Job Discussion Forums

[Yu]

The foreign experts building where I work is currently in the process of beginning the installation of security cameras.

I was wondering if this is common and if where you live (on campus) also has security cameras.

This was prompted by a fight between 2 FTs at my school. Somehow they decided installing cameras was the solution to the problem.

[Ger]

At a boarding school that I worked at in Guangzhou, there were cameras in the classrooms and parents could view the classroom of their son/daughter from their home or office.

The reason for having cameras in living quarters is for legal / national security reasons as China restricts meetings (parties) of foreigners to four people, unless there is authorised personnel present because the foreigners could be plotting to overthrow the government.

[Roger]

It invites the voyeurs but it doesn't act as a disincentive to burglars, murderers, or rowdies. Lastly, if the watchman was dozing he will have witnessed nothing. Records? yeah, they are useful in their archives, slowly gathering dust...

Frankly, I am tired of China's security measures! Two burglaries in 3 weeks, and none resolved even though the burglar in the first place is known.

[Calories]

Um, no. There are no cameras here that I know of. If I do happen to find some hidden cameras, I'll be sure to smash them with a hammer. Who actually lives with a camera in their living room? CREEPY!

[SheZook]

Thanks heaps for the comment about the living room camera. Like I wasn't already paranoid enough, knowing that someone (persons) unknown has/have been entering my apartment, uninvited, while I am out - now I am going to have to tear this place apart before I can get any sleep.

[anthyp]

What could possibly be the point of installing cameras in somebody's living room?

Imagine how boring that would be: "Here's the laowai watching a film. Oh, he's having a beer. Now he gets up to find the WC." I mean it's not like we're having crazy foreigner-only all night technicolor sex orgies at our places. At least, not that I know of, but if somebody has heard differently please do let me know.

Sometimes I'll just be walking around naked and suddenly realize, "Oh the curtains are up." Then I'll spend the rest of the day wondering just what kind of show I gave my unfortunate neighbors. Especially now that the missus is away in Shanghai, and classes have ended, I really don't have any reason to get dressed some days. So I don't.

When they make a movie about my life they will probably skip over most of my time in China, I've realized.

[SheZook]