I bike most places, and almost always wear my backpack because it has everything I might need. I decided to take in a movie at the Duluth 10 theater, and biked down as usual. Also as usual I locked my bike to the only thing within two blocks of the theater that you can lock a bike to, which is the H.C. parking sign post. I proceeded in to pay for my ticket and was informed that I couldn’t take my backpack in. That is where my beef begins.

I explained that I biked down and I showed her my helmet. The ticket person informed my that it is “policy” that backpacks are not allowed, and that I would have to leave it at the ticket counter. I pointed out that the woman who just purchased a ticket ahead of me was carrying a purse the size of a laundry bag. The ticket person repeated that the policy was that no backpacks could be brought in. I asked why, and she said “security reasons.” I call bull.

There is nothing I could carry in a backpack that I couldn’t also carry in a large purse, or in a winter parka (in season). Obviously they aren’t going to ban those. I can only assume that they just think I am smuggling “contraband” in, which, again, I could also do with a large purse or a parka.

So, WTF! Does anybody else think this is unfair? Does anybody else think “security reasons” is a cop-out excuse for a reason they won’t admit? Do you think that if I was a woman and said it was my purse, that they would have given it a pass? What is the theater’s liability for items in my backpack which were in their possession for two hours? Or, am I just being annoyed by something that other folks think makes sense?