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Photos, Threats & Chicken - Worst Day of My Life!
It was a VERY rough day. There is a *ick-*il-A in my mall. I was on-duty ALONE. For 6 HOURS dealing with thousands of people lining-up for the ‘support the company’ day. It was like Chernobyl, D-Day and an attack by Godzilla all rolled into one.
I’ve never been made to feel so horrible in my entire life. Remember that I'm a Security Officer in a Mall and have been for 7 years.
Every mall I’ve worked at since 9/11 has had a ‘no photography/no video’ policy. If a store is doing something for their own marketing, or a store allows photography/filming within their lease line, that’s fine. But in the public area of the mall, it’s a no go. It’s posted on signs at every entrance. It’s harder now with cell phones, but it’s obvious when someone is taking a photo with one.
Due to the celebratory nature of this event, it seemed nearly EVERY person in line was taking photos, tweeting, facebooking, etc. Since the line was in the public area, guess who had to speak with hundreds of shutterbugs? (The store manager also made forays through the line, requesting people to adhere to mall rules, be courteous and not take photos)
I think at least 30 people threatened to sue me. At least 3 claimed to be lawyers. I tried to explain the situation to them thusly when they asked “why can’t I take pictures?” I explained that because it is private property, we have rules we have to enforce for everyone’s safety, security and privacy, for both employees and customers. The majority seemed to get it. The rest verbally assaulted me regarding me withholding their constitutional rights/first amendment/etc. I had men hiss in my face how they were good (insert religion here) and that I should be supporting them. Others said it was illegal, despite my AGAIN pointing out that it is private property, and explaining that if you invited someone to your house and asked them to take off their shoes or they would have to leave, and they refused, then you would make them leave, correct? They STILL insisted it was public property. So I tried explaining how private property can be open to the public, but under the condition that you have to follow set rules. Still others claimed ‘well you didn’t stop HIM/HER from taking pictures!!’ though I could only catch so many people and could only be in one spot at one time. Still didn’t work. I think the main gripe was that I was stopping them from doing something that they WANTED to do, period. I had to escort one man out, as he was trying to rile-up the crowd after being told to stop taking photos. Another man began videotaping me as I explained the policy, ignored me when I asked him to please stop, then refused to erase the tape when I explained that he, in attempting to support one right, violated my right to privacy when I told him I did not want to be filmed. He scoffed and left, so I have NO clue where my impromptu interview may end-up. The crowd also drew people trying to distribute flyers, pamphlets and so-on of various natures, which we also don’t allow.
For the most part, people took it well once the rule was explained to them. The problem was with those stubborn ones who REFUSED to believe that we’ve always had this rule and were convinced that we were trying to squash public support for the store. I’ve already been searching online and have found a dozen articles/blogs and tweets about ‘some security guard/mall cop/power hungry bitch thirsty for authority’ DARING to tell them what to do. They are not very flattering. It makes me feel so bad. I was not monitoring them due to my beliefs, which I did not inject into the situation at all. I was only doing my job in the capacity that the company expected of me, and that was to uphold their rules regardless of my personal beliefs and feelings. At least a few apologized for the trouble I was having and actually helped me understand better that they were supporting the freedom to believe what we want and our freedom to say it, and did not have an anti-anything attitude. That was refreshing, and a point I hadn’t looked at the situation from. At least those few thank-yous took the sting away somewhat. But in a situation like that there just doesn't seem to be any way to win.
I’ve never been made to feel so horrible in my entire life. Remember that I'm a Security Officer in a Mall and have been for 7 years.
Every mall I’ve worked at since 9/11 has had a ‘no photography/no video’ policy. If a store is doing something for their own marketing, or a store allows photography/filming within their lease line, that’s fine. But in the public area of the mall, it’s a no go. It’s posted on signs at every entrance. It’s harder now with cell phones, but it’s obvious when someone is taking a photo with one.
Due to the celebratory nature of this event, it seemed nearly EVERY person in line was taking photos, tweeting, facebooking, etc. Since the line was in the public area, guess who had to speak with hundreds of shutterbugs? (The store manager also made forays through the line, requesting people to adhere to mall rules, be courteous and not take photos)
I think at least 30 people threatened to sue me. At least 3 claimed to be lawyers. I tried to explain the situation to them thusly when they asked “why can’t I take pictures?” I explained that because it is private property, we have rules we have to enforce for everyone’s safety, security and privacy, for both employees and customers. The majority seemed to get it. The rest verbally assaulted me regarding me withholding their constitutional rights/first amendment/etc. I had men hiss in my face how they were good (insert religion here) and that I should be supporting them. Others said it was illegal, despite my AGAIN pointing out that it is private property, and explaining that if you invited someone to your house and asked them to take off their shoes or they would have to leave, and they refused, then you would make them leave, correct? They STILL insisted it was public property. So I tried explaining how private property can be open to the public, but under the condition that you have to follow set rules. Still others claimed ‘well you didn’t stop HIM/HER from taking pictures!!’ though I could only catch so many people and could only be in one spot at one time. Still didn’t work. I think the main gripe was that I was stopping them from doing something that they WANTED to do, period. I had to escort one man out, as he was trying to rile-up the crowd after being told to stop taking photos. Another man began videotaping me as I explained the policy, ignored me when I asked him to please stop, then refused to erase the tape when I explained that he, in attempting to support one right, violated my right to privacy when I told him I did not want to be filmed. He scoffed and left, so I have NO clue where my impromptu interview may end-up. The crowd also drew people trying to distribute flyers, pamphlets and so-on of various natures, which we also don’t allow.
For the most part, people took it well once the rule was explained to them. The problem was with those stubborn ones who REFUSED to believe that we’ve always had this rule and were convinced that we were trying to squash public support for the store. I’ve already been searching online and have found a dozen articles/blogs and tweets about ‘some security guard/mall cop/power hungry bitch thirsty for authority’ DARING to tell them what to do. They are not very flattering. It makes me feel so bad. I was not monitoring them due to my beliefs, which I did not inject into the situation at all. I was only doing my job in the capacity that the company expected of me, and that was to uphold their rules regardless of my personal beliefs and feelings. At least a few apologized for the trouble I was having and actually helped me understand better that they were supporting the freedom to believe what we want and our freedom to say it, and did not have an anti-anything attitude. That was refreshing, and a point I hadn’t looked at the situation from. At least those few thank-yous took the sting away somewhat. But in a situation like that there just doesn't seem to be any way to win.
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