Creepy Old Men...

[misslissa]

I guess this could be somewhat off topic here, but it was something that happened last trip at OKW.

DF and I were in the hot tub and there was an old man in there when we got there. There were also two younger girls, one about 12 and the other about 10. They were kinda goofing off in the hot tub but the old guy couldn't keep his eyes off of them. He was completely starring them over and I was getting more and more angry by the second!!!

I know this could happen anywhere... but I was wondering what you would do in this situation.

I don't have kids so I don't know about these kind of things... I made eyeball glances and looks to my DF until he realized what I was noticing... and then we stayed in the hot tub until the man left. I also made sure I glared at him as hard as I could...

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I don't understand the point of your post.

It sounds as if those young girls were misbehaving and this man should have said something if that is why he was staring. Are you are saying that you felt he was a "dirty old man?" Then it was the responsibility of the parents of these girls who should have been supervising them better to deal with the situation.

If you were uncomfortable, why didn't you just leave? Your behavior didn't solve anything.

If I had been there and seen a man leering at two young girls, I would have asked him what he was looking at.

 

[lucysdad]

Wow, that's a tough one. Given that 12 year old girls can be very physically mature, but emotionally still 12, they were fortunate that you were there for them. My best guess is that nothing more than disgusting leering would have happened anyway, but you never know. Lots of parents let the older kids enjoy a bit of freedom at WDW, especially if they are in pairs. This might change a few minds about that. As the mother of a future 12 year old daughter, thank you for staying in that hot tub.
Lucy's Mom

 

[DVCLiz]

I don't understand the point of your post.

It sounds as if those young girls were misbehaving and this man should have said something if that is why he was staring. Are you are saying that you felt he was a "dirty old man?" Then it was the responsibility of the parents of these girls who should have been supervising them better to deal with the situation.

If you were uncomfortable, why didn't you just leave? Your behavior didn't solve anything.

If I had been there and seen a man leering at two young girls, I would have asked him what he was looking at.

I didn't read her post at all like you did. I took her to mean that an older man was inappropriately staring at two young girls, and that she felt a responsibility to stay as an adult. The issue isn't whether the parents should have been more responsible - of course they should have been supervising more closely, but they weren't, and the OP felt the need to stay and make sure nothing happened.

OP, if it had been me, I would have left DF watching the situation and gone to tell a CM that someone needed to find the parents or ask the girls to leave the hot tub until they had a parent with them. But I think you were right not to leave - it was a dangerous situation and something could easily have happened.

 

[CEDmom]

I think what you did was smart. I might have taken it a little further and tried to find out from the girls where they're parents were. If they were in the pool area I'd have let them know what was going on. If they weren't a would have let a CM in the pool area know. The guy probably got his jollies by just looking but you never know. I'd rather go overboard to protect someone than ask "what if's" after something happens.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

I didn't read her post at all like you did. I took her to mean that an older man was inappropriately staring at two young girls, and that she felt a responsibility to stay as an adult. The issue isn't whether the parents should have been more responsible - of course they should have been supervising more closely, but they weren't, and the OP felt the need to stay and make sure nothing happened.

OP, if it had been me, I would have left DF watching the situation and gone to tell a CM that someone needed to find the parents or ask the girls to leave the hot tub until they had a parent with them. But I think you were right not to leave - it was a dangerous situation and something could easily have happened.

I read the post the same way you did, I think that poster misunderstood.

Good thing the OP was watching out for those young girls. That's a scary situation. I'd hate to think what he might have done if you were not there.

 

[misslissa]

I don't understand the point of your post.

Your behavior didn't solve anything.

Oooo... good lord... You definitely don't understand the point of the post.

The girls weren't misbehaving at all. In my opinion, they man was... he gave me the "heeby-geebies" just sitting there. However, I didn't see the need for me to make a scene!!! And, I didn't.

I did wonder where their parents were... but that's not my business... my mom always let me run around with my cousin on vacation. So, no biggie.

Thanks to everyone who know what I am talking about... I'm not usually an unbehaved person.

 

[jmkrat]

I think your instincts are your best guide. Could he perhaps been staring at them because they were misbehavng, perhaps, but then he should have gotten out. I know as a parent I would appreciate your efforts. You can't be too safe anymore.

 

[misslissa]

They weren't misbehaving at all. My point of saying that they were "goofing around"... I meant that they were just doing nothing. You know? Being kids. Not misbehaving, just having fun on their own... not doing anything to draw attention.

 

[monkeyboy]

So many odd and freaky old men at WDW it's scary

 

[goin2disneyagain]

Even if the girls were misbehaving (which it doesn't sound like they were), you can tell the difference between someone starring because they were misbehaving and someone starring with possible creepy intentions. It creeps me out just thinking about it. OP, glad you were there to prevent him from doing anything, at least this time.

 

[monkeyboy]

Did he have a camera?

Was he taking pictures from a childs perpective?

 

[maddiemouse]

I'm interested to know how you knew this person was "leering" at the girls.
Aren't most hot tubs circular? Maybe they were just in his line of vision, and he was relaxing after a long day at the parks, blankly staring at nothing, really, and thinking about what he was going to have for dinner. Did you feel it was innapropriate just because he was an "old man", which means what?
I see by your signature that you are 22, what is old to you? 40? 50? 60?
Maybe he was there first, just trying to relax, and was wishing the silly girls would just go and leave him in peace.

 

[Blondie]

What would I have done? If the situation was as bad as you say it was, I would've stayed there until either the girls got out or he did.

I'll play the devil's advocate here. Would it have been different if it was a creepy 18 year old? 25 year old? 35 year old? What if it had've been a woman checking out the two girls?

Thankfully nothing happened, but who is to say that anything would've in the first place?

 

[dementia412]

1. I think if you felt something was up it was right to stick around untill either the man or the girls left to be safe.

2. I doubt you can tell if someone is looking at them annoyed because they are there (they don't have to misbehave to be an annoyance to some people), staring through them or leering. People are always thinking I'm mad or irritated when I'm feeling just fine because they don't read me well. Of course that does get me mad and irritated , but that's another story.
So, don't assume that he really was a creepy old dude

3. Creepy people are everywhere. Just one more story showing that believing some particular place or other is safe is dangerous in of itself. Also people are more likely to notice the older guy but not the sweet young woman.. creepy old guys aren't the only ones out there who are a danger. (not saying you said that btw)

 

[meloneyb21]

oops....

 

[meloneyb21]

It's okay, I think you did the right thing instead of just leaving him there with the girls alone. You probably would've had that on your mind all night. Wondering if they were alright.

 

[Froggyswife]

IMO it doesn't matter if the "old guy" was leering or not as long as the OP had the feeling that this guy was looking at the girls inappropriately then I say the OP did a wonderful thing by waiting till he left and not leaving the girls there alone with him. The OP should be commended for her actions.

 

[DaisyD]

I wouldn't have even got into the hottub myself with a creep old man there! Icky! I don't do public hottubs for any reason. Didn't it make you feel all dirty to be bathing with some old man? LMAO!

 

[va32h]

I think you did the right thing, OP. Maybe it was nothing, maybe not. But your presence certainly didn't hurt, and it may have helped a couple fo girls out of an awkward situation. I have had situations where my gut told me something just wasn't right, even when others thought I was overreacting. It's hard to explain how something just doesn't feel right, unless you are there.