Apparently its illegal to talk to strangers in a CA mall

[jasoncyrus]

Was browsing the register when i came across this little gem of insanity:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/18/mall_talk/

Apparently the Westfield Galleria in California will have you arrested if you start speaking to strangers without first filling out an application form from the mall for third party access.

Seriously, wtf?

Discuss

 

[Outright Villainy]

Woah, what?

I mean... fucking hell! That's just insane.
No... Words... Too... stupid...

 

[Omikron009]

I think it's reasonable. I constantly argue with my mum, because she likes to talk to random strangers and I feel that some of the strangers she tries to talk to may be people like me, who feel extremely uncomfortable talking to people they don't know, and she may be inadvertently causing them stress. I couldn't care less whether or not I'm able to talk to strangers at the mall.

 

[Booze Zombie]

That is very strange, that's all I can honestly say about it.

 

[penthesilea180]

If they don't want people to proselytize in their mall they need to make that clear. Just talking to someone should never be against the law. However, I wouldn't mind if they put a leash on those cell phone sales people who accost every person that passes by.

 

[Icaray]

This is absurd. Although, I'm not confident enough to approach and talk to random strangers, I do know that doing that is a right which cannot be taken away. If I had to ask someone where a certain store is, I would be arrested? Plain absurd.

 

[lee1287]

don't try to pick girls up there?

 

[AWAR]

The combine... They are coming :O

 

[Instinct Blues]

Thats rather absurd and quite an overreaction to say the least.

 

[Nimbus]

Hey, if it's a privately owned mall, they can put whatever crazy rules they like in place. If you don't like it, don't shop there.

 

[jasoncyrus]

don't try to pick girls up there?

I somewhat doubt the priest was trying to pick up chicks =P

 

[Zirat]

I think it's reasonable. I constantly argue with my mum, because she likes to talk to random strangers and I feel that some of the strangers she tries to talk to may be people like me, who feel extremely uncomfortable talking to people they don't know, and she may be inadvertently causing them stress. I couldn't care less whether or not I'm able to talk to strangers at the mall.

Im the same way but still, dont you think a law banning it is a bit extreme?

 

[ecoho]

ok lets see how would this play out with me hmm.. I know i would first ask the guard to not touch me then if they insisted on trying to arrest me i would then beat the liveing crap out of them then sue them for asault
BTW if you havent already guessed this is just plain bull shit how these Rent-a-cops got this guy to go with them with out a sever ass kicking is beyond me.

 

[Jack_Uzi]

Could be handy sometimes. Would have saved me from some of the stupid questions I got during my lifetime from some people like: "Whow! Are you a DJ?!" ... No, the fact that I did walk around with my headphones around my neck, is because you caught me off guard.
"Someone stole my cocke, man." ... Call the police! They probably need something to laugh about every once in a while too!
"Do I know you from somewhere?" ... No, because if you did, you should know that I still remain quite baffled about that question.

It could also work vice versa: it would save them from getting to know me for the snappy ahole I can be sometimes to some people.

 

[Tilted_Logic]

Why do people seem to think going to the extreme over one incident is appropriate? I don't care for talking to strangers in a mall, but having to fill out a form if you want to ask someone which store they bought something in or what time it is seem ludacris.

 

[sneakypenguin]

I usually agree with individual rights but a ban on speaking is a bit much. Proselytizing or advertising sure. But if I see someone with a 49ers t shirt and comment on the weeks game I don't think a place of business has a right to dictate that two individuals can't speak unless they previously knew each other.

Glad the judge threw it out on its face. There are much better ways for the mall to comply with both law, and common sense. Tailor your rules to be more specific and you won't run into such problems.

 

[Necator15]

It's not illegal. It's a privately owned mall, they have a rule saying not talking, basically. If you talk to someone you don't know, they can ask you to leave. If you don't you're trespassing. I'm not seeing the problem yet. Sure it's stupid, but I think it's being a bit blown out of proportion.

 

[FaceFaceFace]

Its not actually a law, and the man in the specific example was released after being arrested, presumably because the real police are smart enough to know that its not a law.