Problem with the VMK shirts? Safety follow-through?!

[AmberDaze]

OK...I love the new shirts. But -- being a safety mom, I do not understand how Disney can conflict with their own safety tips...ie: no personal information online... Are they not aware that children should not be wearing their names on their shirts, or have their names on any part of them (school bags, etc.) while in the real world? There are bad people out there who will use this information just to get closer to a child... If one of these negative beings sees a child's name, they can use it to gain a certain closeness with the child - the child will think they know them. This is a no-no in safety tips 101.

We will not be ordering any shirts with names on it, thank you.

 

[Loves Disney]

I am not exactly sure what you are against here. Do you mean vmk names or real names? Are you against having your child wear his/her real name on his/her shirt in the real world?

 

[AmberDaze]

yes, no REAL names on real children in the real world .

 

[Loves Disney]

yes, no REAL names on real children in the real world .

I am sure the full name doesn't have to be on the shirt, maybe just the first name. I think a first name is completely harmless imho. Addresses, phone numbers, and other very personal info wouldn't be bolded on the shirt so really no one can look that child up. Because you are talking about the real world, walking around with a first name on a shirt is as normal as just walking around. I am huge on saftey, but I don't really think living life in a bubble is the best way to live.

 

[wdwr]

yes, no REAL names on real children in the real world .

Just curious, you've never put a name on the back of a set of Mickey ears?

What about sports uniforms?

I realize that both of these are not worn every day but someone could see a child in them and remember the name for use later.

I'm not flaming (and don't want to be) I'm just asking you because I am interested in your answer.

 

[tolkien7]

yes, no REAL names on real children in the real world .

Really? I don't have any children - I didn't know this was bad. Many of my students have their names on their backpacks and stuff, and their school jackets have their names and numbers on them also. I guess that's why Disney offers the option - if it makes you nervous, then you don't have to have your name on the shirt.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

The warning to not put names on clothing is very common... and for the reason of child safety

Sure someone could see the child in a sports uniform with name and then find them later and use it too- but...

The point is- when you wear something with your name - say as simple as a name badge- people use your name rather familiarly- even if they do not know you- for many that bit of familiarity has proven to be enough time with guard down to allow for the "bad guy" to take advantage.

No this isn't going to happen everytime a child wears something with their names on it- but I do know Girl Scouts have ruled that the girls can no longer have their names on uniforms- even as much as the older girls no longer wearing name pins that used to be part of the uniform.

I remember growing up with lots of clothing with my name on it- and I also recall strangers calling me by name too- sure some could have been sickos- but truth is there were fewer back then than there are now. And I know now as a nurse we no longer wear name badges with our full names just our first name and if we have a designation like RN- we started this practice at the psychiatric hospital because some of our patients really were sick and if they knew the last name would and had stalked staff members- so we kept it to the first name only- a few years later and a similar situation on a regular floor lead the hospital to adopt the same practice. And now all doctor's offices do the same around here as well. But those are situations wear having your name at work is a way of providing service.

I think the original poster was pointing out the VMK conflict in that members of this board who have created their own VMK shirts and added their VMK names to them were chastised for doing so by vmk staff. A VMK name on a shirt would be much safer than a real name- as we don't often hear that name outloud so we would not react to it in the same way.

I don't think wearing the name makes you particularly more of a target- but when you are concerned for your child's safety- especially in situations when you as a parent may not be present you tend to take more precautions.

 

[AmberDaze]

I think the original poster was pointing out the VMK conflict in that members of this board who have created their own VMK shirts and added their VMK names to them were chastised for doing so by vmk staff.

Thank you for this, but if you ask any safety expert they will tell you that having a child's first name on them - be it a shirt, hat, or school bag or anything else, increases their chances that someone can pretend they know them. Once you say a child's name, they feel more comfortable with them. My point was...if Disney is against giving out all this personal information, why are they putting children's names on shirts? Just seems contradictory to me.. If you want to put your child's name on the shirt, feel free. It's just not what I and many safety experts believe to be safe for a child.

 

[AmberDaze]

but I don't really think living life in a bubble is the best way to live

Not having your child's first name on a shirt is living in a bubble?

 

[milkabum]

I never noticed that.
It is unsafe, but it's sort of rare to encounter someone else from VMK in the real world.
Except for that one time..
And the other time..(Long story)

 

[AmberDaze]

It is unsafe, but it's sort of rare to encounter someone else from VMK in the real world.

I'm not saying that a child will meet up with someone from VMK...it's anyone .

 

[VirtuallyMe]

I find it odd that more people have not heard of this- "not putting names on clothing"

I really do-

this is a basic safety rule- because the more someone seems to know you the more you let your guard down. Do I think you need to freak out about it? no- like Amberdaze said you aren't living in a bubble by avoiding offering your name on your clothing or school bag- but you are offering some protection by not having it.

Having the name on the clothing isn't a garuntee of danger just like not having a the name doesn't magically protect a kid from some sicko- but like I said before when you are a parent- there are a few precautions you can take and still live life outside that bubble- and not advertising a name is one of those...

I know for the people around my age- it was fad/fashion to wear the shirts with our names on them - at first with those funky fuzzy iron on letters then with airbrush designs... and later it was monogramming everything

There are times when I wanted to get the same for my kids and yes my oldest daughter had a shirt with her name on it for her dance team- and yes I've seen people call out to her who didn't know her- just to be silly in most cases- but had I not been there with her I wonder if she wouldn't have turned and waved back or even talked to the person. She is known by many people through her many years at Girl Scouts and as being my daughter in the same organization- she and I often get greeted by name without our names displayed- and we often have no idea where we know the person from- we usually just wave and smile and go about our business...

But I agree- when I first saw that a name was an option I thought it odd- especially in the view of how strict VMK has been about sharing personal information- I know I have read here about people going on tours and offering their character names and getting told by vmk cm's that it was wrong- to do that.

 

[silvrstrfx]

This really reminds me of early 90's TV... does anyone remember the safety commercial they had about that little boy who had his name on his shirt (I think they called him Simon or something) and then this random stranger came up to him, called him by his name and pretended to know his parents? Which while I don't think Simon went along with whatever the stranger's plans were, I do remember it caused him to question whether or not it was ok to talk to him and be friendly --- after all the guy knew his name and supposedly knew his parents... it planted that important seed of doubt in his mind, thereby making him more susceptible to possible danger.

I think most kids are pretty smart and most parents are pretty good about teaching their children to be safe, but at the same time, you can never be too safe. Better safe than sorry! I'm in my 20s and sometimes people will come up to me, when I'm wearing a badge with my first name on it, and go "Hey, (my real name)!" but I completely don't know them. Usually I chalk it up to the fact that I'm oblivious and forgetful, but if they say things like they know my parents and they're a family friend --- don't I remember them?! --- I admit that it causes me to put my guard down a bit. After all, maybe I did meet them but forgot. Not that I'm going to go run off with them, but it does make you feel more familiar with them, even if you don't have the slightest clue who they are and for all I know, maybe they're just crazy.

I don't have kids, but I have worked with them. Considering how this game is targeted to younger kids, I, too, would be cautious. Kids are smart, but they're also gullible. We hear all these stories on this board about kids' accounts being stolen --- if they can be tricked so easily in an online game, just how terrible would it be for them to be fooled in rl? With potentially much worse consequences.

That being said, I don't think names on a shirt or not having your name on a shirt, in any way, absolutely guarantees anyone's safety. Certainly if someone really wanted to kidnap your kid, they'd find a way to do it. But it absolutely couldn't hurt to not give them anything extra to use in their attempt. And considering VMK's strict no personal information policy, I am surprised that they would endorse them.

 

[AmberDaze]

I find it odd that more people have not heard of this- "not putting names on clothing"

This also really surprises me...

 

[Nanoer]

Here is a saying i came up with even though i'm a kid
Life is not fair
Irony is... everywhere

 

[jasonpwns]

I have my name on a shirt i own its commen so whats wrong go to the governments its just not vmk

 

[kitashus]

OK...I love the new shirts. But -- being a safety mom, I do not understand how Disney can conflict with their own safety tips...ie: no personal information online... Are they not aware that children should not be wearing their names on their shirts, or have their names on any part of them (school bags, etc.) while in the real world? There are bad people out there who will use this information just to get closer to a child... If one of these negative beings sees a child's name, they can use it to gain a certain closeness with the child - the child will think they know them. This is a no-no in safety tips 101.

We will not be ordering any shirts with names on it, thank you.

I'm late getting in on this conversation (not unusual for me--lol) but I agree totally. It doesn't make any sense for them to put the names on the shirts (for kids anyway) considering their safety "values." Interestingly, I ordered a You-design-it shirt for the VMK meet we had. They have a shirt that says HRH on it and I was able to add Kit (which they had under the boys' names). But I had the same thought back then, that it was a safety thing for kids. Also, as a side note, they only have a basic list of names to choose from. It is either there or it isn't...you can't type in a name, you choose from a list.

Anyway, long story short...they are inconsistent with their "values."

 

[erinsgirl32]

I have told my children, since they were little, that I would NEVER send someone that they don't know to pick them up or get them, ANYWHERE !! This actually became an issue once, when their dad was sick and I was working, my boss, off that day, who I trusted completely, then and now, volunteered to pick them up for me, but because my youngest, 4 at the time, did not know him I asked another friend, from church to pick them up. My boss, understood completely and commended me on my safety awareness.
My girls know, since we live in a small community, who is in our "village", those that will pick them up in an emergency, there are about 15, including the principle of the elementary, middle and high school, as well as the superintendant of schools, who is our next door neighbor ( in country terms).
I understand completely your concerns and would encourage all of us to get to know our "village", ppl who would take care of our children as if they were theirs, in an emergency. Thank you for reminding us of safety even though the shirts are "cool looking",
My other big thing with these shirts is: Don't they realize that "ice" is a drug term????????????? So to ask "Got ice??" is opening up a whole new can of worms?

 

[AmberDaze]

Just wanted to thank those of you who understand where I'm coming from, and to those who don't...I wish you would at least keep your mind open to subtle ways you can help keep your kids safe. Remember that these are just my opinions (and I may have too many of them after many years of volunteering with children's safety org) . To kids...it's hard to see what harm there is in having strangers know your name, but there are some not nice people in this world who look for ways to behave badly toward children. Letting strangers know your name lets them a bit closer into your world. If someone called you by your name, wouldn't you think they knew you?

So to ask "Got ice??" is opening up a whole new can of worms?

Uh oh! No comment here LOL

 

[Roxane]

When I was growing up, I was never allowed to have my name on anything strangers could see. Not even a pair of mouse ears. They relaxed the rule when I was in high school. I thought it was lame when I was young, but now I know it was for my own saftey.