— from Stephen Shrader —
I visit the dog park in Eastsound once or twice a day; it is a social nexus for vulnerable populations, like myself.
Yesterday, young people were congregating, hugging, and being children at the adjacent skate park. From now on, I will photograph those who risk my health, their vehicles, and post the photos on key Orcas sites.
The teenagers I observed yesterday may be eligible for a 14-day quarantine. What are your kids bringing home?
This is incredibly inappropriate and I kind of can’t believe Orcas Issues published this. A community member is threatening to photograph kids, some of them possibly minors, and publicly shame them online?
This is really gross.
“What are your kids bringing home?”
“What are your kids bringing home?”
Thank you, Henry, I completely agree. Vulnerable people should stay home.
Orcas Issues: why would you post and encourage this clear example of online bullying (and worse!) of minors? Please take this post down.
If a citizen is truly concerned for their health and safety – report the violation to the health officer or sheriff, don’t threaten them online. Or of course, just stay home.
EXTREMELY inappropriate
I agree with you for being concerned about people not caring about your safety. I think we need to view the wearing of masks and distancing as a way to say I don’t want someone to die because of my actions. I don’t agree about photographing offenders and punishing them. Go home when people around don’t care about you. Try to educate, not punish.
You may want to see how many “laws”, you may be breaking.
Unbelievable. This disregard for human health is sickening. I know exactly how you feel. I was cycling through Eastbound the other day – and I saw someone on the other side of the road driving an automobile!! Talk about risking my health. Statistically, I’m far more likely to get injured by that automobile than I am to catch covid-19. I can’t believe that person didn’t just take the time to walk, or ride a bike – to protect me – a cyclist – talk about vulnerable population! The nerve of some people, so self-centered.
Of course – I trust an upstanding member of the community such as yourself didn’t drive your little poochie to the dog park thereby putting those poor children’s health at a significantly higher risk.
If I see any more automobiles daring to drive around Eastsound, I think I might start taking photos of them and posting them here on Orcas Issues, seeing as the bar for getting published has hit an all-time-low.
The Editorial Board at Orcas Issues, when meeting to consider this letter for submission, did not foresee a potential prurient turn of interpretation. Perhaps an Editorial Board staffed with more than one person is in order. At least we have the letter writer’s name.
I don’t think Orcas Issues should censor this article as written, however weird and ineffective the authors conclusion seems to be. Nor do I think the comments that will follow an article like this should be censored. So here goes: regardless of what side of the issue people are on, reasonable people will agree that photographing people and their vehicles is tacky and unethical, and in some cases illegal. This is especially sensitive when those people are under age. Don’t do that dude. There are much better ways to get what you want, which is a feeling of safety.
Bravo, Jack James, a hilarious response to the degenerating public discourse this pandemic is provoking. Civil discourse is degenerating as people are asserting their rights and interests are more important than others’, under a self-interested interpretation of safety and public health. This editorial representing an all-time low, IMO.
I would hope this letter was poorly executed satire, but either way I think Cristopher Evans sums it up perfectly…
Paula, I couldn’t agree more, it still amazes me how many assert that their income (or *theoretical* income) Is equal to, or more important than the health and safety of their community, especially given the evidence that localities that opened early are now experiencing massive surges of virus and have NOT rebounded economically. Sweden being an almost perfect model of what not to do.
I appreciate the ‘admonishing’ my letter has received with respect to threatening to post photos of children. I think that was definitely a mistake, I regret it and apologize. But, it has stirred the pot of a larger conversation about what does it mean to care for ourselves and one another?
On the other hand, since I submitted this, and before it was published, I have had a conversation with the Sheriff, and will employ that strategy when I have what may be a justified concern.
I stand by my question: “what are your children bringing home?” I would want to know if one of mine was risking themselves and others, and would welcome my village helping me let my children be children.
Lin,
I know Stephen and his partner. I would be very surprised to find out he had a prurient interest in anyone other than her.
Perhaps because I know him I immediately took his letter to mean he thought unsupervised children risking their own health and the health of their parents and friends ought to have their parents notified the way you would tell a neighbor if their kid was playing hooky and smoking cigarettes. I agree that pictures on Facebook and the like are not good tools for doing this, and upon reflection it would seem Stephen feels the same way. As the mother of a twelve year old whom I have to trust to act responsibly, I also agree it would be good to know if she isn’t behaving well when I can’t be around to keep an eye on things.
Stephen,
If you believe that the behavior you are seeing is a violation of law, then by all means, call the police. They work very closely with the Park and Recreation District and provide public safety and property protection at the park.
As to photographing and harassing children or anyone at the park, please know that in many cases that same behavior is also worthy of a call to the police.
In the case of repeated violations of law at the park for any behavior, a no-trespass order may be issued resulting in additional criminal penalties for those involved.
The best bet to protect yourself and others is to maintain proper social distancing, wear a mask and for you to follow the recommendations of health officials.
Oh, lord, we’re all losing our minds.
He isn’t going to take photos of them without their clothes on…calm down all the haters out here. Our local kids need to understand what is going on. Ideally yes, taking photos and putting them on FB is not a good call. Nor is shaming the concerned man who posted this letter.
Please remove, this article is disturbing.