Just because it’s not against the rules doesn’t make it right

[StatlerNotWaldorf]

Every once and a while I come across something in the WDW world that makes me shake my head and wonder how people come to some of the justification that people use to do what they want to do. Just do the right thing. In my head I break this down to one question I use when deciding if I am going to do something. “Will using this loophole negatively impact someone else’s ability to enjoy this who doesn’t know about this?”

I am not going to get into specific examples in this post as my point is more in mindset and not being judge and jury for someone else’s choices. Currently I am planning a trip to the World for my family of five. At the end of all the planning all in this vacation will cost us about $10,000 so I know the feeling of trying to find every possible way to get the biggest bang for your buck. I can understand the temptation and justification that occurs when you hear about a way to add more to your vacation through a loophole. I can even hear the little voice in my head telling me that nobody else will know that I did this and it can make a big difference for our trip. Certainly I can understand how people can get to the decision they do, but again I say when I hear that little voice I ask “Will using this loophole negatively impact someone else’s ability to enjoy this who doesn’t know about this?”

At the end of it all I have made a decision that I will not use a loophole if it might mean someone else can’t have the magical vacation they want b/c I want my share of the magic and theirs.

 

[yooperfan]

You sound like someone that would be a great friend and parent.

 

[StatlerNotWaldorf]

Thanks I appreciate that.

 

[Mikie]

A variation on "just because you don't get caught (or punished) doesn't mean you're not doing anything wrong". . . I agree, both on the temptation and on the high road.

 

[StatlerNotWaldorf]

I agree, both on the temptation and on the high road.

If it's about living authentic then you have to admit to the temptation.

 

[anniemae]

I agree with you on this. I too will not mention specifics because it really brings out the worst in people. I also feel that just because you don't get caught does not make it right. Yet folks will happily bend the rules in their favor and justify by feeling that if they don't get caught it makes it okay.

 

[Mikie]

Thank you for posting this. You really are a much better person than most other DISers, and I probably would not have known it if you had not congratulated yourself for deciding not to do something that you are allowed to do. I will be adding you to my list of all the people I know who are going to heaven -- actually, I don't know anyone who is going to heaven so you will be the first, but your heroism has inspired me to start the list! Thank you for being the wind beneath my wings.

Come on now, you've got a lot of good points to contribute on the DIS, but you're not being any less self-righteous when you're calling out someone else for being self-righteous. . .

 

[StatlerNotWaldorf]

Thank you for voicing the opposition

 

[BayouMickey]

Thank you for posting this. You really are a much better person than most other DISers, and I probably would not have known it if you had not congratulated yourself for deciding not to do something that you are allowed to do. I will be adding you to my list of all the people I know who are going to heaven -- actually, I don't know anyone who is going to heaven so you will be the first, but your heroism has inspired me to start the list! Thank you for being the wind beneath my wings.

ah condescension behind anonymity.. Such a brave, brave person...

 

[ArwenMarie]

Just curious...Shouldn't your ire be directed towards Disney for not closing loopholes?

ETA: Not saying I disagree with your stance or with folks who choose to use the loopholes.

 

[Reddog1134]

It doesn't really bother me when people do those type of things. It bothers me when they go online and brag about doing it and perpetuate the behavior.

 

[Reddog1134]

Just curious...Shouldn't your ire be directed towards Disney for not closing loopholes?

ETA: Not saying I disagree with your stance or with folks who choose to use the loopholes.

It depends on the loophole. Sometimes closing the loophole involves a negative effect on the guests that were not abusers.

 

[ArwenMarie]

It depends on the loophole. Sometimes closing the loophole involves a negative effect on the guests that were not abusers.

I know we're not talking about specific loopholes here, but if you are referring to the disability policy changes, I just wanted to clarify I was definitely not referring to those.

I was thinking about loopholes like the extra bands/tickets/throwaway rooms etc.

 

[StatlerNotWaldorf]

Just curious...Shouldn't your ire be directed towards Disney for not closing loopholes?

Definitely Disney should close the loophole. But I also believe that the spirit of the rule is also a consideration. They close the loophole chances are another one just pops up. Disney should do their part for sure. But I don't think asking people to consider the spirit of the rule is a lot to ask.

It bothers me when they go online and brag about doing it and perpetuate the behavior.

Good point.

 

[alvernon90]

Come on now, you've got a lot of good points to contribute on the DIS, but you're not being any less self-righteous when you're calling out someone else for being self-righteous. . .

I have been plenty self righteous on these boards, though admittedly it is usually about things people are not allowed to do, like line jumping (or, excuse me, bringing an entire family up to meet the person who is saving their place in line). But I also get pretty worked up about things people are allowed to do but are wrong, like bringing their unvaccinated children to the parks to spread diseases that should be extinct. And yet, nobody ever recognizes my heroism!

 

[alvernon90]

ah condescension behind anonymity.. Such a brave, brave person...

If it makes you feel better, I will snapchat you a photograph of a VERY distinctive and usually hidden birthmark that can be used to identify me to the police.

 

[StatlerNotWaldorf]

I know we're not talking about specific loopholes here, but if you are referring to the disability policy changes, I just wanted to clarify I was definitely not referring to those. I was thinking about loopholes like the extra bands/tickets/throwaway rooms etc.

Those are the kinds of things I was talking about as well. As someone that isn't impacted by the changes to the disability policy I won't pretend to know what woks and what doesn't.

 

[goofyintoronto]

In my settings I turned off all signatures because I get tired of all the blooping and bleeping and tinkerbelling and pixie dusting and smiley bouncing and countdown timing. But for those of you who haven't, hello!

I gotta say....I love your signature. It makes me laugh.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Definitely Disney should close the loophole. But I also believe that the spirit of the rule is also a consideration. They close the loophole chances are another one just pops up. Disney should do their part for sure. But I don't think asking people to consider the spirit of the rule is a lot to ask.

I guess I see it this way...If these loopholes affected Disney adversely in terms of profit, you bet they would be closed ASAP! But because they either don't affect a lot of people, or they are expensive to fix, or whatever, the company has chosen to leave them open.

So if someone lost an honest chance at a FP because someone else took it under less-than-perfect circumstances, my first tendency is to blame the company.

I know they can't close them all, but there are some glaring ones that they could fix I would think. There was one a while back where you could get FPs all day by working in the app while you in the ride line, when that went public, it got closed right away.

Just my 2 cents anyway!

 

[BayouMickey]

If it makes you feel better, I will snapchat you a photograph of a VERY distinctive and usually hidden birthmark that can be used to identify me to the police.

Not necessary. I don't think being self convinced that you are in any way amusing carries any prolonged sentence.