Your Dolls and Security Officers-ever a problem?

1. The thing I find most humorous about all posts about spikes, chains, etc being weapons... is that most malls have Hot Topic and most Hot Topic clothes have some sort of chain, spike, or other metal object on them...

2. At a bookstore, we were told we couldn't take pictures of the dolls playing with one of those wooden train sets because of copyright infringement. Apparently, if we were to sell prints of the doll playing with the train, the toy company could go after the book store or something... even though we weren't taking pictures of them around the boxed ones, just the ones set out to be played with.

3. I usually don't have a problem with mall security, but one meet in Charlotte we were OUTSIDE the mall taking pictures of the dolls on a bench and security watched us and was going to make us leave, until we told him we weren't SELLING the dolls. Apparently that's what he was called over there for. But at least he was nice about it... he said his daughter would like them. Apparently she is "into that gothic stuff." x.x''

4. I usually keep my doll in my purse in a mall, maybe with his head sticking out if he is a big one. I only take them out if I am checking sizing or trying to get to my wallet (no matter where I put it, it always ends up underneath him x.x) If I go into a craft or fabric store, I like to put the doll in the cart because those types of people tend to understand them and act less suspicious about them than other types of stores. I've also done this at a hardware store, but I work there and they know of my dolls already. XP


So.... I guess you just have to try it to know. It really depends on what you are doing, where you are going, how strict the security is where you are going, and, sadly, what you look like. I don't think I really look like a "punk" or anything like that, so I've never had security follow me around thinking I was going to cause trouble. There's been some malls that I've had a little doll trouble in... and others where nothing happened.

 

Kyrie - I actually was thinking about that yesterday but wasn't sure if I should bring it up or not. I love the irony of having a Hot Topic but not allowing chains. (Not really. I find it annoying.) Kind of like at my school; you can't wear a hood, but the school sells hoodies. Failure of logic I say lol

 

This absolutely infuriated me, that is to think that someone has absolutely no qualms about unrightfully judging people by the way they are dressed of all things, and even goes so far to think that it isn't even wrong. I'm honestly disgusted.

I would like to further add that first amendment rights are covered in private spaces differently in every state. Unfortunately, not all states are like California or New Jersey where these rights are still covered in private space. Sorry to say.

 

Oh gosh I agree. I'd really like to see people pin their labels on me. Yesterday I wore a red ad black skirt, some black boots, and a black long sleeves top with those thumb holes in it. I also had some black nail polish that was chipping off and those black tights with the lace on th ebottom (But you couldn't see the lace because it was tucked into my boot). You would probably label me as a goth with no respect for anyone. Today I wore a pink sweater with a white t-shirt with lace on the bottom and light blue jeans. You would probably label me a goody-two shoes. I change 'styles' frequently because I wear what I like and what I find comfortable, not to fit a 'group' or to make people think something of me. I'm going to be honest, I loose respect for people who try to label others before they know them. I don't care how nice that person acts or how many charities they've donated too.

Anyways, I don't have any doll experiences as of right now however the security around here doesn't really bother people. They seem to just walk around aimlessly and don't do anything even if people are acting up It's like 'HELLO, they're BREAKING THINGS HERE, where is the security?!' So I'm pretty sure it's alright XP When I get my doll I probably won't take her out for a whie though.

 

*points up* I agree with them *nodnod* That's honestly...disgusting really...so if I walked into CHURCH straight out of hot topic would you judge me as an athiest or something? *not that I go to church...but an example* you'll get hated in life if you judge people like that. It's one thing to say 'ok this person dresses like this, so theres a chance they could be like that' but not make assumptions about them totally! Ask Etienne, she knows my life backwards and fowards, I dress like a apunk rocker sorta kinda, but do I do drugs? No. Am I failing school? No. Oy vey.

Anyway! I havent taken Demi anywhere like that XP just to the mall and to friends houses! But I'd be so afraid if she was resin...

 

I was actually somewhere and a police officer's partner[okay, so they were both pollies...] asked me about the doll. I gave him a brief background then asked his gruff partner to pose with my boy. I was so afraid he'd drop him, but it was worth it. XD I know I have the pictures somewhere....

I know he'll never forget THAT experience. Neither will I. It was all too amusing.

Otherwise I have not really been able to go out much, considering I live a city away from everyone. The times I do, I have not brought my boys. However, this Christmas when I visit my family in MT, I know I'll go out with my boy. [Ahh, since it probably won't be 'boys' again for awhile. ._.; I have to wait to get my other boy via agreement with parents since my father still doesn't understand why I like them...] Here, though? My father wouldn't really allow it. Once I've moved out though, I'll probably take him around too much. XD;

As for the clothes topic..I live with someone who judges on clothes. It's not fun and it's not fair. Or rather, he judges, knows me very well, but doesn't want others to judge, so I've had to dull myself down since I've moved in with him. I don't get why he's so worried because 'I' am the one having to deal with anything that happens..but I guess I just have to nod and smile when a father has to start his parenting after ten years again with a fifteen year old. XD;

 

I want to know what world you live in that nobody is judged by how they dress (I want to move there!). If you don't want to have someone label you as a goth, don't dress like one. It's honestly that simple. If you don't want someone to label you as anything, don't dress like that-shockingly, there are clothing options that really don't label you as anything.

It's because you want the attention (in some form) that you dress in a way that draws it. It's like a girl who dresses in almost nothing and expects people not to think she's 'easy'-if she wasn't, she wouldn't dress like that, now would she? If you don't want to seem 'odd' then don't dress like it. I dress in a t-shirt and jeans, and usually flip flops every day. I have not once been hassled-in fact, even holding a doll I tend to blend into the background most places.

 

^^ Or perhaps the person woke up that morning and thought "Hmm. Black is slimming" and wore it?

If only things were so black and white. I dress loudly when I'm in a happy, bubbly mood, generally. And other days I'll dress loudly purely to cheer myself up. The next day I'd wear jeans and a tee and follow that up with a lolita dress. Good for you, if you enjoy blending. Some don't care to be "another face."

Just putting in my two cents.
*backs away slowly*

 

P.S. We've gotten waaayy off topic.
Let's get back to the officer problem, not the clothing issue.

 

._. That seems a little harsh.

I wore what I wore not for attention, even though I surely got it in both good and bad ways in Montana back when I lived there. I wore what I wore because I enjoyed it.
Then again, I'm fine with being labeled and judged. *shrugs* I know what comes with looking different. Still. Just because someone dresses, say, 'Goth', doesn't mean you shouldn't give them the chance. Then again, if you're not willing to give them the chance just because they're wearing what they want and not just 'fitting in' like the conformity of the 50's, then you aren't worth the friendship in the first place.

This isn't directed at you, Suuchan. Just in general how I see it. XD;

Now that I am no longer allowed to wear what I like[oh my poor clothes that sit in the closet until I go on an outing to conventions or San Fransisco! D:3], I see the difference of wearing what I wanted, and just having to 'fit in'. Of course, I still go a little out there to test the waters once and awhile and my father mostly allows it...but I've got a personality that's weird enough to make up for my normal clothes. ;DD

Either way. It's your choice whether to judge or not. And no matter what anyone says, you're naturally going to judge. HOW you judge is different from person to person. You'll either think they are cool, or you'll judge badly. I guess that's what most people don't open their eyes to. You judge, just everyone judges differently and in different ways. You can't change it, so really you just have to accept it. Especially if you're going to wear something that's going to make you stick out in a crowd.

I'm aware that bringing my BJD with me, or going to the mall in odd styled clothes..or other such things, are going to make people look and judge. I've just learned to not care because the ones whose judgement matters the most are the ones that are close to me, and only those who judge me after getting to know me better are really going to matter in the end, right? ;3

Edit: And I completely agree with you that people label, and that you are more likely to go to people who look like you[though I often do the opposite because I don't care how you look. I want to know the person under the clothes]. And if it was directed at me, I didn't mean for it to seem that you said there was anything wrong with any 'cliche'. Just pointing out my thoughts.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most of the people saying "NOBODY SHOULD LABEL ME!!!" is in high school. Even then I knew that people would see me and would assume things. If you wear an anime shirt, people assume you like that anime. If you wear lolita gear people will assume that you are into that style and the personality that comes with it. That is how. The. World. Works. If it wasn't, you could show up to a meeting as a CEO with a ratty bathing suit-after all, people shouldn't take the suit as being professional, but they DO. It's like if you do some really half-arsed typing online; that is the first impression people get. You could be a genius and tyep lke ths omg!11! and people would think less of you.

On topic! Seriously. If you don't want attention drawn to you that day, tone down whatever you wear. Act completely natural, like having a doll in your arms is something that you never do without. You will knock down at least half the hassles that you would get otherwise.

Edit: I never once said that there is anything wrong with goths or preps or anything like that. I'm saying that people shouldn't be so completely naive as to believe that people won't judge you on how you look. If you dress as a goth, imagine the last time that you saw a completely random person dressed in the highest fashion and went up to them to talk. Doubly goes for if they are holding a Versache (? not into fashions...) purse and a tiny dog. Due to how they present themselves, you will assume that you have little in common with them-but if someone is dressed similarly to you, you are more likely to talk to them and be more comfortable with them, and open to them. It is simple. Human. Psychology.

 

Unfortunately that is not always true. I've had it happen multiple times at different locations, malls and singular stores alike, where I had been singled out by security and harassed until I left the premise. The statement that is most used from my accounts is that I am a 'disturbance to other shoppers'. And I have also had it happen in two different toy stores(one a KB Toys, the other a Toys R Us) where an employee and even a manager accused me of stealing my doll from their stores. The doll in question, both times, is Damen my CP Elf Yder head/FDoll hybrid.

Despite the bad occurrences I still take my dolls out in public with my. School, malls not so much any more but occasionally, parks, stores, and every place in between. Don't let a few annoying people take the fun out of it for you!

 

I will tell you.

Security DOES just mess with people. My boy is a rent a cop at the local mall and yeah, they get bored. Plus, they're PAID to make sure that every thing in the mall is going down smoothly.

On top of that, if you go to a mall owned by Simon Companies in the US, Hooo shiz. Because 90% of them use IPC for their security.

Among stupid things ICP WILL kick you out/ban you for?

Taking pictures.
Groups bigger than 5 without shopping bags after half an hour
Spikes on clothing
Baggy pants
Any underwear exposed (So don't be wearin hip huggers with granny panties, guys!)
bandana's
Shirts with any explitives on them
Sitting in undesignated spots (so...food court only?)
Being in the arcade for more than two hours without visiting other stores
And some other bull.

And, think about it, you're not going to have a bag or receipt for your doll, and mall cops have no way OF knowing what sort of what it is. They can't keep track of 20+ stores inventory and what sort of things they stock.

Sure, if you're accussed of stealing, the camera's WILL be checked, and you'll be proven innocent. But, you might get the initial harassment which is just not worth it in my opinion.


The more rural the mall, the more bored those rent a cops get and thusly the tougher they get on these rules. Seriously. On top of it, like real cops, they have quota's to meet in terms of kick outs and bans.

So, if you're going to take your boy to an ICP security mall, make sure it's at the beginning of the month.

As for other malls, I dunno? More upscale malls are going to be more tolerant because the people in them are spending more money, where lower end malls tend to turn into "hang outs" for teens, and security does NOTTTT like that.

And, for the remark some one made earlier about all kids wanting to do something illegal? Yeah. Thing is, the majority of stealing is done by kids between the ages of 12-19. Sure, adults steal and they usually are stealing more big ticket items, but kids are stealing MORE in general (I worked in retail long enough to know). So cops, security, and the like are going to watch kids more. The other thing is, those adults that steal big ticket items all started as kids stealing belts and other bull stuff. It's easier to scare a kid out of doing it again than an adult. They see and are taught to see it as stopping a kid stealing once keeps a lifes worth of inventory in that store/mall.

I just don't take my girl into the mall with me, just not really worth it. Wall mart? Sure. but yeah, not the mall.