Stop bugging the ducks, please :)

[TiggerCat]

But they extended free dining, so there should be no kids chasing the animals at Disney for awhile then, no??

Gotta agree with you on that one.

 

[Lisa75]

Gotta agree with you on that one.

It is all in fun TiggerCat, the poor OP was trying to keep it light!! What a can of worms, huh? Just a sensitive issue. I have 3 rescue dogs and their poor stories about what happened to each of them before we got them. I definitely am hypersensitive about animals, I will admit!!

 

[TiggerCat]

I did not say "all" nor did I say "dangerous offenders". But a large percentage of serious domestic abusers, yes. And again, I don't sit around my house armed with stats. But there have been several studies in various related fields that prove and explain this.

And cruelty to animals is not a rarely heard of offense in my state. I am a prosecutor, so I would know.

Anyway, believe the correlation or not. The behavior is still obnoxious and I don't need data to back that up.

P.S. Congrats on your recent contract with the Eagles!

I can agree with domestic abuse and would also agree that many juvy offenders have been abused, I just never made the leap with animal abuse. In any case, you correlate your opinions based on your know facts as do I. No harm no fowl (oops). As for the behaviour being obnoxious, I think we found common ground.

As for the p.s. - sorry, I didn't get it?

 

[Lisa75]

I can agree with domestic abuse and would also agree that many juvy offenders have been abused, I just never made the leap with animal abuse. In any case, you correlate your opinions based on your know facts as do I. No harm no fowl (oops). As for the behaviour being obnoxious, I think we found common ground.

As for the p.s. - sorry, I didn't get it?

Good we agree on that part. The P.S. was just a stupid joke/poke reference to Michael Vick signing with the Eagles. Oh dear God, I hope that does not start a new discussion . I am not comparing you to him-just a joke.

I am off to check my Wilderness Lodge gift shop question I posted earlier.

 

[denisegold]

We were at a Universal Hotel a couple months ago, beautiful pool, and there was a momma duck a few babies on the side of the pool (grassy area)- this little boy, about 5 or 6 starts throwing small rocks at them.No one toldhim to stop (not a parent,not the lifeguard) but you bet your butt I told him to stop.I had to spend the next 30minutes watching him, becuase when he though I wasn't lookingm he would start to throw again, and when I said anything to him, he'd say "I'm not!" Where was HIS momma? No idea. Poor little duckies.

As for the ducks in the pool,no kidding to who ever said "have you ever swam in a lake, pond or ocean?" You're swimming with ALL kinds of poo!!!

 

[luvthemouse71]

I wonder what the parents who think it's OK for their kids to chase the wildlife would do if I (or any other adult) started chasing their kids. After all, I'm not going to hurt them - I just think it's fun to see them run away. Please, teach your kids to respect the animals.

Ha..just got a very funny visual on this. Especially since most toddlers can't run that well on those stubby little legs.

Excellent point, BTW. Just be prepared because you're about to get flamed crispy by the PETT.(People for the Ethical Treatment of Toddlers)

 

[Mulan82]

This thread has gone beyond don't feed the ducks because its mean. It's become a thread about animal cruelty.

It goes beyond children chasing ducks at the park. You say don't let kids chase the ducks because its cruel. Unless your child is a sociopath at 2 years old, I don't think they know any better. Do you ban the circus? Do you not teach your old dog new tricks because dogs should walk on all four legs instead of hopping around on two? I understand both sides. I get the PETA view. Hell, Michael Vick just got signed to my beloved Philadelphia Eagles. At what point though, can kids be kids? Chasing a bunnie is something a little kid does.

I think that this thread is just going to go on and on and on and on and on.... kinda like the line for Peter Pan's Flight.

 

[jwfla422]

We were at the Beach Club Villas back in May and the lifeguards did say something to the guests about bothering the ducks. No one was throwing rocks or anything at them but especially when there was a mommy and babies the guests were told to please leave them alone.

Linda

Funny, we were there at the same time and I remember the life guard yelling at this one kid who kept chasing the mother with the babies in the water then the kid's mom had the gall to tell the lifeguard to stop yelling at her son, that is was "ok" to chase them around...I mean...where do these people come from????? Mannerless Rudeness island?? or what??

 

[zackiedawg]

Unless your child is a sociopath at 2 years old, I don't think they know any better. Do you ban the circus? ...At what point though, can kids be kids? Chasing a bunnie is something a little kid does.

I believe that most here who argue that it is cruel or at the very least scary for the animals to let kids chase them around would agree with you that the kids don't know any better unless they are sociopaths.

But I believe the general crux of their argument is that the parents should be teaching their kids not to be doing this, so that the children LEARN that it is not nice to chase innocent, friendly, and harmless animals for fun. The general thought being that this is part of parenting...and I think everyone here consistently agrees that it is entirely the parents' blame when children are chasing, scaring, thowing things at, or going out of their way to disturb small defenseless animals.

I think that's why so many people keep bringing up the only example that might put proper perspective on things for those who feel there is nothing wrong with letting their kids terrorize and chase small defenseless animals - namely, would you allow someone very much larger and stronger than your children to run after them, scare them, and chase them around? Most likely not - you would most likely consider that alarming, frightening, and threatening, and would do just about anything to make it stop, as would your kids if you were to ask them how fun being chased by big scary things is. And that's the big point. Put yourself in the rabbit's or duck's position. Or the momma duck or rabbit watching its young being chased around by massive creatures. Most likely, no part of it is 'fun' or 'innocent' or 'acceptable' in any way to the animal...therefore it shouldn't be for a parent or their child either.

 

[Mulan82]

No no no, I do understand what they were saying.

I wouldn't want to be chased either. I always get chased by ducks when I am near them. And I always run away. wait, no.. I'm thinking of geese.

 

[JeanfromBNA]

You are really making a leap by insinuating that all dangerous offenders were animal abusers. Especially without any numbers to back that statement up. While I am not an expert in the field I would actually be very surprised if a large percentage had a "cruelty to animals" charge since that that seems to be a rarely heard of offence.

Even if you consider that a giant leap of logic, I have to argue that one's character is revealed most clearly by how one treats those who are defenseless and dependent. Small children don't know any better, but adults are responsible for teaching that lesson.

And yes, we eat defenseless animals. But we don't harm them for our own amusement.

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Maybe we could get the stressed out bunnies some therapy. Perhaps Dr. Phil can start a new show for stressed out critters who were harassed by dangereous children.

Cmon people. This is human nature. Next we will be ranting about people with cats that chase birds or dogs that torment cats.

My husband said "knock it off, dumb***" to two preteen boys who were scaring the ducks at Animal Kingdom. I suspect from the looks on their faces that they spent hours in therapy at the shock of being called out on their behavior.

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

Zackiedawg...very well said!

You summarized my family's belief about chasing ducks, bunnies, birds and/or other defenseless animals. We don't think the children are bad or mean, but the parents need to teach children to respect and not to chase/scare other animals.

Mulan82....I have been chased by geese as well and they scare me! I can't imagine how the poor little duckies feel when they are being chased by big humas Lol

 

[Mulan82]

.

 

[kelma]

My husband said "knock it off, dumb***" to two preteen boys who were scaring the ducks at Animal Kingdom. I suspect from the looks on their faces that they spent hours in therapy at the shock of being called out on their behavior.

Or maybe they were just shocked that an adult would call a 10 or 11 year old CHILD a "dumb***" You really are bragging about your husband cussing out a child?!?!

Here you all are talking about how awful it is that children are chasing and throwing rocks at animals (which I also believe is wrong), and are calling them out for what is essentially bullying behavior, but you don't see that cussing out children who are much smaller than you is also bullying (and tacky and rude) behavior ? I wonder if your husband would have done the same thing had both of their 6'5, 300 lb fathers had been there with them? Or is it only acceptable to "call out" people you know you can take in a fight?

If a child is doing a behavior that bothers you, you should tell their parents. If their parents are not around and it's a behavior that needs to be addressed, do so, but do it in the same way you'd like someone to speak to you. If they don't listen, then find someone who works there who can take care of it. You shouldn't speak to a child any differently than you would address their parents. Speaking to a child in a rude, disrespectful way because you know they can't fight back is being a bully.

Kelma

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I never see anyone bothering the ducks, but I do see the ducks swimming in the pools, which seems really unsanitary and nasty to me. We always laugh and just go on our way, but deep down inside I'm thinking, "Ewwww!" LOL On my last trip to CR my niece and I were in the quiet pool and swimming along in the pool with us was a duck! We didn't last long. LOL

with the amount of children that pee in the pools... I think the ducks are totally fine

 

[wdwluver]

No no no, I do understand what they were saying.

I wouldn't want to be chased either. I always get chased by ducks when I am near them. And I always run away. wait, no.. I'm thinking of geese.

I know exactly what you mean. Geese are very territorial. When my son was two, we were standing by the lake watching the geese swim by, suddenly one walks out and comes after us, wings flailing. I had to pick him up and run. screaming...

 

[maxiesmom]

The problem is half the time the parents aren't around. Or if they are around they simply don't care. My trip last month there was a little boy who thought it was fun to rip up the flowers outside of the Crystal Palace. I would have said something to the parents, if they had been there.

Or how about the child who was tearing flowers up inside of the Poly, and throwing them into the fountain. Dad stood right there, and didn't say a word. I did! I don't condone that sort of behavior and imho if you sit and watch it and don't object, you are condoning it.

Any parent who allows their child to terrorize wildlife is a bully, and is raising their child to be a bully!

 

[kelma]

The problem is half the time the parents aren't around. Or if they are around they simply don't care. My trip last month there was a little boy who thought it was fun to rip up the flowers outside of the Crystal Palace. I would have said something to the parents, if they had been there.

Or how about the child who was tearing flowers up inside of the Poly, and throwing them into the fountain. Dad stood right there, and didn't say a word. I did! I don't condone that sort of behavior and imho if you sit and watch it and don't object, you are condoning it.

Any parent who allows their child to terrorize wildlife is a bully, and is raising their child to be a bully!

I never said you should sit and watch it and I completely agree that you are condoning it if you do so. What I clearly said was that you should address concerns you have to the parents of the child and if they are not available then to simply speak to the child in a manner in which you would like to be spoken to. I even said to find an employee if you didn't get satisfaction.

I agree that terrorizing wildlife is bullying behavior and that a child should be taught not to do that. I also believe we should speak to EVERY human being with kindness and respect and that speaking to children rudely because they are smaller than you and unable to verbally or physically defend themselves is also bullying.

BTW - did you address your concerns to the child's father, who was probably larger than you or to his small child?

Kelma
Mom to 2 princes and 2 princesses

 

[maxiesmom]

BTW - did you address your concerns to the child's father, who was probably larger than you or to his small child?

Kelma
Mom to 2 princes and 2 princesses

Actually to both of them! The dad first, and when he just turned and walked away, I said something directly to the boy.

Geeze, I can't believe you are trying to turn this around and make it look like the adults who do care enough to say something are the bad people!