Something that happened to my cousin has been bothering me.

[militarywife09]

So my cousin was telling me a few weeks ago she went to the mall with some friends. Well she was wearing a black t-shirt that had a big red "F" and a big white "U". She told me that a mall cop rolled up to her with his Segway, and told her he was having parents complain about her shirt, and she NEEDED to go to the restroom, and turn her shirt inside out. He then proceeded to follow her until she changed it. She ended up buying a new tshirt just becuase the cop was annoying her.

My issue is, this is a public place right? Doesn't she have the right to wear what she wants? Isn't that against her freedom of speech right?

Opinions please.

Ok thanks everyone. It makes a little more sense as why they did that. I guess it bothered me also becuase it had no cuss words. Just two letters.

[KerryK]

Its technically not a public place, it is owned by someone and the public is invited to enter, however they may be asked to follow certain rules while they are there. Security has been given the authority to enforce those rules. If people choose not to follow them they can be asked to leave.

[K-Chan]

Most malls have posted rules. One of them at my mall is no offensive language on clothes

[OkieOBRN]

Yep.. now if it was a school activity or something along those lines i would agree with the mall cop.

But.. its been my experience that people whom wear controversial clothing WANT attention ... so i suppose it worked out. :-)

[JadedFaerie]

I used to wear a shirt that had 'I <3 ME' on it. I wonder if that was offensive haha.

[TableforSeven]

I'm glad the mall took other peole's discomfort to heart and did something about it.  Sounds like a highly offensive shirt.  I probably wouldn't have bothered complaining to the mall-office....I would have taken my kids and left.  I'm sure I'm not the only person who doesn't want her children....or herself....subjected to offensive logos/words while in public.  The mall probably preffered to ask your cousin to change her shirt instead of losing some paying customers.

[MammaPaparazza]

I was told by a mall cop that me and boyfriend (now dh) had to stop kissing on the bench. We were not bring obscene either...holding hands and giving pecks!
But....mall cop was one of my boy toys, and apoarently the complainer was my ex...who was standing there giving us the stare down.

Quoting militarywife09:

So my cousin was telling me a few weeks ago she went to the mall with some friends. Well she was wearing a black t-shirt that had a big red "F" and a big white "U". She told me that a mall cop rolled up to her with his Segway, and told her he was having parents complain about her shirt, and she NEEDED to go to the restroom, and turn her shirt inside out. He then proceeded to follow her until she changed it. She ended up buying a new tshirt just becuase the cop was annoying her.



My issue is, this is a public place right? Doesn't she have the right to wear what she wants? Isn't that against her freedom of speech right?



Opinions please.

[charliebean]

F-U as in "fuck you" or as in F______ University?

[Clairwil]

Quoting militarywife09:


My issue is, this is a public place right? Doesn't she have the right to wear what she wants? Isn't that against her freedom of speech right?

No.

The "freedom of speech" right, is the right not to have the GOVERNMENT do stuff to prevent you speaking.   That was a corporation, on the corporation's own property, nothing to do with the government.

[MommynMonster]

It may not be against any rules, but she should have more respect for herself and not wear something like that in a place where families go. That shirt would be great though at the club or concerts

[Aspiemom0203]

I think I would be offended if my children saw it. It wasn't appropriate for the location that she was wearing it. Freedom of Speech can be misused at times. Its just great common sense to think of others around you. Would it have been offensive if it was racial? Or homophobic? What if it was posted on a sign next to the mall map? I don't want my children seeing that either. Know what is and isn't appropriate sometimes is just maturity, because when I once would have jumped on the Freedom of Speech band wagon.