It's safe to assume these tourists didn't know that gators are everywhere. If they did, they probably wouldn't have been where they were.
I'm not blaming Disney or the parent, this was a horrible accident.
As I said before though, I can't understand how in a society as litigious as our own, that Disney wouldn't be more cautious. People who are familiar with Florida know gators are everywhere (this includes the people who run Disney)
People who are unfamiliar with Florida may not know how common alligators are. Was the father foolish / stupid to ignore the signs that said no swimming? Absolutely he was, but it's also not that crazy to see how someone might think they are safe from man eating predators on a resort that caters to children. ESPECIALLY if they aren't familiar with the local wildlife which these people clearly weren't.
My heart's broken for these parents who have to try to move on with their lives. It won't be any easier for them in this ridiculously judgemental society where everyone's an expert after the fact.
agreed....I'm surprised that Disney wasn't more proactive but I guess a "Beware of Alligator" sign might not bring the good wholesome vision of the perfect family vacation?
A "No swimming" sign certainly isn't going to protect them from liability.
Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018) The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago 2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy 2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE) 2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston 2020: Oakland, Oakland:2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana 2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville 2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana
just some context here ... alligators don't usually attack humans ... the fact this kid was small, wading in water around dusk definitely contributed to this tragedy ... but alligators aren't like salt water crocodiles ... they generally eat smaller things ... obviously, they are still a major risk especially with kids and pets ...
So they trapped at least 5 gators before finding the boy ... I think that stands to reason Disney should have been aware of the potential danger. I'm surprised their risk management team let this fester.
The didn't just trap them. They killed them (or at least that's what they said on the morning news today... they called it "euthanized"... I guess they don't know the meaning of that word).
as sad as this situation made me, am I an unfeeling asshole for feeling bad that they killed 5 other gators just to find remains? was that really necessary?
Would you let your toddler go into a natural body of water at night? By themselves? Then add no swimming signs and it's FLORIDA that have Gators. Tourists know there are gators everywhere. The parents fked up. Not Disney.
Natural selection
never in a million years would I assume gators would be at a body of water in the back yard of a disney resort. he wasn't swimming, either. he had his feet in the water. I see "no swimming" signs all over the place for a variety of reasons, doesn't mean it's fucking dangerous to put your feet in.
natural selection? that's cold, man. not to mention it doesn't even make sense. the boy didn't die because of any poor decision making on his part.
So they trapped at least 5 gators before finding the boy ... I think that stands to reason Disney should have been aware of the potential danger. I'm surprised their risk management team let this fester.
The didn't just trap them. They killed them (or at least that's what they said on the morning news today... they called it "euthanized"... I guess they don't know the meaning of that word).
as sad as this situation made me, am I an unfeeling asshole for feeling bad that they killed 5 other gators just to find remains? was that really necessary?
Hugh...
I'm a little confused by this post. Are you saying you think finding the remains was important, or that the gator's lives were more important?
So they trapped at least 5 gators before finding the boy ... I think that stands to reason Disney should have been aware of the potential danger. I'm surprised their risk management team let this fester.
The didn't just trap them. They killed them (or at least that's what they said on the morning news today... they called it "euthanized"... I guess they don't know the meaning of that word).
as sad as this situation made me, am I an unfeeling asshole for feeling bad that they killed 5 other gators just to find remains? was that really necessary?
Hugh...
I'm a little confused by this post. Are you saying you think finding the remains was important, or that the gator's lives were more important?
I'm conflicted. Of course finding the boy's remains was important, but it bothers me that we just slaughter other animals for our own needs, whatever those needs may be.
So they trapped at least 5 gators before finding the boy ... I think that stands to reason Disney should have been aware of the potential danger. I'm surprised their risk management team let this fester.
The didn't just trap them. They killed them (or at least that's what they said on the morning news today... they called it "euthanized"... I guess they don't know the meaning of that word).
as sad as this situation made me, am I an unfeeling asshole for feeling bad that they killed 5 other gators just to find remains? was that really necessary?
Hugh...
I'm a little confused by this post. Are you saying you think finding the remains was important, or that the gator's lives were more important?
I'm conflicted. Of course finding the boy's remains was important, but it bothers me that we just slaughter other animals for our own needs, whatever those needs may be.
it's sad on both fronts.
I understand this slaughter more than I'd ever understand killing gators for purses or shoes.
This is one situation that no matter how distasteful, it needs to be done.
And the more I think about it, the more I feel this family was killed into a false sense of security. You are right... the sign reading 'no swimming' did not suggest 'no dipping your toes'. I understand it's Florida, but a family from Nebraska can hardly anticipate a gator leaping from submersion and snatching their toddler.
So they trapped at least 5 gators before finding the boy ... I think that stands to reason Disney should have been aware of the potential danger. I'm surprised their risk management team let this fester.
The didn't just trap them. They killed them (or at least that's what they said on the morning news today... they called it "euthanized"... I guess they don't know the meaning of that word).
as sad as this situation made me, am I an unfeeling asshole for feeling bad that they killed 5 other gators just to find remains? was that really necessary?
Hugh...
I'm a little confused by this post. Are you saying you think finding the remains was important, or that the gator's lives were more important?
I'm conflicted. Of course finding the boy's remains was important, but it bothers me that we just slaughter other animals for our own needs, whatever those needs may be.
it's sad on both fronts.
For one, the Alligator who may have eaten a child would need to be found, because if that happened, it may happen again. Plus, for the family.
Second, there are reports that people have been feeding Alligators. This incident was likely a product of that.
Its like on the news when you see a Bear raiding a campsite or town. Its all cute and funny, then sucks when you find out that authorities put the bear down. Bears get accustomed to go somewhere/comfortable where people live and experience obtaining (delicious) food there... they will return. Same thing here.
Of course they killed 5 gators or whatever the numbers ... That's what humans do better than all other species on earth. And yes this is a nightmare for that family, of epic proportions obviously. But I've been to Florida I've seen gators on every visit. These parents should have known not to enter a lagoon at dusk in Florida...a tiny Google research would have helped. My parents (the least protective parents of all time) would take our family to north west Ontario camping and we weren't allowed to go the bathroom alone for fear of bears and both parents knew what to do if bears were around. Yes better signage would have helped, a little common sense helps as well.
Not everyone knows about the gator issue. Many people don't know a lot about a lot. I don't think it's fair to blame the parents. I don't think it was willful ignorance. Most people in the world actually DON'T know about alligators, what their usual habitat is, or what their feeding schedule is. That isn't common knowledge for most people who don't live anywhere near alligators, and Disneyworld hardly seems like a place where people would be assuming that there is extreme danger when it comes to wildlife. That kind of caution is generally reserved for the jungle and shit like that for average, urbanized Americans. It's not like there are travel warnings highlighted when people book tix to Florida. Yes, if there is a pond loaded with alligators at a resort, there should be "danger: alligators" signs all over the place, with pictures of alligators attacking people, not just "no swimming" signs.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Of course they killed 5 gators or whatever the numbers ... That's what humans do better than all other species on earth. And yes this is a nightmare for that family, of epic proportions obviously. But I've been to Florida I've seen gators on every visit. These parents should have known not to enter a lagoon at dusk in Florida...a tiny Google research would have helped. My parents (the least protective parents of all time) would take our family to north west Ontario camping and we weren't allowed to go the bathroom alone for fear of bears and both parents knew what to do if bears were around. Yes better signage would have helped, a little common sense helps as well.
Not everyone knows about the gator issue. Many people don't know a lot about a lot. I don't think it's fair to blame the parents. I don't think it was willful ignorance. Most people in the world actually DON'T know about alligators, what their usual habitat is, or what their feeding schedule is. That isn't common knowledge for most people who don't live anywhere near alligators, and Disneyworld hardly seems like a place where people would be assuming that there is extreme danger when it comes to wildlife. That kind of caution is generally reserved for the jungle and shit like that for average, urbanized Americans. It's not like there are travel warnings highlighted when people book tix to Florida. Yes, if there is a pond loaded with alligators at a resort, there should be "danger: alligators" signs all over the place, with pictures of alligators attacking people, not just "no swimming" signs.
thing is ... you will find gators all over the south ... in lots of bodies of water and there typically aren't signs ...
did the gator drown the boy and then leave it? anyone know?
Of course they killed 5 gators or whatever the numbers ... That's what humans do better than all other species on earth. And yes this is a nightmare for that family, of epic proportions obviously. But I've been to Florida I've seen gators on every visit. These parents should have known not to enter a lagoon at dusk in Florida...a tiny Google research would have helped. My parents (the least protective parents of all time) would take our family to north west Ontario camping and we weren't allowed to go the bathroom alone for fear of bears and both parents knew what to do if bears were around. Yes better signage would have helped, a little common sense helps as well.
Not everyone knows about the gator issue. Many people don't know a lot about a lot. I don't think it's fair to blame the parents. I don't think it was willful ignorance. Most people in the world actually DON'T know about alligators, what their usual habitat is, or what their feeding schedule is. That isn't common knowledge for most people who don't live anywhere near alligators, and Disneyworld hardly seems like a place where people would be assuming that there is extreme danger when it comes to wildlife. That kind of caution is generally reserved for the jungle and shit like that for average, urbanized Americans. It's not like there are travel warnings highlighted when people book tix to Florida. Yes, if there is a pond loaded with alligators at a resort, there should be "danger: alligators" signs all over the place, with pictures of alligators attacking people, not just "no swimming" signs.
thing is ... you will find gators all over the south ... in lots of bodies of water and there typically aren't signs ...
did the gator drown the boy and then leave it? anyone know?
But we're talking about a Disney resort. That's totally different.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Of course they killed 5 gators or whatever the numbers ... That's what humans do better than all other species on earth. And yes this is a nightmare for that family, of epic proportions obviously. But I've been to Florida I've seen gators on every visit. These parents should have known not to enter a lagoon at dusk in Florida...a tiny Google research would have helped. My parents (the least protective parents of all time) would take our family to north west Ontario camping and we weren't allowed to go the bathroom alone for fear of bears and both parents knew what to do if bears were around. Yes better signage would have helped, a little common sense helps as well.
Not everyone knows about the gator issue. Many people don't know a lot about a lot. I don't think it's fair to blame the parents. I don't think it was willful ignorance. Most people in the world actually DON'T know about alligators, what their usual habitat is, or what their feeding schedule is. That isn't common knowledge for most people who don't live anywhere near alligators, and Disneyworld hardly seems like a place where people would be assuming that there is extreme danger when it comes to wildlife. That kind of caution is generally reserved for the jungle and shit like that for average, urbanized Americans. It's not like there are travel warnings highlighted when people book tix to Florida. Yes, if there is a pond loaded with alligators at a resort, there should be "danger: alligators" signs all over the place, with pictures of alligators attacking people, not just "no swimming" signs.
thing is ... you will find gators all over the south ... in lots of bodies of water and there typically aren't signs ...
did the gator drown the boy and then leave it? anyone know?
Sounds like that's what happened. They said the boy only had a few puncture marks, which probably didn't kill him. Otherwise, he was intact.
"I'll use the magic word - let's just shut the fuck up, please." EV, 04/13/08
Of course they killed 5 gators or whatever the numbers ... That's what humans do better than all other species on earth. And yes this is a nightmare for that family, of epic proportions obviously. But I've been to Florida I've seen gators on every visit. These parents should have known not to enter a lagoon at dusk in Florida...a tiny Google research would have helped. My parents (the least protective parents of all time) would take our family to north west Ontario camping and we weren't allowed to go the bathroom alone for fear of bears and both parents knew what to do if bears were around. Yes better signage would have helped, a little common sense helps as well.
Not everyone knows about the gator issue. Many people don't know a lot about a lot. I don't think it's fair to blame the parents. I don't think it was willful ignorance. Most people in the world actually DON'T know about alligators, what their usual habitat is, or what their feeding schedule is. That isn't common knowledge for most people who don't live anywhere near alligators, and Disneyworld hardly seems like a place where people would be assuming that there is extreme danger when it comes to wildlife. That kind of caution is generally reserved for the jungle and shit like that for average, urbanized Americans. It's not like there are travel warnings highlighted when people book tix to Florida. Yes, if there is a pond loaded with alligators at a resort, there should be "danger: alligators" signs all over the place, with pictures of alligators attacking people, not just "no swimming" signs.
thing is ... you will find gators all over the south ... in lots of bodies of water and there typically aren't signs ...
did the gator drown the boy and then leave it? anyone know?
Sounds like that's what happened. They said the boy only had a few puncture marks, which probably didn't kill him. Otherwise, he was intact.
strange ... i wonder if the boy was too close to something and the gator thought it was a threat!?
Of course they killed 5 gators or whatever the numbers ... That's what humans do better than all other species on earth. And yes this is a nightmare for that family, of epic proportions obviously. But I've been to Florida I've seen gators on every visit. These parents should have known not to enter a lagoon at dusk in Florida...a tiny Google research would have helped. My parents (the least protective parents of all time) would take our family to north west Ontario camping and we weren't allowed to go the bathroom alone for fear of bears and both parents knew what to do if bears were around. Yes better signage would have helped, a little common sense helps as well.
Not everyone knows about the gator issue. Many people don't know a lot about a lot. I don't think it's fair to blame the parents. I don't think it was willful ignorance. Most people in the world actually DON'T know about alligators, what their usual habitat is, or what their feeding schedule is. That isn't common knowledge for most people who don't live anywhere near alligators, and Disneyworld hardly seems like a place where people would be assuming that there is extreme danger when it comes to wildlife. That kind of caution is generally reserved for the jungle and shit like that for average, urbanized Americans. It's not like there are travel warnings highlighted when people book tix to Florida. Yes, if there is a pond loaded with alligators at a resort, there should be "danger: alligators" signs all over the place, with pictures of alligators attacking people, not just "no swimming" signs.
thing is ... you will find gators all over the south ... in lots of bodies of water and there typically aren't signs ...
did the gator drown the boy and then leave it? anyone know?
But we're talking about a Disney resort. That's totally different.
i totally believe there should have been more signs ... i'm just trying to add some context to the discussion about the amount of gators in the south along with their typical behaviours ... this was a tragedy that could have been prevented with some signage and information however, it was also a freak occurrence as well ...
you don't go into lakes, ponds, canals, rivers or creeks when in florida, at least i wouldn't. if you are standing at a body of water in florida your chances of seeing a gator in that water is pretty good i'd imagine. gators get around real good down there. what keeps gators out of a resort lake? a fence? maybe for awhile. this fence had better be around the entire property & in the ground.
i am amazed that i read on here it was just after 9pm when this happened. god damn man. there are no swimming pools nearby? which by the way pools attract gators. you can't win with these bastards unless you pay attention to your surroundings. when i drove trucks i used to watch gators in this pond behind a truck stop. there was no fencing, nothing. anyone could be attacked without hesitation... wrong place at the wrong time
I would have expected them to kill as many alligators as it took until the remains were found. It took only five so not bad. Couldn't imagine knowing that your child was quite possibly eaten by an alligator in a known area easily searchable.
what a horrific thing for that family. i can't imagine living with the vision of seeing that happen, trying to stop it and not being able to. just unbearable to imagine.
people who put any blame on the parents in this care are fucking idiots in my opinion. if i was staying at a Disney resort never in a million year would i think something like what would or could happen. i mean surely other people have been close to that water's edge with babies before. it's a one in a million event.
what a horrific thing for that family. i can't imagine living with the vision of seeing that happen, trying to stop it and not being able to. just unbearable to imagine.
people who put any blame on the parents in this care are fucking idiots in my opinion. if i was staying at a Disney resort never in a million year would i think something like what would or could happen. i mean surely other people have been close to that water's edge with babies before. it's a one in a million event.
I agree. Frankly, it just seems mean spirited to lay any of this on the poor parents.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Parents, I beg of you, stop blaming and shaming other parents.
35 years ago, a mom shopping in a Sears department store went to go look at lamps, and left her six year old with another group of boys, who were all trying out the new Atari game at a kiosk. That boy’s name was Adam Walsh.
30 years ago, an 18 month old toddler playing in her aunt’s backyard fell into a well. Rescuers worked nonstop for 58 hours, finally freeing “Baby Jessica” from the well.
In both cases a tragedy happened, an unforeseen tragic accident took place which left Adam dead, and a toddler fighting for her life deep underground. But they also has something else in common; they had an entire country of moms and dads supporting the grieving parents.
Let me repeat that, EVERYONE SUPPORTED THE RESCUE EFFORTS WITHOUT BLAME. NO BLAME. None. ZERO.
No questions asked, not one single “Where were the parents?” comment. Just a country of other moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas watching in horror as a set of parents, one of their own, went through the unthinkable. Adam was our son. Jessica was our baby daughter.
THOSE PARENTS WERE US.
Flash forward to 2016, the year of THE PERFECT PARENT.
Yesterday, a two year old boy, splashing in the magical lakefront waters of a Disney Resort, succumbed to the wilds of mother nature. An aggressive alligator scooped him out of the water, right under the watch of his father, who attempted to fight with the alligator to free his baby son. Pure horror. Sheer Terror. Parents who actually had to watch their baby be taken from them, as if they were in some African nature documentary.
A tragic and unforeseeable accident. An accident.
I weep for this mother and father. I am sick with anguish for the pain, agony, misery, and regret pulsating through their viens this very second. And I bet you are too.
But not everyone is.
You see, we now live in a time where accidents are not allowed happen. You heard me. Accidents, of any form, in any way, and at any time, well, they just don’t happen anymore.
Why? Because BLAME and SHAME.
Because we have become a nation of BLAMERS and SHAMERS.
And how are accidents allowed to happen if we can’t blame someone? Surly, they can’t, right? I mean, random acts of nature, unpreventable tragedies, and fateful life changing events that take place in a matter of nanoseconds cannot possibly take place if everyone is being a responsible parent, right? NOPE.
They can’t, because this country and its population of perfect pitchfork carrying mothers and fathers sitting behind keyboards needs to accuse. They NEED TO BLAME, to disparage, to criticize in every damn way and at every damn corner, the parenting of another.
And when do they really get to lick their blaming chops? When a tragic accident happens. That’s when the pouncing is at its freshest, when raw emotion and ignorance collide, and they dig their word claws in, and take hold of whatever grace these grieving mothers and fathers have left in their souls.
And then they tear it out.
Listen to me very clearly perfect parents, VERY CLEARLY.
I’VE HAD ENOUGH.
I’ve had enough of scrolling through comment threads and seeing over and over again questions like “Where were the parents?” and thoughts like, “This is what happens when you don’t watch your kids.”
I have simply HAD ENOUGH.
I have one question for the blaming and shaming moms and dads. You know the ones who immediately blame the parents, the ones who go on the internet and type comments like, “This is nothing but neglect by the parents,” and “They should have known better. Who was watching that little boy?” and my favorite, “I would never let that happen to my kid.”
Here is my question,
Have you ever been to a child’s funeral before?
I have.
The funeral of a child is an event in life that you never, ever want to experience.
Now let me ask you another question.
In the coming week these parents will fly back to their home in Nebraska without one of their children. They will leave a vacation resort, packing up his Buzz Lightyear pajamas and his favorite blanket, and they will make an excruciatingly difficult journey home. A journey that they never in a million years thought they would be making.
They will meet with a funeral director, pick out a tiny casket, a tiny burial suit, and surrounded by family, they will bury their baby boy.
And they will suffer every single day for the rest of their life.
At the funeral for this two year boy who died in front of his parents, can you do me a favor? Can you walk up to the mother and say the words that you just typed out last week? Can you? Can you greet her, hug her, shake the father’s hand and then say, “ Who was watching that little boy? You should have known better. I would never let that happen to MY child.”
Can you do that for me? I mean, you felt those words so deeply in your heart and soul that you typed them for a million people to read. Certainly you can say it straight to the faces of the people you meant it for, right?
Here, let me help you.
Put away your pitchfork for a moment and try this.
To the mother and father who went for a walk on vacation for the last time with their little boy yesterday, I am deeply sorry that you had to experience the worst kind of tragedy possible, an accident. I grieve with you. Your baby was my baby. Your son was my son. I have nothing but love for you, love to help you get though the pain yesterday, today, and for what is gonna seem like a thousand tomorrows. I wrap my thoughts and prayers around your aching heart and soul. May the God of this universe in some miraculous way bring peace to you and your family.
That is what you say. THAT. And just THAT.
Stop the blaming.
Stop the shaming.
In their darkest hours, can we please just LOVE other parents. Please?
you don't go into lakes, ponds, canals, rivers or creeks when in florida, at least i wouldn't. if you are standing at a body of water in florida your chances of seeing a gator in that water is pretty good i'd imagine. gators get around real good down there. what keeps gators out of a resort lake? a fence? maybe for awhile. this fence had better be around the entire property & in the ground.
i am amazed that i read on here it was just after 9pm when this happened. god damn man. there are no swimming pools nearby? which by the way pools attract gators. you can't win with these bastards unless you pay attention to your surroundings. when i drove trucks i used to watch gators in this pond behind a truck stop. there was no fencing, nothing. anyone could be attacked without hesitation... wrong place at the wrong time
Yeah you are right about swimming pools here in Florida. Too many times it comes across the news of gators lying at the bottom of pools. So even there one has to check before jumping in and don't get me started on the pythons either.
Peace
*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
Parents, I beg of you, stop blaming and shaming other parents.
35 years ago, a mom shopping in a Sears department store went to go look at lamps, and left her six year old with another group of boys, who were all trying out the new Atari game at a kiosk. That boy’s name was Adam Walsh.
30 years ago, an 18 month old toddler playing in her aunt’s backyard fell into a well. Rescuers worked nonstop for 58 hours, finally freeing “Baby Jessica” from the well.
In both cases a tragedy happened, an unforeseen tragic accident took place which left Adam dead, and a toddler fighting for her life deep underground. But they also has something else in common; they had an entire country of moms and dads supporting the grieving parents.
Let me repeat that, EVERYONE SUPPORTED THE RESCUE EFFORTS WITHOUT BLAME. NO BLAME. None. ZERO.
No questions asked, not one single “Where were the parents?” comment. Just a country of other moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas watching in horror as a set of parents, one of their own, went through the unthinkable. Adam was our son. Jessica was our baby daughter.
THOSE PARENTS WERE US.
Flash forward to 2016, the year of THE PERFECT PARENT.
Yesterday, a two year old boy, splashing in the magical lakefront waters of a Disney Resort, succumbed to the wilds of mother nature. An aggressive alligator scooped him out of the water, right under the watch of his father, who attempted to fight with the alligator to free his baby son. Pure horror. Sheer Terror. Parents who actually had to watch their baby be taken from them, as if they were in some African nature documentary.
A tragic and unforeseeable accident. An accident.
I weep for this mother and father. I am sick with anguish for the pain, agony, misery, and regret pulsating through their viens this very second. And I bet you are too.
But not everyone is.
You see, we now live in a time where accidents are not allowed happen. You heard me. Accidents, of any form, in any way, and at any time, well, they just don’t happen anymore.
Why? Because BLAME and SHAME.
Because we have become a nation of BLAMERS and SHAMERS.
And how are accidents allowed to happen if we can’t blame someone? Surly, they can’t, right? I mean, random acts of nature, unpreventable tragedies, and fateful life changing events that take place in a matter of nanoseconds cannot possibly take place if everyone is being a responsible parent, right? NOPE.
They can’t, because this country and its population of perfect pitchfork carrying mothers and fathers sitting behind keyboards needs to accuse. They NEED TO BLAME, to disparage, to criticize in every damn way and at every damn corner, the parenting of another.
And when do they really get to lick their blaming chops? When a tragic accident happens. That’s when the pouncing is at its freshest, when raw emotion and ignorance collide, and they dig their word claws in, and take hold of whatever grace these grieving mothers and fathers have left in their souls.
And then they tear it out.
Listen to me very clearly perfect parents, VERY CLEARLY.
I’VE HAD ENOUGH.
I’ve had enough of scrolling through comment threads and seeing over and over again questions like “Where were the parents?” and thoughts like, “This is what happens when you don’t watch your kids.”
I have simply HAD ENOUGH.
I have one question for the blaming and shaming moms and dads. You know the ones who immediately blame the parents, the ones who go on the internet and type comments like, “This is nothing but neglect by the parents,” and “They should have known better. Who was watching that little boy?” and my favorite, “I would never let that happen to my kid.”
Here is my question,
Have you ever been to a child’s funeral before?
I have.
The funeral of a child is an event in life that you never, ever want to experience.
Now let me ask you another question.
In the coming week these parents will fly back to their home in Nebraska without one of their children. They will leave a vacation resort, packing up his Buzz Lightyear pajamas and his favorite blanket, and they will make an excruciatingly difficult journey home. A journey that they never in a million years thought they would be making.
They will meet with a funeral director, pick out a tiny casket, a tiny burial suit, and surrounded by family, they will bury their baby boy.
And they will suffer every single day for the rest of their life.
At the funeral for this two year boy who died in front of his parents, can you do me a favor? Can you walk up to the mother and say the words that you just typed out last week? Can you? Can you greet her, hug her, shake the father’s hand and then say, “ Who was watching that little boy? You should have known better. I would never let that happen to MY child.”
Can you do that for me? I mean, you felt those words so deeply in your heart and soul that you typed them for a million people to read. Certainly you can say it straight to the faces of the people you meant it for, right?
Here, let me help you.
Put away your pitchfork for a moment and try this.
To the mother and father who went for a walk on vacation for the last time with their little boy yesterday, I am deeply sorry that you had to experience the worst kind of tragedy possible, an accident. I grieve with you. Your baby was my baby. Your son was my son. I have nothing but love for you, love to help you get though the pain yesterday, today, and for what is gonna seem like a thousand tomorrows. I wrap my thoughts and prayers around your aching heart and soul. May the God of this universe in some miraculous way bring peace to you and your family.
That is what you say. THAT. And just THAT.
Stop the blaming.
Stop the shaming.
In their darkest hours, can we please just LOVE other parents. Please?
I still think the mom who lost her child in the gorilla compound is a bit of a dolt (and I expressed it excessively), but I feel horrible for these folks.
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A "No swimming" sign certainly isn't going to protect them from liability.
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natural selection? that's cold, man. not to mention it doesn't even make sense. the boy didn't die because of any poor decision making on his part.
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I'm a little confused by this post. Are you saying you think finding the remains was important, or that the gator's lives were more important?
it's sad on both fronts.
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This is one situation that no matter how distasteful, it needs to be done.
And the more I think about it, the more I feel this family was killed into a false sense of security. You are right... the sign reading 'no swimming' did not suggest 'no dipping your toes'. I understand it's Florida, but a family from Nebraska can hardly anticipate a gator leaping from submersion and snatching their toddler.
A nightmare.
Second, there are reports that people have been feeding Alligators. This incident was likely a product of that.
Its like on the news when you see a Bear raiding a campsite or town. Its all cute and funny, then sucks when you find out that authorities put the bear down. Bears get accustomed to go somewhere/comfortable where people live and experience obtaining (delicious) food there... they will return. Same thing here.
Yes, if there is a pond loaded with alligators at a resort, there should be "danger: alligators" signs all over the place, with pictures of alligators attacking people, not just "no swimming" signs.
did the gator drown the boy and then leave it? anyone know?
we will find a way, we will find our place
i am amazed that i read on here it was just after 9pm when this happened. god damn man. there are no swimming pools nearby? which by the way pools attract gators. you can't win with these bastards unless you pay attention to your surroundings. when i drove trucks i used to watch gators in this pond behind a truck stop. there was no fencing, nothing. anyone could be attacked without hesitation... wrong place at the wrong time
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This thread has been kicked up a couple notches.
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"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
It took only five so not bad.
Couldn't imagine knowing that your child was quite possibly eaten by an alligator in a known area easily searchable.
people who put any blame on the parents in this care are fucking idiots in my opinion. if i was staying at a Disney resort never in a million year would i think something like what would or could happen. i mean surely other people have been close to that water's edge with babies before. it's a one in a million event.
Parents, I beg of you, stop blaming and shaming other parents.
35 years ago, a mom shopping in a Sears department store went to go look at lamps, and left her six year old with another group of boys, who were all trying out the new Atari game at a kiosk. That boy’s name was Adam Walsh.
30 years ago, an 18 month old toddler playing in her aunt’s backyard fell into a well. Rescuers worked nonstop for 58 hours, finally freeing “Baby Jessica” from the well.
In both cases a tragedy happened, an unforeseen tragic accident took place which left Adam dead, and a toddler fighting for her life deep underground. But they also has something else in common; they had an entire country of moms and dads supporting the grieving parents.
Let me repeat that, EVERYONE SUPPORTED THE RESCUE EFFORTS WITHOUT BLAME. NO BLAME. None. ZERO.
No questions asked, not one single “Where were the parents?” comment. Just a country of other moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas watching in horror as a set of parents, one of their own, went through the unthinkable. Adam was our son. Jessica was our baby daughter.
THOSE PARENTS WERE US.
Flash forward to 2016, the year of THE PERFECT PARENT.
Yesterday, a two year old boy, splashing in the magical lakefront waters of a Disney Resort, succumbed to the wilds of mother nature. An aggressive alligator scooped him out of the water, right under the watch of his father, who attempted to fight with the alligator to free his baby son. Pure horror. Sheer Terror. Parents who actually had to watch their baby be taken from them, as if they were in some African nature documentary.
A tragic and unforeseeable accident. An accident.
I weep for this mother and father. I am sick with anguish for the pain, agony, misery, and regret pulsating through their viens this very second. And I bet you are too.
But not everyone is.
You see, we now live in a time where accidents are not allowed happen. You heard me. Accidents, of any form, in any way, and at any time, well, they just don’t happen anymore.
Why? Because BLAME and SHAME.
Because we have become a nation of BLAMERS and SHAMERS.
And how are accidents allowed to happen if we can’t blame someone? Surly, they can’t, right? I mean, random acts of nature, unpreventable tragedies, and fateful life changing events that take place in a matter of nanoseconds cannot possibly take place if everyone is being a responsible parent, right? NOPE.
They can’t, because this country and its population of perfect pitchfork carrying mothers and fathers sitting behind keyboards needs to accuse. They NEED TO BLAME, to disparage, to criticize in every damn way and at every damn corner, the parenting of another.
And when do they really get to lick their blaming chops? When a tragic accident happens. That’s when the pouncing is at its freshest, when raw emotion and ignorance collide, and they dig their word claws in, and take hold of whatever grace these grieving mothers and fathers have left in their souls.
And then they tear it out.
Listen to me very clearly perfect parents, VERY CLEARLY.
I’VE HAD ENOUGH.
I’ve had enough of scrolling through comment threads and seeing over and over again questions like “Where were the parents?” and thoughts like, “This is what happens when you don’t watch your kids.”
I have simply HAD ENOUGH.
I have one question for the blaming and shaming moms and dads. You know the ones who immediately blame the parents, the ones who go on the internet and type comments like, “This is nothing but neglect by the parents,” and “They should have known better. Who was watching that little boy?” and my favorite, “I would never let that happen to my kid.”
Here is my question,
Have you ever been to a child’s funeral before?
I have.
The funeral of a child is an event in life that you never, ever want to experience.
Now let me ask you another question.
In the coming week these parents will fly back to their home in Nebraska without one of their children. They will leave a vacation resort, packing up his Buzz Lightyear pajamas and his favorite blanket, and they will make an excruciatingly difficult journey home. A journey that they never in a million years thought they would be making.
They will meet with a funeral director, pick out a tiny casket, a tiny burial suit, and surrounded by family, they will bury their baby boy.
And they will suffer every single day for the rest of their life.
At the funeral for this two year boy who died in front of his parents, can you do me a favor? Can you walk up to the mother and say the words that you just typed out last week? Can you? Can you greet her, hug her, shake the father’s hand and then say, “ Who was watching that little boy? You should have known better. I would never let that happen to MY child.”
Can you do that for me? I mean, you felt those words so deeply in your heart and soul that you typed them for a million people to read. Certainly you can say it straight to the faces of the people you meant it for, right?
Here, let me help you.
Put away your pitchfork for a moment and try this.
To the mother and father who went for a walk on vacation for the last time with their little boy yesterday, I am deeply sorry that you had to experience the worst kind of tragedy possible, an accident. I grieve with you. Your baby was my baby. Your son was my son. I have nothing but love for you, love to help you get though the pain yesterday, today, and for what is gonna seem like a thousand tomorrows. I wrap my thoughts and prayers around your aching heart and soul. May the God of this universe in some miraculous way bring peace to you and your family.
That is what you say. THAT. And just THAT.
Stop the blaming.
Stop the shaming.
In their darkest hours, can we please just LOVE other parents. Please?
Peace
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maybe if they had a big light up sign like this warning of gators in the area people might pause and let it register after they read it.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
I agree.
I still think the mom who lost her child in the gorilla compound is a bit of a dolt (and I expressed it excessively), but I feel horrible for these folks.