Ignorant People Make Me Wonder Why I Bother?

I would literally say about half of the time when I fly (about half of the 30 flights total I have done in this field) I get comments on my drone. I like to fly in this open field that is public and safe to fly in. I like to take off in this field and then step back onto the path behind me... I get (mostly middle-aged to quite elderly) people complain about "that horrible thing" and its a HUGE field. Like I can't hear my P4P on the other side of it, so I don't see what's so horrible about it and why they tell me it's noisy? It there is country-side and a farm nearby so it's no big deal.

I have heard the term "drone-phobia" used on here and thought nah, that rarely happens but today somebody stood there actually filming me shouting how they would report me and I don't appreciate the countryside (clearly why I hate photographing it then?).

Today I had the afternoon free and could of gone to take more video/ photos but in the end I really can't be bothered, maybe because I might get some nut try attacking my drone or something?

Lets hear any "incidents" anyone else here has had with such ignorant individuals who believe drones will one day steal their wives, take their kids and burn their houses down?
I got one similar incident shortly after buying my P4 which really put me off fly anywhere with people at all. Some moody woman complaining about it being noisy. I fle a 4min mission 500m out from the beach over the sea at 50m alt!

A young couple nearby were stunned at her walking 500m to whinge at me. This was in Australia. Since then Ive flown many missions and get lots of interest curiosity.. I fly in the Philippines and everyone is fascinated and interested and positive.
I put the one incident down to the individual's attitude. It probably wouldnt matter what happened that day, she was just looking for something to moan about. 5 minutes after a coastguard helicopter overflew the beach at a low altitude. I wonder if she called them to make a noise complaint?

So... dont lat people put you off. Its either drone phobia or just that they are miserable human beings. As long as you obey the laws and ecercise good judgement so you arent annoying folks or putting them at risk they have nothing to complain about!
 
I just built a home on a 3/4 acre lot a year ago, It's in a rather rural area next to a 34 acre field that is cut twice a year and quite a bit of other land in the area. When testing out my P4P, I was getting a feel for it being new at this and decided to take it out from my land over the 34 acres. Quick little flight but upon returning the bird to my land I looked up to meet the owner whom proceeded to tell me I was trespassing on his land by flying over it and proceeded to give me a lengthy lecture. I bit my lip, kept my fists in my pocket and thanked him for the information.
 
I open carry pretty much all the time and it seems to calm everyone down when I'm flying.. At least the ones who will walk up to me and talk when I'm flying.

Most are amazed at what the P4 will do and then I mention I went from flying a 747 to this drone and they think I'm kidding them. It just gets to be more fun after that.

AD
I usually say something like, "It's a little easier than the F-16 I used to fly." Then they say, "Wow! You flew an F-16??? Did you fly one during Desert Storm?" I respond with "Yep." Then I tap my ear (ala Person of Interest) and say something like, "He's right next to me. Is the transport team ready?" They usually walk away quickly. I never bother to mention that during Desert Storm, the F-16 I was flying (while drinking a beer) was an addon in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
 
I've not seen this incitement of fear and panic about drones from mainstream national news sources. Have you? Or is the problem more local?

All those media sources about drone strikes, then invasion of privacy? They make local and national news headlines. Look at the guy that was trying to create a Kickstarter for growing organic lemons, who concocted a BS story about a "peeping" drone, and it ended up HE was the pilot of the "peeping" drone.. The video showed him "heroically" shooting the drone out of the sky. Lots of stuff like that, and ESPECIALLY the invasion of privacy.
 
I do that when I conceal carry my firearm (yes I have a conceal carry permit) But I dress like a skater just to disguise myself because I don't need anyone suspecting that I might be carrying, the less I can keep people from bugging me better.
Dress like a skater? You wear lycra and a bobble hat? :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pharm
I would literally say about half of the time when I fly (about half of the 30 flights total I have done in this field) I get comments on my drone. I like to fly in this open field that is public and safe to fly in. I like to take off in this field and then step back onto the path behind me... I get (mostly middle-aged to quite elderly) people complain about "that horrible thing" and its a HUGE field. Like I can't hear my P4P on the other side of it, so I don't see what's so horrible about it and why they tell me it's noisy? It there is country-side and a farm nearby so it's no big deal.

I have heard the term "drone-phobia" used on here and thought nah, that rarely happens but today somebody stood there actually filming me shouting how they would report me and I don't appreciate the countryside (clearly why I hate photographing it then?).

Today I had the afternoon free and could of gone to take more video/ photos but in the end I really can't be bothered, maybe because I might get some nut try attacking my drone or something?

Lets hear any "incidents" anyone else here has had with such ignorant individuals who believe drones will one day steal their wives, take their kids and burn their houses down?
HHmmmm! Just turned 68 and I have a P3. No hassles with me and drones lol. I live on a 23 hectare property surrounded by my sons 80 hectare property so no real neighbours to worry about.
I don't think it's an age problem, I'm quite into technology. I think it's more of an ignorance problem, age doesn't come into it, Actually, I wish I had another couple of lime times left to me to enjoy the future.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sgf
They are out there. I guess I get depressed when I read all the negative stories on here. I'm 77 and live in a community of 55 and older. I fly all around my area, haven't heard of the first complaint. There are 400 homes in here. I decided to do a video of the entire community. The board put out that they might see a guy flying his drone and taking photos. I took pic of the xmas decorations at night. I'm now doing a 8 min video. At night mind you, I had one old man come out of his garage, in a gruff voice he hollowed out, do you have a license for that thing. I explained what I was doing, he didn't like it but he went back into the house. He had no decorations. I was flooded with thank you emails, on Facebook. One elderly said they haven't been out in years to see the decorations, they thanked me. This generosity made me feel 10 feet tall.

So my answer to you pay as little attention as possible to the negivativity. Enjoy your hobby as long as you can. I love it. I have two, one P3S , P4.


Sent from my iPad using PhantomPilots
 
Motive, weapon, threat - did you ask the police to arrest him?

No, it would have been a waste, ultimately it's my word against his. I did tell them what he said, and they logged it as a complaint, but without recorded proof there is nothing that could be done.
 
They are noisy. That is the one thing I dislike about them.
The videos are fun to watch because you don't have to hear the noise of the motors. They sound like a go cart to me.
 
Have flown several instances where folks are nasty. Most times, they are curious, but a few exceptions.

I flew at a car show (by invitation and with permission) and I intentionally did not fly over the vintage cars. I stayed under the craft, best I could when lower to the ground. I had many come up with questions and I showed them the display, etc.

Once again, by invitation, I was flying around the edges of a gathering (not over), and again, I kept myself under the craft, and someone made a move to swing at my craft like they were going to attempt to disrupt it (no, it wasn't that close to us) but I immediately moved it away from the jack wagon and shifted to another part of the gathering.

Most are curious, and those who are pleasant, I will show them, and I make it a point to show them about the zoom feature (oh wait, it doesn't have one) and show them that it has to come closer to get an image where you can be recognized, oh wait, now you can HEAR it. Many seem happier about them afterward.

I believe the problems we experience are caused by two things: 1. stupid people flying and not following common sense getting unwanted media attention which then inflates the problem. 2. Ignorant media reporting. I have continually invited local media to experience, first hand, the capability of my DJI P3P. To date, none have accepted.

I remain pleasant and patient with those curious to help reduce the negativity perpetrated by the media. Those who are jack wagons, I just remove myself and my craft from the immediate area because that type of person you can do nothing with and in the end it will be brutally ugly.
 
...I have continually invited local media to experience, first hand, the capability of my DJI P3P. To date, none have accepted....

There should be some sort of script that we can offer local TV stations. They can send a reporter to spend some time with a local group of people flying their birds safely. Offer to shoot some video of the bird orbiting the reporter and the reporter exclusive access to that footage. Give them a thumb drive with the video. Make it easier for them to do a piece that can run on a slow news day.
 
Wow, I should have knocked on wood with my previous post!

I just got physically assaulted and my drone ripped out of my hands and thrown on the ground (and heavily damaged) by a complete stranger dressed in a dirty t-shirt and shorts (claiming to be the owner of an office high-rise I was shooting the last phase of a promotion video for). I had permission from the owners (in fact they were looking forward to the finished product) to shoot there. I had done my first shoot back in November 2015 which included a waypoint mission fly around before construction began on putting a new skin on the building. I used the same waypoint mission halfway through last summer, and today I was flying the same waypoint mission with the work complete. He (the guy who assaulted me--turned out to be a relative of one of the owners) also grabbed my aviation radio scanner and threw that to the ground--actually he did that first. My wife wasn't around--she was guarding my other equipment where I launched from out of sight (in an empty parking lot)--as I was following my drone to keep VLOS.

I called 911 while he was screaming at me, and yanked my iPad Air 2 out of it's holder on the RC. Then three guys dressed in business suites showed up in a black SUV, and started yelling at me to get off their property and get off the phone. I said I was talking to the 911 operator, so then they started honking their horn, yelling at me some more. I told them I had permission... and pointed to the security guard that had just cleared me after verifying I had an appointment and permission to be there. The guard just backed away putting his hands up, and refused to say anything. But then the guys in the SUV told him to escort me back to my car, while the guy that assaulted me refused to give my iPad back. Anyway... I could go on... but... wow... what a surreal experience for me... The cops finally showed up, and asked me if I wanted to press charges. I said no, just want a new drone.
 

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
143,066
Messages
1,467,358
Members
104,935
Latest member
Pauos31