More Sad News From Orlando......

dogs & cats get ate all the time down there.

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.

https://www.facebook.com/4BoysMother/posts/966840756748074

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?

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.

^^^

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.

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.

A Disney resort in the south where there is water. I don't really understand the excuses made for people's lack of general knowledge, which this is.

I've been to Nebraska as a tourist. Before I went there, I knew there would be corn. I learned it in elementary school geography, the same time I learned there's alligators in Florida.

what dreams said:

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.

A Disney resort in the south where there is water. I don't really understand the excuses made for people's lack of general knowledge, which this is.

I've been to Nebraska as a tourist. Before I went there, I knew there would be corn. I learned it in elementary school geography, the same time I learned there's alligators in Florida.

It's not like this type of event happens all the time. And I said it earlier, Disney has a way of letting parents concede some parental cautioness: a man made lagoon is a far cry from a small, backwoods lake where parental instincts might be on overdrive.

All the rides... all the treats... all the joy... all the excitement in the kids. The kid looking to dip his toes in the lagoon is not exactly snorkelling. I can picture it; parents, tear in eye, beaming with joy and pride, watching the most important item in their life laughing and splashing... then in the jaws of an alligator.

F**k me.

HughFreakingDillon said:

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Wow.

This thread has been kicked up a couple notches.

I didn't see hedo around, so.....

Ha! Way to go, Hugh.

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

what dreams said:

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.

A Disney resort in the south where there is water. I don't really understand the excuses made for people's lack of general knowledge, which this is.

I've been to Nebraska as a tourist. Before I went there, I knew there would be corn. I learned it in elementary school geography, the same time I learned there's alligators in Florida.

It's not like this type of event happens all the time. And I said it earlier, Disney has a way of letting parents concede some parental cautioness: a man made lagoon is a far cry from a small, backwoods lake where parental instincts might be on overdrive.

All the rides... all the treats... all the joy... all the excitement in the kids. The kid looking to dip his toes in the lagoon is not exactly snorkelling. I can picture it; parents, tear in eye, beaming with joy and pride, watching the most important item in their life laughing and splashing... then in the jaws of an alligator.

F**k me.

I totally understand the tragedy. It was a horrible, and innocent, mistake.

I'm just stunned, though, by all these people who act surprised that there's alligators at Disney. I was talking to one of my best friends who is from Orlando. She said if there's going to be a new sign, it ought to read "Beware of Wildlife." She said you can't begin to list all the things people need to think about in the Florida waters. Most people just know . . .

i wonder how many poisonous snakes reside on disney property? someone will get bit & it'll be a frickin slap upside 14 million heads that such a thing could even happen