Four year-old dies vs. Vanity Plates

[JimMIA]

Is it just me...or does this strike you as odd?

The day after a four year old boy dies on Mission Space, the hot topic here (3 out of the top ten threads) is vanity plates?

 

[OneMoreTry]

I just read the article. Until I hear more my conclusion is that he had a seizure disorder triggered by the motion or video. I'd like to know what his history is and whether he was on any medication. I doubt trauma. The ride makes you dizzy but doesn't shake you around much.

Regardless, it's a tragedy.

However, I don't think all of life needs to come to an end. I don't have a problem with other threads continuing, but my heart goes out to the family.

 

[laceemouse]

True, it is very sad. I think a lot of people feel that even if he was tall enough that a child that young had no business being on that ride. But we have to remember that not every mom and dad read the dis and the UG before going to WDW. They feel that if Disney allows kids on a ride it MUST be safe. It is a family amusement park after all. I feel so bad for that family. Even if it was a pre-existing condition I still don't think many parents would expect that intensity KWIM?? I have extreme motion sickness and hardly do any fast ride. The simulator rides make me sick too. Even with meds I can not handle them. I have always worried about the whole BIGGER, BETTER, FASTER, MORE Gs, mindset of most thrill junkies. Think about it, how many normal people could handle what astronauts go through for training??? And those people have gone through thorough madical testing before hand. I have always loved WDW because there is so much I CAN do. I was afraid that those days were going, going, gone. People just need so MUCH input now adays to get a high. It is sad. I feel so sorry for that family. I feel sorry for all kids who are missing out on the simple things in life....AND, I would never pay extra for vanity plates.

 

[wtpclc]

While I am very sorry for the family (sorry doesn't even come cloe to cutting it), I'm glad that the death has been down-played on this board. The posts on the theme parks boards placing blame were awful. I'd like to think DVCers are above that, but I'd rather not tempt fate again.

I come to these boards to get a piece of the magic. I like to see light things to take my mind off of the troubles of the world. The same reason that I go to WDW.

If you find that you need to post about it as your way of dealing with the tragedy, please think of how you would feel if your family's tragic loss were being discussed or if you were the CM that showed the child the way to his seat the ride.

Again, my deepest sympathy to the family and all who are suffering due to this tragedy.

 

[CharlesTD]

I feel bad for the family but we all know there are inherint risks when riding any type of attraction wetehr it be Dumbo or Test track. You just never know what may trigger something in us we never knew we had it is unfortunate but it shouldn't make life stop for the rest of us becasue of it.

 

[mikey13v]

I've only been on these boards for a month or so now, usually watching other peoples conversations, helping me to purchase our new DVC membership.
I just thougt I would jump in and say that I believe everyone is extremely sad about this families tragic event, and we have all been thinking about it; but at the same time our lives go on. If one decides to emerse themselves in greif, let them greive. If another decides to carry on and deal with their sadness without speaking out, let them. Some people feel it is best to try to remain as normal as possible, while still respecting others need to talk about it.
I am with you right now, it's hard to think of the lighter things right now. We have a DS3, and well, I'm sure you can imagine my perspective of thought right now.
Taking time to write this is helping me.
I've been reading some other threads on this topic, and some people have been getting into some heavy debates(nice way of saying arguments). I think it's best for me to stay away from this and go get the toys together to take DS to the park this afternoon.

 

[DebbieB]

If I heard that a child died at Epcot, the DVC Community Board is not the first place I would go to see a discussion. I would go to the theme parks board, where the thread had 266 replies and over 21,000 views before it was locked (due to arguments over blame). I posted a reference to that thread on the thread that started here. I wouldn't take the lack of responses here to mean DVC'ers care more about vanity plates.

 

[ColoradoBelle1]

I believe there are already 4 threads on the DISBOARD alerting us all to this tragedy, and many rof us have already read and posted on these alternative threads.

No one would fault you for wanting to start yet another thread here on the DVC forum, but it seems that the DISboard in toto has the event chronicled already through these other threads. And while most of us here are DVCers, we are all members of the larger community of DIS.

Insofar as the debate, it seems to me that the blaming, suppositions, anxieties, arguing, finger-pointing and such, certainly takes away from the fact that a mother and father lost their precious child. It might be most productive to start a sympathy thread and fund raiser for the child on the 'In Memory of 'thread.

Finally, I think most of us on the disboard are a compassionate, caring, empathetic bunch. I'm sure most of us will hug our children closer this night and most of us will say a prayer or more for this child and his family.
Personally, I'm glad of the lightness of the DVC forum of late. Again, personally, I found the recurrent attack posts (as opposed to a respectful exchange of differing opinions) a waste of time and energy. As always, if we don't like the direction a post is headed (like dancing on the Sabbath or vanity plate drivel on a tragic day) we can just eschew it and move on.

But lets remember to hug our kids tight tomight and thank a higher power that they are safe from harm for yet another day!

Best wishes, Jim

 

[DVCconvert]

Jim -- In fact it is a horrible happenings. Anyone with a heart and a soul feels soooo badly for the family. However, there are many, many threads on the DIS about this -- and none of them can change the outcome -- at best they can only vent the sadness and sorry that so many feel.


I'm not sure where you're seeing what topics are "hot" -- but I can tell you that last night, and today -- there are many, many Cast Members in Florida who find it much harder to wear the plastic smile.

I don't think it's "odd" that on a board as big as the DIS that many are still asking questions about other things. Some of course don't have a clue. Others don't know about it -- yet still others see it, read it and feel about it --but recognize they can't do anything about it other then pray for the family.

 

[WithFaith50]

Is it just me...or does this strike you as odd?

The day after a four year old boy dies on Mission Space, the hot topic here (3 out of the top ten threads) is vanity plates?

Jim,

I have followed this story on the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies board. I assume other DVCer's are too.... .

WithFaith50

 

[smjj]

Its sad and very tragic but whats your point. Do we stop and just discuss this sad event or keep our lives moving. As others here have mentioned there are several threads on the other boards on this terrible accident....smjj

 

[mamaprincess]

I posted a reply on the original thread expressing my sadness and sending prayers to the childs family. The thread became so hostile instead of a place to console the family and maybe share our heartbrake with eachother. It became to much. I posted how I felt on this board and then just took the rest of the day away from the dis to just settle my nerves. It is very tragic and my heart completely goes out to the mother and family that have this unimaginable loss to live through.

This is the last time I will mention this event. It just makes me to sad. They will remain in my prayers.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Is it just me...or does this strike you as odd?

The day after a four year old boy dies on Mission Space, the hot topic here (3 out of the top ten threads) is vanity plates?

I think it strikes you as more than odd, since thats an 'angry' smiliey. I think the death at Epcot seems like it was just a tragic accident. I'm sure that before the year is over a few toddlers will drown in a toilet. I'm sure than before the summer is over a H.S. football player or two will die in practice. The toddlers drowning won't get any time on my local television station, but wherever that football player is in the country, I'll hear about it. In the case of this 4 year old at WDW, if it had happened at a local carnival, I don't think it's national news. I feel a huge sadness whenever a child dies. Other than the fact that this happened in WDW I have no connection to this child. I'm also saddened that St. Jude's is filled with little kids with life-threatening illnesses. I can at least write out a check every month to try to help these people out. The family that lost their child-there is honestly nothing I can do. My heart breaks for them. As far as I know, the parents didn't post on this board where I could offer them condolences. This board and WDW is kind of a retreat from the real world for me. No disrespect, but I don't understand what kind of response you expected. I've had death in my own family that I had to move on and go back to work the next day, and act as if life is the same as before the death. Why are we expected to act differently with people we don't know?

 

[Holly]

Insofar as the debate, it seems to me that the blaming, suppositions, anxieties, arguing, finger-pointing and such, certainly takes away from the fact that a mother and father lost their precious child.

I completely agree. Good post, ColoradoBelle1.

 

[JeanJoe]

Is it just me...or does this strike you as odd?

The day after a four year old boy dies on Mission Space, the hot topic here (3 out of the top ten threads) is vanity plates?

People cope in different ways. Some need to commisserate with other adults, some will hug their children, some just don't want to think about it, and some will escape by finding something silly to read.

I'm exposed to far too much meaningless tragedy and heartbreak in my line of work (newborn intensive care). For this tragedy, I only read enough to convince myself (based on minimal info) that NO ONE was to "blame", that it was another meaningless tragedy, that dwelling on it would only make me more sad, and that I had no interest in following any of the threads covering it anymore

Does this make me callous? I hope not -- I need to be able to set these sorts of things aside, or I will burn out.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of the child.

 

[JimMIA]

People cope in different ways. Some need to commisserate with other adults, some will hug their children, some just don't want to think about it, and some will escape by finding something silly to read.

I'm exposed to far too much meaningless tragedy and heartbreak in my line of work (newborn intensive care). For this tragedy, I only read enough to convince myself (based on minimal info) that NO ONE was to "blame", that it was another meaningless tragedy, that dwelling on it would only make me more sad, and that I had no interest in following any of the threads covering it anymore

Does this make me callous? I hope not -- I need to be able to set these sorts of things aside, or I will burn out.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of the child.

I agree, and I think we've all been doing a lot of hugging in the last 24 hours.

I suspect a lot of folks mistook my intent with my original post. I certainly was NOT trying to start a discussion of the incident or to try to fix blame. My background is in law enforcement, and I have way too much experience in investigating children's deaths to start that inanity. It will be weeks before we know what happened, and the most likely outcome is that noone is "to blame."

I was just trying to point out the trivial nature of the "vanity plates" posts in the context of the sad news of the day. Not that there is anything wrong with getting excited about vanity plates...just that it seemed strange at that time.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Jim, I agree it seemed starnge, but in reality, this board probably wasnt the place for the discussion about the death. I would never have expected to see that topic here in the first place, because it had nothing to do with DVC.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Even though I didn't take part in either discussion, I think of this DVC Community Board as my escape from reality.

 

[iwannabeinwdw]

My heart is still heavy for the family of that little one. That said, we have no idea as to the cause. We are left with only speculation. I for one am glad that DVC'ers have chosen not to take up that particular sport. If it is shown that the ride is somehow to blame, then we can join together to make sure safety is Disney's top priority.

As has been said, life does go on even if with more gray clouds today

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

I was just trying to point out the trivial nature of the "vanity plates" posts in the context of the sad news of the day. Not that there is anything wrong with getting excited about vanity plates...just that it seemed strange at that time.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I disagree. Just because something tragic happened at WDW doesn't mean the DVC DIS boards can't discuss something (comparatively) trivial and unrelated to the tragedy. I don't really understand why you made the connection. There were plenty of places on the DIS boards to discuss the awful event at Mission Space. I see no need for every thread to do so, or for everyone to stop posting other topics.

I hope the person(s) posting on the vanity plates thread doesn't feel guilty, IMHO absolutely nothing they did was wrong.

Mar'