Rules of Engagement

Major events and tourist attractions generally have the equivalent of a Code of Conduct and today’s New York Times took a look at the behavioral guidelines for a variety of local happenings — the NYC Marathon, Bowlmor Lanes, Electric Zoo (a dance festival), The Bronx Zoo, Metropolitan Opera House, Solomon Guggenheim Museum, Empire State Building, Barclay’s Center – and the New York Comic Con:

New York Comic Con introduced an anti-harassment policy this year, outlawing “stalking, deliberate intimidation” and “unwelcome physical attention.” The event continues to balance its feel-good, be-nice ethos (“hug someone!”) with a laundry list of prohibited weapons.

NO functional firearms including air soft guns, BB guns, cap guns, paintball guns and pellet guns. NO realistic replica firearms (including reproduction fake or toy guns that can be confused for functional firearms). NO functional projectile weapons (including blow guns, crossbows, long bows, silly string, slingshots, water balloons and water guns). NO sharpened metal-bladed weapons (including axes, daggers, hatches, knives, kunai, shuriken, swords, sword canes and switchblades). NO explosives (including firecrackers and fireworks). NO chemical weapons including mace and pepper spray. NO blunt weapons (including brass knuckles, clubs and nunchaku). NO hard prop weapons (including props made of metal, fiberglass and glass). NO instruments that cause excessive noise levels like vuvuzelas, grenade whistles and grenade horns. NO whips. NO aerosol mustard. Prop weapons will be allowed providing they are composed of foam or cardboard only. Prop firearms are allowed only if they cannot be mistaken for real weapons. The barrel of all prop firearms must be covered with brightly-colored caps. Prop bows will be allowed providing all arrows have soft tips.

As its website concludes, “BASICALLY, DON’T BE AN IDIOT.”

Andrew Porter sent me this link, and he’s right – the accompanying animated illustrations are as amusing as can be.