ROSEVILLE, California’s Westfield Galleria for some odd reason decided that barring people from talking to strangers while in the mall, would provide a more pleasant shopping experience.
The mall prohibited people in its common areas from approaching and talking to people they didn’t know unless the conversation was about business involving the mall or its tenants. Westfield reasoning was to protect tenants and customers by ensuring a safe and secure environment, preventing unruly gatherings and congestion and promoting convenience. If a patron wanted to talk to a stranger about anything non mall business related they would have to submit a request five days in advance for mall officials to review.
Lets put this policy to the test:
A patron would have to submit a request five days in advance in order to spontaneously talk about Lebron going to the Miami Heat, ask for directions to the Macy’s store, ask or talk about the weather, or ask a hot person out on a date. This mall seems to have a lame and unpleasant environment. Who would want to go there.
Fortunately, a California judge struck the policy down as unconstitutional.
Westfield argued that the rules protect tenants and customers by ensuring a safe and secure environment, preventing unruly gatherings and congestion and promoting convenience.