children with fake knives/swords in parks

[C.Ann]

All of this is just a sympton of, "I'm having fun, everyone else can get out of my way!" syndrome, which seems to be pervasive in our culture.

"Lighten up" is a fine sentiment, until that kid whose right to wave his lightsaber around in public you're defending happens to hit you... or, god forbid, YOUR kid, then you'll sing a different tune. "Hey, tell your kid to stop waving his lightsaber around, he just whacked my 3 year old and made him cry!"

Waving lightsabers, smoking, throwing trash, talking on cell phones... all of these are perfectly acceptable behaviors, but they all have reasonable limits placed on when, where, and how they can be enjoyed. My opinion has always been that your right to do whatever you want stops when it begins to affect me against my will. And whacking me with a lightsaber, blowing smoke on me, throwing trash in a place where I intend to eat lunch, or talking on a cell phone over the sounds of a show or attraction that I am enjoying all affect me against my will.

So I'll lighten up as long as others show basic consideration for my rights. I love to see kids playing with lightsabers, as long as they DON'T HIT ME. I defend peoples' rights to smoke, as long as they DON'T FORCE ME TO BREATHE IT. I am perfectly content to let folks throw trash, as long as it is IN THE PROPER RECEPTACLE. And talking on cell phones is a favorite activity of mine, just NOT ON RIDES OR IN SHOWS.

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Excellent post! Couldn't have said it better myself..

And for those who think a "soft plastic sword with a rounded top" can not cause physical pain and/or injury - have you ever gotten a speck of dust in your eye? Now go take a plastic sword and stick it in your eye.. Is it going to hurt? Of course it is.. Would you want your child - or your elderly grandmother who is sitting on a bench trying to relax - jabbed in the eye with a plastic sword (or a wand)?

Careless behavior by children waving objects around is not "kids being kids" - it's parents not watching what their kids are doing..

 

[buddy&wooz]

I've got nothing against kids playing with these toys. As I said earlier I don't buy the sabers and swords in the parks- but my youngest has a light saber and loves it here at home. The difference is the crowds. There are just too many people at WDW for a kid to have the space needed to play with those toys safely. I could buy a light up sword for my kid and tell him "Now don't poke any strangers, hold it carefully." But if you give a SWORD to a preschool age KID of course he's going to want to swing it around and "attack" with it. I preferred to avoid the issue entirely by not buying those toys in the parks. I don't think he felt like he was being denied his fun- the light up spinner toys, the talking Stitch doll, the Hook & eye patch from POC, etc etc- he got plenty of cool stuff to play with- and his fun didn't bother other guests.

 

[Schmeck]

During the investigation into Columbine, it was noted that the boys were addicted to playing a violent video game. So, where do you draw the line about what is OK for violent 'boys will be boys' play, and what isn't? Pretending to stab people is OK? How about when they try to do it with a plastic butter knife?

A girl in my daughter's 4th grade class was stabbed in the arm by a boy in that class. Is that OK? He didn't use a real knife...

 

[lclark0621]

Are people seriously trying to compare the Columbine shooting to kids playing with toys in Disney World?!?!

Give me a break.

How absolutly crazy!

It amazes me how far people wil reach.

Do you think the victims of the Columbine shooting would like people comparing their tragedy to kids playing in Disney World? I know they would not! And you know why I know this? Because I am very good friends with two of the families involved with Columbine. One child did not survive & one did. Neither family wants their tragedy used like this.

So give it a rest & find some other reason to be angry at little kids in Disney World.

 

[Schmeck]

I also know kids from that school, (relatives, actually) so that card doesn't play. When does 'playing with toys' from plastic weapons to violent video games, cross the line? Remember that the OP said a man was hurt by kids 'playing'. Is that OK, just because they were having fun?

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

During the investigation into Columbine, it was noted that the boys were addicted to playing a violent video game. So, where do you draw the line about what is OK for violent 'boys will be boys' play, and what isn't? Pretending to stab people is OK? How about when they try to do it with a plastic butter knife?

A girl in my daughter's 4th grade class was stabbed in the arm by a boy in that class. Is that OK? He didn't use a real knife...

I would bet that the percentage of kids in High School who play violent video games and don't shoot up their school is pretty high. I haven't seen any statistics to back me up on this, but I would be willing to bet my house on it. They also went bowling before they shot up the school. Using your 'logic' maybe bowling causes violence in boys, and it wasn't the video games?

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Really? I think the kids look cute. They are pretending they are pirates. I really don't know of anyone who played with fake knives and guns and such as a little kid who grew up to be overly violent or psychotic.

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

And BTW, if I am ever stabbed/jabbed by one of these things I will grab it and break it in half and if some dumb parent says anything mean in return, I will find security and do whatever I can to get them in trouble. thats all!

BTW--- wonderful non-violent response to a child. I wonder who the real child is here?

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

During the investigation into Columbine, it was noted that the boys were addicted to playing a violent video game. So, where do you draw the line about what is OK for violent 'boys will be boys' play, and what isn't? Pretending to stab people is OK? How about when they try to do it with a plastic butter knife?

A girl in my daughter's 4th grade class was stabbed in the arm by a boy in that class. Is that OK? He didn't use a real knife...

Are you really comparing ROLEPLAYING Peter Pan and POC in WDW to Columbine????--- that is soooo VERY SAD. You must live in a sad world.

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

We must strive to be a more tolerant society.
The next time I'm in WDW and someone bumps/hits me or my child with a 30lb backpack or 10lb fannypack, I hope they will say sorry and I will respond-- no harm no foul-- and smile and move on. And later in the day when my child bumps/hits someone with his sword he will say sorry and hopefully they will say --no harm no foul--, smile and move on.
We live with other people-- and no one is perfect.
IMHO-- if you do not believe in the above --tolerance; no harm no foul rule-- then don't put yourself in public situations until you are ready to deal with ALL people(including kids), both good and bad.

 

[Bunch24]

Hmm, I'm addicted to video games (even some that have violence in them), but I've never brought a weapon to school, or shot up a school. I have a TON of friends who are also addicted to video games and none of them have ever been arrested or convicted for any violent acts.

It's a LAME, LAME, LAME excuse to use video games/TV/movies/music to pass the buck. It comes down to PARENTING. Bad parents turn out bad kids, good parents turn out good kids. Video games won't make good parents turn out bad kids, or vice versa.

This society has gotten to the point where NOBODY wants to TAKE THE BLAME for their own actions. Gained weight? It's McDonald's fault. Got a kid who is violent? It's Nintendo's fault. Kid failing in school? It's the teacher's fault. Kids shoot up schools? It's Marilyn Manson's fault.

This thread is starting to get really, really silly. Playing with a toy weapon is not going to turn a straight A student into a mass murderer. Come on people, get a grip on REALITY.

To quote Bill Maher (who I really despise), "The wussification of this country continues."

 

[C.Ann]

We must strive to be a more tolerant society.
The next time I'm in WDW and someone bumps/hits me or my child with a 30lb backpack or 10lb fannypack, I hope they will say sorry and I will respond-- no harm no foul-- and smile and move on. And later in the day when my child bumps/hits someone with his sword he will say sorry and hopefully they will say --no harm no foul--, smile and move on.
We live with other people-- and no one is perfect.
IMHO-- if you do not believe in the above --tolerance; no harm no foul rule-- then don't put yourself in public situations until you are ready to deal with ALL people(including kids), both good and bad.

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There's a big difference between an "accident" and total disregard for the people around you.. If a person "accidentally" bumps you with their backpack, that's one thing.. If they jam it into your face, squeezing into an area that's too small to accomodate their backpack, then that's disregard for anyone's comfort but their own..

I could be wrong, but I don't think "tolerance" includes accepting flat-out rudeness and disregard from fellow guests - especially when it's going to result in physical pain and/or injury..

 

[lclark0621]

I also know kids from that school, (relatives, actually) so that card doesn't play.?

What the heck does that mean?

The people I know who were involved in Columbine, do not like when every single act of "violence" (kids pretending to be pirates is not an act of violence) done by children is compared to their tragedy.

So that makes their or my opinions less worthy?

Sorry but everytime a kid does something wrong you cannot compare it to a couple of kids who shot up their school!

You can't blame mass media or fake plastic swords for what happened in Comlumbine.

The kids who shot their class mates were mentally unstable.

Kids playing pirates are normal kids.

If your video games = mass murder logic were true, then why are there not more instances of kids bringing & using weapons in school?

Some people are just nuts!

If video games & mass media turned everyone violent, there would be very few people walking the earth today.

Of course then there would be even few kids playing with the dreaded fake swords in Disney World, so I guess people would be happy!

 

[Metallicat]

BTW--- wonderful non-violent response to a child. I wonder who the real child is here?

Actually, I could do worse than breaking a toy like telling the kid how I'm going to call the police and have the parents hauled off to jail and how they will be taken away and put into a foster home etc.. but I'm really not that mean... or I could lay down and act like I'm having a seizure from the injury, have them call an ambulance then sue them for what happend. I could really show my bad side if made mad enough. I could make a huge scene. I think you get the point and yep, I am a child. a 44 yr old child with a little more experience and knowledge on how to make things miserable for someone who hurts or causes injury to me or mine esp. when the injury is caused on purpose like someone walking up to me and stabbing me in the back of the leg and then giggling about it.

also, I said to begin with that this kid did this on PURPOSE. heck, the kid even took off running. I will be the first to forgive if its truly an accident. but, then again parents should know ahead of time and not allow their kids to carry something around that COULD hurt someone else. anybody can utter a wimpy "I'm sorry"after the fact. that is just an easy way out and parents should know that not everybody is googily eyed and in love with their kids like they are. some of us actually get annoyed with bratty kids. imagine that!

 

[Bunch24]

Actually, I could do worse than breaking a toy like telling the kid how I'm going to call the police and have the parents hauled off to jail and how they will be taken away and put into a foster home etc.. but I'm really not that mean... or I could lay down and act like I'm having a seizure from the injury, have them call an ambulance then sue them for what happend. I could really show my bad side if made mad enough. I could make a huge scene. I think you get the point and yep, I am a child. a 44 yr old child with a little more experience and knowledge on how to make things miserable for someone who hurts or causes injury to me or mine esp. when the injury is caused on purpose like someone walking up to me and stabbing me in the back of the leg and then giggling about it.

also, I said to begin with that this kid did this on PURPOSE. heck, the kid even took off running. I will be the first to forgive if its truly an accident. but, then again parents should know ahead of time and not allow their kids to carry something around that COULD hurt someone else. anybody can utter a wimpy "I'm sorry"after the fact. that is just an easy way out and parents should know that not everybody is googily eyed and in love with their kids like they are. some of us actually get annoyed with bratty kids. imagine that!

FYI, the Cops would laugh at you if you called them to Magic Kingdom because you got "assaulted" by a child's plastic TOY.

And if you did the falling down seizure thing, I'd imagine you'd leave MK in a white jacket bound for some insane asylum.

Please, don't turn this anthill into the Rocky Mountains. It's just not quite as serious as you're making it out to be.

Relax.

 

[nativetxn]

I think that manners are manners. No matter what a child uses to "jab" another person, adult or child, is not important. They should not attack another human at all.

Kids will be kids, but the adults need to be adults and correct this behavior.

Just my opinion.

Katholyn

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

Actually, I could do worse than breaking a toy like telling the kid how I'm going to call the police and have the parents hauled off to jail and how they will be taken away and put into a foster home etc.. but I'm really not that mean... or I could lay down and act like I'm having a seizure from the injury, have them call an ambulance then sue them for what happend. I could really show my bad side if made mad enough. I could make a huge scene. I think you get the point and yep, I am a child. a 44 yr old child with a little more experience and knowledge on how to make things miserable for someone who hurts or causes injury to me or mine esp. when the injury is caused on purpose like someone walking up to me and stabbing me in the back of the leg and then giggling about it.

WOW There's no response to this kind of insanity. I'm done in this thread. By the way, I am in no way advocating kids running around stabbing people with swords, but when in WDW, and you get bumped by some kid having the time of his life pretending he's in a Disney story, I hope you can at least realize that even getting stabbed on purpose by a blunt plastic sword is not an attack. Now if a kid tackles you an starts whacking you in the head with it, that's a different story.
If my kid stabbed someone with his sword, I would take it off him immediately.
But my DS doesn't stab people, and I bet 95% of the kids at WDW don't stab people, and even those that do aren't being vicious, they are PLAYING
I hope you all enjoy your future trips, I know I will

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

Actually, that would rock!! I think an all-adult day would be awesome!

-speaking as someone with no kids

Couldn't let this go -- Uncle Walt must be turning in his grave ......

 

[kimbac3]

I agree that kids shouldn't run around "unsupervised" .
However that having been said, the title of the thread should have been "Parents not watching their kids". Why lump all kids into this group?
Believe it or not some kids are taught to respect others.I have 2 daughters and 1 son and I use "unruly" kids at stores,theme parks, etc. as examples. I will point them out and say "See how that child is kicking the back of that persons seat? That's rude and annoying - you shouldn't do that". This way the kids can really see how NOT to behave.

By the way all three of my kids (girls too!) have lightsaber fights, pirate battles and last Halloween we attend a costume/medevil wedding and they were the three musketeers complete with swords and feathered caps.
Kimba

 

[Amy&Dan]

Lighten up!!! you're in Disney World -- where kids (and even adults) can and should act like kids.
Those light up swords fold faster than a bad hand in a poker game.
Everyone should slow down and stop commando touring and join the magic and fun!!!!!!

I'm sure everyone's little girls are as sweet as sugar and spice and everything nice --- someone pinch me, I must be dreaming .

Proud mom to 2 pirate lovin' boys !!!!!!

I have a boy and girl so I can testify that girls and boys can both be equally sweet or unsweet. However the swords can hurt. My daughter got caught square in the face with one while we were in line for Splash. No apology from the parents of this kid while they watched the whole thing. It really hurt hurt her. I am sure you think your kids are just having fun and I am sure they are. I can also be sure my daughter had no fun getting one across her face, just a big red welt. They also cause people to jump out of the way causing them to run into other people etc (have seen that not experienced it). WDW can get crowded and those swords and light sabers are a bad idea, sorry!