Luckily I don't live anywhere near it, but if I did I most likely wouldn't go there anymore after reading this article about how the mall security terrorizes its customers. http://www.startribune.com/business/129559713.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue
That is crazy stuff. What kind of authority do security guards have to detain and question, anyway? I'd probably be like the guy who ended up talking to the police or the FBI because the security guards would be not get any such cooperation out of me. They could ask me to leave and I would comply, private property and all, but I think any questioning is going to be done by someone with a real badge.
Maybe Mall of America isn't the proper name comrades. Somebody needs to go in there in Arab garb with a wire. Bet it would be an interesting news story to hear it "live". I can't really say how I'd react if approached by these thugs. I sure as hell wouldn't be giving out information. As Stu said I'd leave if told to. I have told customers to leave businesses that I have run. On the other hand maybe I'd drop trou and see if they wanted a closer look. That would get the cops there quicker I'm sure.
I went there mayby 12/15 years ago with my gf and our two kids. I got tired of the BS and went out to our car on the corner of the parking deck overlooking the airport and watched all the planes land... one every 5 minutes or so. I wondered if any security would take interest in me smoking my cigs and watching planes but no one bothered me. I bet they would now lol "...I just came for the Legos man! Just having a cigarette! Why you ****ing with me!?!".... yeah, I'd be questioned and detained for sure lol
I was just there in July and I didn't even notice security. Don't get me wrong, I hate the place but for entirely different reasons than security heavy handedness. I think the security issue is just another case of giving low paid workers a little authority and watching them handle it badly.
From the article, it sounds like you need to maybe go there with a camera and notebook or as something other than an old white guy and you might notice security a little more. It would make a good social experiment to report back on either way. I do (and follow) photography and you hear of a lot of people getting hassled in larger cities or in certain other areas. Which is odd since there is 1. Google Maps and 2. Photos online of damn near every building of note in any large city.
A year or two after 9-11 there was a big fuss about "possible terrorists" who were taking pictures of the locks in Sault Ste Marie (aka 'the Soo", at the far East end of Lake Superior). People were all in a tither about how they might try to blow up the locks. Like damaging a relatively easy to replace door on a lock would bring America to it's knees lol ...eh, I have to admit that it was mildly entertaining to watch all the cluckin' about at a couple of tourists taking pics... for the first few months... after that it became less and less amusing
It is why I am glad 95% of my photo interest is rural, nature/landscape and wildlife. It is not a good time to be a street or city photo bug any more.
