Boy, I really don't post here very often. Sorry if you've been frustrated because you've been checking and there was nothing new here.
I get a lot of ideas for posts when I'm in my car. Obviously I'm not going to post *from* my car and then I get home and I forget all about it.
Of course, now I've posted three times in one day, so I should be good for the rest of the year, right? Right? Hey, where are you going?
Sunday, April 19, 2009
A Casino? Sexist? Really?
On Easter Sunday, my mom, my sister and I wanted to go to the casino (Harrah's, in Chester PA). Mom and Sister like to gamble. Me? I might throw twenty bucks at a slot machine, but that's usually about it. Repeatedly pressing a button isn't really my idea of a good time. But I love going to buffets, and the casinos usually have good ones. So I take my book with me, and once I'm done throwing money into the slot machine, I'll read my book, walk around, people watch (discretely, of course) and whatever else I can come up with.
Note: We'd already gone to a brunch for Easter breakfast, so there was no way we were going to a buffet for dinner as well. So, really there was no reason for me to even go.
So, we get to the casino and Mom and Sister give me their coats to check because they like to gamble and I ... not so much. So, I go downstairs, check the coats, go back upstairs and I'm walking to the casino floor when a security guard asks to check my bag. I have an over-the-shoulder messenger bag that I use to carry the aforementioned book as well as my cell phone, eyeglass case, pens and other usual stuff. The security guard asks if anything in the bag is a medical necessity. I say no, so he tells me I can't take the bag in. Meanwhile, while I've been standing there, the guard has been checking IDs on anyone under the age of 30 and has been checking NO other bags. Anyway, he's told me that I have to take the bag down to the coat check. I don't want to take the bag to the coat check because then I'd be walking around the casino floor with a book in one hand and a cell phone in another -- I did not explain this to the guard.
So I decide to complain to the hosts. I go to the guest services counter and tell them that security won't let me take my bag onto the casino floor but that he's not checking any women's bags and that's sexist. The guest service lady tells me I need to complain to the head of security. So I go to the security desk and tell them that I need to talk to the head of security. The head of security is busy with another issue, so I wait --- for somewhere between 1/2 an hour and 45 minutes (I didn't clock him). He comes and I explain that the guard won't let me take the bag on the floor and that he's not checking any women's bags and that this is sexist. The head of security agrees that it's sexist, but claims that this is a Casino Gaming Commission Regulation. Now, my first thought at that is, "I don't want to have to take this to the state capitol just so I can read my stupid book," but the representative from the CGC is on premises. So I tell him I want to talk to the representative.
It took a while, again, for the representative to get there and by this time the head of security has left. I again tell the CGC Rep that they won't let me take my bag onto the floor, that they're not checking any women's bags, and that this is sexist. I also tell him that the head of security said that this was a CGC regulation. *He* again agrees that this is sexist, but he tells me that he doesn't care whether I take the bag on the floor or not, that it's a casino rule. I tell him "I can believe you ..." and am trying to figure out how to say, "but I'm getting two different stories here," when he tries to stop me. I realize he's misheard me and emphasize that "I CAN believe you ..." (not "I can't believe you".) He repeats that he doesn't care, making it clear that he's done with me --- which is fine, since he doesn't care and thus I have no quarrel with him. I try to ask if he can stick around while I get the head of security back (so whoever is lying can't keep lying with the other person present), but he's leaving.
Anyway, I ask the guy at the security desk to get the head of security again. He calls the guy, and over the phone, HOS apparently asks what's in my bag. First, I say that's irrelevant because they're not checking women's bags (which everyone I've talked to has agreed is sexist), but then I explain what's in the bag. And I open the bag again so the guy at the security desk can look inside. He does, tells the head of security over the phone what's in the bag, then after a moment tells me that I can take the bag onto the floor. (Tells me, not the guard at the entrance to the floor, leaving me to have to tell that guard and hope he believes me.) Now, if this were a Casino Gaming Comssion Regulation, would the head of security, a casino employee, be able to give me permission to take the bag onto the floor? I'm thinking no.
So, I go to the guard at the entrance and I tell him that they head of security has given me permission. And he very nicely tells me he hopes there are no hard feelings. I agree that he was completely courteous and "just doing his job" as they say, and I tell him that my complaint is with the sexist rule --- or the sexist application of the rule, whichever it is.
(During this time, I've found out that the reason they check bags is to prevent people from taking anything from a weapon to a notebook computer (which could be used to help someone cheat) onto the floor. I can completely understand that. But do they really think that no women carry weapons, that no women cheat? And once you've established that you don't have any of those things --- I didn't --- you should be able to take your bag in.)
So, even though I've won the battle, I find Mom and tell her that I hope she continues to have a good time but that I have no intention of spending any money at that casino, ever again --- unless and until they change that rule. Of course, I broke that intention when I got bored and put five dollars into a machine, but it was only five dollars. Fortunately, neither Mom nor Sister had any interest in eating in the casino's sports bar either (it was Easter Sunday: the only things open were the buffet and the sports bar), so we grabbed food on the way home.
And I realize that a part of me should be saying, "A casino? Sexist? Really?" but having waitresses in skimpy outfits is one thing. Subjecting men and only men to a bag search is quite another.
I should also be counting my blessings, thinking about the time and money I'll save by not going back to the Harrah's casino in Chester, PA.
Yes, that's right, I'm naming names. I'm pretty sure I've managed to write this without libeling anyone and that everything above is completely accurate and whatever benefits of doubt need to be given have been.
Note: We'd already gone to a brunch for Easter breakfast, so there was no way we were going to a buffet for dinner as well. So, really there was no reason for me to even go.
So, we get to the casino and Mom and Sister give me their coats to check because they like to gamble and I ... not so much. So, I go downstairs, check the coats, go back upstairs and I'm walking to the casino floor when a security guard asks to check my bag. I have an over-the-shoulder messenger bag that I use to carry the aforementioned book as well as my cell phone, eyeglass case, pens and other usual stuff. The security guard asks if anything in the bag is a medical necessity. I say no, so he tells me I can't take the bag in. Meanwhile, while I've been standing there, the guard has been checking IDs on anyone under the age of 30 and has been checking NO other bags. Anyway, he's told me that I have to take the bag down to the coat check. I don't want to take the bag to the coat check because then I'd be walking around the casino floor with a book in one hand and a cell phone in another -- I did not explain this to the guard.
So I decide to complain to the hosts. I go to the guest services counter and tell them that security won't let me take my bag onto the casino floor but that he's not checking any women's bags and that's sexist. The guest service lady tells me I need to complain to the head of security. So I go to the security desk and tell them that I need to talk to the head of security. The head of security is busy with another issue, so I wait --- for somewhere between 1/2 an hour and 45 minutes (I didn't clock him). He comes and I explain that the guard won't let me take the bag on the floor and that he's not checking any women's bags and that this is sexist. The head of security agrees that it's sexist, but claims that this is a Casino Gaming Commission Regulation. Now, my first thought at that is, "I don't want to have to take this to the state capitol just so I can read my stupid book," but the representative from the CGC is on premises. So I tell him I want to talk to the representative.
It took a while, again, for the representative to get there and by this time the head of security has left. I again tell the CGC Rep that they won't let me take my bag onto the floor, that they're not checking any women's bags, and that this is sexist. I also tell him that the head of security said that this was a CGC regulation. *He* again agrees that this is sexist, but he tells me that he doesn't care whether I take the bag on the floor or not, that it's a casino rule. I tell him "I can believe you ..." and am trying to figure out how to say, "but I'm getting two different stories here," when he tries to stop me. I realize he's misheard me and emphasize that "I CAN believe you ..." (not "I can't believe you".) He repeats that he doesn't care, making it clear that he's done with me --- which is fine, since he doesn't care and thus I have no quarrel with him. I try to ask if he can stick around while I get the head of security back (so whoever is lying can't keep lying with the other person present), but he's leaving.
Anyway, I ask the guy at the security desk to get the head of security again. He calls the guy, and over the phone, HOS apparently asks what's in my bag. First, I say that's irrelevant because they're not checking women's bags (which everyone I've talked to has agreed is sexist), but then I explain what's in the bag. And I open the bag again so the guy at the security desk can look inside. He does, tells the head of security over the phone what's in the bag, then after a moment tells me that I can take the bag onto the floor. (Tells me, not the guard at the entrance to the floor, leaving me to have to tell that guard and hope he believes me.) Now, if this were a Casino Gaming Comssion Regulation, would the head of security, a casino employee, be able to give me permission to take the bag onto the floor? I'm thinking no.
So, I go to the guard at the entrance and I tell him that they head of security has given me permission. And he very nicely tells me he hopes there are no hard feelings. I agree that he was completely courteous and "just doing his job" as they say, and I tell him that my complaint is with the sexist rule --- or the sexist application of the rule, whichever it is.
(During this time, I've found out that the reason they check bags is to prevent people from taking anything from a weapon to a notebook computer (which could be used to help someone cheat) onto the floor. I can completely understand that. But do they really think that no women carry weapons, that no women cheat? And once you've established that you don't have any of those things --- I didn't --- you should be able to take your bag in.)
So, even though I've won the battle, I find Mom and tell her that I hope she continues to have a good time but that I have no intention of spending any money at that casino, ever again --- unless and until they change that rule. Of course, I broke that intention when I got bored and put five dollars into a machine, but it was only five dollars. Fortunately, neither Mom nor Sister had any interest in eating in the casino's sports bar either (it was Easter Sunday: the only things open were the buffet and the sports bar), so we grabbed food on the way home.
And I realize that a part of me should be saying, "A casino? Sexist? Really?" but having waitresses in skimpy outfits is one thing. Subjecting men and only men to a bag search is quite another.
I should also be counting my blessings, thinking about the time and money I'll save by not going back to the Harrah's casino in Chester, PA.
Yes, that's right, I'm naming names. I'm pretty sure I've managed to write this without libeling anyone and that everything above is completely accurate and whatever benefits of doubt need to be given have been.
stolen from SweePer ... which was stolen from paks...
I want to know you! I want to know 33 things about you. Short and sweet is fine...
1. Can you cook?
2. What was your dream growing up?
3. What talent do you wish you had?
4. Favorite place?
5. Favorite vegetable?
6. What was the last book you read?
7. What zodiac sign are you ?
8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings?
9. Worst Habit?
10. Do we know each other outside of lj?
11. What is your favorite sport?
12. Negative or Optimistic attitude?
13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
14. Worst thing to ever happen to you?
15. Tell me one weird fact about you:
16. Do you have any pets?
17. Do you know how to do the macarena?
18. What time is it where you are now?
19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
21. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
22. What color eyes do you have?
23. Ever been arrested?
24. Bottle or Draft?
25. If you won $10,000 dollars today, what would you do with it?
26. What kind of bubble gum do you prefer to chew?
27. What 's your favorite bar to hang at?
28. Do you believe in ghosts?
29. Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
30. Do you swear a lot?
31. Biggest pet peeve?
32. In one word, how would you describe yourself?
33. Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?
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