It’s a consequence of our capitalist society, of how we’re not allowed to just exist in most places without buying or consuming something. About the only places we have left are sidewalks, public parks, libraries, maybe a large mall. Anywhere else and you can potentially be asked to leave if you’re not seen “doing” something or at least looking like you’re going to buy something after awhile. If the staff don’t care, you can “get away with it” (that is, get away with just existing), but more often than not you may be asked to leave. I’d try to test the theory out by just standing around for a few hours, but who actually has that kind of time?
It’s more a consequence of place and purpose. If you’re in a place and don’t use it for the usual purpose, then your motives will be questioned. A store is place to get items. Even if there was no exchange of money, but you went into the store and walked out without anything, it would appear odd.
Go brush your teeth at a library, stand on a sidewalk for a long period of time, ride a bike through a mall. All these things don’t cost money but they are still weird.
And for me the feeling is inversely proportional to the time spent there.
I’m looking for something very specific, they don’t have it, I leave. But man, does it seem I just went in real quick to steal something as fast as possible.
It might look like you stole something. And the more you think that as you walk out the door, the more you start to look like you stole something.
It’s a consequence of our capitalist society, of how we’re not allowed to just exist in most places without buying or consuming something. About the only places we have left are sidewalks, public parks, libraries, maybe a large mall. Anywhere else and you can potentially be asked to leave if you’re not seen “doing” something or at least looking like you’re going to buy something after awhile. If the staff don’t care, you can “get away with it” (that is, get away with just existing), but more often than not you may be asked to leave. I’d try to test the theory out by just standing around for a few hours, but who actually has that kind of time?
It’s more a consequence of place and purpose. If you’re in a place and don’t use it for the usual purpose, then your motives will be questioned. A store is place to get items. Even if there was no exchange of money, but you went into the store and walked out without anything, it would appear odd.
Go brush your teeth at a library, stand on a sidewalk for a long period of time, ride a bike through a mall. All these things don’t cost money but they are still weird.
But why would you want to hang out at a clothing store?
And for me the feeling is inversely proportional to the time spent there.
I’m looking for something very specific, they don’t have it, I leave. But man, does it seem I just went in real quick to steal something as fast as possible.
Take comfort in knowing the employees probably aren’t paid enough to care