There’s video of him flying his Inspire doing his GVC
Great spot I was there a couple of weeks ago, first time from the same car park as you, then with the Avata2 from the other side of the river and finally the following morning early doors from the square. No incidents apart from interest.
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So sad to hear of anyone being threatened. I guess I have been quite lucky as so far I have only ever had one issue and that was close to home, a person I actually know spouting off that I couldn’t fly in that area and he was going to call the police. Now for the daft part. He has a drone himself but has never flown it as he is affraid he may crash. My only response to him was to suggest that he could either report me to the police/CAA or read the information he should be aware of being a drone owner, then come back and apollogise. Needless to say I haven’t heard anything since.
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Seems there is a lot of prejudice against drones, even if you are following the rules (as best as possible). Have you considered doing the golden hour shifts? When less people are around or look for areas a little more quiet.
Sorry to hear you’ve had a lot of hassle, people aren’t always reasonable! 
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I think I have been unlucky, both places where I received bad behaviour are isolated. I was doing no harm but the two men were obviously anti drone for some reason.
The problem with the common this time of year is the amount of cars filling up all the parking spaces, the cows, the golfers and walkers. Fortunately for me it isn’t somewhere I wish to film.
Confrontation with people is a growing issue in everything. (we are hopefully moving as rural as possible next year as we do not want neighbours)
I had a neighbour moaning at me for flying my Mini 4 in my garden and taking sunset photos, told him where to go though, I won’t be intimidated.
It is really up to you and understand if you don’t want to be dealing with grief.
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Yes, I do carry a script. In fact the chap who pushed me to the ground, after he had calmed down, I did give him my script. He then offered me a cup of tea, which I declined!
I’ve owned drones two years this week and had only good interactions with people. Yesterday I was on Llandudno pier and people were watching a drone flying about 30 metre off the pier. These two elderly ladies sitting near to me said “there’s a drone flying over there, you probably can’t see it.” When I told them I was flying it there were very interested, I gave them my card and some examples of my photographs that I have in my bag as postcards.
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Sorry your not having a great time with it there mate, also it’s that time of year when the suns out the piss heads come out sometimes loitering in places you think not, maybe you have just sadly been in the wrong place at the wrong time 
Easier said than done sometimes now matter how much advice your given but there’s a lot of positivity in this thread to stick at it, maybe if you can travel re think of a location or two for now that you can go & try to build your confidence back up in the hobby or maybe take a friend if you can, don’t let the minority of fools outweigh the majority who when they actually know there stuff are more interested & fascinated in the drone rather than loud mouth idiots that hurl abuse, it’s not a nice thought especially if & when your on your own I know I honestly do, but I hope to hear / see you still on here & flying,
occasionally I go out to your area & if at anytime soon I do I’m happy to meet up with you & we’ll fly together ? Sometimes I head out at the drop of a hat, sometimes I usually plan but your not a million miles from me & i love flying around gloustershire so hang in there & let me know your thoughts 
Take care
I think you must be the most unluckiest drone pilots ever! Maybe really early mornings may suit you better! 
I agree on both counts. Early morning suits me, I was at Sharpness filming a ship leaving at 5am a couple of weeks ago, (not with the drone!).
To be honest I was having a bad day from the time of leaving home. As I approached my original destination to fly I found the road closed. Quick thinking drove to my second choice, couldn’t park, so onto third choice. That was ok, an old church on the side of the G&S canal at Frampton. Then onto Arlingham Passage for some peace by the Severn. Was OK until loud mouth Harry began making his threats to hit me and smash my equipment. He was your typical playground bully and when I refused to land my drone he was taken aback. Regarding flying together sometime, good idea. I live in Gloucester.
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I like your idea of having postcards of pics taken with your drone, will give that one some thought.
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Very sad to hear that all this happened and happening to you 
my friend. Dont worry about those illiterate bad manner people. You carry on with your drone and have fun.
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Some years ago, I managed to ferk up my knee and spent some time using a stick. A character in the local pub saw this as a chance to take the pass, something about Long John Silver and ‘where’s your budgie, then’, and on this particular day I wasn’t in the mood. Walking slowly with the stick on a return journey from the toilets, and he was sitting the other side of a table back to the wall. Banter turned to threats and squaring off v. quickly, and he went to stand up to have a go at me.
I am a usually peaceful bloke, and found myself surprised to be thinking in terms that he’d made two strategic errors; that he’d allowed me to get between him and the exit and that a stick can be used offensively, in fact this one was about to be. I was quite proud of my comment as I prodded him back into his seat with it; ‘sit down while you can still stand up you twit (or similar)’.
All apologies then of course and ‘it was only a bit of banter mate, only joking, didn’t mean any harm by it’. Yeah, you did, and I don’t find mocking disability amusing, even temporary disability. He gave me a wide berth after that which suited me admirably.
I felt much better after that. I can reccommend a bit of judicious assertiveness, never agression of course…
I blame the meeja for this; drones, like any new technology that can be used stupidly, are grist to the storymill; electric bikes are the same, as were mobile phones about 20 years ago. Who cares that kids deze daze can’t tell the time on an analogue dial clock, they don’t need to, do they?
But avoiding crowds and situations where people may well have been into daytime alcohol or other forms of chemical refreshment is good practice. Watch out for Ken & Karen parents as well, they’ll work off the principle that you are endangering little Tarquin and Tabitha and behave in the expected entitled manner.
I have a Grey Arrows ID card with all the info on it should I need to call anyone’s bluff; I’ll refer them to the CAA. Haven’t used it yet, and with any luck never will. If you think flying a drone causes problems, try riding a bicycle on a bicycle path!
There are some parts of town that I would avoid anyway, and I’m sure it’s the same in your locality. Bit of common sense, bit of streets, bit of general forethought and awareness pre-empts most issues, but there’s always one arsehole in any group of people, sadly.
And don’t forget that, in the last resort, a flying drone can be used as a weapon. But do forget that I said so.
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Like most others here, I have not experienced any violent threats from passers-by. When I have been engaged by anyone, it has usually been a polite enquiry about what I’m doing, and I respond quietly also. I also wear my badge showing my ID.
If the exchange continues for any length of time, I explain that I have to focus on the drone and can only chat when the drone returns. Even then, I offer them the chance to have an aerial photograph of themselves. This has been taken up 6-8 times, and that way they have my email address, and I have not received anything from them other than thanks.
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Sorry to hear of this situation. However, I think you have just been unlucky. I am always worried about meeting people like this. I have been ok with people in general. I have only met the odd person but I tend to find that a lot of people are friendly and more so interested. Sadly not all people will be like that. Some people may have come across a bad drone flyer. Sadly “you can not speak to a clsed mind”. Some people just do not want to listen. However as long as you are legally flying then call the police if you are attacked.
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Sad to say we may all experience this sometime. But the suggestion at choosing a time when there’s less chance of meeting people; early in the morning say, I’m retired I find the best time is during the week when most people are working, also, a good idea to take a friend along. But don’t give up, it’s an enjoyable hobby, but we need to try & pre-empt any possible problems.
Best wishes Ken.
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Many thanks Ken, Must confess to the two incidents did shake me up a bit. I am a fighter so determined it wasn’t going to spoil my fun. A few weeks ago, with the family, we went to the lower slopes of the Malvern Hills for a picnic lunch. A quiet spot with no one to spoil it for us and I flew my drone to get the confidence back. Since that time have been out flying again on my own. This week out for 3 mornings, indeed back to the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal to where I had the trouble. This time all was well although I did meet a mild Karen on the towpath who turned out to be a farmer and said that most farmers detest drones. We sat down on the bank and had a pleasant conversation, so parted amicably. As with everything in life, it’s a learning curve and to be honest, I feel a lot more confident now with flying my drone. Not that I am complacent and constantly looking out for problems and how to get out of them before they get me. Take care, Chris
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