I'm convinced Heelys are proof of a decline in civilization.

[JunieJay]

So a minimum of "collateral" damage is acceptable so kids can have fun? I really don't get the mindset that "is it really that bad?" It's not so much that the kids are knocking down old ladies in mass numbers, it's the idea that you should THINK about what your doing and HOW it can unintentionally affect others trying to share the same space. It's more of the "it's all about ME" attitude.

I agree with that. You should do that in every aspect of your life -- people should refrain from smoking near others, wearing strong perfume, standing too closely, stopping in the middle of an aisle abruptly, and yes, heelying into people.

 

[nuke]

So a minimum of "collateral" damage is acceptable so kids can have fun? I really don't get the mindset that "is it really that bad?" It's not so much that the kids are knocking down old ladies in mass numbers, it's the idea that you should THINK about what your doing and HOW it can unintentionally affect others trying to share the same space. It's more of the "it's all about ME" attitude.

The 'it's all about Me" attitude has nothing to do with Heelys. It has everything to do with parenting. I've never seen anyone get knocked into by a kid on Heelys. I've seen plenty of accidents almost happen by cab drivers, bicycle delivery guys, and buses but those things aren't going away either. You just deal with it and look around when walking down a city street.

 

[nuke]

But a skateboard wouldn't go flying out from under the skater if the skater was just "wheeling by next to their parents," like you say with heelys.

And when someone darts into the path of a skateboarder they can stop but the board will keep going. The heelys aren't going anywhere without the kids foot.

 

[MushyMushy]

And when someone darts into the path of a skateboarder they can stop but the board will keep going. The heelys aren't going anywhere without the kids foot.

Have you ever actually SEEN a kid on a skateboard?

When they're going slow and controlled (like with heelys), one foot is on the ground, so the kid would be able to stop without losing the skateboard.

I've got a strange idea. How about stores not allow ANY wheels (other than wheelchairs and ECVs) in them?

 

[cardaway]

Because a skateboard can come flying out from under the skater and become a high speed flying projectile. I would actually rather be bumped into by a kid on heelys than have a piece of wood flying at my head.

I don't understand the Heely hatred actually. I noticed kids with them on in Disneyworld. They were just wheeling by next to their parents. No different than if they had been walking. I've noticed them in the stores around here too. Same thing, next to their parents not bothering anyone.

You're certainly right about skateboards. They are more dangerous, but they are also banned from pretty much every place with smooth concrete surfaces.

You are also quite lucky I guess because the kids I have seen using Heelys at Disney have been rolling down the few hills (which in many cases are the wheelchair and ECV lanes) with not a parent in sight. The worst Heely related accident I have seen was in Epcot this last Dec and the people who repsonded actually had to hunt down the parents. This time it was the young kid that was hurt badly, but most of the time, it's the person they hit that gets hurt.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Kind of OT, and to help further the decline of civilization: Do they make Heelys for adults? I've always wanted a pair.

 

[nuke]

When we went to Disney in December I was looking for kids on Heelys expecting to see all sorts of horrible behavior but I never saw any except by the cheerleaders. Maybe I just went on a good heely week. I also must live in a good heely neighborhood because we don't have any problems with them. Then again even the skateboarders are pretty respectful around us. They stop doing their tricks if someone is getting close to them walking by.

 

[JunieJay]

Kind of OT, and to help further the decline of civilization: Do they make Heelys for adults? I've always wanted a pair.

They do! They go up to a man's size 12 I think. My son wears a man's size 7, which just so happens to fit me beautifully. And yes, they are as fun as they look (although not quite the weapon of destruction they are made out to be here, at least that has been my experience anyway!)

 

[DISUNC]

Kind of OT, and to help further the decline of civilization: Do they make Heelys for adults? I've always wanted a pair.

ME TOO! I can zip around Wal-Mart in half the time!

 

[cardaway]

When we went to Disney in December I was looking for kids on Heelys expecting to see all sorts of horrible behavior but I never saw any except by the cheerleaders. Maybe I just went on a good heely week. I also must live in a good heely neighborhood because we don't have any problems with them. Then again even the skateboarders are pretty respectful around us. They stop doing their tricks if someone is getting close to them walking by.

I think we were there at the same time, and I do agree there were fewer of them than when I was there in 2004.

But at the same time, the ones we did see were rolling down hills at a pretty good speed. Down the ramps in the Land pavillion (which was pretty crowded with people heading towards Soarin) or down the hills of the WS, and even down the handicapped access ramps around the MK and MGM.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Funny this thread came up today, since yesterday morning at church, I happened to look at the kid in the pew behind us while we were heading tp communion and sure enough, he started "gliding" along. I thought it was an odd place to wear Heelys, since it's not like there's a lot of walking to do in Mass, but aside from that, I didn't give it a second thought.

 

[DISUNC]

Funny this thread came up today, since yesterday morning at church, I happened to look at the kid in the pew behind us while we were heading tp communion and sure enough, he started "gliding" along. I thought it was an odd place to wear Heelys, since it's not like there's a lot of walking to do in Mass, but aside from that, I didn't give it a second thought.

They are called "HOLY ROLLERS"!

couldn't resist that!

 

[Bob Slydell]

They are called "HOLY ROLLERS"!

 

[zagafi]

They are called "HOLY ROLLERS"!

couldn't resist that!

I can't believe it took this thread this long to go there! LOL!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

They do! They go up to a man's size 12 I think. My son wears a man's size 7, which just so happens to fit me beautifully. And yes, they are as fun as they look (although not quite the weapon of destruction they are made out to be here, at least that has been my experience anyway!)

Sweet! I just squeek in at size 12! I'll have to do a little more research, unless someone could post a link.

As far as the heelys on kids, I don't have a problem, as long as the kids, as with everything in life, are being respectful. When I was in my early teens in the 80's, and skateboarding was just really coming up, my next door neighbor's parents put up a 10 foot half pipe in our back yard and we all got pretty good. Took some serious falls, but it was all in good fun. As far as the kids safety, I've never seen any kid take a fall on a pair of heelys that was anything close to what happened to us on that half pipe, and I lived to tell the tale.

 

[JunieJay]

As far as the kids safety, I've never seen any kid take a fall on a pair of heelys that was anything close to what happened to us on that half pipe, and I lived to tell the tale.

And you never will. Heelies in no way present the same kind of danger as skateboards, its just a fact.

Check out sportsauthority.com for adults sizes - this is where we got our kids latest pair. They have already gone through 3 pair each (and have yet to knock anyone down on them! ).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

And you never will. Heelies in no way present the same kind of danger as skateboards, its just a fact.

Check out sportsauthority.com for adults sizes - this is where we got our kids latest pair. They have already gone through 3 pair each (and have yet to knock anyone down on them! ).

Just b/c they don't present the same kind of danger, does not make them absent of danger.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Check out sportsauthority.com for adults sizes - this is where we got our kids latest pair. They have already gone through 3 pair each (and have yet to knock anyone down on them! ).

I'm so there! Thanks...my wife's going to be so jealous!

 

[Missy1961]

And you never will. Heelies in no way present the same kind of danger as skateboards, its just a fact.

Check out sportsauthority.com for adults sizes - this is where we got our kids latest pair. They have already gone through 3 pair each (and have yet to knock anyone down on them! ).

I am going to check that out. I have been dying to get a pair--they look like so much fun. But I promise I won't be wearing them to the supermarket, the mall or WDW! (and I have tell this to Tigger & Belle--we've been planning to support each other in the wearing of heelies!)

 

[JunieJay]

Just b/c they don't present the same kind of danger, does not make them absent of danger.

Who said they were absent of danger? Neither is walking down the street, but it still doesn't make it as dangerous as riding a skateboard.