Since when did being a jerk become a theme park strategy?

[Magpie]

I couldn't have gone free anywhere myself or I would have chosen differently. I went free where the scholarship took me

That makes good sense! In our case, the local universities offered scholarships equal to or greater than any of the schools further away. So, another incentive to live at home!

 

[bumbershoot]

This is something that I noticed was significantly different in DL. People literally calmly filed in and out of places...it felt bizarre.

Not last week! Not a lot of running but you can be just as awful while walking with purpose.

I see an appalling example set by many parents today of the 35-45 age crowd. So many were raised by parents who told them they were so super special and no one should be telling them what to do that they bought into their own press. They need to learn that you don't always get to be, or have to be first. It's not a contest and there is no prize at the end, not even a trophy or a certificate.

You're off by at least a generation there. We were told we were "free to be you and me" but that's not the same. I loved rurally so the streetlight thing wasn't part of my world, but I was a latchkey kid from 9 on. Loads of responsibility.

BUT! Being told that each of us is special and unique, and being acknowledged for participating, isn't being told that you deserve everything more than everything else. If a kid comes out of it with that feeling, they have misunderstood.

My half brothers are 32 and 30 and despite being raised in the very inclusive (so inclusive its exclusive) Santa Cruz, they had winners in Little League etc etc. my half sis is 20 and was a competitive cheerleader with winners and losers.

Having multiple generations in one home isn't a sign that kids these days are less independent. It's a reflection of stronger family connections and also a natural result of the economic squeeze.

It CAN be that way. It can also be because of a highly damaged family. You got out of the house bc of problems. My husband stayed and actually quit college in misguided attempt to save his mom. Similar to what my 32 yo brother is trying to do with his mom. Some friends growing up stayed at home until marriage. Worked great for the boys who had freedom. Not so much for the girls who had absolutely zero freedom. They were home because they had to be, not because of closeness or anything positive at all.

If money was no object, my son would have gone to the New York Film Academy.

But, my husband feels very strongly that he had to pay his own way, and so should the kids. We saved a chunk of money for them, and that's all theirs, but everything over that is their responsibility. No free rides.

We also emphasize the importance of having a practical degree.

Both our kids put a lot of thought and planning into budgeting for their university educations.

If your son's dream involves that school I hope he finds a way. Along with staying close to home and then quitting entirely. DH gave up on a few dreams because he was told it wasn't practical. Also went cheap for college after hearing huge arguments between his parents about paying for his brother's education. And now he has soooo many friends who are doing well with their arts type of degrees. Heck, my sis in law got into Duke Law and is now a partner in a top 10 (sometimes 5 depending on who is counting) intl law firm. With a degree in French. Her sister is a financial advisor doing very well and her degree was in Music.

As DH has found, just having A degree, doesn't matter at all what it was in, gets you in all the doors. Might as well get the one you yearn for.

 

[alicat8]

Not last week! Not a lot of running but you can be just as awful while walking with purpose.

I was there last week! Monday-Monday. It was crowded, but getting in and out of shows was still nowhere NEAR DW crowds!!

 

[Dentam]

Because if we are all silent there would be no way to determine acceptable/unacceptable behavior. By establishing a dialogue, word spreads to other people about how to act. Absent a dialogue, people are free to do as they choose without regard to others.

Hmm... I think that most people know what is and is not appropriate and some just choose to act inappropriately anyway. It is usually therapeutic to vent though.

 

[danny1649]

"Life is a tool and teaches you what you don't learn in school. You try to follow the golden rule but sometimes you got to kick that mule". (Thelma Huston) So you do what's right but teach your children sometimes you have to stand your ground. Meaning I've punched a few mules didn't win every time and some people that endanger children if you don't protect them and I see it. It's time for me to kick that mule, if you won't.

 

[Summertinkerbell]

I was just thinking that if people continue to ignore CM's requests to walk safely, police officers may need to patrol the parks. Wait...people don't listen to police officers either. Never mind.

 

[brb1006]

I remember seeing old home videos of WDW during the 70's and 80's and the majority of guests we're more polite and weren't rushing.

 

[bdcp]

Wow, so sorry I said 35-45. It wasn't directed at anyone in particular so let's just realize it was just a range. My point wasn't so much about the exact age, but what I've experienced. I'm 55 and I was just speaking from years of experience.

It's almost funny that people are offended by the age range I posted. Is it because they're special? LOL

 

[Magpie]

If your son's dream involves that school I hope he finds a way. Along with staying close to home and then quitting entirely. DH gave up on a few dreams because he was told it wasn't practical. Also went cheap for college after hearing huge arguments between his parents about paying for his brother's education. And now he has soooo many friends who are doing well with their arts type of degrees. Heck, my sis in law got into Duke Law and is now a partner in a top 10 (sometimes 5 depending on who is counting) intl law firm. With a degree in French. Her sister is a financial advisor doing very well and her degree was in Music.

As DH has found, just having A degree, doesn't matter at all what it was in, gets you in all the doors. Might as well get the one you yearn for.

Short of winning the lottery, my son's future is never going to involve that school. There's simply no way, no matter how you look at it. The boy did well on his SATs (which he paid for himself), and his grades are decent despite being dyslexic, but even with a full ride scholarship he couldn't afford to live in NYC for four years. And he's not earning a full ride scholarship with "decent" grades, especially not as a Canadian citizen.

In the end, he got accepted to a couple film schools in our own province, but chose instead to enroll in an Economics program in our own town. He's keeping his options open, and hasn't ruled out transferring to another school next year. I have nothing against Arts degrees, per se. I'd be completely cool with it if he'd opted for a Music degree (he always got good grades in Music), and actually, I still have a hard time understanding how Economics is going to put food on his plate. But he's got to make his own decisions. (Hey, at least it's not Classics... that was my own useless, expensive degree!)

I've known many people who struggle with their student debts and/or end up with "paper your wall" degrees that only serve to get them jobs in the retail industry. I've got friends in their 40s who are still paying off their student debts! Friends in their 60's who can't retire, because they're paying the freight on their children's university degrees. And then there's my mum talking about how important it is to "find yourself" in university, even if it takes a few extra years, and pushing our kids to, "Move into residence! Be independent!". I want to ask her, "Who's paying for these extra years?"

 

[anneboleyn]

I agree 100 percent. The ol' "kids these days" wheeze irritates me, too. It's ridiculous. You get 25 year olds complaining about 15 year olds, 45 year olds complaining about the 20-somethings. And 60 year olds moaning about the folks in their 40s. And everyone going on about the decline of civilization.

It never ends!

Well I think we can ALL agree that 15 year olds are demons.



(this is a joke....kind of)

 

[Dentam]

It's almost funny that people are offended by the age range I posted. Is it because they're special? LOL

Could see it coming a mile away really. Anytime you stereotype an entire group of people based on factors such as age, race, wealth, etc you should be prepared for a backlash. And rightly so.

 

[Ambear]

It's almost funny that people are offended by the age range I posted. Is it because they're special? LOL

I think the reason is because generalizations are annoying.

But it's funny you bring up special... It's definitely a special talent to be able to accurately judge a whole age range of people. Congrats!

 

[alvernon90]

It's almost funny that people are offended by the age range I posted. Is it because they're special? LOL

We're not special, we just think of ourselves as being better than elderly people like you.

 

[Dentam]

Dang, Ambear - are we long lost sisters?

 

[Guittech]

lol, my wife and i ran into this on our honeymoon (which was during USA thanksgiving... OOPS!) Crowds were pretty busy, and it was raining one day. I won't repeat what my Mom used to say when i complained about the rain, but needless to say, i was told "You won't melt" We had a little rain here and there, and wore our ponchos, but the INSANITY of people running to get into a store when it sprinkled a few drops was CRAZY. And it sadly wasn't just kids, it was whole packs of families, sometimes Mom and Dad pulling their children to get inside, nearly knocking us *** over teakettle on more than one occasion. As the British say, there is no bad weather, only bad clothing. Was the world going to END if you got a drop of water on you or your spawn? was your child a gremlin? I just shook my head and chalked it up to people being excited about Disney.

 

[Tomh]

[QUOTE="CookieandOatmeal, post: 54194639, member: 512869"She resorted to try to pressure me to give up my space by smushing me against the rail with her giant boobs. . . . I do imagine a guy might've liked the experience lol. [/QUOTE]

Maybe I'm not the typical guy, and certainly, I enjoy boobs as much as any other guy, but I would not have been very comfortable in your situation. I've had it happen at parades in Disney World once or twice, and it nearly succeeded in making me move.

DD and I also had this group of teenagers (dd was perhaps 16 or 17 at the time) right behind us for a parade. We were sitting down, and they were so far up our backsides that they were bumping into us. I told them once to back up a bit, they ignored me, so DD and I stood up. I'm pretty well 6' tall, and was around 225lbs at the time. They couldn't see over, or around me. All of a sudden, they were willing to back up if we sat back down lol. Sorry, too late now, I asked nicely once

 

[alicat8]

lol, my wife and i ran into this on our honeymoon (which was during USA thanksgiving... OOPS!) Crowds were pretty busy, and it was raining one day. I won't repeat what my Mom used to say when i complained about the rain, but needless to say, i was told "You won't melt" We had a little rain here and there, and wore our ponchos, but the INSANITY of people running to get into a store when it sprinkled a few drops was CRAZY. And it sadly wasn't just kids, it was whole packs of families, sometimes Mom and Dad pulling their children to get inside, nearly knocking us *** over teakettle on more than one occasion. As the British say, there is no bad weather, only bad clothing. Was the world going to END if you got a drop of water on you or your spawn? was your child a gremlin? I just shook my head and chalked it up to people being excited about Disney.

I can say-without supporting their pushing at all-totally not ok!!!- that in FL those drops can turn into an insane downpour in a matter of seconds, soaking everything you own and love. So that could be the excuse-not an excuse to push, but a somewhat valid reason to rush

 

[Ambear]

Dang, Ambear - are we long lost sisters?

Lol Maybe! Were you raised to think you're super special and have a whole shrine for your collection of participation awards? Me neither!

 

[Dentam]

Lol Maybe! Were you raised to think you're super special and have a whole shrine for your collection of participation awards? Me neither!

Nope! And we both have no problem saying no problem - I'd say a DNA test will be needed for definitive proof. Family reunion in WDW?

 

[Ambear]

Nope! And we both have no problem saying no problem - I'd say a DNA test will be needed for definitive proof. Family reunion in WDW?

Lol fo sho! We can work on further degrading the English language together.