Originally Posted By danyoung >Are you saying the Spirit likes to blow his own horn?< Absolutely, after first mining the metal, smelting the metal, shaping it in the perfect image of a horn, and then blowing the horn so that all far and wide can hear that this indeed is not only the perfect horn, but a far superior horn to any other horn that ever existed. I mean hey, if you're gonna blow your own horn, you might as well BLOW the danged thing!
Originally Posted By sassystitch Just saw this thread. I've been away for a bit(unfortunately, not to WDW!) My friend & I were approached by Disney security a year ago. We were hanging out near MGM where the boat docks & we were feeding the ducks (they have vending machines with duck food). We were asked why we were there for so long. We had been there for ~1/2 hr. just hanging out, talking, & feeding the ducks. We were taking a little break from the parks. We told them exactly that in a nice way. We are female, caucasian, in our early 40's. They're just doing their jobs. Sadly, we were reminded that WDW has to be on guard. Despite your color, looks, nationality, etc., you will be approached if they feel that they need to check things out. As the rest of the world has changed, so has our special world. Just my thoughts.............
Originally Posted By dshyates Its just my point that a loitering policy in a public area specifically designed for loitering is VERY difficult to enforce and I guarantee will bring up claims of racism, discrimination, and litigation. Where as age restriction and parental accompaniment policies are far less trouble to enforce. "I am not a big fan of wait until they do something first - the vicitms tend to not approve either." Unfortunately for you, in America that is the way we usually do things. The best we can do is try and provide a safe environment for the guests through easily definable non-discrimintory policies and a large highly visible security presence. Im not such a big fan of hassling people who haven't done anything yet. As I haven't done anything yet. And does anyone find it hard to believe that these young men got lippy after repeated encounters with security hassling them. I myself may have said a thing or two. There were no reports that these teens did anything wrong until after repeated encounters with security at which point they got a "kinda smart" and then didn't cooperate with requests to leave the property. I am still a little confused as to why these gentlemen were approached to start with. And I can see why since they had done nothing wrong except for being there they took exception to being told to leave. This is a bad policy that has been in place just over a week and has already made national news and will no doubt result in litigation. Can you say boneheaded.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Gee, I hope my husband doesn't get into trouble next trip. He likes to sit on a bench and take in what's going on around him. He watches parades & shows, taking pix. He's there to relax, take it easy, and eat.
Originally Posted By danyoung >I am still a little confused as to why these gentlemen were approached to start with. And I can see why since they had done nothing wrong except for being there they took exception to being told to leave.< You absolutely don't know this. The only ones who do know are the security folks and the kids themselves. And of course the kids are saying that they did nothing wrong. But does it make any sense to anyone that Disney's Gestapo would march in, look around, find a group of black kids, and then go make a scene? Ludicrous! I think it's telling that Disney, while backing off of their lifetime ban, still is standing by their security. I'm guessing that these upstanding football heros were most likely causing a bit of a fuss. They could have defused it by following security's suggestions. But they instead chose to remain and let the situation accelerate. That's just my opinion, of course.
Originally Posted By mele <<We were hanging out near MGM where the boat docks & we were feeding the ducks (they have vending machines with duck food). We were asked why we were there for so long. We had been there for ~1/2 hr. just hanging out, talking, & feeding the ducks>> See, this just tells me that either the security guards are either not that bright or are taking loitering policies out of context OR the loitering policies are way too aggressive. Being questioned after only half an hour feeding ducks (by a duck food vending machine) is just plain ridiculous. I think most people would be annoyed if they were approached by security and made to feel like they were doing something wrong. Talk about making guests feel extremely unwelcome.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Being questioned after only half an hour feeding ducks (by a duck food vending machine) is just plain ridiculous.>> Not necessarily. Probably 99% of the people who feed the ducks there just do so while they are waiting for the next boat. It would seem unusual for a couple of people to be still feeding ducks after two boats have come and gone. Either they've never seen a duck before or they really like them!! ;-) Sadly, in the post 9/11 era where public transportation is generally considered the most likely target; Disney has to keep an eye on people hanging around transit stations for an unusual period of time who do not board. If you having nothing to hide you respond calmly like sassystitch did and you have no problem with security.
Originally Posted By mele I could understand that but they put in a machine where you could buy duck food which invites people to stick around for awhile. If security came up to me and said "why have you been here for so long?" that would put a bit of a damper on the day. I think it would for most people. If they don't want people standing by the water for 30 minutes then they should remove the vending machine. It's just weird to me. Maybe it's just that I live in a town where there are benches and statues and a lot of parks by the water, etc. If you're standing for hours in a parking lot, you'd look suspicious...standing by the lake, feeding the ducks does not look suspicious, especially when it's only done for 30 minutes.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Unfortunately for you, in America that is the way we usually do things. The best we can do is try and provide a safe environment for the guests through easily definable non-discrimintory policies and a large highly visible security presence.< which is what the security force was trying to do without someone reading me the constitution...I know what it reads, but people can't be stopped for reasonable doubt on public streets - this is private property - there is a difference. Since you got snippy with the comment on 'unfortunatley for you' - you may want to get those laws books out again.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I think it's telling that Disney, while backing off of their lifetime ban, still is standing by their security. I'm guessing that these upstanding football heros were most likely causing a bit of a fuss. They could have defused it by following security's suggestions. But they instead chose to remain and let the situation accelerate. That's just my opinion, of course. < well Danny, it appears that there is no way this could have happened and we live in America you know where everyone is innocent -- and it's always someone else's fault. 4 teenagers getting mouthy with security, after being asked to move on...c'mon, the security officers had to be in the wrong...how dare they try and keep a private [property area secure for the majority of people. And - football players -- they are all angels -- Pacman Jones (misunderstood) - Tank Johnson ( really father of the year ) - the Cincinnati bengals - just being harassed by 'the man' -- what are you thinking ? University of Miami football program - all rhodes scholars and upstanding citizens.... first wait until there is a huge brawl - maybe even started by real gang bangers trying to harass the football players, and then gunfire etc....then maybe we can call the police ( if we are sure this is really a problem ) This sounds like an excellent plan to me.
Originally Posted By BeautysBeast HAHA with the heightened security of the nation..2 40 something females on a disney property feeding ducks must be high on homeland security's list of potential threats...
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<..2 40 something females on a disney property feeding ducks must be high on homeland security's list of potential threats... >> They are at least as high on the list as the 75 year old grandma who still needs to take off her shoes when going through airline security. Since it is not politically allowable in this country to profile people (exactly what people are complaining about here) everyone is under equal suspicion. Whether it’s two 40 something women feeding ducks at a boat dock or the 22 year old Saudi at the same dock telling others he expects to see Allah soon; both need to be treated as an equal threat. At least that is equivalent to what most of you are arguing here. Damn, eh? Tripped up by your own argument!!
Originally Posted By mele <<And - football players -- they are all angels -- Pacman Jones (misunderstood) - Tank Johnson ( really father of the year ) - the Cincinnati bengals - just being harassed by 'the man' -- what are you thinking ? University of Miami football program - all rhodes scholars and upstanding citizens....>> NO ONE has said that all football players are saints but there have been a LOT of posts about how bad football players are. That's the point...the fact that they play football means nothing either way. It is just plain retarded to draw any sort of conclusions about their behavior that night based on the fact that they will be playing football in the fall in Miami.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Oh I got that it was sarcasm; I was just pointing out that there was no reason for a sarcastic comment... that the scenario I presented was realistic.
Originally Posted By BeautysBeast Glad your out looking for undesirables in the community..helps me sleep better knowing your on the ball...Thats the trouble with the world no common sense anymore...
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror >>>was sarcasm but i guess it was over your head..<<< Anyone who takes the time to educate themselves on current events, or at least pays attention to the news in print, or on TV, knows that there are PLENTY of white people on the radar for terrorism. Beyond that, there are many Islamic men who take white women for wives (especially in this country), and doubtless a few of THOSE people are under scrutiny. So I guess sarcasm should still be considered sarcasm, even when it comes from a place of ignorance, irrelevance, and ineffectuality...?
Originally Posted By BeautysBeast Thats a pointless statement when arguing about sarcasm because its rooted in the politics of todays worldview.2 sides to every argument.And to make your side of an argument by name calling seems to indicate you have nothing intelligent to add.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <HAHA with the heightened security of the nation..2 40 something females on a disney property feeding ducks must be high on homeland security's list of potential threats... < you mean like the poor 6 year old kid they strapped an explosive belt to ?
