AvailableLight wrote in post #14724115
Before this thread goes out of whack, the way I read Mike's post, he was simply establishing how similar the UK and USA have become, in a "Big Brother" kind of way. I hope that's what he meant.
Hey, I'm a born and raised, flag-flying American (seriously, there's a huge flag flying from the post next to my front door and a large Georgia flag on the wall of my garage). I love this country and have no intention of moving anywhere else.
But the USA and the UK have stuffy rules about a lot of stuff. I never intended that statement to be political, simply an observation that annoys me. It's give and take. Freedom is an interesting concept, applied in various ways throughout the world.
For example, in Mexico (I've been there many times throughout my life), and particularly in Baja California your building code is basically what your budget can afford. You want to put up a fence, build a shed, at another level to your house? Ah, go for it. Just consider that the ground moves once in a while....or don't worry about it.
You want to ride a horse on the beach, drink a beer while doing it and then throw up a tent to sleep there overnight? Go for it.
However, hold your tongue when it comes to politics and know your place in society. Say the wrong thing and before you know it your head (along with your family's heads) will be impounded (the rest you can keep).
In America you can say what you want (short of threats or "fire-in-a-theater" types of comments) and you'll never have to worry about disappearing in the middle of the night. People whine and complain here all day. Heck, people get paid millions of dollars to whine on the radio and TV.
But God forbid you build a campfire on the beach, drink a beer in the park, or bring a DSLR into a sporting event.
That's all I'm saying. Stuffy, overbearing rules that aren't necessary. Heck, if they want to ban photography at Olympic events they might want to look at the people they hire to take the official portraits of the athletes. 
The way I look at it is this: They don't mind taking your money for tickets, but once in the house (or stadium) they literally want to own everything but your bladder. You must buy their food, their drinks, etc. Heck, they might as well set up a pharmacy with inflated prices for the diabetics and then disallow you to bring your own medicines. Outlaw hats (could be a bomb in there) and then sell them in the gift shop.
For that matter, make them buy overpriced bottled water (five-bottle minimum per person) and then charge them 10 pounds per toilet visit.
Did someone really tell me to go FYS?
I don't think POTN has a thread for that kind of photography.
Thank you. 
