In spin class today, the instructor stepped out for literally 30 seconds. During this time, the guy sitting in front of me picked up his cell phone and SNAPPED A PHOTO IN THE MIRROR. He stashed the phone away as soon as the instructor came back inside.
I work out at the YMCA, which is not only a community center and a gym but also a family shelter. There are 329842349 different signs that read NO CELL PHONES. It's not a stretch by any means to think that people do not want to be photographed while they're working out.
As class wound down, the guy hopped off his bike and left before the stretch. I unclipped from my bike and ran after him.
Hey, did you take a photo in class? I asked.
Uh, yeah.
Am I in it?
I'm pretty sure you're not, he said. He turned to go.
I stepped in front of him. Show me.
Not knowing what to do with the sweaty woman in the lime green tank top who was blocking his way, he fished out his Blackberry and opened the photo. Sure enough, I was there, as was the woman next to me and the (pregnant) woman next to him. Our faces were blurry, so you couldn't identitfy any of us.
See, you can't see you, he said, and turned to leave again.
It's not cool to snap pictures of people without their permission, I told him. If you want a picture riding the bike, I'm sure the instructor would be cool with you doing it after class.
I moved out of the way. Have a great day!
...
I tweet. I Facebook. I check in using Foursquare. I'm as connected as you get. But have some fucking manners, people. Jesus.
