Father Ted, I think you missed one point I was trying to make. I agree that not all photographers should be tarred with the same brush, the same goes for for festival goers. Just because some of the people there on the street dress up to be photographed and love it, it doesn't mean that 'everybody' who goes there does. Time and time again various alternative communities have been brought to media attention through the actions of one or a hand full of disturbed people, it has been up to the people in that community to stand up and prove it's not everybody. What goes for us, should go for you too.

Pentaxophile, I'm glad my post was taken in the spirit in which it was meant. Sadly the efforts of a few of you are being tarnished by the visible majority, it might not seem like that to you as all you can see if the image you want and what you need to do to get it. For you and happily for a lot, it's simply asking for permission or not being intrusive if taking candid shots. I would hope that if you're not quick enough to capture the moment or are unlucky enough to be spotted, that you have the good grace to leave it as many don't. For others it means ignoring decorum and upsetting lots of people. Even photographers who have not pushed the issue when I've declined not to be photographed still walk away with a confused expression on their faces. I think that the actions of those has been detrimental to your ability to take some candid shots you might see, when in the past there weren't as many photographers people were less likely to notice a lone tog on a mission and even if they did looked more favourable on them. Now nearly everyone has a highly honed camera radar, whether this makes them pose or hide the whole day time at the wgw has become known for it.
I'm not saying by any stretch of the imagination that some of the 'models' are totally innocent, but when stopping for one simple photo to suddenly be surrounded by a crowd of people snapping and being very shouty and pushy, it has to give them a buzz like they're famous or beautiful. Or possibly too frightened by a large crowd to put an end to to it as seems to happen with some of the kids who dress up.
In the past, I have been asked and stopped for a photo on the street by one photographer. Upon seeing more people whip cameras out to join in, I've walked away so not to create and obstruction on what is a very small but busy shopping street.

If I want to put on my corset, big boots and makeup to make me feel good about myself in a dumbed down world that doesn't allow something different to grow and thrive, while at WGW it's because I was always surrounded by others of the same mind. I don't do it so a pushy group of seedy men can fill their memory cards with images. Does that make me a bad person?

You're more than welcome, let's hope that this can be sorted out before the goths stop going to whitby leaving just the photographers taking pictures of seagulls and each other.

edit- sorry F.Ted, I took a little too long with my reply and didn't see the one you sneaked in. I'm glad at least two of you are aware enough, as until now it was the aggressive posts from one of the members on here that stood out the most.

I'm sorry, but after reading more of the comments on some of your posts I feel forced to join in. Every photographer states that they always ask for permission and don't mind if people decline. Despite this, I have personally met countless that either still try to take a photo when I've said no or even exclaim in and aggressive way "Well. why are you dressed up then?!". For your information at this time I was dressed down and about town shopping.

I've been sat in the back of a cafe and had several people taking photographs of me and and my friends trying to enjoy lunch at the back.
Seeing the photo posted of the lady in cream on here and thinking it was taken without permission as she tried to do some shopping was bad enough without then reading some of the following comments on the subject. I know a friend of the lady in question who has stated that no permission was given to photograph her, she kept apologising to the shop owner for your behaviour, which apparently included swarming around the door and blocking other shoppers from entering.
While some of you say that you did have permission or she knew you were there so that's ok, she dresses up so she must want it is more offensive than I think you realise. You are basically saying that she was 'asking for it', which while only a little out of context is a phrase that has taken on a world of hate in recent times.
A little question, if she did give her permission and wanted to be photographed, why are there not any photo's posted of her from the front and specifically posing for such? Funny that, isn't it?

In answer to "If people don't want to be photograph as Goth, they can be Goth on their own" how about, if people don't want to be vilified for the kind of behaviour by people who seem to think they're part of the working paparazzi then you should go and take photo's on your own.

Also hearing word from this most recent wgw of groups of photographers on the old side of town blocking the shopping street as you often do but this time when asked to move so people could pass, it is a public area and right of way, to reply "I'm working here"

Picking on two possible factual inaccuracies about the graveyard and danger of a large piece of stone possibly breaking and falling on someone, when it all comes down to the Vicar of the church not wanting scantily clad teenage 'models' photographed there just shows that some of you really do not care about anyone else's thoughts or feelings on the matter, just so long as you can post a photo to make some of your friends jealous that you got the pervy image they were lusting after.

Each of you taking photographs is as tainted by the actions of every other person taking pictures of children draped over gravestones. Just like every one of us goths who go to whitby for a music festival and to see our friends seems to be painted in the same light as the ones who just dress up for the weekend and have jumped on the wgw bandwagon to further their dreams of modelling.

If you want the benefit of your hobby in getting beautiful looking artistic photo's then you need to man up and take some of the responsibilities that go with that. Continuing this kind of behaviour with impunity cannot go on for ever. Not all of you are capable of this kind of pack mentality, at least I hope not. Don't you think it's time you took a look at how people are acting within your own group and start to do something to make your image in this whole thing better?

I'm open to reasonable debate, but sadly I'm expecting abuse. Time will tell, the ball is in your court.