4 ms·

Seattle Restaurant Boots Google Glass-Wearing Patron

25 points by davidsmith8900 13y ago

DigitalSea 13y ago
The restaurant is well within its rights as pointed out to eject patrons wearing Google Glass. It's perfectly acceptable and allowable, if you don't like it, don't eat there. I can see why the restaurant would take issue with Google Glass, at present, it's a new technology and somewhat a bit creepy if you ask me. Eventually it'll be normal to wear the likes of Google Glass out and about, but for now it's a new technology that comes with new territory and boundaries to be set. If clubs, bars and restaurants are allowed to enforce dress codes (certain shoes, button up shirts, etc) then I don't see why a restaurant can't enforce a no Google Glass policy, especially if it's a more higher class venue to eat at. I can see why some people could take issue with Google Glass. I've been kicked out of bars before because I wasn't wearing a collared shirt and dress pants, but you won't read about it in the news.
- ams6110 13y ago
  Not only with its rights but also a very common policy at restaurants.
- jfim 13y ago
  Quoted from this article [1] : “I inform (the employee) that I am well aware of the policy at The 5 Point Cafe but asked to see where it was policy for Glass to be disallowed at Lost Lake. She said she couldn’t provide any and when asked to speak with management she stated she was the night manager. I again inform her that the two venues are different and have different policies. She refuses and I leave,” he wrote. “As we are leaving, Brian (his partner) points out that on the menu they state “Post photos on our website via Instagram by using #LostLake.” So how is an establishment which is REQUESTING photos be taken, not allow me to bring a device which takes photos and can post to Instagram? I would love an explanation, apology, clarification, and if the staff member was in the wrong and lost the owner money last night and also future income as well, that this income be deducted from her pay or her termination.” It seems rather legitimate to request to see an official policy. [1] http://blogs.seattletimes.com/allyoucaneat/2013/11/26/diner-using-google-glass-asked-to-leave-restaurant/ http://blogs.seattletimes.com/allyoucaneat/2013/11/26/diner-...
  - mturmon 13y ago
    It's always OK to ask. The story says that the employees had had a briefing on exactly this policy not long before the incident, so it's not surprising that the restaurant asked him to stop, and didn't capitulate because it wasn't written down. You have to admit that publicly calling for termination of an employee over a minor incident like this is, (a) asshole behavior (i.e., completely out of proportion), and (b) not the proper role of a patron (i.e., they are NOT the restaurant manager). I used to work at a restaurant, and this whole incident seemed familiar. A patron is having a bad day, or is a little touchy, and something minor escalates beyond comprehension. It's quite common to have irate patrons asking to speak to the general manager, or even the owner (who in my case lived out-of-state, leading to snickers), over petty misunderstandings. I had one of these get out of control once, and the GM mentioned to me that probably the guy had a bad day and chose to take it out on someone who had to take it. A young adult at the time, with no real life pressures, I didn't get it, but I do now.
    - jfim 13y ago
      > You have to admit that publicly calling for termination of an employee over a minor incident like this is, (a) asshole behavior (i.e., completely out of proportion), and (b) not the proper role of a patron (i.e., they are NOT the restaurant manager). I definitely agree with that. > A patron is having a bad day, or is a little touchy, and something minor escalates beyond comprehension. Indeed, such is life with customers.
  - techsupporter 13y ago
    > It seems rather legitimate to request to see an official policy. Why? If a patron is in a private establishment and the person controlling that establishment asks a patron to leave, why not simply leave? Complain on Facebook, post a negative Yelp review, go to the media, refuse to return, and tell your friends. I don't understand the logic in trying to negotiate staying in a place that no longer wants to serve you, especially since the ill will is now likely on both sides. In a private business, "because I said so" is a valid, if curt and dismissive and not conducive to continued business, reply.
  - 13y ago
maaku 13y ago
I would object if the guy at the next table over pulled out a camera and started snapping pictures while my wife and I are eating. I would feel violated. What is different about Glass? If I were at this restaurant I would ask the owner to ask him to take off and turn off that device. And if that didn't happen I wouldn't come back. If you were the owner, what would you do?
- jamesbritt 13y ago
  I would object if the guy at the next table over pulled out a camera and started snapping pictures while my wife and I are eating. I would feel violated. Same here. In other HN discussions about expectations of privacy while in public with regards, say, license plate scanning or facial recognition there always seems to be at least one or two people claiming there is no reasonable expectation or right to privacy when out in public. I tend to disagree with them but often they make a plausible argument. Having a remote camera record the passing of your car feels less in-your-face invasive, and I wonder if that allows more people to let it slide. Perhaps the more overt creepiness of Glass will lead to more stringent privacy laws that (hopefully) are then equally applicable to the more stealthy forms of surveillance and recording. At the every least, if I can't come into your place of business with a ubiquitous recording device then your place of business cannot subject me to ubiquitous recording either. I'm less optimistic about similar restrains against data capture under the guise of "security."
taspeotis 13y ago
There was a discussion on Slashdot before the guy's Twitter account 404'd. This comment [1] caught my eye. Since the tweet is gone, I can't verify the quote for myself. But, if it's accurate, it looks like the customer has very poor conflict resolution skills when it comes to anything getting between him and Google Glass. [1] http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=4504895&cid=45564881 http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=4504895&cid=45564881
crusso 13y ago
I hadn't seen the pejorative "glassholes" until I read a comment on the FB page. God bless the Internet for its ability to teach us new things every day.
vertr07 13y ago
I'm somewhat sure that these restauranteurs instituted this policy so they could milk the inevitable media coverage they would get for their restaurants. The stated privacy reasons are flimsy at best.

The restaurant is well within its rights as pointed out to eject patrons wearing Google Glass. It's perfectly acceptable and allowable, if you don't like it, don't eat there. I can see why the restaurant would take issue with Google Glass, at present, it's a new technology and somewhat a bit creepy if you ask me. Eventually it'll be normal to wear the likes of Google Glass out and about, but for now it's a new technology that comes with new territory and boundaries to be set. If clubs, bars and restaurants are allowed to enforce dress codes (certain shoes, button up shirts, etc) then I don't see why a restaurant can't enforce a no Google Glass policy, especially if it's a more higher class venue to eat at. I can see why some people could take issue with Google Glass. I've been kicked out of bars before because I wasn't wearing a collared shirt and dress pants, but you won't read about it in the news.

ams6110 13y ago
Not only with its rights but also a very common policy at restaurants.
jfim 13y ago
Quoted from this article [1] : “I inform (the employee) that I am well aware of the policy at The 5 Point Cafe but asked to see where it was policy for Glass to be disallowed at Lost Lake. She said she couldn’t provide any and when asked to speak with management she stated she was the night manager. I again inform her that the two venues are different and have different policies. She refuses and I leave,” he wrote. “As we are leaving, Brian (his partner) points out that on the menu they state “Post photos on our website via Instagram by using #LostLake.” So how is an establishment which is REQUESTING photos be taken, not allow me to bring a device which takes photos and can post to Instagram? I would love an explanation, apology, clarification, and if the staff member was in the wrong and lost the owner money last night and also future income as well, that this income be deducted from her pay or her termination.” It seems rather legitimate to request to see an official policy. [1] http://blogs.seattletimes.com/allyoucaneat/2013/11/26/diner-using-google-glass-asked-to-leave-restaurant/ http://blogs.seattletimes.com/allyoucaneat/2013/11/26/diner-...
- mturmon 13y ago
  It's always OK to ask. The story says that the employees had had a briefing on exactly this policy not long before the incident, so it's not surprising that the restaurant asked him to stop, and didn't capitulate because it wasn't written down. You have to admit that publicly calling for termination of an employee over a minor incident like this is, (a) asshole behavior (i.e., completely out of proportion), and (b) not the proper role of a patron (i.e., they are NOT the restaurant manager). I used to work at a restaurant, and this whole incident seemed familiar. A patron is having a bad day, or is a little touchy, and something minor escalates beyond comprehension. It's quite common to have irate patrons asking to speak to the general manager, or even the owner (who in my case lived out-of-state, leading to snickers), over petty misunderstandings. I had one of these get out of control once, and the GM mentioned to me that probably the guy had a bad day and chose to take it out on someone who had to take it. A young adult at the time, with no real life pressures, I didn't get it, but I do now.
  - jfim 13y ago
    > You have to admit that publicly calling for termination of an employee over a minor incident like this is, (a) asshole behavior (i.e., completely out of proportion), and (b) not the proper role of a patron (i.e., they are NOT the restaurant manager). I definitely agree with that. > A patron is having a bad day, or is a little touchy, and something minor escalates beyond comprehension. Indeed, such is life with customers.
- techsupporter 13y ago
  > It seems rather legitimate to request to see an official policy. Why? If a patron is in a private establishment and the person controlling that establishment asks a patron to leave, why not simply leave? Complain on Facebook, post a negative Yelp review, go to the media, refuse to return, and tell your friends. I don't understand the logic in trying to negotiate staying in a place that no longer wants to serve you, especially since the ill will is now likely on both sides. In a private business, "because I said so" is a valid, if curt and dismissive and not conducive to continued business, reply.
- 13y ago

maaku 13y ago

I would object if the guy at the next table over pulled out a camera and started snapping pictures while my wife and I are eating. I would feel violated. What is different about Glass? If I were at this restaurant I would ask the owner to ask him to take off and turn off that device. And if that didn't happen I wouldn't come back. If you were the owner, what would you do?

jamesbritt 13y ago
I would object if the guy at the next table over pulled out a camera and started snapping pictures while my wife and I are eating. I would feel violated. Same here. In other HN discussions about expectations of privacy while in public with regards, say, license plate scanning or facial recognition there always seems to be at least one or two people claiming there is no reasonable expectation or right to privacy when out in public. I tend to disagree with them but often they make a plausible argument. Having a remote camera record the passing of your car feels less in-your-face invasive, and I wonder if that allows more people to let it slide. Perhaps the more overt creepiness of Glass will lead to more stringent privacy laws that (hopefully) are then equally applicable to the more stealthy forms of surveillance and recording. At the every least, if I can't come into your place of business with a ubiquitous recording device then your place of business cannot subject me to ubiquitous recording either. I'm less optimistic about similar restrains against data capture under the guise of "security."

taspeotis 13y ago

There was a discussion on Slashdot before the guy's Twitter account 404'd. This comment [1] caught my eye. Since the tweet is gone, I can't verify the quote for myself. But, if it's accurate, it looks like the customer has very poor conflict resolution skills when it comes to anything getting between him and Google Glass. [1] http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=4504895&cid=45564881 http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=4504895&cid=45564881

crusso 13y ago

I hadn't seen the pejorative "glassholes" until I read a comment on the FB page. God bless the Internet for its ability to teach us new things every day.

vertr07 13y ago

I'm somewhat sure that these restauranteurs instituted this policy so they could milk the inevitable media coverage they would get for their restaurants. The stated privacy reasons are flimsy at best.