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Supermarket Bans Jedi Knight

Posted by samzenpus on from the allowed-in-this-store-you-are-not dept.

The employees at Tesco seem to be immune to mind tricks, and have kicked out the founder of the International Church of Jediism. Daniel Jones, 23, who founded the religion based on the Star Wars movies, was asked to leave because his robes were against store rules which forbid the wearing of 'hoodies' in their premises. "I told them it was a requirement of my religion but they just sniggered and ordered me to leave," he told The Daily Telegraph newspaper. "I walked past a Muslim lady in a veil. Surely the same rules should apply to everyone." It's exactly this kind of stuff that turns young Jedis to the dark side.

14 of 169 comments (clear)

  1. Why? by sixteenraisins · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They ban hoodies?

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    1. Re:Why? by The+Evil+Couch · · Score: 4, Informative

      Why in the world would anyone ban hoodies, and how would they stay in business if they actively enforced such a ban? Seriously, that's like banning jeans in your store.

      Not quite the same. Most store security cameras are located at head height or higher, making the faces of people wearing hoodies nearly invisible. I don't know about the UK, but in the US, the courts are over-worked enough that the police are likely to drop any shoplifting case unless there is solid evidence that the person they have in custody actually tried to steal something. Anyone caught shoplifting in a store wearing a hoodie is unlikely to be prosecuted, unless they did it right in front of a security guard, so banning them is an understandable move.

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    2. Re:Why? by welshbyte · · Score: 3, Informative

      Here in the UK, the media (in their infinite wisdom) have taken to calling aggressive-looking youths who wear hoods 'hoodies'. This tends to add ambiguity to sentences like 'hoodies are banned' because 'hoodies' is also the name of the item of clothing worn by people from many different walks of life (e.g. they're fairly popular with students and, um, boxers?).

    3. Re:Why? by theJML · · Score: 3, Informative

      Actually most stores in this area (Virginia) ban the wearing of any hood/head concealing garment while in the premises. It goes along with them banning scarves/baklavas/3 hole head covering masks/cotton hats/ski-masks/etc that hide the face and or other discernible personal features. Especially places like 711 and gas stations.

      I can see both sides of the argument, but why not just allow them in if they drop the hood? that's usually the way it works. stores don't have a problem with a hooded jacket, as long as the hood is not in use while in the store (you can carry a ski-mask with you too if you want, as long as you don't put it on, no one can say anything, just put it back up/on when you leave.

      Really I think stories like this do a lot more harm than good for their cause. Sure they think they've been caused an injustice, but most of the time it's better for both parties if you just go along with it. Not that I don't think oppression is wrong, but trying to make a ruckus by going against a policy like this is just stupid. It's not like anything is going to happen by taking the hood down for a few minutes while you shop. And if you don't like it, just go somewhere else, no harm no foul. I tell people to take their shoes off when they come in my house, if they don't want to, they can sit on the deck, thems the rules.

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      -=JML=-
    4. Re:Why? by michaelhood · · Score: 4, Funny

      Actually most stores in this area (Virginia) ban the wearing of any hood/head concealing garment while in the premises. It goes along with them banning scarves/baklavas/3 hole head covering masks/cotton hats/ski-masks/etc

      What do they have against delicious pastries?

    5. Re:Why? by Anarchitektur · · Score: 4, Funny

      They are too close to balaclavas for comfort.

  2. We all know that if... by Mavrick3020 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If Scientology, another "religion" based on a science fiction book, was in a similar position, they would sue the pants off of everyone and win. I'm not saying I believe Jediism, Haruhism, or the Church of Oprah; I agree with his sentiment that smaller religions should have fair treatment.

    1. Re:We all know that if... by AdmiralXyz · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yes, so rather than get into a complicated debate about how large and accepted religious practice has to be before a supermarket chain grants it exceptions to its rules, why don't we sidestep the issue and say that banning people from a supermarket for wearing hoods is dumb?

      (BTW, the correct spelling is 'Haruhiism'. Blaspheme like that again and we'll have you killed.)

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  3. Money... by TheUni · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You should try asking them for money, otherwise you'll never be recognized as a legitimate religion.

    1. Re:Money... by interval1066 · · Score: 3, Funny

      If he asked ME for money I'd pay him in Imperial Credits and tell him to buggar off.

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  4. Rules for all by A+Pancake · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Dude seems wise beyond his years. The same rules should apply to everyone regardless of religion. Chances are no matter what you believe, there is someone out there that views it as a ridiculous fairytale.

    1. Re:Rules for all by PitaBred · · Score: 3, Informative

      Screw you! The Flying Spaghetti Monster is real, and I'll sue you for implying that he might not be!

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  5. Re:Discrimination by Homr+Zodyssey · · Score: 3, Informative

    Lovely tax break? I'm no accountant, but I wasn't aware that individual clergy-members received a tax-break. My father is an ordained preacher. He currently is employed as a college professor, but when he was the minister of a church he had to file as "Self-Employed". This was ridiculous, because he was hired by the church, remained employed by the church and could be fired by the church. However, he was legally required to file as "Self Employed" and pay taxes at a higher rate than an "employee" would.

  6. Re:Jediism, a.k.a. $CIENTOLOGY..... by c6gunner · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If Jediism is a religion, then any clown can start a 'religion'.

    BINGO! DING DING DING! Give the man a cigar!

    Nut #1
    Nut #2
    Nut #3
    Nut #4

    Need I keep going?