Pocket knives at the parks

[slappy magoo]

Me, I grow rather tired of using my teeth to remove merchandise tags.. or trying to open that stubborn bag.. or needing to cut that string from my clothing... etc etc etc.

I use my car key. One swift zip, it's as good as a knife to take merch tags off.

Or you could ask the clerks to cut it off with security approved staff scissors.

Or you could wait until you get back in your room. But if you can't, car key.

After all, people used to leave kids with car keys all the time, and they rarely stabbed themselves to death with them. You know. Back in the day. Not like now.

 

[GeneralZod]

Utility, of course. But, as I have been saying all day, that doesn't matter. It's usefulness at WDW is far exceeded by it's perceived danger. That's all that matters here.

I get what you are saying. I didn't realize before that people were so afraid of pocket knives and perceived them as dangerous. I think we sometimes get too wrapped up in perception. I much more afraid of my kiddo getting lost or taken, fastpas+, and stollers hitting the back of my ankles than I am with some that carries around a multi-tool.

 

[GeneralZod]

I use my car key. One swift zip, it's as good as a knife to take merch tags off.

Or you could ask the clerks to cut it off with security approved staff scissors.

Or you could wait until you get back in your room. But if you can't, car key.

After all, people used to leave kids with car keys all the time, and they rarely stabbed themselves to death with them. You know. Back in the day. Not like now.

My key is a fob only. Besides, I would never take my key into a park. I could drop it and some kid could get in my car and accidentally drive over someone!! Just kidding, don't take offense.

 

[slappy magoo]

I get what you are saying. I didn't realize before that people were so afraid of pocket knives and perceived them as dangerous. I think we sometimes get too wrapped up in perception. I much more afraid of my kiddo getting lost or taken, fastpas+, and stollers hitting the back of my ankles than I am with some that carries around a multi-tool.

And while it stinks to always be in "won't someone puh-LEEZE think of the children" mode, my worry when it comes to someone carrying around a pocketknife in a place like WDW is not that they're a lunatic looking for a reason to take a swipe (but hey, it IS Florida after all), but that it's one more dangerous thing to keep your mind on on a day filled with all sorts of perception overloads. You're taking in all the sights and sounds, the smells, you might be focused on your little ones, you might be avoiding other people's little ones, it's hot and humid, you get tired because you did EMH until after midnight the night before, you're distracted and either someone picks your pocket or it falls out and you don't know - after all, on any given day at WDW you'll find people trying to retrace their steps because they lost a wallet or a cell phone or a pair of sunglasses...people forget where they put their strollers, then when they find the stroller they can't remember where the kid is. Normally responsible, thoughtful human beings momentarily distracted by outside forces. Like the aforementioned people who dropped a gun while riding IASW and it was found by someone else before the gun owner ever knew. Crap happens, so why not minimize the potential for other crap to happen once crap happens.

 

[GeneralZod]

And while it stinks to always be in "won't someone puh-LEEZE think of the children" mode, my worry when it comes to someone carrying around a pocketknife in a place like WDW is not that they're a lunatic looking for a reason to take a swipe (but hey, it IS Florida after all), but that it's one more dangerous thing to keep your mind on on a day filled with all sorts of perception overloads. You're taking in all the sights and sounds, the smells, you might be focused on your little ones, you might be avoiding other people's little ones, it's hot and humid, you get tired because you did EMH until after midnight the night before, you're distracted and either someone picks your pocket or it falls out and you don't know - after all, on any given day at WDW you'll find people trying to retrace their steps because they lost a wallet or a cell phone or a pair of sunglasses...people forget where they put their strollers, then when they find the stroller they can't remember where the kid is. Normally responsible, thoughtful human beings momentarily distracted by outside forces. Like the aforementioned people who dropped a gun while riding IASW and it was found by someone else before the gun owner ever knew. Crap happens, so why not minimize the potential for other crap to happen once crap happens.

Now THAT is an ernest and thought-provoking discussion point!

 

[IWantMyMagicBand]

http://disneyparksmomspanel.disney.go.com/questions.aspx?pgm=2&pid=43&cid=103&qid=24826

And let's look at this another way:
Guns/knives etc are not commonplace in our home (and country). Because of this I let them play with guns (cowboys) and knives (brave knights). Our toy guns look quite realistic. If my child picks up a gun left on IASW because someone didn't follow rules (because hey, I do this all time and it's safe because I'm safe) and accidentally drops it you can bet the person close by will be shot by my kid.
So, I should actually teach my child about knives and guns, and not them play with them, on the off chance that a dodgy security guard lets through a guy who he has never met before but surmises to be safe when he actually accidentally leaves his weapon (because that is what it is classed as in WDW) on IASW or by the sink in the toilet or on the table after he has cut little johnnie's apple (in the case of a 3" blade). No, just follow the rules and leave them at home!

 

[draybook]

So some of us fear anything that can cause harm and some of us don't. That about sums it up I think.

 

[slappy magoo]

So some of us fear anything that can cause harm and some of us don't. That about sums it up I think.

No, some of us are also wary of people who can be so cavalier of the things that can cause us harm, because they're usually the idiots who wind up leaving guns and knives accessible to others.

 

[xdan0920]

So some of us fear anything that can cause harm and some of us don't. That about sums it up I think.

Pretty much.

WDW is in the business of guest satisfaction. A happy guest, who is having fun, and feeling safe, is a repeat guest. If the average guest doesn't feel safe and comfortable with folks carrying around knives(and I believe the average guest doesn't) then WDW shouldn't be allowing knives inside the park. Simple as that.

 

[fillerup]

I think the knife crowd should just agree that the anti-knife people are neurotic whiners. Then the anti-knife crowd can agree that the knife people are potentially psychotic killers. And both groups can agree to sneer derisively at the rat-poison people.

 

[draybook]

No, some of us are also wary of people who can be so cavalier of the things that can cause us harm, because they're usually the idiots who wind up leaving guns and knives accessible to others.

Because all criminals lay in wait, waiting for the perfect weapon to be dropped or left behind......



From WDW's website:

You may not bring the following types of items into the theme parks:

• Weapons of any kind

And then we have this:

In L.B. v. State, 700 So. 2d 370, 373 (Fla. 1997), the Florida Supreme Court found that a knife with a "3 3/4-inch blade" constituted a "common pocketknife"...

...In 1951, the Attorney General of Florida opined that a pocketknife with a blade of four inches in length or less was a 'common pocketknife'."


So, going by Florida's laws, it's not a weapon when under 4 inches in length. Does Disney have the right to deny it? Sure, but just saying "weapons" is vague and open to interpretation.

 

[draybook]

Pretty much.

WDW is in the business of guest satisfaction. A happy guest, who is having fun, and feeling safe, is a repeat guest. If the average guest doesn't feel safe and comfortable with folks carrying around knives(and I believe the average guest doesn't) then WDW shouldn't be allowing knives inside the park. Simple as that.

Yeah, we're repeat guests and the last thing on my mind is whether that dude over there is carrying a massive 3 inch blade in his waistband. I've been hurt more by strollers than I have knives of any kind. Can we have those classified as weapons?

 

[xdan0920]

Yeah, we're repeat guests and the last thing on my mind is whether that dude over there is carrying a massive 3 inch blade in his waistband. I've been hurt more by strollers than I have knives of any kind. Can we have those classified as weapons?

You are a singular guest. I am speaking to the majority. And like I said to @flynnibus, maybe I am wrong, and most guests don't care about folks running around with knives, but I don't think I am. The usefulness of a knife in a theme park is so low compared to it's perceived danger. There is no reason to allow them.

Anyways, I think I am bowing out of this conversation, I have made my point, and I don't think repeating it 10 more times is likely to change anyones minds.

 

[slappy magoo]

Because all criminals lay in wait, waiting for the perfect weapon to be dropped or left behind......

Not criminals per se. Could be a small kid, with no judgment on what is or isn't dangerous, what i or isn't a toy. Could be someone with mental illness like schizophrenia. Could be someone who's had a few at Be Our Guest and whose judgment is now impaired when it comes to handling something that could hurt a body. So, no not just a criminal. Sorry that had to be spelled out, I assumed people here would be smart enough to get it. Once again, I find out what happens when I assume. Won't do that again when it comes to the intelligence level of others, thank you for reminding me of that valuable lesson.

From WDW's website:

You may not bring the following types of items into the theme parks:

• Weapons of any kind

And then we have this:

In L.B. v. State, 700 So. 2d 370, 373 (Fla. 1997), the Florida Supreme Court found that a knife with a "3 3/4-inch blade" constituted a "common pocketknife"...

...In 1951, the Attorney General of Florida opined that a pocketknife with a blade of four inches in length or less was a 'common pocketknife'."


So, going by Florida's laws, it's not a weapon when under 4 inches in length. Does Disney have the right to deny it? Sure, but just saying "weapons" is vague and open to interpretation.

So let WDW interpret it, and respect their rules on their property, which is what this is all about. And if anyone doesn't want to respect their rules, that's fine, just don't visit their property and all is hunky dory.

 

[slappy magoo]

You are a singular guest. I am speaking to the majority. And like I said to @flynnibus, maybe I am wrong, and most guests don't care about folks running around with knives, but I don't think I am. The usefulness of a knife in a theme park is so low compared to it's perceived danger. There is no reason to allow them.

Anyways, I think I am bowing out of this conversation, I have made my point, and I don't think repeating it 10 more times is likely to change anyones minds.

But it's the 11th time, that's always the charm.

 

[draybook]

You are a singular guest. I am speaking to the majority. And like I said to @flynnibus, maybe I am wrong, and most guests don't care about folks running around with knives, but I don't think I am. The usefulness of a knife in a theme park is so low compared to it's perceived danger. There is no reason to allow them.

Anyways, I think I am bowing out of this conversation, I have made my point, and I don't think repeating it 10 more times is likely to change anyones minds.

Except that I've proven that by Florida law it is NOT a weapon. And I doubt that the majority of guests are concerned with who has what. I'd bet my paycheck on it.

However, please don't get what I'm saying mixed up, each person has their own opinion on the subject and that's fantastic. I'm simply arguing this from the logical standpoint now.

 

[PigletIsMyCat]

i lost interest around page 7. bottom line? disney is private property. if they say 'no weapons, including teensy swiss army knives' then i leave my teensy swiss army knife in the hotel room. i find it entertaining how quickly this delved into personal freedoms/rights vs. rules vs. 'think of the children' vs. people are psychotic vs. i like kittens.

no really, i do like kittens.

 

[thomas998]

And while it stinks to always be in "won't someone puh-LEEZE think of the children" mode, my worry when it comes to someone carrying around a pocketknife in a place like WDW is not that they're a lunatic looking for a reason to take a swipe (but hey, it IS Florida after all), but that it's one more dangerous thing to keep your mind on on a day filled with all sorts of perception overloads. ...

I think if I was going to worry about things to the point that a pocket knife even got onto my list I would have spend more time listing things than I would spend in an entire trip. I think pocket knives fall somewhere around the same level of concern I have for old soviet space junk re-entering the atmosphere and plunking me on the head. If someone is honestly worrying about pocket knives while at Disney they should probably find the local mental institution and check themselves into a rubber room for observation because they have some serious mental problems that need fixing before they bother going to an amusement park.

 

[draybook]

Not criminals per se. Could be a small kid, with no judgment on what is or isn't dangerous, what i or isn't a toy. Could be someone with mental illness like schizophrenia. Could be someone who's had a few at Be Our Guest and whose judgment is now impaired when it comes to handling something that could hurt a body. So, no not just a criminal. Sorry that had to be spelled out, I assumed people here would be smart enough to get it. Once again, I find out what happens when I assume. Won't do that again when it comes to the intelligence level of others, thank you for reminding me of that valuable lesson.



So let WDW interpret it, and respect their rules on their property, which is what this is all about. And if anyone doesn't want to respect their rules, that's fine, just don't visit their property and all is hunky dory.

Again, what constitutes a weapon then? They aren't interpreting anything, they're leaving it vague.

 

[thomas998]

i lost interest around page 7. bottom line? disney is private property. if they say 'no weapons, including teensy swiss army knives' then i leave my teensy swiss army knife in the hotel room. i find it entertaining how quickly this delved into personal freedoms/rights vs. rules vs. 'think of the children' vs. people are psychotic vs. i like kittens.

no really, i do like kittens.

I like juggling kittens...