davis_square: Privacy for naked drunkards

jspazzer (

jspazzer) wrote in

davis_square,
@ 2007-12-12 12:32:00

Entry tags:

lol, newspapers

Privacy for naked drunkards
Following the discussion about Google Streetview vs. privacy, some may be interested in the haha brouing over at the Villeside Journal site. One of the intrepid reporters took a video camera to the Tufts Naked Quad Run and posted it on Youtube. Drunk streakers were not amused.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/fun/x805327507

(Post a new comment)

	ron_newman 2007-12-12 05:43 pm UTC (link)
	A number of Somerville and Medford public streets run through the Tufts campus. As far as I know, it is perfectly legal to stand on such a street and take pictures of what is going on around you. Was the Naked Quad Run visible from public streets? (Reply to this)(Thread)

Re: there will come a time when you can even take your clothes off when you dance

feralnerd
2007-12-12 06:21 pm UTC (link)

It's not public, it's a private campus, it's a sanctioned event and it's a tradition with history and a rule that there are to be no cameras.

It's not whether it is legal or not to photograph something like this, it's not even a matter of privacy. It is simply uncivil to clearly disrespect the wishes of students as they participate in a tradition with the expectation that they will not be photographed in the nude. Maybe it's not illegal, but it's a shitty thing to do, and they're rightfully pissed in my opinion.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: there will come a time when you can even take your clothes off when you dance -

ron_newman, 2007-12-12 06:25 pm UTC

Re: there will come a time when you can even take your clothes off when you dance -

thetathx1138, 2007-12-12 06:32 pm UTC

Re: there will come a time when you can even take your clothes off when you dance -

derspatchel, 2007-12-12 06:57 pm UTC

Re: there will come a time when you can even take your clothes off when you dance -

thetathx1138, 2007-12-12 06:59 pm UTC

Re: there will come a time when you can even take your clothes off when you dance -

perspicuity, 2007-12-12 06:33 pm UTC

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komos, 2007-12-12 08:04 pm UTC

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feralnerd, 2007-12-12 08:08 pm UTC

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komos, 2007-12-12 08:52 pm UTC

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feralnerd, 2007-12-12 09:15 pm UTC

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komos, 2007-12-12 09:50 pm UTC

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chumbolly, 2007-12-12 10:52 pm UTC

Sock Puppet Attack!! -

komos, 2007-12-12 11:04 pm UTC

Re: Sock Puppet Attack!! -

chumbolly, 2007-12-12 11:46 pm UTC

Re: Sock Puppet Attack!! -

komos, 2007-12-12 11:52 pm UTC

(no subject) -

feralnerd, 2007-12-12 11:05 pm UTC

Let me guess... You watch Rocketboom. -

komos, 2007-12-12 11:36 pm UTC

Never heard of rocketboom -

feralnerd, 2007-12-13 02:40 am UTC

Re: Never heard of rocketboom -

komos, 2007-12-13 01:11 pm UTC

It must have been hard to be potty trained at gunpoint -

feralnerd, 2007-12-13 03:34 pm UTC

Try a "your momma" joke next go -

komos, 2007-12-13 03:50 pm UTC

Re: Try a "your momma" joke next go -

feralnerd, 2007-12-13 04:50 pm UTC

Re: Try a "your momma" joke next go -

komos, 2007-12-13 05:58 pm UTC

Re: Try a "your momma" joke next go -

feralnerd, 2007-12-13 07:19 pm UTC

Aw jeez... you sure showed me. Shucks. -

komos, 2007-12-13 10:37 pm UTC

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elements, 2007-12-14 04:26 am UTC

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feralnerd, 2007-12-14 05:15 am UTC

Going back to the core -

feralnerd, 2007-12-13 02:53 am UTC

Changing tack, then? -

komos, 2007-12-13 01:25 pm UTC

Re: Changing tack, then? -

feralnerd, 2007-12-13 03:14 pm UTC

Weak -

komos, 2007-12-13 03:55 pm UTC

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komos, 2007-12-12 09:06 pm UTC

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pierceheart, 2007-12-21 05:56 pm UTC

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komos, 2007-12-22 12:59 pm UTC

	clara_girl 2007-12-12 06:36 pm UTC (link)
	just because you can doesn't mean you should. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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ron_newman, 2007-12-12 07:13 pm UTC

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feralnerd, 2007-12-12 08:09 pm UTC

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komos, 2007-12-12 09:59 pm UTC

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feralnerd, 2007-12-12 11:06 pm UTC

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komos, 2007-12-12 11:45 pm UTC

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feralnerd, 2007-12-13 04:37 am UTC

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komos, 2007-12-13 12:56 pm UTC

	there will come a time when you can even take your clothes off when you dance derspatchel 2007-12-12 05:54 pm UTC (link)
	Hey, I'ma get drunk and take off my clothes and run around in public. BUT DON'T NOBODY TAKE NO PITCHERS, GOLLY THAT'D BE EMBARRASSING. Excellent defense, Tufts Nudists, and congratulations on scheduling your naked shenanigans on one of the icier nights we've had so far. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	plumtreeblossom 2007-12-12 06:07 pm UTC (link)
	I love all the unique and beautiful snowflakes screaming that a video of their naked, wobbling posteriors is "pornography." As if to say, how could anyone view us in our birthday suits and not derive SECKSHUL AROWZUL? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

PASTY COLLEGE KIDS GONE IN A FASHION THAT MIGHT ALMOST BE CONSIDERED WILD!! -

derspatchel, 2007-12-12 06:17 pm UTC

Re: there will come a time when you can even take your clothes off when you dance

surrealestate
2007-12-12 06:16 pm UTC (link)

I'd call it semi-public. As far as I can tell, the event takes place on University property, which, while open, is still private -- they could put up fences and locked gates everywhere if they wanted to, after all.

That said, if it was just a spectator video on YouTube, I'd shrug it off, but from an actual newspaper (or some approximation thereof), I think it's in pretty poor taste and violates their own terms of use. The fact that they seem to have plagiarized, fabricated, and/or make tons of mistakes in the article itself makes it even worse.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: there will come a time when you can even take your clothes off when you dance -

derspatchel, 2007-12-12 06:37 pm UTC

Re: there will come a time when you can even take your clothes off when you dance -

surrealestate, 2007-12-12 07:00 pm UTC

LOL -

ayelle, 2007-12-13 02:24 am UTC

	on_reserve 2007-12-12 06:04 pm UTC (link)
	I actually agree with the students. The photos and video weren't meant as news coverage -- they were meant specifically to humiliate the participants. While that may be the bread and butter of publications like The Enquirer,/i> and other tabloid rags, it really is below a community newspaper. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	thetathx1138 2007-12-12 06:33 pm UTC (link)
	they were meant specifically to humiliate the participants. The only thing unique about this is the website where it's located. Hell, they probably got the video from some Tufts student's Myspace. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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hellgirl13, 2007-12-13 01:41 am UTC

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pierceheart, 2007-12-21 06:02 pm UTC

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hellgirl13, 2007-12-21 06:04 pm UTC

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pierceheart, 2007-12-21 06:07 pm UTC

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hellgirl13, 2007-12-21 06:10 pm UTC

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pierceheart, 2007-12-21 06:16 pm UTC

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hellgirl13, 2007-12-23 03:02 pm UTC

	ron_newman 2007-12-12 06:10 pm UTC (link)
	Isn't the residential quad in Medford, not Somerville? Perhaps the wrong city's newspaper covered this event. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	josephineave 2007-12-12 11:23 pm UTC (link)
	Yes, but it's actually the Rez (for resevoir) Quad. There used to be a huge reservoir in that space until the '40s. The term sticks since the Rez Quad is also a residential quad. The city line runs through the library and then mostly along Professor's Row. Sounds like Somerville FD got the majority of the work. TuftsOTR reports someone fell off the Sigma Nu house. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	_mattt 2007-12-12 06:12 pm UTC (link)
	I want to do this out in the open, but I don't want to be seen. Right... (Reply to this)(Thread)

	plumtreeblossom 2007-12-12 06:52 pm UTC (link)
	Correct. I require filthy townie rabble to avert their eyes while I scamper nude with my Tufts brothers and sisters in a beer-soaked bonding ritual meant to build self-esteem and create cherished memories to be treasured forever. Sorry, but you'll need Tufts student ID to see my tits. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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_mattt, 2007-12-12 06:59 pm UTC

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thetathx1138, 2007-12-13 02:52 am UTC

	feralnerd 2007-12-12 08:16 pm UTC (link)
	I wonder if the concept of a nude beach is so mindboggling to you. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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_mattt, 2007-12-12 08:26 pm UTC

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feralnerd, 2007-12-12 08:38 pm UTC

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_mattt, 2007-12-12 08:52 pm UTC

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komos, 2007-12-12 08:56 pm UTC

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feralnerd, 2007-12-12 09:21 pm UTC

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doogly, 2007-12-12 09:26 pm UTC

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komos, 2007-12-12 08:53 pm UTC

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thetathx1138, 2007-12-13 02:54 am UTC

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feralnerd, 2007-12-13 02:59 am UTC

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thetathx1138, 2007-12-13 03:14 am UTC

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feralnerd, 2007-12-13 03:24 am UTC

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thetathx1138, 2007-12-13 03:35 am UTC

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feralnerd, 2007-12-13 04:14 am UTC

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thetathx1138, 2007-12-13 04:50 am UTC

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feralnerd, 2007-12-13 04:56 am UTC

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elements, 2007-12-14 04:29 am UTC

	dfischman 2007-12-12 06:20 pm UTC (link)
	"The test of a first-class mind is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in the head at the same time and still be able to function." - F. Scott Fitzgerald The Naked Quad Run is sophomoric. The Journal was practicing poor journalism when it covered it. Both these statements are true. (Reply to this)

wallacestreet
2007-12-12 06:20 pm UTC (link)

Drunk streakers were not amused.

But I was, by their reaction. Aren't these are the generation which has grown up with Youtube and MySpace and whatnot? They (or at least their peers) post the most cringe-worthy stuff about themselves or their "friends", right there for future employers to google.

That said, I think that the newspaper should have shown better judgement. A bunch of drunk, naked people running around the streets is certainly a legit news story for a local paper. Video or identifiable pictures of naked people, on the other hand, while certainly legal, are in poor taste. Just let the students post it themselves :). The journal did, take down a non-revealing but clearly naked (and drunk) picture showing a couple of girls' faces, which was the right thing to do; the picture up now (guy wrapped in Israeli flag) is a good one.

On a related topic, has the enforcement underage drinking statutes against college-age kids gone completely out the window? I hope so.

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josephineave, 2007-12-12 06:40 pm UTC

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rethcir, 2007-12-12 08:03 pm UTC

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pierceheart, 2007-12-21 06:09 pm UTC

	thetathx1138 2007-12-12 06:30 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah, going out naked, in public, in this day and age, and NOT expecting to get filmed/photographed is...an unrealistic expectation. (Reply to this)(Thread)

(no subject) -

jspazzer, 2007-12-12 06:45 pm UTC

anjaliesque
2007-12-12 06:43 pm UTC (link)

I ran three laps on the Quad on Monday night, totally sober, just I did the two years before that. It's fantastic every time.

To clarify, we don't choose which night we run, no matter how icy it is. NQR always happens at 10pm on the last class day of the fall semester - and it's a great way to blow off steam before reading period, which is happening now (I write this from Tisch library, where I arrived at 8 AM this morning and couldn't even find an open table, it's that crowded).

It's respectful not to take photos or video at NQR, though of course I know it's going to happen anyway. If people are going to get that upset about being documented, then obviously they shouldn't be running the first place (though alcohol often clouds thoughtful decision-making...) Though in my opinion, this is pretty low for a newspaper to go.

(Reply to this)

paging Mr. Stevens, white courtesy phone please

derspatchel
2007-12-12 06:49 pm UTC (link)

Hello, this is your Action News Reporter live on the scene at the university. Pardon me, sir, did you see what happened?

"Yeah, I did. I was just takin a stroll round the quad with my wife when there they come, runnin around the alma mater in the altogether, not wearin nothin but their smiles.

I looked over t'Ethel and I hollered DON'T LOOK, ETHEL!

But it was too late. She'd been matriculated.

Summa cum laude."

LOOKIDAT LOOKIDAT

(Reply to this)(Thread)

Re: paging Mr. Stevens, white courtesy phone please -

jspazzer, 2007-12-12 06:54 pm UTC

ifotismeni
2007-12-12 08:28 pm UTC (link)

ok, from a reporter's POV, i can understand the need to be there and report on this -- but the video seems unnecessary and totally voyeuristic. i would argue it doesn't add anything new to the story -- if you're writing that people were running around naked, do we really need to see videos of it to understand what happened? i can see this being a heated newsroom argument but honestly i don't see what the video added to the story other than pure titillation. sure papers are desperate for eyes but honest to god, that's not the way to do it.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

The reporter's take -

jspazzer, 2007-12-12 08:44 pm UTC

Re: The reporter's take -

ifotismeni, 2007-12-12 08:49 pm UTC

Privacy shmivacy

shakes
2007-12-12 09:09 pm UTC (link)

The University of Chicago (a private school as well) has a Polar Bear Run on its campus every year. Lots of naked undergrads running in zero-degree weather. And there are cameras. mind you i've never seen anyone take video of it but still-shots have shown up on the internets.

anybody who is naked in public (even if it's a "private" institution) is liable to be photographed. duh. they know that going into it.

however, the person who compared this incident to being photographed at a nude beach is a bit off base...A nude beach is a nude beach ALWAYS. it is not legally public nudity. Private beaches have different rights compared to private institutions. the "private" in private institution does not mean "exclusive" or "naughty bits"; it means "privately-operated" (not state-run!).

the ethics of documenting public nudity are contentious but one thing for sure is it's silly to be outraged by it. embarrassed, perhaps. angry, no.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

Re: Privacy shmivacy -

feralnerd, 2007-12-13 03:03 am UTC

Re: Privacy shmivacy -

komos, 2007-12-13 04:03 pm UTC

	jenskot 2007-12-12 11:04 pm UTC (link)
	I don't condone dumbass college kids running around naked, but I actually thought the video was tastefully done - it was only the backside, individuals weren't identifiable, and it was actually kinda cute - like something you'd see from any generation of dumbass college kids. :) (Reply to this)

Contains a Link with NSFW Material

hellgirl13
2007-12-12 11:47 pm UTC (link)

The event was covered by the media. The media took pictures and video. They posted said pictures and video.

The event was not in a pivate, secluded place.

People were drunk and nekkid.

Here's a far less tasteful photo array from last year's event that I found in less than 30 seconds simply by googling "Tufts Naked Quad Run". Well, OK. I used Yahoo and it was the 6th entry found.

So. Why are these kids complaining again?

Sorry. Actions have consequences no matter how much you may not like them.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

Quick! TO THE WAHMBULANCE! -

nalz, 2007-12-13 12:57 am UTC

Re: Quick! TO THE WAHMBULANCE! -

hellgirl13, 2007-12-13 01:21 am UTC

Re: Quick! TO THE WAHMBULANCE! -

wallacestreet, 2007-12-13 02:28 am UTC

Re: Quick! TO THE WAHMBULANCE! -

thetathx1138, 2007-12-13 02:56 am UTC

Re: Quick! TO THE WAHMBULANCE! -

hellgirl13, 2007-12-13 12:53 pm UTC

	an_art_worker 2007-12-13 01:17 am UTC (link)
	funny - I have lived in Davis Sq for @ 10 years and never heard of this before. Tufts overall seems mostly invisible. Anyway, the video is pretty innocuous. You can't see faces or um... stuff dangling. No doubt though that it will turn up at someone's confirmation hearing sometime in the future... ;-) (Reply to this)

	Davis Square Makes MetaFilter enochs_fable 2007-12-13 05:07 pm UTC (link)
	Look, we're on MetaFilter! Amusing. (Reply to this)

	josephineave 2007-12-13 05:38 pm UTC (link)
	I find the organizers' choice of momentos to hand out to the crowd to be quite interesting -- frisbees with CENSORED: Tufts Class of 2008 (Reply to this)

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