Haunted Mansion Suicide

[Tony the Tigger]

No slamming coming from my way. I am a member of several Disney Moms blogs and online groups, and this subject of suicide being depicted in the mansion has been brought up a few times before. I think sometimes people need to step back and take a good look at how some of these images play out in the minds of our children. My daughter is old enough to understand that it is all make believe and fantasy, but what about younger minds who obtain these images without explanation or reasoning as to why someone would do this. Suicide is a real crisis and it does effect small children when played out as simple "entertainment".I have worked with children who suffer from various mental illnesses and seen the toll suicide takes on them when it's someone they knew or loved who decided to call it quits on life.
Imagine now how this would feel to see it played out in a Disney attraction as a dark joke.

You are not wrong for bringing this up. There are those of us as mothers who feel the same way, though sadly are not getting enough support from the other gender as parents on this issue. I love the haunted mansion ride, but the theme of suicide is never a joke or tool to be used for a family based theme park experience.

How many kids have killed themselves after going on HM?

Maybe focus on something actually important, like guns.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Everyone should feel completely comfortable in the magic kingdom.

Except that's quite literally impossible. I'm a Catholic and I don't meat on Fridays during Lent. Do I throw a temper tantrum when I see Disney serving steaks and hamburgers? No, I do not. I just eat somewhere else.

This sums it up very nicely. Disney World is a place to escape the real world and be reminded you can do anything you set your mind to and be what you want if you work hard for it. Those arguing that this hanging scene is nothing more than harmless fun should ask themselves, how would they feel if their young child lost a family member or close friend to the terrible act of suicide, and then saw this scene unfold while at Disney only recently after the harrowing fact?

What if somebody died in a train accident? What if somebody died in a limousine? What if somebody died in a boating accident? What if somebody died choking on a hot dog? What if somebody was killed in a war launched by any of our recent presidents? What if somebody died from gun violence?

#BanAllTheThings

 

[Lisamarie]

I'm gonna get slammed for this, but I was reading the Katiebug thread and we got discussing an old thread about how the OP thought the Haunted Mansion is too scary for children. Well, there is one scene in particular that kind of bothers me, and that is when we see that The Ghost Host has hung himself. Look, I completely understand that that scene sets the story for the Ghost Host, but isn't there any other way that we could address how he became the Ghost Host? I'm not trying to stir up another redhead auction debate, but there are 44,965 suicides each year according to afsp.org. As someone who has struggled with mental health issues, I don't particularly like this scene, although it doesn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the ride. In fact, Haunted Mansion is one of my favorite dark rides. My question is this- what do you think should happen to this scene, if anything at all? I know that personally, I would want him to still somehow become the Ghost Host in a way that makes sense and pays homage to the history of the attraction. Discuss.

It's a haunted..."dark"...ride...don't put yourself on it if you can't handle the evil side...I used to love it but as I get older I get an uneasy feeling on it...I guess I am more aware and know some of it is just wrong....

 

[CaptainAmerica]

How many kids have killed themselves after going on HM?

Maybe focus on something actually important, like guns.

How many kids have shot themselves after playing the Frontierland Shootin' Arcade? I'm guessing the same number that have hanged themselves after riding Haunted Mansion.

By the way, there are 45,000 annual suicides in the United States. About 10,000 homicides by gun.

 

[PiXie Mom]

Except that's quite literally impossible. I'm a Catholic and I don't meat on Fridays during Lent. Do I throw a temper tantrum when I see Disney serving steaks and hamburgers? No, I do not. I just eat somewhere else.


What if somebody died in a train accident? What if somebody died in a limousine? What if somebody died in a boating accident? What if somebody died choking on a hot dog? What if somebody was killed in a war launched by any of our recent presidents? What if somebody died from gun violence?

#BanAllTheThings

I should hope you are adult enough to know there is a big difference between everything you just mentioned, and the tragedy of children who struggle with thoughts of suicide, or have lost someone they knew because of it.

 

[Hcalvert]

Anyone who uses the words "mansplaining," "problematic," or "microagression" unironically is not worth having a serious conversation with. Not to mention the fact that you have a gender-neutral username and a gender-neutral avatar so the fact that you're apparently a woman is something that I cannot possibly have known and therefore completely ancillary to the conversation we're having. I think your point was stupid. Not because you're a woman and I'm a man, but because it was stupid.

Sorry, but I cannot fathom your viewpoint on women enjoying being sold into slavery as a prostitute. Call me stupid all you want. I have self-esteem and no one is going to make me feel bad about myself or my views, especially someone who hides behind a fake name and avatar. Do you feel better trying to make someone feel stupid or do you just like trying to put me in my place?

 

[wdwmagic]

I think this topic has ran its course now, if you want to discuss this more, please start a new topic in the Social/Political section.