Too sensitive over Eeyore

[rugrat]

Last month we had a character lunch at Tony's. When Eeyore came to the table he greeted my dds and gave my hubby (who is black) some kind of "soul brother" handshake. My husband looked at each curiously. It was kind of funny to watch my husband fumble through this handshake. On the other hand, I felt a little annoyed and/or confused. I wasn't sure of the assumptions or motivation behind Eeyore's act. I know the characters are really scripted as to what they can or cannot do/say. I wonder if this is Disney approved? I would like others thougts...

[Bumbles]

I'm frighteningly white and have had characters do a soul brother handshake....

I wouldn't stress about it.

[danacara]

I think you should suggest a press release where Disney bans the "soul brother" handshake. Jesse Jackson would just love that. Is this a serious thread?

[cinmell]

I wouldn't give it a second thought because characters do big or "elaborate" handshakes/greetings all the time to everyone.

[Peter Pirate]

I'm frieghteningly white...
LOL! I'm not really sure what this means but I think it's a great statement!!!:p
:cool: :cool: :bounce: :cool: :cool:

[Eeyore2U]

And I thought you were talking about me.

I've seen all kinds of handshakes and gyrations from characters.

You asked for others thoughts so here goes.

I think it was nothing to get upset about. But that's me, not you.

[I <3 Eeyore]

Well, I'd rather get a soul handshake then get groped by an anonymous CM. Wait, maybe I need to rethink that last statement. ;)

[Eeyore2U]

Originally posted by I &lt;3 Eeyore
Well, I'd rather get a soul handshake then get groped by an anonymous CM. Wait, maybe I need to rethink that last statement. ;)

I think you'd appreciate whatever you get!!!:p :teeth::p

[I <3 Eeyore]

http://worldzone.net/travel/routemandan//Lodge_Graphics/spank.gif

[Eeyore2U]

http://www.smilies.nl/redbite.gif

[GEM]

Huh?? :confused:

[DaisyDebbie]

I agree with Deb. I've looked at pictures taken with characters. The ones with the kids are normal, but some with me, the characters are a little closer to me. Makes you wonder if they don't sometimes take advantage of being in that costume :rolleyes:

I thought this thread was about you too Mitch ;) :p

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I hadn't planned to bring this up, but oh well... I wondered about Eeyore last week during our breakfast. I'd been taking photos of just the kids with each character, but asked my mom to take one of all of us with Eeyore, as he's my favorite. Eeyore held out his arm to get me into the picture with the kids, but then kept rubbing my neck and arms as my mother adjusted the camera. It really creeped me out, but I dismissed it as paranoia on my part. Now I really do wonder... yechhh. Should I report that??

Lori

[eeyore0062]

Now I really do wonder... yechhh. Should I report that??


NO, you shouldn't report anything!!! Could you imagine being responsible for someone being severely reprimanded, or fired and what was done was completely innocent? I am sure that it meant nothing, and he/she was being friendly, not trying to cop a feel. Let's not read more into these things than are really there! Now, if he rubbed you on the rear, or your breasts, then you might have a reason, but there is nothing vaguely erotic about a back rub... unless you have fantasies about Eeyore.;)

[Peter Pirate]

Absolutely DO NOT report Eeyore!!! Do you know how many different performers there are that act as Eeyore and this is really an innocent interaction. If you don't like being toched or the possibility of being touched then forget the pictures. :mad:

:cool: :cool: :bounce: :cool: :cool:

[shmoogrrrl]

Originally posted by I &lt;3 Eeyore
Well, I'd rather get a soul handshake then get groped by an anonymous CM.

I've never been groped by a CM, but Santa Clause once grabbed my behind at a local mall.

This is truely a strange thread....

Kathy

[vickyBaby]

Soul Brother Handshake?

Fantasies about Eeyore?

This thread is SOOOO cracking me up. I can't believe you'd even think about reporting a character for a "handshake." Hello Disney, a character shook my hand inappropriately.

[Bob O]

You are being way too sensitive and it sounds like like you are looking to be offended!!!!

[Mish19]

When I was in Disneyland Tweedle Dee (or was it Dum) stuck his finger in my ear, was that a Disney wet willy?!

[GEM]

Well, Eeyore patted my head once and it really messed up my hair - but I didn't report it!;)

[TinkerPixie]

I patted one of the Country Bears on the behind once...... Maybe he should have reported me!!! ;) :teeth: :teeth: :teeth:

[sofifi97]

I'd totally forgot about a similar situation until I read the title to this thread. I have to share this:
On July 27th we attended one of the last character breakfasts at Crystal Palace. My mother came along with us, this was her first such experience. The characters were all very friendly and we had a blast, but my mom complained about Eeyore. While my husband, daughter and I were getting food at the buffet - mom said Eeyore came over and hugged her from behind (she was sitting at the table eating) and squeezed her shoulder/neck area. She was a bit upset about this. My husband and I told her she was overreacting and laughed about it (sorry mom). She insisted it was odd and very uncomfortable for her, but we left it at that.
I'm not saying she was GROPED, but I guess sometimes a character can be more 'touchy-feely' than some guests are comfortable with. My mom wasn't interacting with the characters either, so keeping to herself didn't discourage this.
Again, no accusations, but it's interesting that someone else had a similar experience.

[A kid at heart]

oh and what a feel it is too with all that material that they wear over their hands. And I thought my 5 yr old had a vivid imagination!

[DaisyDebbie]

Hmmm, seems to be a pattern with this particular Eeyore.

It's probably some nice older gent just being friendly ;) :p

[eeyore0062]

I think that some people just don't like that close contact, and not being able to see the face makes it even more uncomfortable. I am sure that Eeyore was commisserating with "mom" for being left behind while the rest of the family was at the buffet table... nothing more. It would be entirely within Eeyore's personality to seek out the other alone soul in the room and try to make her feel better. The person in the costume was just staying true to the character by offering comfort... I think it was very sweet, and your mom took it the wrong way. She, having never been to a character breakfast probably was not expecting this, nor was she wanting it.

Certain cultures and certain age groups may be uncomfortable with characters showing affection (there are but so many ways for them to communicate, since they aren't face characters and cannot talk). They can read some people, but they aren't mindreaders... If you are one of these people who aren't touchy/feely, and don't like others to be, please do yourself and the characters a favor, and let the hostess/ server know, so they can pass it on to the characters. They are not out to make anyone feel uncomfortable, and would probably be very upset if they knew they had irritated anyone in anyway.

[Tiggerlover91]

When DH and I visited EPCOT and stopped in Italy to see Masquerade, we also took pics. As I took a pic with the male he was rubbing the back on my neck with his forefinger. I told my DH because it was killing me not to laugh. :p I was trying to take a "serious" picture and I had a Masquerade character rubbing the back of my neck. UGH!! They're not allowed to talk so they have to interact with the guests as best they can without being offensive. I got a kick out of it and DH also told me that the female character was doing the same to him. Offensive...please...just a CM doing their job!! :jester: ;)

[eeyore0062]

Tiggerlover... that is too funny! Did you ever get a picture? I think they do that so you will crack up in the picture, just like I think they pull you close, so everyone will fit in the picture.

[figment27]

rugrat,
I am sorry to hear you, and your husband, were made to feel uncomfortable by Eeyore's gesture.
Others may say you are being oversensitive to the situation, but maybe they have not experienced subtle forms of discrimination as you, and your husband, may have been subject to in the past.
Having said that, I know on a visit to WDW over 10 years ago, Goofy gave our son the same "soulman handshake" so I do not think it was specific to your husband.
It is so difficult to assess what is politically correct these days, especially at WDW.
Figment

[Kenbar]

Would you give Eeyore a foot massage


Vincent Vega

[Uncleromulus]

The really interesting thing is that we aren't exactly sure who is IN those costumes...

Take one of those tours where you go into the tunnel area--you'll see what I mean. I suppose the eeyore in this case could have been a black teenage female!! Or white teenage male. Or most anything else.

[nutz4dzny]

Last month at the LARGEST discount store in USA.....a senior citizen man age of 72 works part-time there. He is a people person and loves to talk and help. A women came to him and asked him where a particular item was. He smiled and proceeded to take her to the item personally! However he placed his arm around her shoulder and guided her to the item all the while happily chatting.

One week later the Main Manager came to him and asked him if he remembered helping a lady to such and such aisle. He couldn't but then the Manager asked him if he put his arm around her shoulder. Ahhhhhhh but he said he usually does that in a friendly grandfatherly way. Well...the manager showed him a complanit the women filed and named him and this store in a sexual harrassment lawsuit!!!!!

This old man was devastated. He could not believe that his friendly gesture was mistaken for a sexual one!!! The good news is the lawsuit was dismissed.

The bad news...this Gentle Man is no longer the happy-go-lucky person and now is on his guard and will never be the same person.

How sad our society has become.

[I <3 Eeyore]

I was just kidding when I posted about being groped by a character. I did have one pat my butt but I thought it was just payback. After all, they get patted all the time. ;)

[WebmasterPenny]

I'm white and I'm female. I have received 'the handshake' a number of times. Remember, these characters can't talk, it's all about exaggerated action and so most everything they do is more theatrical in nature otherwise, quite frankly, they'd be a little dull to interact with otherwise.

I haven't received any gropes or even near misses! I have received touches and hugs and not thought twice about it though. That's just what characters do, remember too, that just because a character is male, doesn't mean the CM inside is...

[kdibattista]

I don't know about anyone else but I cannot believe this is a ligitimate topic of discussion. Granted, it's good entertainment first thing in the morning but.....what's next?

[jipsy]

Sorry if you and your husband were offended but I can't imagine that whoever was in that Eeyore costume was being racist in any way. The political correctness of our society has gotten extremely out of hand. It is as if we look for these types of things. I am a white southern female living in the NE and I get asked stupid questions all the time by people who have never been down south but I don't take offense at it. It's just lack of knowledge on their part. I doubt Eeyore was trying to point out to the crowd that your husband is black by giving him a "soulbrother" handshake. I'm not even sure what that is.

there is nothing vaguely erotic about a back rub...

I beg to differ - my back rubs are quite erotic.

;)

This thread cracked me up. Thanks for the morning laugh :p

[Eeyore1954]

This thread is a hoot!

At 1900 Park Fare both Tigger and Eeyore gave my DW big "smacks" (I guess these were kisses). When Eeyore came around to my seat for a picture, I accidentally whacked his head/nose. I realized suddenly the poor person inside must have his/her ears ringing and I began apologizing for the unintended whack on the costume. The CM gave me a big hug -- well, as big a hug as Eeyore can give and a rather loud "smack" -- loud enough for a couple of tables around us to hear. I must have turned 12 shades of red as several people began laughing. My DW nearly fell off her chair laughing and I swear I could see Eeyore shaking with laughter. Maybe the CM was getting "even" for the whack?

I agree with many others... the characters have to be exaggerated to "communicate" since they are not allowed to speak. Back rubs, soulman handshakes, neck rubs, etc. are not uncommon. Like others said, if the character really gropes you, then you have a complaint.

[time101]

On a trip to the MK back in 1997, we had a group of 8 of our friends with us. Near Splash Mountain we came across Brer Bear. Some in our group decided to take pictures with him. There were 3 teenage girls plus 1 young woman. Did Brer Bear have fun with them! First he put his monstrous paw over two of the girls faces and completely covered them up. Then, when the cameras were about ready to take the next pictures, he moved his paw to the young woman's waist and started tickling her as the camera was going off. (We got some priceless pictures of that!!) Finally, as the group was leaving him, he grabbed one especially pretty 19 year old girl and wouldn't let her go. Every time she tried to walk away he would strengthen his grip on her shoulder.

Anyway, we laughed about the Brer Bear ordeal all day. Even though I had been to WDW many times before, I had always shied away from the characters thinking that they were "just for kids". How wrong I was! The thought never occured to any of us to be upset by the character's actions.

Tim E.
Dreamfinder's Other Concoction

[WebmasterPenny]

Actually, I forgot, I once had a character pant heavily in my ear. It was Pluto - I'm thinking it was probably just a dog thing though...

[figmentvi]

nutz4dzny.........That is indeed a very sad story. We are turning into a society that will not longer be able to express any sort of affection for another human being for fear of being sued.

Hypersensitive political correctness makes me sick. But it sure makes some lawyers very happy. (Please note that I did say SOME lawyers) :D

[travelitis]

My dd played with Eeyore's tail on our last visit, so if that was a racist handshake, she got even for you.

My rule of thumb is that if you have to ask if you should be offended, it's usually a clue you should not.

[PhotobearSam]

I got so much attention from Dale at Hollywood and Vine Breakfast that my fiance was almost jealous...BUT I love it. Dale has always been one of my favorites.;)

[danacara]

This thread makes me want to do that Funk Show Brother dance ...

Does anyone know an "Uptight WASP" handshake? If we are going to call Disney to complain about the "Soul Brother" handshake, we should at least suggest an acceptable alternative, yes no?

;)

[Bumbles]

Danacara :p

I suppose we could just suggest to WDW that they eliminate all characters because some people are offended by their actions.

That would surely take care of the problem :rolleyes:

Right about now....

Funk Soul Eeyore.........

[DisOrBust]

Someone posted what they felt was a legitimate concern and was trying to see if this handshake was the norm. They shouldn't get bar-b-qued over it. I am sure being in an interracial relationship in our society makes one a little hypersensitive. They OP poster should be commended for having the guts to even "ask" if this is a normal handshake without immediately going off the deep end and screaming racism. Until you walk in their shoes I wouldn't pass judgement.

I have to say that it has crossed my mind when I se they characters interact with kids how many get a accused of groping? Not a job I would want, I am sure the risk for accusations is high I am also sure that WDW does plenty to avoid such a situation, ie camera's, 2nd CM with the characters etc...

By the way Mickey gave me a really loud smack at the GG my girls screamed Mom got kissed by Mickey!!

[eeyore0062]

I do think this is an appropriate subject, and many good points have been made. Many people do tend to read way to much into things... I guess our society, as a whole have lost our innocense and are more than willing to, instead of seeing the good in someone or a situation, to look for the negative aspects.

Case in point... that poor man working in the store:
The bad news...this Gentle Man is no longer the happy-go-lucky person and now is on his guard and will never be the same person.

It is a shame that society has become so jaded!

[phillybeth]

I have had an 'elaborate handshake' from costumed CMs. I have had Goofy pull on my long hair, Chip put his elbows on my shoulder and his hands on my head for a picture. I have had my hand kissed by Donald, which is really freaky when you think about it because Donald is typically a small woman!
Costumed CMs are so limited in the interactions they can have with guests- no voice interactions etc.

To me it is all a part of the Disney fun. That being said, if an adult is uncomfortable interacting with the characters, either avoid those situations or let another CM know. We were at Cp last year with my inlaws, complete adult party. We were bypassed by the characters totally since my FIL is not big into the whole charater thing. We just told the CMS at the front, and the characters just waved as they walked by.

[jennymouse]

I'm more inclined to think the handshake was more of a "guy" thing than a "black" thing.

And about the Eeyore who give the shoulder/back rubs....there's been plenty of times I'd of welcomed one!

[WebmasterPenny]

Ok...it's one thing to be a little light-hearted about a subject, but it's not acceptable to mock someone simply because you don't happen to share their degree of concern. Please think before you post.

[Mish19]

Last year at Hollywood and Vine Pluto came over to our table
and during his stay my family heard him/her burp! Should we be insulted? LOL. The characters at H&V were really great, they spent a whole lot of time with us.

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I'm sorry if I offended anyone. I work in a profession where false accusations of that kind happen often enough to make people very wary - and would not blithely bring up something like that. That's why I asked: if it's just me overreacting, fine - I indeed won't participate in any other photo ops, because it did make me uncomfortable. Again, I apologize for any ire my post caused.

Lori

[Peter Pirate]

No one's upset. It's fun to debate the real and sureal. Your post made it a little more fun around here...And thats a good thing!:p

:cool: :cool: :bounce: :cool: :cool:

[eeyorefreak25]

Well last year at Disney. I was kissed by Snow White while all the little dwarfs watched. I think that was some kind of fettish Snow White had about kissing a stranger while little old odd men watched. I heard this isn't the first time that this happened. The last time she ended up getting married over it

[FunkyLamb]

Well, I'd rather get a soul handshake then get groped by an anonymous CM. Wait, maybe I need to rethink that last statement.

You know...If you go over to Manequinns on Thursday nights, there are plenty of CMs that'll take you up on that.

;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

[rugrat]

Thanks DisorBust (and others who actually read my OP). I never said that I was offended, nor did I cry racism or political incorrectness. I was simply asking whether there were others who felt mixed or curious reactions toward characters when interacting with them. In this case, it just happened to involve (what I thought could have been) an issue of race. As one post stated, it could have been a black male in the costume for all I know (not that that fact alone would have completed eliminated our reaction). We have never experienced a character in this way. Consequently, I was simply curious about other's experiences and posted what I thought was a worthwhile post. I appreciated hearing from people who got the "soul brother" handshake and did not think it had anything to do with their race.

I find it amusing to read responses from people who infer their own facts and intrepretations. This thread has been made into a joke. Please just drop it, because most of you just don't (or want to) get it.

[travelitis]

If we misunderstood, we're sorry. However, I feel this comment is why many posters thought you were offended. As you've clarified your OP, let me attempt to clarify for those posters whom seem to have offended you then drop it
.
I felt a little annoyed and/or confused

I wonder if this is Disney approved

That suggests the action is significant enough for Disney to make a ruling on policy. Generally that issue is only brought up if someone feels the action is inappropriate in some way.

Yes, I too have received the handshake in question. I consider it playful and don't equate it with race.

[Mickey1]

Is this for real?? I am not sure if people are kidding or not. How can such things get read into sooo much. OK, I have had Rifiki tickle my side when I sat on a wall next to him to take a picture.....for pete's sake.....it wasn't anything BAD....a handshake? A arm being rubbed? What will Disney do next!!!!! Sorry but sometimes I think things get "read into" too deep, just MY opinion.....;)

[Goofy Fan]

I'm guessing that much of the surprise from the replies stems from the fact that most of those posters (and me) have been to WDW at least once, and probably numerous times. We are used to the character interraction. If that was my first trip to WDW, I wouldn't have any experience the first time a character interracted with me or my family in a way other than just posing for a picture or waving.

Rugrat, was this your first trip to WDW?

[Pete's Mom]

<IMG height="550"http://petesmommie.tripod.com/Santa_Goofy.jpg

Oh well, I guess serves me right for trying to peek up Tarzan's loincloth during Tarzan Rocks! :teeth:

[SmileyJoyz]

Not to beat this subject to death, but I think that while I personally wouldn't find the handshake offensive....it's a bit nearsighted to assume that all Disney CM's, by default of working for Disney, are the most angelic, honest, good-natured people in the world. Is a character going to grab your breasts? No, probably not. But that doesn't mean you couldn't have some less than holy person working inside the costume. I'm sure you've all seen a cashier at a store flirt with some pretty customer. What's to say that CM's aren't trying to do the same thing, in an albeit limited fashion due to the costume. I think most of the people Disney hires are probably very good people at heart who want to continue the Disney magic. But I do think it's unfair for others to assume that no CM would dare tarnish the image of a Disney character and especially unfair to judge a situation you were not present at. The characters themselves may be from a fantasy world, but the people underneath are only human...

[raidermatt]

Rugrat- In response to your original post, I understand why it may have caught you off-guard, but chances are it was not meant in any kind of offensive way.

I play softball on a team that is split about 50/50 among African American and other races. I'm one of the "other" races, but whenever one of my African American teamates shakes my hand, its with the "soul brother" handshake. I take it as a complement, that even though we may be of a different race, we are teamates and "brothers". Consequently, I could see myself using that same handshake (in an informal situation), with someone who is AA but not expecting it. My intent would not be to offend, and in fact would be the opposite.

Chances are, the character was either AA, or someone like me, who was just trying to be friendly.

[C.Ann]

I think I'm confused.. If your DH is in fact African American, then why would it annoy you that he was given a soul brother handshake?

[rugrat]

Thank you C.Ann for your post. You have articulated exactly why, (on behalf of yourself and others) I will never visit this page/forum again. Goodbye.

[C.Ann]

rugrat - I think you totally misunderstood my reply.. I was not being sarcastic by any means.. Perhaps I don't understand the dynamics of your situation - that's why I asked the question to begin with..

Let me give you an example.. My family is Italian.. It's very common in Italian families to greet everyone with a big hug and a kiss.. If one Italian greeted another Italian that way no one would think anything of it..

That's why I was confused with what you said.. Is a soul brother handshake offensive? I don't know - and that's why I asked the question..

I'm sorry if you took it the wrong way and if I offended you, I'm truly sorry..

[jenfur]

I would understand why you may be offended if you have been subject to bad attitudes in the past. It probably caught you off guard at WDW. I am sure they meant nothing by it, I have only been to WDW twice and I have seen the handshake a lot given to all types of people.

As a side note... I would not mind a backrub or any other form of inappropriate attention from one particular Aladdin at MK. :p Can I fax that request?

[Mickey1]

Who thinks this has gotten WAY out of hand? I dont understand it.....I think it was ALL DONE out of innocence and nothing more. I am not one of those people who believe that when I walk into Disney they can do no wrong and think nothing ever can happen there...but I also dont read into every little thing they do....just needed to vent.....sometimes I feel like I am not on the board but got thrown into the Young and the Restless! ha ha ha!

[travelitis]

Yes, the propensity to look for offense is way out-of-hand.
Sometimes it seems people actually want to find a reason to be offended. In our society the push to be PC has the backlash of accusasions of prejudice being made against innocent people. My rule of thumb when I get offended is to first look inside myself and see if that's where the change of attitude needs to be.

About the "soul brother" handshake ... even if it were offered because the character noticed ethnicity there's a flip side. If the character didn't offer that handshake to African Americans but to other ethnicities because of this very issue, then isn't that also discrimination? It becomes a very gray area then with either choice being discrimination. It behooves us to be very cautious of crying discrimination and offense, so that it's reserved for truly important issues.

Discriminate: 1. distinguish, differentiate 2. To make a distinction in favor of or against one person or thing as compared with others.

[travelitis]

Let's see if that post was enough to get me an e-mail warning and get this thread sent to Disboard Purgatory, the Debate boards.

[WebmasterPenny]

Thank you Travelitis, I hope you feel better getting that off your chest :rolleyes:

[year2late]

Didn't Fred and Barney have a soulbrother type handshake for the Loyal Order of Water Buffalo?

[eeyore0062]

Didn't Fred and Barney have a soulbrother type handshake for the Loyal Order of Water Buffalo?

Yes, yes, I believe they did. ---lol

I feel bad that Rugrat got offended, though! I think that her question probably was asked in pure innocense, but that she isn't very comfortable with her situation, and is constant on the lookout for things she may construe as discriminatory. I am sorry that she chose to leave these boards.:(

[travelitis]

Disneymad, I do feel better. The absurdity of this was starting to irritate me. I dare not say more.

[WebmasterPenny]

Right, well I think it's safe to say the OP has had an answer to their question, this is waaaaaay OT now. On the Restaurant Board atleast, this subject is closed.