08-03-2010, 01:09 PM | #1 |
Compost Power
Posts: 79
Karma: 62238
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Device: Nook ST-1 Sony Reader PRS500(retired but still kicking)
|
No E-Books Allowed in This Establishment
|
08-03-2010, 01:14 PM | #2 |
Resident Curmudgeon
Posts: 76,140
Karma: 134368292
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
|
Those are two places I would not go.
|
Advert | |
|
08-03-2010, 01:37 PM | #3 |
Data Privateer!
Posts: 586
Karma: 62887
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Fargo ND
Device: Ectaco Jetbook& Jetbook Lite
|
Exactly so, and I'd tell everyone I know why. As you did, well done!
|
08-03-2010, 01:38 PM | #4 |
I devour books!
Posts: 789
Karma: 1285226
Join Date: Mar 2009
Device: iPad Air, Kindle 3/Kobo Aura HD, iPhone 6
|
I have no problem with an establishment setting certain rules for its patrons, the question is whether I want to spend my money in that type of place. For me, any place that would not allow me to take out my Kindle and read because of a "No Computer" rule is not a place I would go. Very simple.
|
08-03-2010, 01:41 PM | #5 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
I would imagine it's because people with computers probably sit there for very much longer than those without. You'll notice that it was between 12-3pm - presumably their busiest time.
|
Advert | |
|
08-03-2010, 01:54 PM | #6 |
Professional Contrarian
Posts: 2,045
Karma: 3289631
Join Date: Mar 2009
Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie
|
Ehh, whatever.
I'm sure we'll see little backlashes like this every once in awhile. But by now, "computers in coffee shops" are quite routine and usually encouraged. Heck, Starbucks now does free wifi, I'm sure they'll be happy to take those establishments' customers.... |
08-03-2010, 01:55 PM | #7 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,105
Karma: 17249026
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: The Pacific NW
Device: sony PRS350, iPhone, iPad
|
I think I'd have to bring a paper book in, starting at around noon, and occupy the table for a few hours. "Sorry, I couldn't check my watch because it's a computer, and I lost track of time!"
|
08-03-2010, 02:07 PM | #8 |
Curmudgeon
Posts: 3,085
Karma: 722357
Join Date: Feb 2010
Device: PRS-505
|
My first reaction would be to recruit a large number of people to show up and read paper books ... maybe all War and Peace ... but I got thinking about it: It doesn't look like they're banning all computer-like objects from the shop at all times. It looks like they're setting aside specific tables as high-turnover tables during peak business. I take my 505 (and often my netbook) with me everywhere, but I try to be very aware of the situation and the environment. It is beyond rude to buy a muffin and a glass of juice and then occupy part of a business for hours, preventing them from selling to other people who want a table, and preventing people who want to eat there from doing so. The price of a cup of coffee does not include rental of a table for hours on end. I suspect the prohibition on computers was because of people who came in, bought one cup of coffee, and then settled down for a few hours of work, thereby reducing the store's seating capacity during rush time, when all seats were at a premium. That's not fair to the business or the other customers, and the really unfortunate thing here is that the establishment was forced to take action that affected everyone because a few people were selfish and self-entitled. I don't doubt that there was at least one person who said "There's no sign saying I can't sit here all day with my portable office and my one cup of coffee." So now there is.
|
08-03-2010, 02:15 PM | #9 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,560
Karma: 11250582
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NE Oregon
Device: Kobo Sage, Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma, Kindle Oasis 2
|
I'm sure that's exactly it. Still, it would keep me from going back there. I just don't see how it is any different from sitting and reading a paper book. Heaven knows, I can do that for hours just as easily. I would understand it more if the sign said no computers, no book reading.
|
08-03-2010, 03:17 PM | #10 |
Book eater
Posts: 181
Karma: 2068
Join Date: Jul 2010
Device: Kindle 3 G 3G (<-lol)
|
Well, there ARE two sides to this. I don't know. I think if each customer figured out the situation and realized that he's just a table hogger during the hours when they have to TURN AWAY new customers this probably wouldn't have happened.
|
08-03-2010, 03:37 PM | #11 |
The one and only
Posts: 3,302
Karma: 535819
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Berlin, Germany
Device: yup!
|
Simple, sue them for discrimination. It's the US, after all ...
|
08-03-2010, 03:38 PM | #12 | |
.
Posts: 3,408
Karma: 5647231
Join Date: Oct 2008
Device: never enough
|
NYT: No E-Books Allowed in This Establishment
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/0...establishment/
Quote:
|
|
08-03-2010, 03:44 PM | #13 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,409
Karma: 4132096
Join Date: Sep 2008
Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App
|
Why don't they just set a time limit for table occupancy during peak hours? Our local mall has a food court with signs up saying that the time limit during peak hours is 25 minutes. If you bought food and sat down, and you want to read or netsurf or whatever while you eat, fine, but after 25 minutes they boot you out. I think that's perfectly fair---and much *more* fair than outright banning any device of any kind. If people are eating alone, they often like to have something with them. It will cost them business if these customers don't want to go there because they don't want to stare at the wall while they eat.
|
08-03-2010, 03:47 PM | #14 |
Book eater
Posts: 181
Karma: 2068
Join Date: Jul 2010
Device: Kindle 3 G 3G (<-lol)
|
@K-Thom: lol, prolly might end up with the cafe paying compensation to the customer.
|
08-03-2010, 03:54 PM | #15 | |
Curmudgeon
Posts: 3,085
Karma: 722357
Join Date: Feb 2010
Device: PRS-505
|
Quote:
And that's really the bottom line. The shop allowed people to do things other than buying and consuming their products -- and still does, other than for a few hours at certain tables -- with the implicit understanding between them and their customers that polite people would not hog tables when it was busy. Unfortunately, some people were not polite, and operated under the rule that the right thing to do was anything that nobody forcibly stopped them from doing, and the business owners did what they had to do to keep from having their business ruined by the table hogs. It's unfortunate that a Kindle owner got caught up in this, but the real blame has to be placed squarely on the shoulders of the people who chose to violate the rules of civility. It's the reason a store I shop at doesn't give out free popcorn anymore: people were taking armloads of bags of it out to their cars. It seems that the entire concept of politeness, civility, sharing, and not being a total ass, is long gone. Rules and laws are stepping in, out of necessity, where etiquette stepped out. And we all lose. |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Unutterably Silly No Words allowed! | Donnageddon | Lounge | 2429 | 03-06-2015 01:44 AM |
Unutterably Silly Only four words allowed | Donnageddon | Lounge | 2298 | 06-13-2011 06:04 AM |
Am I allowed to advertise | kiricat | General Discussions | 32 | 06-16-2010 01:13 AM |
Some Overdrive Library Books not Allowed to be Copied to Portable Devices? | luqmaninbmore | News | 3 | 11-22-2009 05:40 PM |
Am I allowed to vent here? | sborsody | Which one should I buy? | 25 | 06-12-2007 01:30 PM |