Disney CMs calling guests " Friends"?

[MisterPenguin]

"Princeling."

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

It’s the feminine form of “prince”. Even the cruise example you provided is gendered, since it plays on the stereotype that girls are spoilt and picky. I realise you may not regard it as gender-specific, but most people do.

I somewhat disagree.

While princess is a gendered word, Americans are... I'm not sure how to explain...but since we don't have royalty, Americans sometimes use the term very informally, in a way that is extremely non-specific, and very loose.

Here princess can sometimes be used as a synonym for pampered, in way that has nothing to do with gender. To an American ear, the word itself sounds ornate, so it connotes excess. It isn't that girls are spoiled and picky but rather many Americans think all royalty are pampered.

It is an example of onomatopoeia, a word that sounds like what it is.

Mind, I'm not saying I use it this way, but I have heard it used this way many times.

 

[networkpro]

While princess is a gendered word, Americans are... I'm not sure how to explain...but since we don't have royalty, Americans sometimes use the term very informally, in a way that is extremely non-specific, and very loose.

Yes Americans (United States portion) view royalty like Europeans view imperial measurement systems: a curious relic of the past that no longer applies to them. So we don't have "proper" use of any such associated terms.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

and I honestly understand your position -- I just find it a little odd that you do not seem to understand how using the term 'friend' might offend another, how folks tend to let friends get away w/ a bit more than strangers due to knowing/understanding each other and I was hoping to show that (to some) the word friend is earned and applies to a small group and that could make the use of the word by a stranger feel more awkward than the understanding/compassion Disney is trying to convey w/ the greeting.

I guess theoretically people who work in theatre could also be offended that Disney is denigrating their profession by referring to the person taking their order at Pecos Bill as a "cast member" who is "on stage", but in practice I doubt it's an issue.

There are always tradeoffs, but I suspect that indignant people sputtering "but I hardly know you!" when addressed as "friend" at Disney World is minute/non-existent compared to the amount of instances where a CM could inadvertently use the wrong gendered term on someone regardless of whether or not that person identified as trans or non-binary.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Let’s remember that Disney encourages cast to call guests things like recruits, travelers, explorers, etc.

All of the above are fine.

Parts of New England are very reserved in how they use the word friend though. Friend is a kind of honorific title.

 

[crazy4disney]

We talk in other threads how Disney & lets face it other

If one has issues of someone from Disney calling one a friend , one has some personal issues going off if one is offended.

and like ive said before i can say the same about using ladies and gentlemans boys and girls yet here we still are having this same conversation....

 

[crazy4disney]

If one has issues of someone from Disney calling one a friend , one has some personal issues going off if one is offended.

So now you are the authority on what should or shouldnt offend someone?!? . Lets see if this gets deleted as well lmao

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

"Princeling."

 

[Shiriki_Utundu]

but Jim Nantz (a sportscaster) opens the Masters TV broadcast every day with "Hello friends."

Again,
as you know context matters.

Nantz addressing thousands of viewers(just as Walt addressed multiple) is not the same as a one-on-one encounter.

 

[MisterPenguin]

We talk in other threads how Disney & lets face it other

and like ive said before i can say the same about using ladies and gentlemans boys and girls yet here we still are having this same conversation....

Well said, mate.

 

[LittleBuford]

I somewhat disagree.

While princess is a gendered word, Americans are... I'm not sure how to explain...but since we don't have royalty, Americans sometimes use the term very informally, in a way that is extremely non-specific, and very loose.

Here princess can sometimes be used as a synonym for pampered, in way that has nothing to do with gender. To an American ear, the word itself sounds ornate, so it connotes excess. It isn't that girls are spoiled and picky but rather many Americans think all royalty are pampered.

It is an example of onomatopoeia, a word that sounds like what it is.

Mind, I'm not saying I use it this way, but I have heard it used this way many times.

Other varieties of English (including British) also use "princess" in that way. It's still gendered, because it's based on the idea of a supposedly female brand of entitlement. But I don't see what any of this has to do with the topic at hand. We're talking about how one should address strangers in a courteous manner. Surely we can agree that "friend" is a safer way to address a man you don't know than "princess".

 

[MisterPenguin]

Other varieties of English (including British) also use "princess" in that way. It's still gendered, because it's based on the idea of a supposedly female brand of entitlement. But I don't see what any of this has to do with the topic at hand. We're talking about how one should address strangers in a courteous manner. Surely we can agree that "friend" is a safer way to address a man you don't know than "princess".

Good point, guv!

 

[LittleBuford]

Good point, guv!

You’d never catch me saying that!

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Again,
as you know context matters.

Nantz addressing thousands of viewers(just as Walt addressed multiple) is not the same as a one-on-one encounter.

In my experience it’s rare that CM’s use “friend” in a one on one encounter unless they are trying to get someone’s attention.

Generally the “friends” is used when addressing a group of people “hello friends please watch your hands and feet as I open the gate”

 

[Shiriki_Utundu]

Generally the “friends” is used when addressing a group of people “hello friends please watch your hands and feet as I open the gate”

which I have more or less said is perfectly acceptable, perhaps even preferred over just about everything else.

 

[mkt]

Good night friends!

 

[alphac2005]

This is one of the more bizarre discussions I've seen here. I'm struggling to think of any good reason to have a significant issue with the use of "friend".

That made me laugh, but you know as we’ve been in here a long time, a bizarre discussion is needed from time to time. True, yet I can vouch for how overused the term has become at the parks. It’s incredibly forced and my 12 year old constantly has something snarky to say about it. My English degree and writing professional wife is irritated by it as she points out that it’s a word that has been devalued by the likes of Facebook turning a meaningful word into one that is devoid of such.

 

[CntrlFlPete]

It’s the feminine form of “prince”. Even the cruise example you provided is gendered, since it plays on the stereotype that girls are spoilt and picky. I realise you may not regard it as gender-specific, but most people do.

I know I am unique. As I see the world, I see males that have traits which are more common in females and there are females that have traits more commonly found in males, I just do not associate these as gender specific just because it works for most. -- but it seems, to better fit in with the times, I should see traits as boxed into gender specificities because the box fits the majority? (which omits a good number of folks as they do not fit the box 100% ) believe that is the path my mind takes in seeing things as traits and not as pronouns.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Other varieties of English (including British) also use "princess" in that way. It's still gendered, because it's based on the idea of a supposedly female brand of entitlement. But I don't see what any of this has to do with the topic at hand. We're talking about how one should address strangers in a courteous manner. Surely we can agree that "friend" is a safer way to address a man you don't know than "princess".

I have to admit that it makes me chuckle that you are having to explain that calling a man "princess" is not likely to be interpreted as a compliment!

 

[mkt]

Good morning friends!