Some parents... Geez! Just a little venting

[juliebug1997]

I had to wear my sling when I was at WDW last week--the only way the surgeon would agree to let me go! Anyways, I got so tired of getting bumped on my right side that I started to say "Ow", "Sorry", or "Oh, excuse me" to people who bumped into me, including older children. There is a definite lack of self-awareness or concern at the parks, that's for sure.

 

[shepd]

None of this is at all surprising...any place that is public is open to stupidity.

I've been a 911 operator for almost 20 years and seriously, you have no idea the depth of stupidity and a(&^$#@ in the world. Parents calling for police officers because their 6 year old won't clean his room. People calling for an officer to come over and watch him "unfriend" someone on Facebook. People dialing 911 because their cable went out.

It's a never ending litany of stories that would make you re-think humanity as a whole...and I'm sure WDW is no exception to crazy.

I feel less terrible for using 911 to get the cops to come throw nutters out of my store now. There's no middle ground number where I am, calling the police department goes nowhere, ever, so if you actually need the police to do just about anything, 911 is the only choice. Kind of a bummer, since it means I couldn't get people towed out of my numbered parking space when I lived in an apartment (police wouldn't show up, even after 12+ hours and 3+ calls to the police department, bylaw just forwards you to the police department, and I'm not going to waste a 911 operator's time with a parking infraction). I ended up moving, it was less hassle.

(Yes, I called a tow company. Not legal to tow a car here unless it's already got an infraction on it. Thus cops first, then the tow truck. )

 

[NinaBella]

Reference the abuse of 911 for non-emergencies. The abuse is something we hear about often. I have even heard that people call 911 because a fast food place is out of an item they want. Plain stupidity.

Because we need to keep the 911 lines open for real emergencies, I am almost willing to pay (because we pay for 911) for a non-emergency line. Most people are not going to take the time to look up their local police non emergency line. If there was a way to have an 611 or easy to remember number that can default to a local non emergency number, it may be worth investigating if the benefits would outweigh the cost. I have the non emergency number programmed into my phone, but you know people are not going to look it up if they can easily dial 911.

 

[Travelgrrl]

I'm not defending this behavior in any way. And I would have probably been annoyed as well. But I will play devil's advocate. LOL

I know at home, I tend to ignore "mischievous" behavior sometimes because the more attention you pay it, the more they want to do it. As a parent you learn how to tune out that type of behavior. It's not that you're a bad parent, but you do tune out certain behavior because otherwise, you go crazy.

I can see why they might have been trying to tune it out especially if they were paying attention to the World Cup, but that is a little much if he's jumping on the couch.

But I'm just saying, that might have been what's going on. Don't be so quick to judge someone as a bad parent is all I'm sayin', over one incident like that.

Gosh, there's a big difference between ignoring your wild child at home and tuning out him jumping like a maniac on the furniture, and your child doing it in public, on someone else's furniture, when there are people who are not related to you that have to witness/hear/see it.

I'm a bit of a curmudgeon, so I will say: Bad Parenting!

PS: The person I quoted is not a bad parent. I was just gently disagreeing with their 'devil's advocate' stance.

 

[LillsnJills]

My parents used to threaten not only that but to put me in 'juvenile hall'...is that even a thing? I'd hope not, at least for not cleaning one's room...

Juvenile Hall is definitely a thing. I work at one. Consider it jail for the 18 and under crowd. Definitely not a place parents can drop you off when you're not doing chores, etc (unless you're on juvenile probation and have a seriously hard*ss Probation Officer who wants to haul you in on a violation, because one of your terms is to "obey the directives of your parents/guardians", but I digress).

We get calls weekly from parents wanting to have their kids come in for a night or weekend and do a "scared straight" kind of experience because they're out of control - going as far as physically assaulting the parents or other kids in the household. We don't do programs like that - it's actually illegal to hold anyone in custody without probable cause, so I'm not sure how they do it on that "reality" show. The only way their kid can come in is with an actual criminal offense, so I tell them, call your local PD, have the child arrested. They usually don't like that much.

 

[AmyB2006]

Yes indeed! I think there's a special 911+ line for that. And if there isn't there darn well should be

Add to that list the power going out and the water overflowing.

 

[AmyB2006]

Kind of a bummer, since it means I couldn't get people towed out of my numbered parking space when I lived in an apartment (police wouldn't show up, even after 12+ hours and 3+ calls to the police department, bylaw just forwards you to the police department, and I'm not going to waste a 911 operator's time with a parking infraction).

Just FYI, police cannot enforce private "condo commando" rules such as someone parking in your parking space. Unless it's a city/county ordinance or a law being broken, their hands are tied. Your condo association is to blame for that one.

Carry on.

 

[dallastxcpa]

I'm not defending this behavior in any way. And I would have probably been annoyed as well. But I will play devil's advocate. LOL

I know at home, I tend to ignore "mischievous" behavior sometimes because the more attention you pay it, the more they want to do it. As a parent you learn how to tune out that type of behavior. It's not that you're a bad parent, but you do tune out certain behavior because otherwise, you go crazy.

I can see why they might have been trying to tune it out especially if they were paying attention to the World Cup, but that is a little much if he's jumping on the couch.

But I'm just saying, that might have been what's going on. Don't be so quick to judge someone as a bad parent is all I'm sayin', over one incident like that.

A person looses their right to tune it out the day their child is born. It is the parents resposibiltiy to monitor their child so that they are not a harm to themselves or others. And also to teach their childeren what is acceptable in society. When I was a kid we traveled a lot and I loved jumping on the beds in hotels but you can believe I never would have done it when my parents were looking because I know I would have gotten in trouble.

My parents taught me to be respectful of people and their property. Jumping on a sofa damages it and it is not appropriate behavior in that type of environment. Unfortunately some people want to let their kids act like they are at the McDonalds Play Place even when they are in a much nicer atmosphere.

 

[goofy4tink]

What show was this? Really want to know so I can avoid it. I know that all the show we did earlier this month, the FP+ people were let in first. Then about 5 mins before the start, the standby line was allowed in. The FP+ lines didn't work the way they do at attractions.....so many FP+ people are let in, then standby people, then more FP+ people.
There is nothing I hate more than being chastised at WDW for line cutting! And it happened this past visit too! Happened at Space Mt. Someone muttered at me, as I passed the long standby line, that 'the line starts back there lady!'. But I had a FP+....just ignored him. But it's annoying to say the least.

 

[lustergirl]

It's why I don't play well with others anymore. I just prefer to stay away from people in general.

My hubby calls me anti social because I don't really jive with my neighbors. The females around her act like teenagers and are constantly fighting on the street. I just watch the fun and shake my head.

 

[AmyB2006]

A person looses their right to tune it out the day their child is born. It is the parents resposibiltiy to monitor their child so that they are not a harm to themselves or others. And also to teach their childeren what is acceptable in society. When I was a kid we traveled a lot and I loved jumping on the beds in hotels but you can believe I never would have done it when my parents were looking because I know I would have gotten in trouble.

My parents taught me to be respectful of people and their property. Jumping on a sofa damages it and it is not appropriate behavior in that type of environment. Unfortunately some people want to let their kids act like they are at the McDonalds Play Place even when they are in a much nicer atmosphere.

Maybe you missed the part where I said I wasn't defending the behavior in any way, just merely offering up what might have been going on. It doesn't make them bad parents or people that shouldn't have had kids. It makes them normal people who had a bad moment.

 

[johnsonet]

... So it was one of those that you get in the FP line then towards the entry to the actual show area the stand by n FP line meet up. & this little girl, 13 at the most gets in my face & tells me "thank you for skipping" ...

This blows me away. What gave this brat the idea that she could talk to an adult this way? It boggles the mind.
Her parents are pathetic.

 

[disnut8]

Wasn't trying to say they were bad parents it was just the most recent example that I could think of where I've seen parents not "parent" their child. I've seen kids poke the koi fish with sticks, chase after and kick ducks, stick their hands in strangers food, etc all while they parents were "watching" them but chose to ignore it. This is one of the main reasons why I avoid MK as much as possible.

Chasing over a duck gets a "you shouldn't do that" comment from either my husband or myself. I've never seen a child at Disney actually make contact with a a duck but even a kicking motion has a very stern "NO!" coming from one of us. Whether the parent is there or not. But then we follow up with the reason why we reacted like we did - the duck cannot talk and how would the child feel if someone older and bigger than him/her did the same to them? We don't say something and then just move away. Sometimes a child is just in his/her own world and doesn't realize things. And sometimes parents are in their own world and don't realize what their children are doing.

Now, if it was a situation where the parent was being stupid and encouraging their child to do something like that, we would have words for the parent, not the child. Fortunately, it's never come to that but kicking a harmless duck who really can't fight back is just stupid.

Plus, if the kid was bitten by that duck since the duck would do what a duck normally does, Disney would be sued. And then I'd have to appear in court and testify to what I saw the kid do to the duck.

 

[dvczerfs]

This blows me away. What gave this brat the idea that she could talk to an adult this way? It boggles the mind.
Her parents are pathetic.

cant blame the kid. (not saying you are) just using your post to tell you a little cm story. dd could sit and tell you stories for hours.

one afternoon, walking through adventure land, in costume with name tag,no doubt she worked there, noticed a guest smoking in a non smoking area. the lady seemed to be in her 60s. my dd, following company rules, stop and nicely explained to the guest she was not allowed to smoke here and pointed, with two fingers where the smoking area was.
the lady told her to ( the sixth letter) off and it was non of her business.
needless to say, security took care of it.
you would be amazed at how adults talk and act in the happiest place on earth.
there was another kid hanging my his knees over a railing in the mk with his parent standing next to him. again, following company rules, she tried getting over to him and it was too late. he fell, split his head wide open!!! bleeding like crazy. parents were not worry about jr, the were screaming they were suing!! the emts took him away. I wonder how there law suit is coming along.

 

[dvczerfs]

Chasing over a duck gets a "you shouldn't do that" comment from either my husband or myself. I've never seen a child at Disney actually make contact with a a duck but even a kicking motion has a very stern "NO!" coming from one of us. Whether the parent is there or not. But then we follow up with the reason why we reacted like we did - the duck cannot talk and how would the child feel if someone older and bigger than him/her did the same to them? We don't say something and then just move away. Sometimes a child is just in his/her own world and doesn't realize things. And sometimes parents are in their own world and don't realize what their children are doing.

Now, if it was a situation where the parent was being stupid and encouraging their child to do something like that, we would have words for the parent, not the child. Fortunately, it's never come to that but kicking a harmless duck who really can't fight back is just stupid.

Plus, if the kid was bitten by that duck since the duck would do what a duck normally does, Disney would be sued. And then I'd have to appear in court and testify to what I saw the kid do to the duck.

you wouldn't have to appear in court, roz works there. "watching, always watching"

 

[Kristie911]

My hubby calls me anti social because I don't really jive with my neighbors. The females around her act like teenagers and are constantly fighting on the street. I just watch the fun and shake my head.

I'm lucky because my hubby is a sheriff deputy and he's way more antisocial than I am. It works well for us!!

 

[Toffeewoffy]

Last year I had to show a family where the end of the line for the TTT was as they thought next to me was the end of the line! I just said to her, with a smile on my face, "Sorry, but the end is back there - where that guy with the flag is". She was most apologetic and took her family to the back.

DD is not backwards in coming forwards when it comes to commenting on 'bad people' in queues, but then she's Autistic and she can't help it. I do tell her to keep her opinions to herself, though. We were in the queue for Magician Mickey (last year again) and were front in line. They showed another family into the little waiting room with us - who blatently pushed their way in front of us and went in first! Sorry, but having a deaf (adult) family member does not give you right of way over a woman with a walking stick and a girl with Autism who were ahead of you in the queue anyway. The CMs did nothing.

Regarding stupid 911 calls, there's a trailer being shown over here at the moment about a show they're running soon: you hear the woman ask for fried pork and rice. The operator says, "This is 911, ma'am." To which the response is "... so will it be long?" What? Are you deaf, stupid or both!!!

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

I'm generally the pack mule when we get to the parks. On our way back into MK after a mid-day resort swim break, dh and the kids veered off towards the regular/no-bag entrance and I headed to the bag check line. As I approached, I saw that one side of the table was free and the other side had a couple of people waiting. I walked up to the "free" side. Guy that was 2nd in line on the other side says in a really nasty tone, "uh, there's a line here." And I smiled (ok, so it was probably a nasty smile back) and said, "yeah, and both sides of the table are used." The security bag checker cheerily told him "yep."

Same thing has happened to us numerous times in QS locations as well where both sides of the cashier are used for ordering. People are admonishing others for "cutting" because they don't know that both sides are used.

 

[naarg]

I'm generally the pack mule when we get to the parks. On our way back into MK after a mid-day resort swim break, dh and the kids veered off towards the regular/no-bag entrance and I headed to the bag check line. As I approached, I saw that one side of the table was free and the other side had a couple of people waiting. I walked up to the "free" side. Guy that was 2nd in line on the other side says in a really nasty tone, "uh, there's a line here." And I smiled (ok, so it was probably a nasty smile back) and said, "yeah, and both sides of the table are used." The security bag checker cheerily told him "yep." Same thing has happened to us numerous times in QS locations as well where both sides of the cashier are used for ordering. People are admonishing others for "cutting" because they don't know that both sides are used.

This happened to me too lol. I walked up to the left side of the bag checking table & the people on the right side looked at me & sneered! They had a first visit button so I just smiled at them & figured they'll figure it out soon enough lol. If not oh well they'll be sneering their whole WDW vacation. Guess I could of informed them of the process but they sneered at me so...

 

[GotLabradors]

Gosh, there's a big difference between ignoring your wild child at home and tuning out him jumping like a maniac on the furniture, and your child doing it in public, on someone else's furniture, when there are people who are not related to you that have to witness/hear/see it.

I'm a bit of a curmudgeon, so I will say: Bad Parenting!

PS: The person I quoted is not a bad parent. I was just gently disagreeing with their 'devil's advocate' stance.

I agree with your disagreeing. Yes, I do ignore stuff at home, but when the kids are in public, they had better mind their behavior. I am not going to allow my kids' behavior to infringe on another person's enjoyment of a meal, movie, concert, theme park, etc.