I will be your guide for this magical journey into the movies. It's the perfect job for me, because I love movies! Is everybody ready? Great, because it's showtime. Ready when you are, CB!
As someone who has dealt with Persons With Learning Disabilities and Mental Illness his entire life I caution against starting a witch hunt. From what I've heard you describe these people are not dangerous. They are just eccentric and most likely have some sort of mental illness. Using derogatory terms like "funny farm" is offensive to me an demeaning to these people. Last I checked being weird and creepy was not a reason to "lock someone up". They are obviously not functioning at full-mental capacity. The thing that separates them from people with disorders like down's syndrome is that they are not cute, therefore they are deemed dangerous. My brother, who has long been diagnosed with a variety of disorders, was recently fired for a job for talking about barbecuing. They interpreted it as he was a pyro who wanted to burn down the building. So again I caution you against jumping to conclusions and trivializing these people and their conditions.
But where the line should be drawn when it comes to "Stalker" and simple fun? Don't things (following characters and CM's around) like that lead to something worse? I understand that some individuals are there for pure novelty, but when it makes the performers uncomfortable - something should be done. When a man leans into a woman who can't defend herself (save for an attendant), practically breathing on her - I'd demand that he be dragged off. Innocent and happy action to him, but scaring the crap out of a Princess. I'm not saying a "lock up" but certainly some therapy, being under consistent eye of caretakers, and help with their character obsession.
The only "characters" I remember when I worked at Knott's were a couple of developmentally disabled adults. They would just go around and say hi to their favorite R.O.s, ride their favorite rides, and they probably had a better time than most other guests. They were never a problem.
well, part of the problem is that you are mixing medical and legal terms.
Stalking is a legal term, and has nothing to do with mental impearment or physical problems. It has everything to do wtih violating a state law by taking actions.
The obsessive focus on a princesses, or prince, or a CM in general is a function of that persons mental focus, and Very hard to quantify without the aid of a mental health professional.
A good example, is the 20 year old with downs syndrome obsessed when he see's Captain Hook, or is it the thrill of his life that he gets to meet Captain hook, and he displays it with great exuberance, and so on.
The problem with the Princess meets, is that they are out there with the express purpose of meeting the public. Perhaps they should schedule a security "honor guard" to be nearby if the problems start to get out of hand!
People certainly do cross the line....and there certainly are some that may be a threat, but that could be in any field you work in. What sort of training do CMs get to distinguish between disabled vs threatening? Do they just alert their supervisor who has some training in that area? or do they just go on their own experience?
Someday my son with autism might be judged by a CM....He isn't a stalker by any means, just very friendly and loves hugs...he looks just like a typical person but sometimes says odd things. He's 20 now, but how will everyone react if he is the same way in 20 years......
Of course I work hard to teach him to be socially appropriate, but his disability will always be there and I will not.
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I have two speeds- TKO and BOLUS!
.....borrowed from a Doctor I work with.....
I think the scarier part of it is, not to mention shameful, is that if someone does pull an inappropriate action on someone, they may claim mental illness when they are really not. Who knows what is to believed then? Then that really sets off an unfair distrust on a set of individuals who really are challenged, but harmless.
When it comes to distinguishing people - I tend to just play it all equal to everyone. As a fur friend, I feel safer than that of a face friend. Hugs and kisses are widely accepted and are given and taken. Usually when I meet those with mental challenges, it's usually obvious and they are treated just like all other guests. They also have had chaperons with them who would step in if anything were to go wrong. Usually, they are happier to see you than most other guests - which is perfectly fine. But it seems a little harder for faces friends to fall into such a comfort level. Perhaps if any physical confrontation starts up - wrong "touching" or going ahead with an action after the character declines, such as princesses kissing grown men - then some action should be taken.
The only "characters" I remember when I worked at Knott's were a couple of developmentally disabled adults. They would just go around and say hi to their favorite R.O.s, ride their favorite rides, and they probably had a better time than most other guests. They were never a problem.
We have those at the DLR too. There's one who always comes into my location every night. He doesn't act his age, true, but he always seems like he's having more fun than the some of the other guests.
I think for the most part people like Linda Skywalker et. al. are harmless. They've found a place where they at least feel like they fit in. Although we as cms recognize them as being "regulars" for them it's a new experience every time. They can escape from a world that doesn't "get" them, and come into our fantasy world where they feel at home. For most of our guests, they either come in and "play" at fantasy or come in and blast right through the fantasy on the way to the rides, then they go home. For these "regulars", the fantasy is so strong they feel at home there. For the time they're at the park, they're normal and everyone else is different.
That being said, face characters like the princesses do have to recognize the difference between a harmless developmentally challenged individual caught in the fantasy and a person with frightning intentions. It's their job. They don't have to take inappropriate behavior, but they also need to have a slightly smaller "personal space barrier" than most people. When someone wants a kiss and won't take no, my prince wouldn't like it as an answer, then yes, it's a problem and the princess needs to remove herself from the situation. If the guest continues to insist on multiple occassions, security needs to be involved. If the guest is caught in the fantasy and wants a hug, or a dance, or just a conversation with the princess, even on multiple occassions, well those are the folks for whom fantasy and reality are a blurred line, at least while they're at the parks, and they are pretty much harmless. We can't treat them like we're afraid they'll escalate into the other kind of person. We have to recognize that to them, the princesses or HSM cast or Captain Hook ARE real, and this is their one chance to know someone famous in person and actually have them know them back, and they enjoy that connection. They can sometimes be annoying when you're trying to deal with guests who don't come every day and who are trying to get in a conversation with a character or a photo but are constantly interupted by the regulars. But that being said, there is an art to dealing with this and it's part of the job description.
__________________ "The main reason for guests to be in a theme park is to give the employees someone to laugh at after work!"
Gifts for the Theme Park Employee or Enthusiast in your life at Theme Park - Where?
The Prarie People who hang out in Frontier land and stalk the local employees.
"Smiley"-He was an odd character. He hong out on Main Street and would visit Mr. Lincoln. He would always follow single moms with kids. I don't see him around anymore.
Boy, oh boy, do I miss working at DL. There were other kooks I used to see when I worked at the DL Park like the Green Coat Lady, the aforementioned John "Smiley", this one oddball that follows the last float of parades, and there were others that I could recall. Anyhow, they's make great characters for a sitcom, lol!
GUY89
ARRRRRRR YA DOIN'?
"Scram!"
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