Helmet cameras

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

I am surprised no one has mentioned this yet. I read I think in the Yachting Monthly last month that my old lifeboat station is going to equip its crews with helmet cameras.

The idea is for future documentaries in the fly on the wall type style to sell to television companies for the entertainment of the great unwashed. Bring your knitting.

Does anyone else think this is wrong, could you imagine how it would feel? You are down on your luck, the weather has turned. You are scared, you have just watched your crew die of hyperthermia, your vessel has sunk, everything you have held dear is now in Davey Jones’ locker., and the lifeboat arrives. This would usually be a sight of great relief, but no, you are being filmed in your lowest moment of life for the entertainment of the nation.

Personally I think this stinks of the sick world we are currently living in.


<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Top Cat Homepage</A>

 

[tome]

Totally agree with you - it's sickening.

I was involved many years ago in a very minor incident after which we agreed to let the inshore lifeboat (which was in our area) locate us in bad viz as an excercise. When we got back, there were a couple of CG blokes who took our pictures despite protests. These appeared in a local rag shortly afterwards with details of our 'rescue'. I was (and still am) disgusted with HMCG for this.

Mind you, my 'friends' enjoyed my discomfort!

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[sailbadthesinner]

mmm not sure
with the right checks and balances it could be okay
it will mainly be idiots on lilos tho won't it
i think as long as you have veto then could be okay but not sure where privacy law stands on that


<hr width=100% size=1>Beer. Source of and answer to all life's problems.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

I understand your sentiment, and if I was in that situation, I wouldn't be too pleased either.

However, if the films are used in a sensible manner, and educate the public as to how acts of stupidity and ignorance, or straigtforward bad luck, can get them into life threatening situations then it could be a good thing.

ALso if the RNLI can make a bob or two out of it, they will be able to provide a better service which could be to the benefit of you or I one day.

<hr width=100% size=1>I'm average size, Its just that everybody else is short.

 

[david_e]

If you are around to see the replay then it won't be a bad thing)

It would more than likely increase peoples awareness of the need to think about safety.

On a general note, it is the way of the world these days, such is the demand for these types of real life shots that it is a business/job for many. e.g. The helicopter crews who fly around LA all day waiting to film car chases, shoot outs etc.

How many hours have you sat in a traffic jam as people 'rubber neck' RTA's.

Personally I find watching (although I don't actually watch it) Eastenders more soul destroying, and was actually wretching when Jordan started to eat worms in the jungle!

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[milltech]

It depends, providing they propose to get a permission chitty signed from everyone appearing prior to broadcast I guess it would be OK, on the other hand I hope they can turn them off when the visit the heads!

<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>

 

[milltech]

Did you ask for a published apology?


<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>

 

[tome]

No, but I now view CG with a certain contempt, which is a pity.

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[boatmike]

Tend to agree with you Big Nick. OK if lifeboats make money out of it (they could always do more if they had more money I am told) and it brings home to people what a bloody marvelous job they do. It could also help to educate the great unwashed. We would all like to think that we and our fellow boaties (sail and power) are totally competent and well prepared for sea. Sadly not always true......
Can any of us put our hands on our hearts and say we have never done something totally cretinous? More publicity might equal more awareness and more care......
Who remembers the series on telly on the lifeboat crew (was it Padstow?) a few years back? Sobering and very riveting viewing. I think we need more programmes like it but would like to see proceeds ploughed back in to the honourable service of the RNLI....

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[milltech]

Contempt for public bodies with too much power and too much contempt for the public is easy. Having been "raided" by Customs on passage from Dartmouth to Poole by 4 masked men, armed and with hard hats, one of whom came into my cabin and stood there while I dressed, then searched the boat unaccompanied without a by-your-leave and then left without so much as a sorry-to-have-troubled-you has left me with much the same opinion. Too much power in the hands of those who don't know how to exercise it.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by milltech on 05/03/2004 16:07 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[robind]

Sounds like a piracy alert to me must be one of the first in the UK?
Rob

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rejuvanu.com>RejuVanu</A>

 

[tcm]

I think it wd surely need release notes before broadcasting - like voxpop interviews also on the telly. Agree - it is sickening. How long before we see gruesome footage from the hospitals, ugh?

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[chriscallender]

Hi Julian,

I agree that it is totally wrong to make entertainment (and money for the TV company!) out of someone's misfortune - even the idiot that puts to sea in a lilo didn't mean to get themselves into trouble and rescued when they set off and doesn't deserve to be served up as entertainment.

Another issue, if I knew that all my aquaintances were going to get a laugh at me being rescued, that might well cause me to delay putting out a mayday in a bad situation, hoping I could somehow sort the situation without the embarassment of the lifeboat film crew. If even one person ends up getting killed because they didn't want to end up on this TV programme then thats obviously totally unacceptable. Thankfully I have never had to ask for help but thats just "by the grace of God".

Put it another way, how would the public react if there was a series made from fly on the wall filming of serious car crashes and people being cut out the wreckage? Would there be an outcry?

Chris

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