More Sad News From Orlando......

Merkin Baller said:

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.

PJ_Soul said:

Jason P said:

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?

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

Jason P said:

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?

HughFreakingDillon said:

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

Jason P said:

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.

A nightmare.

lukin2006 said:

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.

polaris_x said:

PJ_Soul said:

lukin2006 said:

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.

jeffbr said:

polaris_x said:

PJ_Soul said:

lukin2006 said:

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!?

PJ_Soul said:

polaris_x said:

PJ_Soul said:

lukin2006 said:

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 ...

I've actually been to Florida, and the only alligators I saw were in the Orlando alligator farm.

polaris_x said:

PJ_Soul said:

I've actually been to Florida, and the only alligators I saw were in the Orlando alligator farm.

they don't usually have them at strip clubs

sure they do. they're called red snappers.