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In my 24 years of legal drinking, and doing some truly obscene things in bars, I've never been asked to leave a drinking establishment. Yet recently, while using my laptop in a public venue, with what I thought was discretion and privacy, my internet usage was monitored and someone deemed my activity as "obscene". The police were called, my ID was run through the police database, and I was told to leave the establishment immediately - and to never return - or I would be arrested. Yes, I was embarrassed and ashamed. But more importantly, I am grateful that public humiliation was the only price I had to pay - the cost could have been much, much higher.
In my 24 years of legal drinking, and doing some truly obscene things in bars, I've never been asked to leave a drinking establishment. Yet recently, while using my laptop in a public venue, with what I thought was discretion and privacy, my internet usage was monitored and someone deemed my activity as "obscene". The police were called, my ID was run through the police database, and I was told to leave the establishment immediately - and to never return - or I would be arrested. Yes, I was embarrassed and ashamed. But more importantly, I am grateful that public humiliation was the only price I had to pay - the cost could have been much, much higher.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
40 comments:
Well maybe if you hadn't been surfing the net, in a public place while completely naked the police may have not been called.
That is pretty odd though. I can't believe the police were called. You rebel. Cheers!!
1984 is here folks. Big Brother is watching. Soon we will have
big Brother driving up and down our streets. Sadly, Big Brother is US. We are after all, the government aren't we? The government only does what we tell them to do or what we allow them to do, right? There is no privacy anymore. Just fleeting moments of obscurity.
Damn porn, it is so addicting. j/k! Wow that is messed up. Makes me think twice about an outing with my laptop.
I just want to know which site you were visiting to be deemed obscene.
Matt-Man, I swear I was fully clothed! And yes, acomment from an employee would have done the trick!
Doomed, I knew I would be viewing "adult" content (I do daily, just in the blogs I read), so I intentionally placed myself with my back to a corner (no one could walk behind me nor see the computer from the side) and there was clearly no one under 18 in the establishment. Didn't matter ...
C, just be careful where you visit as "obscene" is rather subjective.
ASM, it was definitely adult content - not somewhere I would visit from, say, a work computer, or with kidsrunning around, but something I view from home regularly.
Those kindergarten teachers can be real sticklers for the rules.
I'm surprised that your usage was monitored. It IS big brother.
On a related subject, take a look at Cake's blog today. Things are getting even dicier in England.
Damn I'm surprised that they didn't have to tell you your usage would be monitored and that obscene was off limits and a definition of obscene.
Thats bad. I for one am against it.
I really doubt that what you were doing was against the law. Now, it's their establishment, and they get to set the standards for behavior, but they don't get to have the police enforce those standards unless a law has been broken.
I'm really surprised the police were willing to participate in this; where I live, the shopkeeper would have been told, "ask them to leave and call us back if they don't go."
But, they would have laughed at the notion that they were going to roll out in their cruisers to be the porn patrol -- and been a little offended that they're being asked to compromise their professionalism by enforcing laws that aren't on the books.
Sorry my blog got you in so much trouble. LOL
Can we say "Police State?"
Helen says she is surprised the police were willing to participate. I disagree. I'm surprised they didn't go ahead and arrest you. The police in this country are far more concerned with policing people's morality than actually dealing with crime.
I'll stop now, otherwise I'll go on all day. ;-)
getting drunk and throwing your bra around in a bra bar is a lot different than using someones web connection to look at 'adult content' but getting the police involved seems excessive and a misuse of their authority...I would look into it...maybe there is a disclaimer you over looked.
Wonder what they would have arrested you for? Trespassing is the only thing I could come up with, assuming would come back.
And like others asked, why were the police called? I mean, unless you are browsing child porn, which you clearly weren't, what was the offense? Proving you were disturbing others would have been difficult.
Very odd and unusual situation.
Jeff, too bad I'm not 5 anymore!
Os, I was surprised as well, but there is NO WAY anyone could see my monitor from where I was seated (unless there are hidden surveillance cameras - also a possibility). I am aware that some people may not want to view what I view, which was why I chose the seat that I did.
SS, well, I *did* look back at the user agreement - you know - the one we click and never read? And it did have some verbiage regarding use that, although very general, gave them permission to determine how the signal was used.
Helen, about 15 seconds before the police walked through the door, an employee did ask me to stop viewing "obscene" content - and I immediately stopped - but it was clear based on timing that the police were called BEFORE she made the request.
Jay, all of those damn cheerleader pictures ...
I was very grateful I wasn't arrested - imagine explaining that to husband!
DB, trust me, I've done much more "obscene" things than throwing my bra in a bar, but yes - the police involvement seemed a bit excessive.
Emmy, no ... no child porn - not even beastiality! Trespassing was what was mentioned, but no one asked me to leave. I was told that if I returned I would be arrested - whether I was using the WiFi or not.
Embarrassed, yes. Ashamed, unnecessary. You have nothing to be ashamed of, and geez, it's not like you look intimidating or anything. Why on earth did they think the police were necessary? As you said, the request alone did the trick.
ID run through the database.*rolling eyes* Yes, because looking at adult material - LEGAL adult material - puts one under suspicion for an actual crime.
Really....
But what is the true use of those free internet surf shops?? Ohh I get it!! To launch terriost attacks and viruses "Rolls eyes for DRAMATIC effect"
Holy crap! Now I'm scared to surf in public! What kind of establishment was this??
The police were called???? OMG....wow. You poor thing.
I know I have been guilty of reading blogs or going through 'personal' pics in a public venue before. I'll def be thinking twice before doing *that* again. Gah....
Wow. I guess I never realized that when you were using the free wifi people were monitoring the sites you were visiting. That is upsetting. I wish an employee had just said something to you rather than calling the police. That is crazy.
Biscuit, I think the "ashamed" comes from being made to feel like a criminal. The police officer reaching for my laptop, upon which time I asked him if I should leave and he said, "It might not be a bad idea." Then after running my license (over his radio - in the middle of the establishment) he says, "Get out of here - NOW!" I'm trying to shut down my computer and he is saying with a very LOUD and stern voice, "I said get out now!" I felt shame ...
Mind, or to look at "obscene" content in an attempt to piss off the morality police.
Average, let's just say (for anonymity) that it was a retail/service establishment. Not like a library or other community gathering, government funded venue.
Vixen, as I always say, "If I cannot serve as an example, let me at least be a warning!" It just brings into question places like hotel rooms - where privacy is assumed, but likely not safely.
Knight, it is "their" signal and they can dictate how it is used. Just something to keep in the back of your mind the next time you are out and about with your laptop.
Yegods! I don't think I need to say anything more, do I?
Thank Heavens, though, that our morals are being so well policed by those who know so much better than us ...
Well, thank goodness it didn't end in an arrest. I don't know what you are viewing, but I there certainly are legal standards of what can viewed in public.
I know of a man who what watching porn in the dvd player of his car in his driveway and he was arrested and charge.
You can do what you wish in your own home, but not in public.
Do I need to start tagging things :NSFSB? Not Safe for Starbucks?
I really love Patriot Act. Allows anyone to circumvent your freedom as guaranteed in the constitution, all in the name of security. Thank Bush for getting that passed.
That sounds both scary and angering yet uncomfortable no matter what.
Just glad you were not surrounded by 'friends' who would have misinterpreted this to others.
Just sounds ishy all around
Ro, yes - it is good that public service agencies can save us from ourselves.
Karen, right ... and just because no one can possibly see what you are viewing does not mean it's OK to do it, even if the content is legal! That would be the lesson I learned!
Garbonzo, the only problem is you must guess what it is they will tag as "obscene" - such a subjective term!
NV, well ... this was not the result of the Patriot act - this was a result of the establishment owning the WiFi signal, having rights to dictate how it is used and being the authority for defining obscene.
Kahuna, fortunately, this did not take place in my little town, but in a MUCH larger town about 20 miles down the road where no one knew me.
How horrible! And tacky-tacky-tacky that they didn't call you aside privately (like, oh, I dunno, what's the word ... GROWNUPS) and explain to you that they have the ability to monitor, your site was unacceptable, and that if you couldn't agree to those terms you could leave immediately. Maybe the whole police show was to give a heads-up to the other customers as to what could happen. But still.
Glad your record remains clean!
/v
Wow, how embarrassing. :( Sorry that happened to you. Seems like they went way overboard.
Oh wow!! That had to be terribly embarassing. I can't believe they would call the police.
Overkill anyone??
Geeze-O-Pete of all the didn't they have anything better to dos in the world this takes the cake, hell it takes the whole enchilada too. Gotta say it cause it's me, fucking A! I have never used my laptop any where other than home or at the in-laws. How is your useages monitored? If I may be so stupid :)
That just blows my mind. I'm sure the cops ousting you would *NEVER* do such a thing!
Volly, yes ... a little adult behavior would have been nice, but it seems like most people are far more comfortable with a passive/aggressive approach!
FF, I can understand the "reprimand" from the business, but getting the police involved seemed just silly!
M, overkill would be an understatement!
Lu, it's basically the same way an employer monitors your web activity - they can see where the signal goes from their server.
RLL, no ... nor any of the employees. It blows my mind too!
True story: I was at our local library a few years ago and my daughter was with me. We were looking up some sporting goods online.
The name of the Sporting goods store was "Dick's Sporting Goods" I typed in dick's WAY to quickly and hit enter before I got to the "sporting goods" part (this is a habit I do sometimes).
This website went straight to the most gawd aweful picutre of Penis's. My daughter and I tried hitting "Esc" several times but more and more windows kept openning up.
The Librarian came to us and said she had reported us to the police and asked us to back away from the computer leaving these pictures on the screen, so that the police could see what we were viewing.
The police came in and asked us to come with them to the police car.
I happened to have the Ad for "Dick's Sporting Goods" in my purse, I showed it to him and he and I went back into the Library to speak to this crazy bit*h who reported us.
He asked if she tried to us ask any questions regarding what had happened. She got crappy with the policeman and he laughed at her (which really made her mad) and told her what happened with the "Dick's" website. Needless to say she try to band us from coming into that library which the officer told her she had no reasonable cause and told to drop it......she did, but wasn't happy about it at all.
We got a huge chuckle out of it when we got into my car, but it is so scarey how we have no privacy anymore......I could see if you had a child with you or was in a position where your screen could be seen, but damn thats just crazy.
not sure what the laws are in your state....but I am sorry you were treated in that manner in public.
in some states certain sexual acts which are common place are illegal...and viewing in a "public" place on an internet connection privately owned could be a big deal legally.
however, calling the police...and their conversation with you was probably actionable...
How ridiculous.
I'm sorry you had to deal with their freak out.
Why do they even enable a signal if they are so freaked about it? What if you view some political views they don;t like ? Or a competitor's web page?
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