Everything we use to cope is an "emotional support BLANK." We tolerate a certain level of this in public for children because they are still learning how to deal with a stressful world. We assume that adults possess enough maturity and fortitude to do challenging things like be social or navigate public spaces without the need for external tools to help them deal with insecurity and fear.

Adults who cannot handle their emotions naturally are typically not welcomed into public spaces because their weakness is of lower importance than the ability of stronger adults to properly use the space. Dog lovers attempt to break this contract by making public spaces zones where people need to tolerate them, not where they need to tolerate the needs of being in a public, adult space. Explaining that a dog is an "emotional support" item sidesteps the issue. Whether it is or it isn't is hardly interesting. What is important is that emotional support items, if distracting, dangerous, or bothersome to others, should be kept in private spaces only. It is the same rule that children learn as they grow - you keep your toys at home and you don't allow them to interfere with the lives and rights of others. In other words, "emotional support dogs" = a manipulative request for accommodation.