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

[DVC-Don]

Last week in the grocery store there was a young fella (10?) on these screaming "Out of my way" as he zipped down an isle and crashed into the milk case. His father said nothing.

 

[leighe]

I don't think it matters how great a kid is at managing their heelies - they are still inappropriate in many public places. It's just common courtesey.

 

[JunieJay]

I don't think it matters how great a kid is at managing their heelies - they are still inappropriate in many public places. It's just common courtesey.

Well I guess i just don't understand this. If my kid is heelying next to me and is able to maneuver on them so they are of no danger to you and are not invading your personal space, I don't see how its not courteous. Whats not courteous about it, specifically?

I mean, I don't like people who smoke cigarettes, but as long as they aren't blowing it in my face or smoking where its prohibited, I can't very well say they aren't being courteous.

 

[poohandwendy]

Heelys just amplify bad parenting, IMO.

Someone earlier mentioned kids of yester years vs kids of today and suggested that people are less tolerant of children now. That makes me LOL because back in the day, kids were 'seen but not heard' and their opinions and thoughts were pretty much dismissed. They definitely were not tolerated better years ago. If anything, they were disciplined more firmly. Parents didn't look at raising children in the same way. Definitely some things needed to change, but IMO the pendulum swung waaaay to far to the other extreme where some people expect parenting to be roses and sunshine and cannot handle the part that is no fun, discipline. Not sure why, maybe it is guilt, maybe it is wanting to make up for their own childhood issues. Whatever it is, it isn't producing independent young adults IMO. Its producing takers who think the world revolves around their delicate ego.

Today, I think the problem is that there is an excuse for pretty much any behavior. Any behavior that is inappropriate and some people automatically assume some sort of disorder. Yes, there are some disorders, but I think many parents cling to that idea because it takes the heat off them. It makes them less accountable for doing what it takes to curb undesirable and inappropriate behavior.

JMHO

 

[CheshireVal]

Well I guess i just don't understand this. If my kid is heelying next to me and is able to maneuver on them so they are of no danger to you and are not invading your personal space, I don't see how its not courteous. Whats not courteous about it, specifically?

I guess maybe a lot of parents think their kids are great on heelys, when in reality not all kids are. I am not saying you are this way, but I think we all know that some parents are not always objective about their own kids! So while they might think "my kids use these safely and won't hit anyone," that might not necessarily be the case.

 

[JunieJay]

I guess maybe a lot of parents think their kids are great on heelys, when in reality not all kids are. I am not saying you are this way, but I think we all know that some parents are not always objective about their own kids! So while they might think "my kids use these safely and won't hit anyone," that might not necessarily be the case.

Well I guess I base it on the fact that my kids have been using Heelys for several years and have never run into anyone, run anyone down, or caused any other sort of havoc on them. They are really not THAT much different than walking, truth be told. My kids use them so they walk a few steps, roll a little way, walk a few steps, roll a little way. They aren't going down hills at full speed...I can see where that would be a huge danger and I would NEVER allow them to do that anywhere, let alone in a public place. But on a flat surface, its hard to get a momentum going where you'd knock someone off their feet. At least I can't imagine it happening the way my kids use Heelys, or the way I've seen them used by other kids.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but I just wonder if we have different Heelys here than in other parts of the country?

 

[taximomfor4]

I think the reason heelys being used in stores, WDW, restaurant-bars, and malls (and church!!) is considered less-than-courteous because many of these places have rules against skates. And heelys own marketing called them "skates." So yes, using them where skates are not to be used is breaking the no-skates rules. And breaking rules is discourteous.

Here is the marketing description: "sport shoes with a wheel housed in each heel for sidewalk skating." (bold-emphasis is mine).

Beth

 

[JunieJay]

I think the reason heelys being used in stores, WDW, restaurant-bars, and malls (and church!!) is considered less-than-courteous because many of these places have rules against skates. And heelys own marketing called them "skates." So yes, using them where skates are not to be used is breaking the no-skates rules. And breaking rules is discourteous.

Beth

I agree. Anywhere that specifies "no skates" means exactly that, no skates.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Here we go again with someone assuming my kids are perfect. You obviously haven't met them.

What I said is my kids are very skilled at using Heelies. They won't knock you down or run into you, because they know how to ride them.

That is fabulous. I have seen many many many skilled skills on heelies. I am rather impressed with the "control" they have. However--it doesn't matter.

A gymnast can be rather skilled at his or her maneuvers as would a dancer or insert activity here _____________ . And they can do something without knocking anyone down. However, it doesn't make it safe and it doesn't make it appropriate.

You are justifying your children's usage of them and that is fine. But you are justifying.

A few bad apples spoiled the bunch and heelies got a bad rap b/c of it.

Your kids may not be zipping around..but too many are. And saying there are worse things that a kid could do that would be more dangerous--is a cop out IMHO.

 

[mariolatry]

And the baby could have been knocked down by a kid running around just as easily yet why isn't running causing the downfall of civilization?

Exactly. You yourselves are equating heelies with riding skateboards and running in stores. All are inappropriate.

 

[tinkhoney]

It isnt the heely's it is the children wearing them and the parents. You all are taking out your frustrations on a few by grouping all who use them as bad or inconciderate.

If the child/ren are tought how to use them and are brought up with manners and knowing responsiableity(sp?) then they will be responsiable when using them.

MY 3 children who dont have heely's all just replied the same when i asked them where would we not use them and how do we act in them. They all said not indoors and not in crowded places. and they also said to be courtious. So not all children are hellions on heely's and shouldn't be all grouped together with the bad ones. Please think of how you are grouping everyone together in your statments. and that no not everyone is a great parent (no one in paticular) BUT please dont take it out on those of us who are good parents and our kids too.

My children say sorry to anyone who has gotten hurt by other kids on them.

 

[JunieJay]

Your kids may not be zipping around..but too many are. And saying there are worse things that a kid could do that would be more dangerous--is a cop out IMHO.

I haven't witnessed ANY kids zipping around on them, EVER. That is my point. Maybe you have and half the DIS has, but I haven't. So no, I'm not justifying, I'm telling you I haven't seen them used irresponsibly. And quite frankly, unless someone is using them to go down a steep hill, I have a hard time picturing the havoc they seem to cause.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well I guess I base it on the fact that my kids have been using Heelys for several years and have never run into anyone, run anyone down, or caused any other sort of havoc on them. They are really not THAT much different than walking, truth be told. My kids use them so they walk a few steps, roll a little way, walk a few steps, roll a little way. They aren't going down hills at full speed...I can see where that would be a huge danger and I would NEVER allow them to do that anywhere, let alone in a public place. But on a flat surface, its hard to get a momentum going where you'd knock someone off their feet. At least I can't imagine it happening the way my kids use Heelys, or the way I've seen them used by other kids.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but I just wonder if we have different Heelys here than in other parts of the country?

They are all the same heelies--you are probably just better at controlling your children's usage.

And to get momentum on a flat surface is easy--you run....then put down the wheels. Witnessed that this weekend. Some parent thought it would be okay for their child to do this in the pitch black dark...increasing the posibility of her getting hit by a car--or running into someone and knocking them down hard b/c they couldn't see her.

 

[JunieJay]

They are all the same heelies--you are probably just better at controlling your children's usage.

And to get momentum on a flat surface is easy--you run....then put down the wheels. Witnessed that this weekend. Some parent thought it would be okay for their child to do this in the pitch black dark...increasing the posibility of her getting hit by a car--or running into someone and knocking them down hard b/c they couldn't see her.

Again, haven't seen this behavior EVER. Maybe its because I live in an urban area, you just don't see a bunch of kids wreaking havoc on Heelies here. I have seen kids run a little and then skate on them, I guess I can see where that might get dodgy, but for the most part around here kids use them at a pace that is not much faster than walking.

 

[poohandwendy]

I haven't witnessed ANY kids zipping around on them, EVER. That is my point. Maybe you have and half the DIS has, but I haven't.

Wow, I have seen it many, many times. Maybe it's the area. maybe parents are more considerate where you live. I dunno. But everyone I have talked to around here, when you mention Heelys, they all roll their eyes and go 'ugh'. It's not because they just don't like the idea of wheels on shoes. If they are used considerately, no one would even notice them at all.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I haven't witnessed ANY kids zipping around on them, EVER. That is my point. Maybe you have and half the DIS has, but I haven't. So no, I'm not justifying, I'm telling you I haven't seen them used irresponsibly. And quite frankly, unless someone is using them to go down a steep hill, I have a hard time picturing the havoc they seem to cause.

Saturday morning in front of the entrance to Magic Kingdom. In circles--around groups of people..myself included.

Why should I or anyone else--be placed on guard to avoid getting knocked down by little miss zippity do doh?

I don't know why it is hard for the heely supporters to understand that there are several kids out there abusing their heely privileges. It's like you think we are making it up.

It is a skate--and around here--it is used in many places where skating isn't allowed. It didn't bother me so much before---but the kids are getting more...creative with their usage.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Again, haven't seen this behavior EVER. Maybe its because I live in an urban area, you just don't see a bunch of kids wreaking havoc on Heelies here. I have seen kids run a little and then skate on them, I guess I can see where that might get dodgy, but for the most part around here kids use them at a pace that is not much faster than walking.

Well this was at Fort Wilderness---so she could have been city folk..or she could have been country folk. Depends on what your stereotype of someone who camps is.

I don't really live in an "urban" area.

 

[CheshireVal]

Again, haven't seen this behavior EVER. Maybe its because I live in an urban area, you just don't see a bunch of kids wreaking havoc on Heelies here. I have seen kids run a little and then skate on them, I guess I can see where that might get dodgy, but for the most part around here kids use them at a pace that is not much faster than walking.

I saw them all over the place at Disney, and the kids would start running in order to gain momentum on their skates. One kid was doing this up and down a small hill while waiting on someone to come out of the bathroom in the MK, and a cast member actually came over and told him to stop and that the wheels weren't allowed.

I see it in malls all the time, too. The kids aren't calmly gliding along their parents.... they're running ahead to gain speed.

 

[taximomfor4]

wow...you can even do tricks on Heelys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X51xckfKQvI

Here is some interesting reading: (

If some agencies think there should be more limits placed on heelying, perhaps they have reason to think so??

http://www.safety-council.org/info/child/heely.html

 

[cardaway]

I don't know why it is hard for the heely supporters to understand that there are several kids out there abusing their heely privileges. It's like you think we are making it up.