The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[Hakunamatata]

It's a cash grab by a 3rd party designer. Good for them if they get suckers to buy it.
I'll just use this and refuse to give in to the man.

So cash grabs by non Disney companies = good. Cash grabs by Disney = revolting pimple oozing greed.?

 

[sshindel]

Here is a bag crazy thought. Get to know your employees. Hire and retain people that are good managers and give them career paths at that level. People managers are positions you fill with people you trust and do more than just organize the schedule. Then you employer those people, and back them up with specialists they can consult with.

Actually know your employees and don't treat them like worker ants and you will have a far better shot at weeding out undesirables.

I sort of get where you are coming from here, but how far can this really go? I mean, I could be into the weirdest, kinkiest, legal/illegal stuff and my employer would be none-the-wiser. My (former, just started a new job) manager was a good friend, and knew me as well as anyone, and I could easily still keep a secret from him if I wanted to. For a less-dirty example, my job-search that allowed me to get the new job. I certainly didn't let anyone know about that until I was ready to do so.
Sure, there is a certain extent that you might be able to catch some of the dumber set of online predators by getting to know them and hoping they slip up, but as many of these child-sex scandals have shown in the past, if someone wants to keep a dark secret, they are likely going to be able to do so until it is too late.

 

[flynnibus]

This whole thing would be different if the CMs were caught using WDW to advance thier sic agenda but even CNN didn't go there.

There was just recently (last 12m or so) the phone agent who used his position to try to convince a mother to stay in a room arranged by him so he could meet her. That kind of stuff does happen and that is using their wdw position to try to exploit customers

 

[FigmentFreak]

It's a cash grab by a 3rd party designer. Good for them if they get suckers to buy it.
I'll just use this and refuse to give in to the man.

I just keep my receipts and tally at the end of each day so I don't overspend

 

[The Mom]

But here's the problem: Highlighting the theme parks as a potential "danger zone" isn't an actual representation of the facts. According to the Child Molestation Research and Prevention Institute, here are the people that pose the most risk to your child:

Which Children Do Child Molesters Target?


CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY

Biological Child

19%

Stepchild, Adopted or Foster Child

30%

Brothers & Sisters

12%

Nieces & Nephews

18%

Grandchild

5%

CHILDREN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Child Left in My Care

5%

Child of Friend or Neighbor

40%

CHILDREN WHO ARE STRANGERS

Child Strangers

10%


So "strangers" -- be they on the internet, in a theme park, or someone who snatches your child as they cross a parking lot -- comprise only 10% of the people likely to molest your child. The fact is, your child is far more likely to be safe from sexual predators if you take them with you to WDW than if you leave them at home with a "trusted" friend or relative.

I agree with all of the above. But it is easier to think that a stranger would do such a horrible thing to your child, rather than someone you trust, or may even love.

Posters are not angry about CNN airing the story, per se. It is a problem in our society that should not be swept under the rug, as in years past. Posters are just disappointed that the Disney name was used to attract attention - the CNN story did not mention that theses stings have been taking place statewide all over Florida, and many people who have much closer personal contact with children have been arrested. People who have access to the same children, for weeks and months at a time. Not a theme park employee who may, at most, see a child for a few days at a time.

And no where in the story (or even in comments here, although I might have missed it) did anyone bring up the role internet providers play in all this. The common denominator in almost all of these cases is the internet! These predators have free reign in cyberspace, and many parents forget that a computer is an open door to the whole world - including perverts and criminals. Too many minors have too much privacy when it comes to computer usage.

I consider internet providers as having more complicity than WDW, US, SW, etc. But no one wants to address the elephant in the room. Because, as with everything else associated with this problem, there is no simple solution.

 

[SosoDude]

As I sit in my truck, eating my lunch, and listening to a state wide talk radio show, the topic of "Disney World employees busted in pedophile sting" comes up. In the 10 minutes it was discussed, Disney was mentioned several times. Sea World was brought up once, and no mention of Universal. I live in south Mississippi and thought it was weird that this topic was even being discussed when this particular show usually focuses on politics. Guess "everyday people" want to talk about this too.

 

[Hakunamatata]

There was just recently (last 12m or so) the phone agent who used his position to try to convince a mother to stay in a room arranged by him so he could meet her. That kind of stuff does happen and that is using their wdw position to try to exploit customers

So what your saying is I shouldn't use my job as a supermodel to hook up with women.

 

[Lord_Vader]

I just keep my receipts and tally at the end of each day so I don't overspend

I use iExpense. Free app that lets me quickly and easily categorize our spend on vacation and by account type whether it be MB/Room charge, cash, credit card or debit card. I can quickly and easily track everything and get a handy pdf report out of it at the end.

 

[flynnibus]

I sort of get where you are coming from here, but how far can this really go? I mean, I could be into the weirdest, kinkiest, legal/illegal stuff and my employer would be none-the-wiser. My (former, just started a new job) manager was a good friend, and knew me as well as anyone, and I could easily still keep a secret from him if I wanted to. For a less-dirty example, my job-search that allowed me to get the new job. I certainly didn't let anyone know about that until I was ready to do so.
Sure, there is a certain extent that you might be able to catch some of the dumber set of online predators by getting to know them and hoping they slip up, but as many of these child-sex scandals have shown in the past, if someone wants to keep a dark secret, they are likely going to be able to do so until it is too late.

Criminals as a whole tend to make mistakes. They take people into confidence they shouldn't, etc

The point is you are going to know far more about your enployees and gain insight through human interactions than you can never get from background checks or resumes.

The difference between tight knit well performing teams and bad ones is not 'better background checks or more of them'

 

[seascape]

The only question should be was any child abused on Disney Property. The answer is no. Disney is not and cannot be responsible for what employees do on their own time. Disney should try to make sure they don't higher sexual predators and they do. 35 in 6 years with an average of 67,000 employees is not a record to be ashamed of and how many of the 35 still work at Disney 0. Also with union contracts they can't just fire people immediately they suspend them and wait for the legal system to work.

Now if anyone were attacked on property Disney would have some responsibility but it did not happen their. Can every other park make the same claim? This is not a case of which park is safer because there is crime everywhere. You are as likely to be pick picketed is any of the parks. A better news story is where children are unsafe and I doubt theme parks are anywhere near the top. What about a public beach? The issue of predators is serious but discussing it here on a theme park board is dumb. There are many more appropriate places that will deal with the real problem. And remember that the only case we know about of abuse taking place at a theme park in Orlando was at Universal and so this should not be a story against Disney which some here are trying to make it. And just for the record we should not hold universal responsible for something that happened years ago nor for former employees acts on their own time. Disney and Universal are being attacked because of this story which does not fix or even address the real issue of sexual predators. I take it seriously and was involved in pushing for Megan's Law.

 

[Mike S]

Can anyone sum up the last 5 pages? I decided to actually get some sleep last night, big mistake

 

[Phil12]

Yeah, he can.

But, like other his other claims, there is no outside and independent verification. It's really just a matter of blind trust.

 

[stevehousse]

Can anyone sum up the last 5 pages? I decided to actually get some sleep last night, big mistake

Absolutely nothing more than more cnn story babble...

 

[Cody5242]

I wasn't that excited when Disneu announced Big Hero 6, but after seeing the trailer today it looks like it has a lot of potential. The animation looks fantastic

 

[PhotoDave219]

Are we done with this topic yet? I feel I need to go watch something wholesome just to cleanse myself.

 

[TeriofTerror]

I agree with all of the above. But it is easier to think that a stranger would do such a horrible thing to your child, rather than someone you trust, or may even love.

Posters are not angry about CNN airing the story, per se. It is a problem in our society that should not be swept under the rug, as in years past. Posters are just disappointed that the Disney name was used to attract attention - the CNN story did not mention that theses stings have been taking place statewide all over Florida, and many people who have much closer personal contact with children have been arrested. People who have access to the same children, for weeks and months at a time. Not a theme park employee who may, at most, see a child for a few days at a time.

And no where in the story (or even in comments here, although I might have missed it) did anyone bring up the role internet providers play in all this. The common denominator in almost all of these cases is the internet! These predators have free reign in cyberspace, and many parents forget that a computer is an open door to the whole world - including perverts and criminals. Too many minors have too much privacy when it comes to computer usage.

I consider internet providers as having more complicity than WDW, US, SW, etc. But no one wants to address the elephant in the room. Because, as with everything else associated with this problem, there is no simple solution.

Yes, this! I think the conversation can indeed now stop, because you've summed up the situation beautifully.

 

[WildcatDen]

Oh yeah? Well I bless the rains down in Africa…

On a side note, just heard Beck's, "Loser" on Pandora. Pretty much on target for the current topic. Meaning the people who do this are losers.

Here's hoping Disney, Uni, and SW (see I did not put UNI and SW in parenthesis) combat this by promoting policies hopefully already in place and if not, soon will be!

 

[Hakunamatata]

Can anyone sum up the last 5 pages? I decided to actually get some sleep last night, big mistake

Some people are bad. Hmmmmkay?

 

[JenniferS]

What is that? A sponge? Can it do the maths?

It's a fancy pin cushion.

 

[Lee]

But, like other his other claims, there is no outside and independent verification. It's really just a matter of blind trust.

My trust isn't blind. It's quite well informed.