Originally Posted By mousermerf Turns out the 80yo bus driver had guest complaints.. <a href="http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2435202" target="_blank">http://www.disboards.com/showt...=2435202</a>
Originally Posted By leobloom Most telling part of the quote: "...headed to the front desk with the bus number and Fred’s name to report him. They did seem to take the complaint very seriously so I’m hoping Fred is no longer driving Disney buses. While Tim and the guy were up complaining about Fred the bus driver from hell the kids and I grabbed some snacks at Springs. Then we all walked back to the room and sack around 11pm." Yeah, they took that complaint really seriously. You know what else doesn't faze Disney? Complaining that the Yeti doesn't work. Virtually the only thing the Mouse cares about is you forking over your money.
Originally Posted By disney pete I am really sorry if anyone thinks im being ageist but sorry fit or not 81 years old is way to old to be driving one of them big buses around,maybe tootle around in your own car but a bus no no no im sorry way to much,with age your eyesight gets wack,your responses and alertness fade this is just bad especially if as some folk have said its about saving a few bucks.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I saw that story this morning, MPierce, and was waiting for someone to post something about it. I wonder how many pairs of soiled pants were in TDO offices this morning when the news broke.>> I could not believe that ... <<I know not everybody here believes these accidents are indicative of Disney's bad safety. Some LP folks might say it's just bad luck. And even if I disagree with that, at least everyone seems to have been civilized in disagreeing.>> I don't think you can generalize as each accident has unique circumstances. BUT ... you need to look at transport as a whole. Who is running what? What kind of CMs are being hired? What is their training? What are they being paid? Are they being pushed by their leaders to opt for efficiency over safety? Have all the 'cuts' of longtime, higher paid managers trickled down? Those are the key questions. There's also a saying in sports about 'you make your own luck' and I think it may be applicable here. Also, remember, you don't read about the many smaller incidents. Ones where there are no passengers. Ones were there isn't a collision ... but let's say a bus goes over a curb or stops short and people go flying and get injuured. Ones where there are no injuries etc. Plenty of the above happen regularly and you won't hear about it. <<The tone of the discussion at another MAGICal site has been pitiful. Not just the typical Disney-can-do-no-wrong attitude, which is to be expected, but when people start calling the dead kid's mother all sorts of names, I'd have to say the discussion has reached rock-bottom. No wonder Spirit stopped posting over there. It's just a pixie-dust gutter nowadays.>> I read some of that yesterday and was just sickened. Just a lot of asses is the nicest way I can put it. Steve did shut the thread down, but way too late. The invective spewed at the mother was truly sickening. I don't care whether Disney wasn't at fault at all. She just lost a child and if she chooses to lash out, let her. Disney is a giant multi-national, media corp and it doesn't need protecting in a situation like this. But yeah, I just have no desire to drive traffic to a site where crap like that is viewed as acceptable speech, but discussing the HoP as a political attraction or whether Phil Holmes is a good executive isn't.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I wonder if Meg Crofton has been requested to commit seppuku?>> I don't know, but I truly hope she is feeling this loss with every fiber of her being. Erin Wallace too. And the nameless transport execs. Even if Disney is blameless, still an IF, the execs should feel something like this deeply. If only to prove they have humanity and aren't souless. >> The tone of the discussion at another MAGICal site has been pitiful. Not just the typical Disney-can-do-no-wrong attitude, which is to be expected, but when people start calling the dead kid's mother all sorts of names, I'd have to say the discussion has reached rock-bottom. No wonder Spirit stopped posting over there. It's just a pixie-dust gutter nowadays. << <<That's really sad. I think for a site to be truly successful you need a balance.>> That's why LP.com is perfect. I am totally balanced and you are totally not ... so we cancel each other out. It's like having a scale in a cave overlooking the sea (no apes thankfully!) and on one side is a black rock and the other a white one. Keeping everything in perfect balance. Remove one and you've got problems!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Sorry ^^^, there was a time I would have felt that way. But I know a 93 year old who has more energy than my 66 year old husband. At 93 his hearing is a little bad, but he's full of life and has a big sense of responsibility. So I'd have to meet the 80 year old to judge his capabilities.>> I agree. Age alone doesn't mean anything with competency. Sure, you lose some reaction time, but there are plenty of octagenerians who are quite capable of driving buses. Whether this is one, I can't say. I know when flying, I'd much rather have someone of middle to late age (like Sully Sullenberger) than say some 20-something kid. Same if I had to have surgery. Experience is important.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Oh, so now you come to see the light.>> Not much escapes me, Merfie! I knew what I was getting into ... just didn't know how bad.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Merfie, instead of taking shots at such a kind, loving, benevolent Spirit, why don't you celebrate Easter by egging the homes of some Imagineers who didn't like you. You could start with Baxter Manor. Kind of hard to miss the place.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> That's why LP.com is perfect. I am totally balanced and you are totally not ... so we cancel each other out << I love how the British put it " My Arse".
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Merfie, instead of taking shots at such a kind, loving, benevolent Spirit, why don't you celebrate Easter by egging the homes of some Imagineers who didn't like you. << Just remember not to boil them before you dye them Merf.
Originally Posted By danyoung >...fit or not 81 years old is way to old to be driving one of them big buses around...< I strongly disagree. If a driver has been performing well for many years and continues to pass annual tests of sight, hearing and reaction time, then there's no reason to consider any set age as being too old. Now, with the reports of this driver being reckless before this crash, it should be a no brainer that it's time for him to hang up the keys. We were approaching having to take my father's keys away in his early 70's (he died of colon cancer, so we didn't have to actually carry out that unpleasant duty). My grandfather was driving safely well into his 90's. It all depends on the person, not the age.
Originally Posted By disney pete yes but was your grandfather driving huge buses full of tourists around ?????
Originally Posted By danyoung If he continued to pass the tests, I'd have no trouble with him driving busses.
Originally Posted By jkayjs The bottom line is 81 or 21 if you have a string of complaints for being reckless you should be out of there. Any vehicle is a lethal weapon & just like guns the bigger it is the more damage it can inflict. Age is rarely the determining factor, ablity is the gold standard with which to measure.
Originally Posted By danyoung >The bottom line is 81 or 21 if you have a string of complaints for being reckless you should be out of there.< Agreed.
Originally Posted By disney pete don't they have a retirement age in the states it's 65 here and once your 65 thats it unless youre a busboy or kitchen porter or childs crossing patrol guy,really guys im no ageist whatsoever but i cannot see an 81 yr old male or female passing all the tests you need to be a bus driver.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> don't they have a retirement age in the states it's 65 here and once your 65 thats it unless youre a busboy or kitchen porter or childs crossing patrol guy,really guys im no ageist whatsoever but i cannot see an 81 yr old male or female passing all the tests you need to be a bus driver. << No forced retirement here in the States for most jobs. If you can pass the commercial drivers license test, and if you pass your annual physical what's to stop you from holding a job. Should we say you may be qualified, but you can't work here because you are just to old? Do you really think we should decide when a citizen is no longer productive merely based on their age?
