I just can't find any sane justification for behavior like that.
Think of it this way- before any of this happened, the cops came to my door and asked politely if we had a video camera facing our neighbor's yard, which would have provided some useful evidence on a car breakin. They didn't say "oh, hey, it's creepy to videotape your neighbor's front yard which is in plain view and has no fence." Combined with the laws of my state, it's clear that videotaping my yard and the neighbor's front yard is not illegal, and in general, seems to be non-creepy.
Would you label a gate or a lock as "intimidating" as well?
But to answer your question: >Would you label a gate or a lock as "intimidating" as well?
No I wouldn't, but that isn't to say I couldn't imagine a scenario where it could be used that way. For example, say you move to a new place and you're different from the locals. You notice your neighbor watching you with suspicion when you come home from work everyday and they make a show of watching you while putting a big padlock on their garage door or something. There's nothing illegal or even really wrong about doing that. It's just kind of crappy and not very neighborly. The behavior would be weird and creepy.
No I think it is called for, you clearly aren't getting it. The things you are saying, the behavior you're outlining and the justifications you are giving for it make you a creep.
>can point their cameras at my yard. When I point my camera I seriously consider
>that others don't share my values. And if they came over and asked nicely, I'd
So you perform an act of intimidation[1], and then expect your neighbors to come to you and ask that you stop? This is not the behavior of a good person, no matter what you've convinced yourself. Good people do not intimidate their neighbors and then expect to be given the benefit of the doubt on top of it. This is the kind of thing a creep does to force interaction with them and then escalate their intimidation tactics.
If you truly weren't a creep and you wanted to put a camera up, you'd ask your neighbors for permission first. Get their consent and then proceed only if they give it. So really at best you're a creep who doesn't see a problem with intimidating their neighbors at worst you're someone who doesn't understand or care about consent.
>move the camera (it currently points at a neighbor's driveway). At least I'm
>open and honest about it.
Seriously, nothing about your responses here are showing that you're open and honest. You sound entitled and presumptuous. I'd invite you to please try to view this from a perspective that isn't your own.
[1] You started out saying this, remember? - "The camera may be acting as a deterrent (if they didn't have any additional thefts) without it being obvious."
The camera is acting as a deterrent by being intimidating, so at least you agree that a camera can be intimidating.
edit: formatting