Not believing what's in the Unofficial Guide!!!

[In a hurry]

dpuck, I am glad that you are having an awesome day! (I should have taken my own advice an not been offended with cleo's kid remark!) We leave in 1 month for the world, too. Have a merry christmas and a wonderful trip.

 

[dpuck1998]

You too....god bless and have a safe trip down!!

 

[civileng68]

Exactly -- I could not agree more. However, I feel that the joke will not keep most of its customers from purchasing it in the future. .

I think this best describes my feelings. The author has every RIGHT to put in his book what he chooses, so long as it is not breaking the law, which it is not.

However, along with that freedom of speech, the consumer has the right to not buy the book. While I think many WILL buy this book, not knowing about the cute insert, with more word getting out about it, I think this only makes the author's book seem less legitimate (even though it may not be).

I think most families that buy the book buy for professionalism and for real help. I think comments like that can deter them from buying the book in the future.

So technically the author has done nothing wrong, but it was a critical PR error (IMO) and the only thing that may save him is not enough people seeing it and/or the word not getting out enough about it.

In my personal opinion it's just a total lack of class and alot of immaturity. I say this because Im 26 years old, married, in a nice home, doing well for myself, and consider myself to be quite mature, and cannot imagine making a comment like that. In fact, if I did, I would personally be ashamed of myself, as that is more along the lines of something I would have said at 17-18.

 

[freakylick]

However, I feel that the joke will not keep most of its customers from purchasing it in the future. Hence, I do not feel that the marketplace for this book will be much wounded --

I agree that keeping it in there would likely only prevent a small percentage of customers from purchasing it...but why abandon that small percentage for a mere joke. If that "needless" joke costs them any sales, then it is worth removing...assuming of course that removing it won't hurt sales. And I don't think that it would hurt sales as there is still plenty of humor in the book and I don't think that anyones sole purpose for purchasing the book is that particular joke...but that's just an opinion

 

[metsfan11]

i read that quote 6 times to make sure i wasnt seeing things

i personally thought it was pretty funny LOL

 

[88Keys]

You couldn't be more wrong...I said it doesn't belong (opinion).

I never said that it should be illegal or censored. I did exactly what you suggested. I didn't buy the book and won't by the book. It should be available for anyone that wants to read it. If people like it will be a success, if not it will fail. Thats up to the publisher and author to decide. Wanna bet it won't be in the next edition?

I enjoy how freedom of speech is always custom fitted for each person. You think I shouldn't say something but defend anothers right to say anything.

No, "It doesn't belong" is meant as fact. "I think it doesn't belong" is opinion. A small difference, but significant none the less. Notice you did not use the word opinion until now.

Also, I am sure it will not be in the next edition, because of the silly fracas. I doubt sales will be affected significantly one way or t'other.

Furthermore, yes I think I COULD be more wrong but I hope you will tell me when that is.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

In my personal opinion it's just a total lack of class and alot of immaturity. I say this because Im 26 years old, married, in a nice home, doing well for myself, and consider myself to be quite mature, and cannot imagine making a comment like that. In fact, if I did, I would personally be ashamed of myself, as that is more along the lines of something I would have said at 17-18.

I think it's hysterically funny, and one reason I buy the UG every year is because it's so entertaining. I say this because I'm 49 years old, married, in a nice home, doing well for myself, and love to laugh. In fact, if I did object to a comment like that, I would personally take a long cool look at myself in the mirror and question what had happened to my sense of humor.

 

[civileng68]

I think it's hysterically funny, and one reason I buy the UG every year is because it's so entertaining. I say this because I'm 49 years old, married, in a nice home, doing well for myself, and love to laugh. In fact, if I did object to a comment like that, I would personally take a long cool look at myself in the mirror and question what had happened to my sense of humor.

I instead choose to take a long cool look in the mirror and wonder what happened to our morals and children. Then again, Im not "49 years old" and laughing "hysterically" at comments about marijuana, but, that's just me.

 

[civileng68]

I think it's hysterically funny, and one reason I buy the UG every year is because it's so entertaining. I say this because I'm 49 years old, married, in a nice home, doing well for myself, and love to laugh. In fact, if I did object to a comment like that, I would personally take a long cool look at myself in the mirror and question what had happened to my sense of humor.

Also, please note that while I stated my opinion, I fully believe everyone has a right to theirs. I don't debate the idea that you have an opinion, I, like most here, are simply in a mature debate about what we each believe relating to a Disney book.

While I do not agree with the pro comment stance, I do understand and listen to why others feel the way they do, I simply don't agree with it.

However, as you stated in the quote above, to not even understand why someone would have a qualm with a comment like that is just close minded.

 

[dpuck1998]

No, "It doesn't belong" is meant as fact. "I think it doesn't belong" is opinion. A small difference, but significant none the less. Notice you did not use the word opinion until now.

Also, I am sure it will not be in the next edition, because of the silly fracas. I doubt sales will be affected significantly one way or t'other.

Furthermore, yes I think I COULD be more wrong but I hope you will tell me when that is.

errr....now....

 

[DVCLiz]

I think it's hysterically funny, and one reason I buy the UG every year is because it's so entertaining. I say this because I'm 49 years old, married, in a nice home, doing well for myself, and love to laugh. In fact, if I did object to a comment like that, I would personally take a long cool look at myself in the mirror and question what had happened to my sense of humor.

I'm with you, Kitty. When I was younger I felt outraged at many things - now I've mellowed and can see what's really worth being outraged about and what's simply funny. Glad to see we've both reached that stage where we can take a joke without having to question anyone's morals. Oh, I'll be 48 in two weeks...

 

[robertgp124]

It all depends on your perspective. I love the UG - look forward to it's snarky little comments. My wife on the other hand - not so much. So she reads the Passporter and I read the UG. We compare notes. All is happy!

 

[bunnysmum]

Nicely said. I am 44 years old. Reared before "Just say no!" I have seen use and abuse, treatment and amends. Not printing a bit of foolishness is not going to prevent anyone's child from experimenting with drugs. Printing a joke doesn't advocate it. Heck, there is an on-going thread about drinking throughout WDW on this board. Check the stats on accidents and deaths caused by alcohol, and compare it to marijuana, and then tell me where the concern is.

This is a tour book, not a text book. This is an imaginary statement from a stuffed mouse. This is not RL. It isn't about your kid smoking pot, or worse, it is merely a nod to the oldsters.

As I said earlier, if you think this is too radical for your child, spend some time in the schools.

I'm 43, raised in the same era. The following is in no way intended as a rant, merely my passing thoughts on the subject. I respectfully disagree with you on a couple of points. Perhaps it would be difficult to *prove* that "not printing a bit of foolishness" is going to prevent any child from experimenting with drugs. But, from my perspective, it is exactly this sort of "winking" at what is (from my perspective) wrong, illegal and harmful that can actually serve to passively promote it.

I do very much get that the joint comment was intended as a nod to those of us in our age group. And perhaps that's precisely what bugs me about it. I have always been bothered by such casual treatment of references to drug use of any kind and by the media's (music, movies, books) assumption that it is SO very mainstream. Maybe I'm even more out of it than I ever realized, but it was my impression that there were and still are some folks who choose to avoid illegal drug use. The responses here would seem to indicate that this is the case, although there are certainly folks on both sides of the issue, it seems.

Certainly avoidance of drugs is the message we seem to be trying to impart to our children. I have to wonder what kind of mixed messages we are sending? (And no, of course I'm not merely referring to the UG's comment here.)

JMO

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

I gotta go buy that book!!! maybe my non disney loving cousin would go with me then if she thought Mickey really said that!!! LOL

Being the Disney addict that I am, I usually purchase The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World by Bob Sehlinger every year. I was just browsing through the 2006 edition and found this in the paragraph about Pal Mickey. After a brief description, examples of Pal Mickey's phrases are given. The following is exactly what appears in the book-

Occasionally he shares something personal like, "I could totally get baked on a good joint right about now. Are you holding?"

Okay, I'm hoping there is a different meaning to this and I'm just missing it. It's on page 347 if anyone else has this edition. I even read it several times, thinking surely I wasn't reading it right. They sure got a shock out of me!!!

 

[88Keys]

errr....now....

Brilliantly debated -- can't wait for your "I know you are but what am I" defense. Perhaps maybe an "I'm rubber you're glue...."

 

[88Keys]

Speaking of irony....here is some.....

And if we are going to take quick pot shots, how about the irony of being against a marijuana joke in a book because kids might see it, but being the number 2 fan of a football team where one of the star players took a highly publicized year off to smoke pot. A lot of children were exposed to the story of Ricky Williams. Denouncing the book but supporting the team --- Irony is everywhere.

 

[maccalovah]

This has been an interesting read, for the most part. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why so many are up in arms over this comment. I personally found it to be funny, but sure, everyone has a different sense of humor (or none at all, in some cases ). This isn't meant to be sarcastic- I'm actually really wondering- *why* do people find this comment offensive? I'd really like to know.

Is it because the mere thought of drugs is offensive? Are people scared their kids will read this flippant comment and think it's okay to smoke weed?

I just find it strange that people will get so worked up over *this* particular item, yet expose their children to much of the very same mentality (perhaps unknowingly, but still) in television, movies, books, magazines, etc. Not to mention what goes on in schools. If you think your child hasn't heard about smoking weed or worse by the time they're in middle school, man, are you ever wrong. (If you want to get worked up about anything, get worked up over who your kid is hanging out with. If there's any HUGE factor in whether or not your kid will try something, it'll be that before it's ever a UG comment). You would basically have to keep your child in a bubble, apart from the rest of the world, in order to keep them away from all things unpure.

Instead of worrying what your kid may or may not take away from a comment in a Disney guide book, how about increasing the amount of dialogue you have with your kids about this kind of stuff? If you talk to your kids, instill your values in them, and let them know what your expectations of them are, you'll have so much less to worry about. On a personal note, my parents NEVER talked to me about drug use. Ever. It was a taboo subject in our house. Later on down the line, I ended up addicted to a drug much harder than marijuana. I'm not in any way blaming my parents for this, OR any other outside influence. In the end it was my (bad) decision- we all make choices and have to live with the consequences. I do think that if my parents had been more open about these types of things, instead of having to "shield" me from everything they deemed 'inappropriate', I might have had a much stronger foundation on which to stand. This is obviously my personal experience, and maybe it's a unique one (though I highly doubt it), but still, it's something to think about...

 

[civileng68]

And if we are going to take quick pot shots, how about the irony of being against a marijuana joke in a book because kids might see it, but being the number 2 fan of a football team where one of the star players took a highly publicized year off to smoke pot. A lot of children were exposed to the story of Ricky Williams. Denouncing the book but supporting the team --- Irony is everywhere.

Well as a Carolina Panthers fan who lives in South Florida (I hate the Dolphins) I can tell you that MANY MANY MANY, if not MOST people in MIami and South Florida that are Dolphins fans, cannot stand Ricky Williams.

 

[civileng68]

This has been an interesting read, for the most part. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why so many are up in arms over this comment. I personally found it to be funny, but sure, everyone has a different sense of humor (or none at all, in some cases ). This isn't meant to be sarcastic- I'm actually really wondering- *why* do people find this comment offensive? I'd really like to know.

Is it because the mere thought of drugs is offensive? Are people scared their kids will read this flippant comment and think it's okay to smoke weed?

I just find it strange that people will get so worked up over *this* particular item, yet expose their children to much of the very same mentality (perhaps unknowingly, but still) in television, movies, books, magazines, etc. Not to mention what goes on in schools. If you think your child hasn't heard about smoking weed or worse by the time they're in middle school, man, are you ever wrong. (If you want to get worked up about anything, get worked up over who your kid is hanging out with. If there's any HUGE factor in whether or not your kid will try something, it'll be that before it's ever a UG comment). You would basically have to keep your child in a bubble, apart from the rest of the world, in order to keep them away from all things unpure.

Instead of worrying what your kid may or may not take away from a comment in a Disney guide book, how about increasing the amount of dialogue you have with your kids about this kind of stuff? If you talk to your kids, instill your values in them, and let them know what your expectations of them are, you'll have so much less to worry about. On a personal note, my parents NEVER talked to me about drug use. Ever. It was a taboo subject in our house. Later on down the line, I ended up addicted to a drug much harder than marijuana. I'm not in any way blaming my parents for this, OR any other outside influence. In the end it was my (bad) decision- we all make choices and have to live with the consequences. I do think that if my parents had been more open about these types of things, instead of having to "shield" me from everything they deemed 'inappropriate', I might have had a much stronger foundation on which to stand. This is obviously my personal experience, and maybe it's a unique one (though I highly doubt it), but still, it's something to think about...

I dont think so many were up in arms until the defenses of it became so heavy. I think (at least from the way I read it), there were some legitimate stances against it, which I think are fine, and nobody was "really" passionate about it until people defended it.

I completely love debating! JUST LOVE IT! as long as it stays mature. I being against the comment can still understand the other side's view point, even though I disagree. Just because I disagree doesn't mean I dont understand and acknowledge the other viewpoints.

However, what I CANNOT understand is someone who in this debate (not you, read page 6) cannot even see at all why someone would have any problem with the comment. To me that's just incredibly close-minded.

I do see your point though. I think most of my opposition is this............I personally don't mind the comment. I mean hey, I have friends who have FILTHY mouths. To me that is much worse that this comment. I think what I don't like is how I think everyone can agree that it's not appropriate for the entire population reading it.

If I were to write a book about Disney that I know Disney fans are going to buy and read, I would do my absolute best to streamline the book to be appropriate in everyone's eyes, UNLESS I otherwise noted in my title, description, etc of the wisecracks in my book.

I completely agree with this posters comments about children and TV. I do think it's very hypocritical to oppose this comment if you let your children sit and watch MTV or whatever else they want to watch. I personally have blocked many channels from my TV and I dont even have children (most of cable is just a joke anyways these days). Not to mention SkyAngel satellite service sure does have a helpful hand in my home. Your comments are VERY well put regarding television.

About increased dialog. I agree that parents should do this. HOwever, I think children watch more than listen. You can talk all you want. My parents talked to me nonstop, and when I was 18, I was still smoking pot (I was 18, and now 26 and consider myself an adult not a pot smoking kid anymore). I think what happens is, kids take more from watching their parents than anything. A parent can tell their child that profanity is inappropriate, but if they hear their parents cursing all the time, they will likely overlook what their parents said about cursing.

I have had family members who have really really had problems with drugs and to this day are just not the same from it, and really I just dont find drug references funny because of it. It's something that when I have children, I think I'll fear most about raising them. I just dont think drugs or comical references to them are funny. Im not up in arms at all (maybe some are), I simply state that I dont find the comments funny or appropriate, however, I dont plan on calling my senators to get the book banned anytime soon.

 

[dpuck1998]

Brilliantly debated -- can't wait for your "I know you are but what am I" defense. Perhaps maybe an "I'm rubber you're glue...."

Whats the point?