to see who is getting Helen's ear.

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  11. Kenny, these "spy" cameras have been in stores, hotels, airports, hospitals, banks, train stations, etc for well over a decade or two. People can whine & moan all they want but they won't go away. It's like COURAJ whining about condo conversions. Condos are here to stay.

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  12. You people are all very warped in your thinking if this is ok with you. That's all I'm saying. It's frightening to think you are just dandy with folks video-taping you everywhere. That's not freedom. It's not the public good. It's oppression. And you've bought it, hook, line, and sinker. It's nanny state. And you're being baby-sat. But, you get what you deserve, like 8 years of W. I'm not paranoid, I'm concerned.

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  13. Chuck, my reaction is that I pick my battles. I can't help that I'm photographed an average of 20 times every time I leave the house from ATMs, private cameras, city cameras, and business cameras. Not thrilled with it, but making that change is a huge uphill battle and I tend to think it's too prevalent to reverse it now. (Just my opinion.)

    So, I focus on the things I can change: calling 311 when I see abandoned bikes or overflowing dumpsters. Calling 911 when I see criminal behavior. Shoveling the walk of an elderly neighbor before she wakes up to do it herself. Etc. Etc.

    I had an eye-opening realization when I saw a PSA about "The Power of One" a few years ago. It changed my thinking from "They should something about this" to "I can do something about this." It spurred my activism in Uptown, and while the battles I win are small, I like to think I'm making a difference, especially in combination with other neighbors doing the same things, winning small battles to benefit the common good.

    So, if you want to take on the bigger battles, that's up to you. I admire anyone who tries to change the status quo for the better. We all choose the things that are most important to us, and just because we don't all agree on what those concerns are, no one is "warped" for choosing a different battle to fight.

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  14. TSN, I agree with pretty much everything you said.

    But I expect a future where you won't need to call 911. A camera will probably do that for you.

    What I can't decide is if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I'm leaning towards the latter.

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  15. You know I shouldn't post while I'm watching Terminator...

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  16. Personally, I hate those cameras at the traffic lights, but it has made me become a little more cautious with my driving through all traffic lights.

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  17. As much as I might loath the ideas of being photographed all the time, the benefits of having cameras, as far as I can see, have far outweighted the perceived detriments. "Loss of privacy" to me is mostly a conceptual thing. IDing and capturing a dangerous criminal or preventing the continual damange of property both public and private, etc., is far more important to me right now. Holey Moley said it pretty good: it's helped make him/her a more cautious driver, which is a good thing.

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  18. When the government requires cameras and (and the records) on/in private property I'll get concerned and civilly disobedient; until then...meh.

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  19. Something to remember. And not just about this topic, but in your own life, too:

    What someone will do FOR you, they will do TO you.

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  20. What someone will do FOR you, they will do TO you.

    Really? This is an across-the-board tenet for you? I'm not defending the government but this is a pretty depressing blanket statement. Like I said, if I have a choice (which I do), I'd prefer someone putting up a camera FOR me than a criminal doing something TO me because there are no cameras around.

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