Originally Posted By SeventyOne <a href="http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-disney-tattoo-arrest-20110708,0,5444210.story" target="_blank">http://www.mcall.com/news/brea...10.story</a> Awkward subject here for me, as George falls into that "friend of a friend" circle, hung out and drank a few times, know probably half a dozen of the people inked on him--so not going to comment on the story itself. But this does address the Spirit's earlier point in the social media thread --does Disney do anything to vet its various hangers-on? George always points out his "special" relationship with Disney (done to avoid copyright infringement suits)...the attention the media has paid him the past year does not cast him in a positive light, and that has to reflect back on TWDC. What if this had been a member of the Moms Panel, or some hypothetical lawyer-turned-wannabe-tour guide granted unofficial Disney status? Walt got it, that's why he wouldn't farm out different aspects of his new resort. But the current management doesn't seem to understand how to protect a brand.
Originally Posted By SuperDry I wonder if Disney is going to "trespass" this person off the property and prohibit future visits. If so, that will put quite a damper on his lifestyle.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer .... Prime suspect for the mental illness thread, IMO. Not a surprise.
Originally Posted By ReelJustice <<.... Prime suspect for the mental illness thread, IMO. Not a surprise.>> We should join up with Spirit and just write a book.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Interesting character, SeventyOne. I've seen him in the parks, but only when someone has pointed him out. I tended to chalk him up to another in a VERY long list of people with moderate to severe mental illness that have used Disney as their drug of choice. Social Media has just brought more of these troubled souls out of hiding. And has given them a platform to even claim to be somehow mainstream and legit. Many even (mis)represent themselves as working for Disney on social networking sites such as LinkedIn. As I said before (weeks before) on the Social Media thread, it wasn't hard to find a few of these folks who had been involved in legal scrapes. I don't believe for a second Disney has even looked to see who these people really are, which should be Step 1 in determining whether the company should have anything to do with them. We all know what the worst case generally is with people too attached to Disney: namely child abuse and pedophiles. Obviously, if a webmaster/podcaster/blogger gets arrested or suspected then it does reflect back on Disney. Just thinking about the odds, Disney probably has at least one on their 'whorefest invite lists' right now. But many things also can greatly harm Disney and the BRAND. Everything from criminal activity (convicted or not) to personal bad behavior to affiliating with a cause/political action group or against such or even just engaging in activity that conflicts with wholesome Disney's image. Gay marriage has been in the news of late because of NY, but what if one of these people is spotted spewing hate at a rally? What if someone decides to attack women at an abortion clinic? What if someone actively takes part in a rally against immigrants ... or our military or ... Casey Anthony or ... the list is endless. It all bounces back to Disney because these folks are now 'known' via the Disney Lifestyle circle. And their lives are open books in today's FB/Twitter world. You can claim these are all activities that take place in a context outside of Disney, but that's not the point. And no matter what someone is protesting for or against isn't the issue. It's how it reflects back on Disney and their non-vetting of these individuals. You can't run Social Media that way.
Originally Posted By SeventyOne EE, what's sad is, having lived here for 11 years--yeah, definitely an odd duck, but probably not in the craziest 20% of, say, AdvClub fans. SD, as for being trespassed--he's long had a wink-wink, nudge-nudge relationship with TDO. They know he's there and likes to show off. Not only did they let him display his ink openly, he had a deal where he got new characters ahead of releases (I remember him having the Shadow Man months ahead of TP&TF). While not a CM, he certainly has/had a relationship with Disney--which is my point, what happens when a semi-official fanboi celeb does something bad?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Exactly. What does happen? Any story like this one immediately goes to Disney's Legal Dept. in Burbank, so it isn't like people don't know (what they can claim with the IP thieves and podcasters giving tours etc).
Originally Posted By leobloom I googled his name and found an interview with him that, as far as I'm concerned, is proof of his mental condition. Basically said he puts his Disney obsession ahead of his kids, and sounds to me like he expects all of the rest of us to be impressed by his obsessive attitude. Honestly sounds like a sad individual. Anyone know what resort he was staying at? I didn't see that info in the story yesterday.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I googled his name and found an interview with him that, as far as I'm concerned, is proof of his mental condition. Basically said he puts his Disney obsession ahead of his kids, and sounds to me like he expects all of the rest of us to be impressed by his obsessive attitude. Honestly sounds like a sad individual.<<< Typical narcissism and obsession.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>EE, what's sad is, having lived here for 11 years--yeah, definitely an odd duck, but probably not in the craziest 20% of, say, AdvClub fans. <<< Was that a jab at @ReelJustice?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>We should join up with Spirit and just write a book.<<< SHDF, The Compilation.
