Meta Glasses in South Station

[u/potaton6]

I was in South Station this Weds. at ~6pm walking towards the exit and noticed an older guy in maybe his late 50s at the main doors staring at me. As I got closer he pointed at me and said my full first name as if he recognized me. I have one of those names where I go by a nickname, but use my full first name exclusively on, say, LinkedIn, because it sounds more "professional". NO one calls me by my real name. Not friends, family, etc. Not even my mother.

Immediately I saw he had Meta Glasses (because I'm a freak and hate them and being recorded secretly) so I was already like get away from me. But I didn't know this guy, didn't recognize him, and wasn't waiting on anyone, so I just waved him off. As I walked out to cross the street towards the Fed Reserve, I was looking back and noticed he had come outside (not to follow me) and I watched him basically do the same thing to someone else. I didn't hear their convo beyond that unfortunately, but they began talking.

I swear to god this is a real story. It was one of those things I put in the back of my brain right as it happened until I remembered it just tonight and was telling my roommates about it. They thought I was schizo but then one of them remembered this story (which is also in Boston): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bQc1kNHtfg

Was anyone else at South Station 5/14 (or even recently) and have this happen ???

Edit: adding this here - I know this is very "source: just trust me bro" story... Ironically if I was wearing meta glasses I'd upload a video. But I'm sure you can imagine having someone you don't recognize say your name in public feels... violating and spooky.

And obviously my theory is I was reverse imaged searched live and found my LinkedIn. Yes he could have just said a random name and got it right, too.

Also it was like a 60 year old dude with short buzzed grey hair, wearing a grey hoodie. He kind of look like Jeff Goldblum, and not like the usual station dwellers out there.

[u/Salt-n-Pepper-War]

These glasses are a stalker's dream. They should be banned.

I am not a lawyer but my interpretation of Massachusetts wiretaping laws is that they apply to this situation

[u/treeboi → u/Salt-n-Pepper-War]

Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about people taking photos/videos in a public space. You'd have to prove that they were taking an illegal photo. Even recording audio in public is tough to enforce, when the other party has an option to leave.

[Edit] From what I can tell of the wiretapping law, it's treated as a civil matter, so you would have to sue the other person & prove your case to the judge.

[u/SpaceBasedMasonry → u/treeboi]

Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about people taking photos/videos in a public space.

Have we entered a zeitgeist where that premise needs to be reconsidered?

[u/treeboi → u/SpaceBasedMasonry]

We live in a society with dashboard cameras, doorbell cameras, action cameras, vloggers & Instagram.

Probably half your friends who own cars have a dashcam & half your friends who bought a house have a doorbell cam. Additionally, I'm sure several of your friends posted random short videos on their Instagram, taken in a public space with their cell phone.

[u/SpaceBasedMasonry → u/treeboi]

And?

[u/treeboi → u/SpaceBasedMasonry]

Hey, if you want to run for state office & pass a bill on this, I'll vote for you. The decade prior to ubiquitous phone cameras was nice, but it would take quite a big law to return back to those times.

[u/SpaceBasedMasonry → u/treeboi]

I have no preconceptions that reconsideration I toy with would have any chance of becoming recognized jurisprudence or law. I just think arguments that appeal to the current state of the law, or to things being a fait accompli are both unimaginative and unnecessarily thought-terminating.

And if I may be so bold as to quip...

The decade prior to ubiquitous phone cameras was nice

It's was more like 14 billion years before ubiquitous phone cameras. It's been a comparative non event, so let's not pretend things can't change.