Yikes! I got yelled at 3 times in the crowds last week!

[ducklite]

You hit the nail right on the head.
BTW y'all are at Disney! Slow down, take it in. You don't have to do it all to enjoy it.
Also, I'd like to know how many times "Officer" Lite would let the stroller hit her before she either got out of the way, or done something else (it sounded like she wanted to retaliate). She seemed as determined to keep her spot in the slow-moving mass of people as the "stroller assaulter" was determined to get beyond her. I'm wondering if she didn't step in front of the stroller assaulter. Would this make the crime justifiable?

I didn't step in front of her, I'm not a masochist, nor am I stupid. Actually she came up behind me. I would have gotten out of her way, but there was simply no place to go, I was boxed in by other strollers! Would you have preferred I climb over someones stroller to get out of her way? I didn't want to retaliate, I just wanted to get her attention and make her realize what she was doing before I got hurt!

I'm sorry that the OP got yelled at, it sounds as if in her case it was an accident, and she had the courtesy to apologize.

If I was your kid, would you have just let it go? I doubt it. So why is it OK to hit an adult without as much as an apology, but not a kid?

I've pushed a stroller through WDW, and I know how difficult it can be. I also know that I leave room to stop, and pay a LOT of attention to where I'm going. And if I did accidently bump someone, I'd be apologizing before they had a chance to turn around.

That was not what was happening in my case--this lady was following too close and gawking at the castle rather than paying attention to where she was going. Big difference.

And why don't you learn to post without name calling and belittling people? Do you really need to stoop to that level to present your opinion?

Anne

 

[ducklite]

rt2dz--I'm sorry to hear about your cousin. That's attempted murder. I hope the jerk gets the book thrown at him. Make sure your cousin gets a good attorney and stops the driver from disposing of or transferring any assets immediately--before his criminal attorney gets it all.

Anne

 

[rgribik]

I have been watching this thread for days, some of it funny some not. Hey, guys it all boils down to we live in a ME society where everyone is just out for themselves anymore. If we could remember that other people at Dis also payed lots, are hot and tired, and deserve their vacation too, it would help with everything there. I talked to some cm's over the years and they can't believe how rude people are now. I try to show my kids(in and out of strollers) the world just doesn't belong to us. We try to be kind and patient(even when pushed and shoved), you will get where you want to go soon enough. I hate being herded like cattle, with people pushing. My kids have been pushed out of the way, knocked over by hunchback backpacks, had drinks spilled on them, and still they just want to see the mouse. We use small strollers, with no people plows on them, eventhough we have the RIGHT to use one the size of a small car(we have 5 kids).
JUDGE JUDY ROCKS!!!!

 

[weregoingtodw]

Do you really want to know what assault is? Last night my cousin was driving his motercycle down the freeway, 100% legally. Someone switched lanes while he was in it. Dragged with 78 miles without stopping. People were chasing the driver down and he was trying to get my cousin (who never even lost conscienceness) off his car and get away. My cousin had his right leg amputated. May loose his left leg and possibly his right arm. THAT is assualt. THAT is violence. THAT was intentional. And, no the other driver wasn't even drunk. I say get over the stroller bump, past and future. And be thankful you get to work again, won't loose your house, aren't forced to spend the next 1-2 years in a hospital, and have life end in every other way you know it.

OH MY ***! I'm so very sorry! I promised myself to refrain from posting further in this thread, but just wanted to offer prayers & positive thoughts to your cousin and your entire family. I don't even have words to describe my feelings about that. That goes so far beyond assault - that's an utter disregard for the sanctity of human life. How very sad...

 

[Nicks2Angels]

Ducklite-I would be apologizing profusely right away-and have, as I have bumped people before. Usually it is someone who cuts in front of me & it is very difficult to stop a double stroller. I have been lucky I guess, noone has yelled at me. But if they had, it would take me aback & I would probably feel less sorry. I really think we need to take a deep breath & give each other some slack. Life is too short to be so touchy about something so small.

You mentioned the person who hit you was self absorbed-what if she had just lost her mother or was suffering through some other enormous tradegy? You just never know what is going on with other people-they may be self absorbed for a good reason. I imagine there are lots of reasons to not be paying attention, which are reasonable besides being a jerk who really wants to bang someone's ankles.

And no matter how you slice it, you will never convince me that being bumped by a stroller is assault. No way, no how.

 

[Stimpy]

I can see both sides of this issue. We were and are currently stroller pushers. We have been to Disney many, many times with a stroller and other crowded places over the years (including the NYC subway during rush hour). I am also extremely cautious about it. I can honestly say that, aside from my DS and DH...who seem to enjoy walking in front of the stroller and stopping short , I have only had 2-3 stroller accidents in 5 years. I apologized immediately and felt really bad about it. Accidents happen.

On the other hand, I have been on the other side too many times. When DS was about 2 and walking down Main Street, he was run over by someone who didn't even apologize. He was knocked down and started crying. The guy didn't even look to see if DS was ok. This was in the value season and the street was pretty empty. The guy obviously wasn't paying attention and was practically running with the stroller. We were so angry! Had he apologized, we would have said it's ok and went about our day. It takes 5 seconds to say "Sorry".

No offense to Ducklite, I don't always agree with her . But I do agree here that 2 times in a very short period of time is excessive! I am an extremely non-confrontational person and probably wouldn't have said anything. But Ducklite had every right to tell the woman to back off. It seems the woman knew after the dirty look the first time, she should have known to keep some distance. Besides, if the woman nicely apologized, Ducklite may not have yelled at her and asked her nicely to stay back a little.

It's all in how the stroller drivers handle it. Let's face it, probably 90% of the time, it is the person pushing the stroller who is at fault. In the other 10%, the people who dart in front of strollers or stop short, please realize strollers can hurt! Take responsiblity for your actions and apologize! Most people will be more understanding.

To the OP, I am sorry you got yelled at! To everyone else, again, I am not advocating for one side or the other. I think both sides need to be more tolerate of the other.

 

[ducklite]

Regretfully I can't agree. Regardless of what was going on in her mind, it did not give her the right to be careless with the safety of others. Again I ask, if she had hit your child twice without apologizing, would you have just blown it off? I highly doubt it.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Stimpy--You hit the nail on the head! She was being careless and had she apologized I wouldn't have yelled at her. The first time I would have graciously accepted her apology, the second time I would have asked her to leave a little more room.

But she was either totally not paying attention, or just didn't care. Either way I needed to get her to stop, and raising my voice to her to tell her to back off was an appropriate reaction. I didn't scream at her as has been implied. I didn't curse her out. I didn't threaten her. I said two words in a raised voice. It got the point across, and as soon as I safely could I got out of her way.

Anne

 

[Stitch Inside]

And why don't you learn to post without name calling and belittling people? Do you really need to stoop to that level to present your opinion?

Anne

And why don't you learn to post without becoming so defensive? Do you really think you are changing anyone's opinion.
I'm sorry if you were belittled, but I was just taking off from a previous post that I found humorous at the time.

Officer Lite, The definition of assault varies from state to state, so what may or may not be assault here in New York, may be an assault somewhere else. What happened to you still is not described in the definition you have provided. A red mark, small bruise, or even a small scrape you may receive from a stroller "bumping" into you does not equal a "violent Injury".

And my observation, not opinion, was that there are two sides to everything, and two wrongs don't make a right. No one should have to live in fear of strollers, but then some should not fly off the handle if they are accidentally bumped (and I'm referring to the OP's case).
Have a nice day, and may all your future journeys be safe.

 

[SandrainNC]

Just wanted to quickly add that I am a stroller pusher. I didn't bump into anyone this past November at Disney. I try to be very careful. If I would accidentally bump someone, I would apologize. I would like say, however, that my 3 year old son was knocked over by a non-stroller pushing woman hurrying to get into the women's restroom while at WDW. Accidents happen and people are rude whether they have strollers or not. She just looked back with this dumb grin on her face and kept on going while my baby cried with skinned up knees. So, like someone else said, people who are rude with the stroller would also be rude without. They just have more of a means to hurt someone when they have the stroller.

Sandra

 

[CLEO Z]

Okay, I just can't stop myself from posting. Does anyone see the connection between this behavior and road rage? Why are we all in such a &^*$# hurry?! I find myself trying to hurry even when I have plenty of time and have to take a deep breath and sloooow down. I've also had to bite my tounge when I am wasting my time and emotions on other people that are inconsiderate or careless.

We are all is such a hurry, even on vacation, that we take it out on strangers. This covers both side of the stroller debate: the careless or maybe just truly apologetic stroller pusher and the aggressive or maybe just innocent pedestrian.

Everyone take a minute to calm down, slow down and remember YOU ARE ON VACATION -try to relax! Due to the cost and expectations of WDW we are putting too much stress on ourselves and others.

[Stepping down off of the soapbox]

 

[Kasmir]

Okay, I just can't stop myself from posting. Does anyone see the connection between this behavior and road rage? Why are we all in such a &^*$# hurry?! I find myself trying to hurry even when I have plenty of time and have to take a deep breath and sloooow down. I've also had to bite my tounge when I am wasting my time and emotions on other people that are inconsiderate or careless.

We are all is such a hurry, even on vacation, that we take it out on strangers. This covers both side of the stroller debate: the careless or maybe just truly apologetic stroller pusher and the aggressive or maybe just innocent pedestrian.

Everyone take a minute to calm down, slow down and remember YOU ARE ON VACATION -try to relax! Due to the cost and expectations of WDW we are putting too much stress on ourselves and others.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

You know what bugs me even more are the older kids who don't pay attention and damn near fall into the stroller with your kids.

In October we used a double stroller, frequently Ellie was out of sight but still very much asleep in the lower portion of the stroller. I had some moronic teenager on Main street, decide to not only stop but stop and turn into my stroller bumping the side where she was sleeping He just looked at me like I'd come out of no where. Uhhhhhh hello, you walked into ME and didn't say a word!

We taught the kids quickly that if they need to stop we need to move to the side before stopping.

And yes, if I should accidently ram someone (other than DH, in which case it's not an accident ) I do appologize.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Ducklite-I would be apologizing profusely right away-and have, as I have bumped people before. Usually it is someone who cuts in front of me & it is very difficult to stop a double stroller. I have been lucky I guess, noone has yelled at me. But if they had, it would take me aback & I would probably feel less sorry. I really think we need to take a deep breath & give each other some slack. Life is too short to be so touchy about something so small.

You mentioned the person who hit you was self absorbed-what if she had just lost her mother or was suffering through some other enormous tradegy? You just never know what is going on with other people-they may be self absorbed for a good reason. I imagine there are lots of reasons to not be paying attention, which are reasonable besides being a jerk who really wants to bang someone's ankles.

And no matter how you slice it, you will never convince me that being bumped by a stroller is assault. No way, no how.

Very good point. I just lost my Father to cancer last week, and I can tell you I am not thinking straight. In the past week, I've left my keys behind at a store, walked away from a cashier before she gave me my change. switched lanes without putting my indicator on, bumped into someone while walking, almost sent my son to school without shoes (what the heck was I thinking!), etc. My mind is on my Father right now...Please, if I bump into anyone with my stroller while at WDW in 3 weeks, don't bite my head off. I promise to apologize!
I just want to add that I've only bumped someone with the stroller one time, and that's because they jumped in front of me without looking. Sorry, but responsibility goes both ways. I have to watch where I'm going with the stroller, and pedestrians need to watch where they are going also.

 

[skippy]

Ducklite- I think what is bothering most of us is the fact that you didn't give the woman a chance to apologize the first time she bumped you.

Certainly turning around would have been anyones reaction but a glare/dirty look would not have been a courteous person's reaction.

When my son has been bumped (and this has happened numerous times in the grocery store by other shopper's carts) we have taught him not to give an angry reaction before he knows the circumstances. This is called courtesy. Nine times out of ten he receives an apology, I'm not sure if that would be the case if his initial reaction was a dirty look or angry stare.

I would say that neither you nor the woman who struck you with her stroller contributed at all to the magic in the "happiest place on earth" and certainly left a lasting impression on the child in the stroller.

 

[ducklite]

I turned around expecting an apology. I didn't get one. I gave her a dirty look and turned away. I'm not even sure she saw that. She had the opportunity to apologize. She chose not to. Then she rammed me again a minute later. But I'm the person who ruined the magic? Right.

Take this scenario. She runs into me a third time and I fall backwards onto her kid. Which is preferable? That or my getting her to stop hitting me by telling her to back off, and making sure I had her attention by raising my voice a bit?

Anne

 

[skippy]

I'm sorry Ducklite, in your original post you did not state that you turned and waited for an apology before giving her the look. In any case I think we could all learn to be a little more polite, and for the record I said that you both did nothing to contribute to the magic, not just you.

 

[Feralpeg]

It seems like this would be a good time to let this topic go before people say things they will ultimately regret. I think we all understand the positions posted.

 

[kdtwiss]

God, I am going to DW next month for the first time and I don't know if I am more scared to have my children in a stroller or out of the stroller - either way it seems we may need some kind of body armor, or maybe I can whip up a set of brake lights and directionals for my rear end!

 

[rt2dz]

When we were at WDW in January we were bumped several times with strollers and as it was usually when everyone was trying to leave the park, I knew it was an accident and didn't think much of it. Don't get me wrong. I didn't appreciate it and it hurt, but I knew it was an accident. However the day we were at AK we were standing where the parade started and as the parade ended had to follow the parade out. It was wall to wall people, all moving slowly because of the parade in front of us. This lady decided to use her stroller to ram her way through. Unfortunately we were in the way and had no where to go. After she bumped me VERY hard for the third time I did turn and glare at her and she glared right back without ever apologizing. When she almost knocked my GD down, I turned and told her if she bumped one of us again I would take the stroller and throw it over the bridge we were on at the time. She then said 'well, get out of my way'. I asked her where she wanted us to go since the bridge was packed solid. Anyway after we finally got to a place where we could move to the side we let her past. She speeded up so fast that she knocked a little boy down, making him get a very nasty scrape on his leg and leaving him crying. Several of us stopped to help him, but the lady in the stroller just glared at him and kept moving.

There was no way any of us could have avoided being hit by this lady and she was definitely doing it intentionally and didn't even try to hide it. I believe this is the difference. The OP of this thread was like the people who had been bumping us all week. They were accidents. It's people like the lady in AK that gives stroller pushers a bad name.

That is very different. And a person like that is awful. No excuse. I just can't believe people who react in certain ways to accidents or what is most likely an accident, which it usually is--although I agree not always, as is in that case. To people who over react to the accidents & a stroller pusher like in this example: Why are you at DISNEY? Go somewhere else, like a beach. Or better yet--A SPA!! You could certainly use a massage or anything else that might relax you and bring you down a few notches. At the very least, only go to Disney in the slowest of times. Life is too short and delicate to be that miserable all the time.