David,
perhaps they were concealing a 'weapon of mass confusion', a terrorist or
perhaps a gun, brick, knife or collection item????

Michel Starling

----- Original Message -----
From: "David E. Haberstich" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 3:33 PM
Subject: Re: Visitor conduct, sensitive issues...


> I'd like to turn this discussion in a little different direction.  I can
well
> understand the plight of a person with a back problem wanting to stretch
out
> on a museum bench to relieve the pain, and I think a guard should permit
it if
> an explanation is given.  However, I think as a general rule guards might
be
> expected to discourage people from lying down in an exhibition area
because
> (a) seating areas are intended primarily for sitting, and lying down may
hog a
> whole bench and prevent others who wish to sit to rest from using the
> accommodation, and (b) other visitors may be offended by an apparent lack
of decorum.
> It may look like loitering, and museums need not feel obligated to provide
> space for visitors to nap.  I think a good approach for a guard to make
when
> spotting a patron lying down would be to ask if the person is feeling ill.
If the
> answer is yes, I'd let the afflicted person rest for a reasonable time.
If
> the answer is no, I'd tactfully encourage him to sit up.
>
> Having broached the issue of decorum, I'm reminded of an incident I
observed
> at the Indianapolis Museum of Art a couple of years ago.  A young man and
> woman touring the galleries were wearing sweaters tied around their
waists, and a
> guard sternly told them to remove the garments.  As the couple seemed to
be
> Europeans whose first language was not English, they did not immediately
> understand the guard, and he impatiently repeated the request, pointing to
the
> sweaters.  Confused, they untied the sweaters and carried them.  I was as
puzzled by
> the guards' annoyance as they were.  Can anyone tell me what on earth is
> wrong with wearing a sweater in this casual fashion in an art museum?  I
can
> appreciate a concern about visitors lying down, but the sweater problem
has me
> beat.  Enlightenment, anyone?
>
> David Haberstich
>
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