Dealing With SG Parents

[EmptyCinema]

I've never been a parent but I could tell that was wrong. I wanted to slap the sh*t out of that father, but also didn't want to go to jail. I wasn't sure a CM would be able to do anything based solely off my word, and it looked like the kid would be too scared to talk to authorities.

[mechurchlady]

Zazu would be best to answer the remark about the woman hitting her daughter.

I do know that in California there are mandatory reporter laws that require people to report child abuse. My pastor's wife is a mandatory reporter and she must report any child neglect or abuse. As a pastor's wife she is supposed to help people change their lives for the better but in this case if someone tellsher about abuse then she has to report them which means the kids could go to foster homes.

Even if a CM cannot do anything or there are not CMs you can still bully a bully by standing up to them and telling them to stop abusing their kids. I loudly chastised a woman for hitting her kid in the mall and she stopped after she saw a couple other people glaring icy stares at her. If we do not say something then tomorrow may be that kid's last day on earth.

[Cranbiz]

He was also using profanity regularly regarding how "slow" the buses were.

That's the type of SG who you cannot please, no matter what. We could have put bus upon bus in that loadzone and he still would not have been happy.

[Freak]

What are ways to calm down pissed off SG parents and keep them happy and understand the situation.

Voodoo? Is it voodoo?

[BRWombat]

What are ways to calm down pissed off SG parents and keep them happy and understand the situation.

After decades of dealing with the public in stressful situations, I find that this always works: First, do not lose your cool. Speak calmly and rationally explain your position. Then point and say, "Hey, what's that?" When they turn to look, hit them in the head with a large rock.

[Cranbiz]

Very nicely done Wombat! ;)

[darph nader]

Or a HEELY. :D:

[Zazu]

Zazu would be best to answer the remark about the woman hitting her daughter.

I do know that in California there are mandatory reporter laws that require people to report child abuse.

When I last lived in California (1986), the reporting laws were only mandatory for teachers and health care workers. They didn't apply to theme park workers. Has that changed?

I haven't studied Florida law, but I suspect it would be the same. Certainly if mandatory reporting were required of cast members, we'd have heard about how to do it.


That said, I did stop one incident of corporal punishment in the Park. I came across a father who had bent over his son preparatory to a spanking, and I blocked his hand on the first swing.

"I'm sorry sir, but you cannot apply corporal punishment at Walt Disney World. You'll have to leave if you want to spank him."

"Say what?!?"

"Yes, it's a rule here -- nobody hits anybody else, for any reason. You have to leave if you want to do that."

"You can't tell me how to discipline my son!"

"Oh, no sir. I'm just telling you *where* you can -- or I should say can't do so. This is Disney property, and we have rules about this. I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask you to follow them."

He spluttered a bit more, but I could see I'd won the battle, if not the war. I moved on and he proceeded to give the kid a lecture, and for all I know he still got the whipping, but at least that wouldn't leave bruises as a memory of his Disney visit.

I have no idea what prompted me to intervene -- this is exactly the type of situation wise heads will warn CMs to stay well away from. I just happened to walk by at the exact right moment and simply reacted. Thank goodness it worked, I don't think I could have taken Dad if things had turned ugly.

[hobie16]

"I'm sorry sir, but you cannot apply corporal punishment at Walt Disney World. You'll have to leave if you want to spank him."

You continue to amaze me. Way to go!!

[mechurchlady]

Zazu you are probably right about mandatory reporters. She is a teacher from infant to college and also tutors kids.