Pixiq

Canada too? Really? During the Olympics? I think this is just the first of a barrage of incidents we will see during the winter games.

I can’t wait to see what some one with bigger balls than Stephen Hui produces when confronted by an “olympic” security guard. I really hope they do something like this to Lisa Bettany or some other local internet celebrity.
Rob´s last blog ..Compass Cards Unloaded

People need to start getting serious. Stop withdrawing from these situations. Tell these people to their face that they are wrong and you’re not gonna stop. If they get the cops involved, tell them the same thing. If they arrest you, you got yourself a good lawsuit.

Do that a few times and it’ll be some easy retirement money for you.

Rail Car Fan

They are really, really touchy about the olympics. Just ask Amy Goodman.
Tim Post´s last blog ..US National Archives Joins Flickr Commons

As a Canadian I am horrified that a fellow Canadian could be as stupid as the security cow in this video, perhaps I’ll fly out just to take pictures and get beaten with a baton. Bloody rent a cops, worse than actual cops.
Jody´s last blog ..Growing Movement To Disband Police Departments

The photographer needs to get some balls, he just let a rent a cop escort him off a PUBLIC sidewalk and he never even tried to stick up for himself.

I would have taken her picture and recorded the entire episode.

I also would have continued to take all the pictures I wanted.

What does it have to do with balls? Perhaps he didn’t know that the guard wasn’t within their rights to do that. Now he does.

I have to agree… he probably just didn’t know the rules. Do they even teach rights anymore?
mepsipax´s last blog ..Fuck you frozen Friday.

They don’t like the PR from venue photos they’re really going to not like the PR from the point-of-death shots of that luger. Especially since he was killed by the most incompetent course design I’ve ever seen.

Seriously, steel posts immediately off the course at the exit of the fastest turn? Didn’t auto racing figure out that that was a homicidally bad idea 50+ years ago?

If the photographer doesn’t know that, he should brush up on his rights before he goes there.

There are reports of other assaults against free expression in Vancouver. The city painted over art murals, they have banned all signs, border guards won’t allow in anyone on their list of olympic critics. People need to figure out that the authoritarians are everywhere these days. They come from the political left and right, no difference you still go to jail.

Now if it was a public area / street, I don’t see why he couldn’t photograph there unless he was trying to go inside that wall/gate behind the guard where different rules *may* apply. It did sound like he was there before the games even started tho. The International Olympic Committee is extremely overprotective of anything related to the olympics especially if the word “olympic” or the logo is present. The guard was likely operating under instructions from them or VANOC. The IOC likely makes sure the people taking pics are accredited (or under some kind of contract) because the IOC is basically marketing the Olympics as a brand and want to make a crapload of money off it and want to control what the media does so there are no potential negative articles/images that may interfere with them making money. I wouldn’t be surprised if the RCMP has no idea what is going on out there as they are usually morons and the IOC/VANOC likely have not kept them in the loop.

I’m not really sure what to think about this incident.
Although I too am horrified to see this crap in Canada, Stephen Hui didn’t really do anything but whine. Based on the story, it appers that this has happend to him a few times and he is upset – fair. But on behalf of all Canadians, I’d like to remind him that ‘nice’ and ‘p#$$y’ are not synonymous.
One of the main reason that I read Carlos’ blog is to remind myself that a right you’re not willing to stand up for is just a privellege. I don’t mean that every confrontation needs to be a fight to the death, but some push-back would be nice.
The more core issue in this story is that Vancouver has ceeded it’s sovereignty to the IOC. The IOC has become so powerful that they are able to convince hosts to pass laws and regulations that wouldn’t make it through any sensible democratic institution.
This is not the typical case of security over-reaction. This is mandated trademark protection of a moneymaking machine… and Canada bent over willingly. We have actually stomped down Canadian’s right to protest or even display non-approved logos, just so it won’t interfere with the show. Funny, weren’t we recently criticizing China for this?
[...steps down off soapbox and takes a deep breath]
Sadly this monster has reached critical mass and I can’t even think of an effective way to stop it. Stomping on the dreams of a bunch of young athletes or the spirit of international community that the games brings with it seems almost as wrong as the monster that the IOC has become.

If they had not put the posts there, dude was still dead. Did you see it? He was DEAD.

Despite the propaganda, the Olympics are not the premier event for the vast majority of the athletes there. Each sport has its own premier event that, while lacking the popular appeal of an Olympic medal, still definitively determines the best of the sport. Hamstringing the Olympics would not be stomping on anyone’s dreams. (And really, if your life’s goal is to compete in the Olympics, or even to be a professional athlete… you’re not doing anyone much good and I don’t see why I should help you or care whether you make it.)

I also think the value to international politics is minuscule; laughably over-hyped.