Styled for the fanny pack and Bluetooth set

A Seattle dive bar’s Facebook post preemptively banning Google’s forthcoming voice-activated smart-glasses went viral this weekend.

“For the record, The 5 Point is the first Seattle business to ban in advance Google Glasses. And ass kickings will be encouraged for violators,” the post said.

Google’s high-tech glasses — which allow the wearer to take video, photos, search for directions and even translate phrases — won’t be available for purchase for another year. But the 5 Point’s Facebook announcement touched a nerve with social media users, who debated whether the glasses were too creepy for some public places

“You have to understand the culture of the 5 Point, which is a sometimes seedy, maybe notorious place,” owner Dave Meinert said on a local radio show. “People want to go there and be not known … and definitely don’t want to be secretly filmed or videotaped and immediately put on the Internet.”

“Part of this is a joke, to be funny on Facebook, and get reaction. But part of it’s serious, because we don’t let people film other people or take photos unwanted of people in the bar, because it is kind of a private place that people go,” Meinert added.

We have no express constitutional guarantee of privacy, of course.



  1. orchidcup says:

    I thought a bar was a public place.

    Silly me.

    • Cliffyp says:

      Unless its owned by the government, it’s a private establishment. You sound like a noodle kid!

      • Grey Bird says:

        That’s right, a bar is a private establishment and they won’t be the only one banning them. Some craft shops ban taking pictures to try to prevent people copying items rather than buying them, and I bet they’ll be banning Google Glass too!

        • dusanmal says:

          Visit average main brand supermarket. Try to take video/photos without hiding… See results. It is not just because of copying art…

  2. McCullough says:

    Time to go back to private clubs, but then of course you’ll be sued for discriminating against nerds.

  3. spsffan says:

    Good for the 5 Point! But I think it’s about time for me to invest in a full face mask for whenever I go outside.

  4. super77 says:

    You have to give the owner some credit for being smart enough to pull off this PR stunt ahead of the curve.

    The real places that will place a ban in the coming year will be gyms, schools, public pools, anyplace near kids or cops. Then it will be airports (TSA don’t like that), government buildings, subways, train stations, etc.

    I’m sure the government will eventually step in and require Google to put a gigantic red light on the glasses to let people around you know that you are recording.

  5. sargasso_c says:

    Every pocket has a smart phone with a better camera and instant upload to the internet. Let’s ban pockets.

  6. jpfitz says:

    Revenge of the nerds must be this bar owners muse. Like Sargasso mentioned there are many ways to record audio/video.

  7. msbpodcast says:

    Not legal, otherwise NYC would be able to ban Big Gulp soft drinks.

    • dusanmal says:

      Government limiting you -not legal.
      Private business on private business property limiting you whichever way they choose-very,very legal.
      Government is limited by the “negative bill of rights” contained in USA Constitution. Same Constitution gives unlimited rights to individuals and their organizations as long as they are not actively harming others.

      • bobbo, the pragmatic existential evangelical anti-theist and Jr World Traveler says:

        Yep. Very Basic stuff.

  8. Jim says:

    actually, i think the bar is looking more than the sinister stuff. it’s probably thinking about not having to upgrade their WiFi connection for the geeks who would use these glasses.

  9. msbpodcast says:

    Hell, I wouldn’t go to their bar at the best of times.

  10. deowll says:

    Not an issue. The customers don’t want their pictures taken.


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