"You can't do that here"

The Seinfeld line and Wal-Mart story made me laugh.

 

An opinion from the "mom and pop" side: Take a second, pick up the phone and ask! I almost never refuse a request from the media to come in and interview our customers about something. Just don't surprise me. And don't ask to speak with our employees...that's a no-no...they are not spokepeople for our business.

I am always in our competitors places writing prices down, getting menus, etc. I also always buy something. And I am as inconspicuous as possible. I have been to Best Buy many times to write down things about their TV's, not so much because I'm comparing prices to somewhere else, but so I have accurate dimensions and so I'm comparing apples to apples to what they offer, not so much what the competition offers.

 

So, the First Amendment doesn't exist on private property?
If you're doing Man In The Street interviews, who gives a rip WHERE it occurs? When you write the story and say, said Joe Blow, who was interviewed in The Greasy Spoon?
Seems to me you can interview people whereever and whenever you want, as long as the interview subject gives you permission. And eff the owners who say you can't.

 

It's private property.

If you're looking to invoke free speech, you can do it on the state-owned sidewalk out in front of the store.

Inside, it's their rules.

 

In the handful of man-on-the-street stories I've done, I've always made sure to ask permission before starting. Just saves headaches.

Or you could just do like two people on our news staff have done in the last 8 years or so and just make people up and never talk to anyone.