An off the rails joke at Jungle Skipper today

[erinch]

We had lunch today at Jungle Skipper. Loved the restaurant. And Nathanel was fantastic. A lot of fun. We wanted tap water, which he said he would go draw up from the river.

But at the table next to us, the server introduced himself by saying

Roses are red, violets are blue,
I'm schizophrenic, and so am I.

I struggled with myself, as my family wanted to hightail it for An FP. But took the time to speak with the manager. I have a good friend who is schizophrenic. He struggles to be in crowds, and if he had been accosted with that, it would have been devastating.

I suggested removing the joke from the line up. As it isn't funny, and that she might want to speak with the CM about disabilities and humor. She said it wasn't in the line up, apologized, and said she would deal with it. In a decidedly non joke way.

Glad to see such professionalism, and hope the young CM skippers on with better jokes.

 

[Disneypapa]

Thanks for speaking to management. People often poke fun at the mentally and physically disabled in an effort to get a laugh.

 

[ALittleWhistle]

I work in mental health, and applaud you for speaking up. You're absolutely right. And what if it was a child?? Ugh.

 

[lovewdwfun]

Yes, thank you! We also has an unpleasant incident once where Snow White said my son, who has Down syndrome, reminded her of Dopey and asked his big sister if she took care of him like Snow White takes care of Dopey. We talked to guest services. The CMs are typically amazing, but I think there needs to be some more training on sensitivity for those with disabilities.

 

[BigAlsGal]

I would have high tailed it to my fp.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

I would have high tailed it to my fp.

I was late for my 7DMT once...once

That is kind of insensitive. Even I think so and when I'm at WDW I usually just watch and enjoy. That would have put me off a bit.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Yeah, that's not a funny joke.

 

[kreckl]

One was in poor taste, imo. The other comment- unbelievably rude and insensitive to your entire family, lovewdwfun. I'm sorry that you had that experience.

 

[wilkeliza]

Yes, thank you! We also has an unpleasant incident once where Snow White said my son, who has Down syndrome, reminded her of Dopey and asked his big sister if she took care of him like Snow White takes care of Dopey. We talked to guest services. The CMs are typically amazing, but I think there needs to be some more training on sensitivity for those with disabilities.

There use to be a lot of training on sensitivity for those with disabilities. The skipper and Snow White crossed a line that shouldn't have been crossed. I'm sure Snow White meant no ill will but that doesn't make it right. Glad you guys spoke up. Managers can't be every where so often stuff like this is only caught if a guest speaks up.

 

[Huff]

I agree it was in poor taste. Trouble is there isn't much anyone can say or joke about that someone wouldn't find offensive. No matter what, someone will take nearly any joke personally. I have chronic severe asthma. Heard many jokes on the subject over the years. It bothered me as a kid but these days I laugh too or just ignore.

 

[DLgal]

Sorry, but I think that is funny. And I have numerous family members with mental illness and other disabilities, including my own kids. Sometimes you just have to laugh at it because otherwise it becomes unbearable. Humor is a wonderful coping mechanism.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Alas, political correctness runs amok, again.
2) There are VERY FEW jokes that do not make fun of people or situations.
3) Life is funny.
4) Doesn't anyone even read the Funnies in the newspaper any more?
5) Did you hear the one about . . . ?

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

People need to laugh more.

 

[TheJuiciestOfJs]

A comedians job is to take something serious, uncomfortable, or depressing and find the humor in it.

Isn't that the whole schtick of the restaurant? If you run the risk of being offended at something like that, maybe the best course of action is to just avoid those places.

But then again, I'm really hard to offend.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Yes, thank you! We also has an unpleasant incident once where Snow White said my son, who has Down syndrome, reminded her of Dopey and asked his big sister if she took care of him like Snow White takes care of Dopey. We talked to guest services. The CMs are typically amazing, but I think there needs to be some more training on sensitivity for those with disabilities.

I remember when you posted about this happening and it broke my heart that Snow said that. I am very sorry that you experienced that. Hopefully they improved their training so that hasn't happened to anyone else.

 

[DrunkJam]

A comedians job is to take something serious, uncomfortable, or depressing and find the humor in it.

Isn't that the whole schtick of the restaurant? If you run the risk of being offended at something like that, maybe the best course of action is to just avoid those places.

But then again, I'm really hard to offend.

That may be so, but, since the stigma and discrimination around MH is still massively limiting and causes people with those issues to be misunderstood, to be less likely to find work, to be more likely to be assaulted and abused, a joke like this, that perpetuates a myth around a particular condition, when you don't know your audience is really in poor taste and, plain wrong in this situation.

I am very pleased this was addressed at the time. I recently contacted the BBC about broadcasting a joke about psycho-paths on children tv.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

A comedians job is to take something serious, uncomfortable, or depressing and find the humor in it.

Isn't that the whole schtick of the restaurant? If you run the risk of being offended at something like that, maybe the best course of action is to just avoid those places.

But then again, I'm really hard to offend.

This may be true at a Chris Rock or Amy Schumer show, but not at a WDW restaurant. Skipper's is not billed as a comedy club. There are PLENTY of jungle and animal themed jokes the servers could be making. How a joke about mental health fits into the theme at Skipper's is beyond me.

 

[DrunkJam]

Sorry, but I think that is funny. And I have numerous family members with mental illness and other disabilities, including my own kids. Sometimes you just have to laugh at it because otherwise it becomes unbearable. Humor is a wonderful coping mechanism.

That is true and within your own group, or within a group of others of similar mindset, it's fine, but WDW is not that place. Not everyone is ready to laugh about this, and many more people could be offended. Plus, of course, it is totally inaccurate, and encourages a misunderstanding of an incredible damaging illness.

 

[erinch]

In my day job one of the things I do is work with pastors new to their trade and new to preaching. A sermon is a bit like being a server with patter at a restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. One of the things I often find myself saying, when a preacher has tried to be funny and steps into a steaming pile they created themselves is Ina sermon some jokes are off limits. No ethnic jokes. No sexist jokes. No ageist jokes. Etc. I had one guy say once, well then, what is left.

Well, I said, you need to examine the concept of humor. And also understand irony. And then I do send them to watch late night comedians and improv. I think it is really sad that the old Comedy Club in Pleasure Island shut down, because they were masters of humor that had an edge, and was really funny, but stayed within family bounds, if they wished to stay employed.

This particular joke wasn't funny, partly because it targets the wrong condition. It should be, I guess, roses are red, violets are blue, I have a multiple personality disorder, and so do I. Which doesn't actually sound that funny. Schizophrenia is a different thing entirely, and no one who watches the bravery of a person who must work around it would think it makes for funny patter.

I heard lots of gentle jokes yesterday that stayed in bounds. The tram driver said, Ladies don't throw your husbands off the tram, if something drops, they make terrible tumble weeds. Another said, remove your children from the strollers before you fold them up. The tram guy in the villains lot said, if you can't find your car, then you'll never see it again. If you wanted help, you should have parked in heroes. But you parked inHook 137. Then he gave an evil laugh.

Getting an ear for the difference takes practice. I suspect they could do far more training at the skipper restaurant, as delivery was off a bit in most of the servers I was listening to.

And that is my nickel's worth!

 

[tony67]

I suggested removing the joke from the line up. As it isn't funny, and that she might want to speak with the CM about disabilities and humor. She said it wasn't in the line up, apologized, and said she would deal with it. In a decidedly non joke way.

Although she said the Joke was not in the lineup - I wonder if she was being honest.
The Jungle Cruse itself is now very scripted and they are no longer allowed to go off script as I understand it.
I assume the restaurant would be the same.
I can't imagine they would give much leeway as people seem to be offended by just about everything these days.
It would also seem very stupid for waitstaff to go off script. I'd assume they make very good money as far as tips go and would not want to risk it.