Eric's Beijing Diary

Some people just do not like to have their picture taken. Tibetans are particularly shy, but I do meet people among the Han who are a bit on the shy side, too. That's the exception, though. And it should be; they certainly take enough pictures of me! I guess you'd have to say that you have an assumed right to take pictures of someone who is taking pictures of you. Last summer I got caught in the crossfire between a tourist and a local gawker who were shooting each other (with cameras, of course). Tibetans are quite friendly, but they generally don't like to have a camera pointed at them. Mainly the women, though; men don't seem to mind that much.