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Amusement park in the south discriminating obese? How can they be more fair?

Old_Cat_Lady
Old_Cat_Lady Posts: 1,193 Member
http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2017/07/too_fat_to_ride_at_owa_alabama.html
A new park opened a month ago, and it's having problems. How, does a park built in 2017, forget to acknowledge the average population?
Another news article relating to the states obesity problems. http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2017/07/amusement_park_flap_highlights.html
The park's original restrictions singled out women, saying that riding certain rides might be prohibited if females weigh 200 pounds or more or those who wear a size 18 or larger.
I think allowing a 20% discount would be a fair solution if they can't ride 2 out of the 10 rides. But one comment said that would be discrimination. They would have to have a scale at the entrance.
What is the solution?
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Replies

  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2017/07/too_fat_to_ride_at_owa_alabama.html
    A new park opened a month ago, and it's having problems. How, does a park built in 2017, forget to acknowledge the average population?
    Another news article relating to the states obesity problems. http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2017/07/amusement_park_flap_highlights.html
    The park's original restrictions singled out women, saying that riding certain rides might be prohibited if females weigh 200 pounds or more or those who wear a size 18 or larger.
    I think allowing a 20% discount would be a fair solution if they can't ride 2 out of the 10 rides. But one comment said that would be discrimination. They would have to have a scale at the entrance.
    What is the solution?

    it's a shame that the average population is overweight leaning toward obese.
    as for singling out woman I suspect it has more to do with average height of woman vs weight where as an average man who is 200lbs is not as big around as a woman who is 200lbs...
    as for entrance fee reduction cause you are overweight...hell no.
    Another benefit for being overweight are you kidding me?
    I think a discount for entry is a really good idea. Some parks like Marine Land offer discounts for people with disabilities and obesity is a disability. http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2013/10/10/39-theme-parks-with-access-passes-for-special-needs/


    Presuming that the value of the entrance fee relates solely to the number of rides a person can experience rather than entrance to the other things the park has to offer as well.

    I think that would be difficult to substantiate in any meaningful sense.

    Might be good as PR stunt though.
  • Old_Cat_Lady
    Old_Cat_Lady Posts: 1,193 Member
    Would specific rides for obese only be reverse discrimination. I could see that in the future since obesity is due to double in the next 20 years at its current pace.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Would specific rides for obese only be reverse discrimination. I could see that in the future since obesity is due to double in the next 20 years at its current pace.

    Why would a park limit rides to only the obese? Are you envisioning a future where obesity is so normal that everything is engineered for bigger bodies and safety cannot be established for smaller people on the rides?
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    Would specific rides for obese only be reverse discrimination.

    I wouldn't consider it discriminatory personally but I don't feel the two situations are analogous. Currently rides aren't specifically designed (to my knowledge) with the intention to exclude a class or classes of people. Rather the physical reality and constraints involved in making a ride safe make the exclusion an unfortunate by-product. Specific rides for the obese, it could be argued, are designed to specifically exclude.

    That said it sounds like good business sense and I doubt the majority of people would care all that much. No doubt a small band of activists might get their knickers in a twist about it but then again a small band of activists are prone to getting their knickers in a twist about just about anything at the drop of a hat. Most people I wager roll their eyes and wish they would go away.