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Amusement park in the south discriminating obese? How can they be more fair?
Old_Cat_Lady
Posts: 1,193 Member
in Debate Club
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?
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?
0
Replies
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Just about all amusement parts have rides that aren't suitable for every visitor. Children, for example, can't ride some rides for safety reasons. Others have restrictions based on health or condition (people with epilepsy, for example, can't ride some rides safely).
As long as the park is clear about this and the restriction is based on a genuine safety issue, I don't see how this would qualify as discrimination. I do think banning larger women from rides is inappropriate if larger men are allowed (assuming that there isn't a specific issue with fitting women into the protective harnesses that doesn't arise with men).58 -
janejellyroll wrote: »Just about all amusement parts have rides that aren't suitable for every visitor. Children, for example, can't ride some rides for safety reasons. Others have restrictions based on health or condition (people with epilepsy, for example, can't ride some rides safely).
As long as the park is clear about this and the restriction is based on a genuine safety issue, I don't see how this would qualify as discrimination. I do think banning larger women from rides is inappropriate if larger men are allowed (assuming that there isn't a specific issue with fitting women into the protective harnesses that doesn't arise with men).
I agree 100%. I have epilepsy and still pay the full admission price to parks where I can't ride the majority of rides. Universal, for example, seems particularly fond of strobe lights. I know going in that I can't go on everything anywhere, but just choose to spend my money at parks that have less stuff I can't ride. That's part of the reason for my strong preference of Disney over Universal.
Whether it's a good decision for the park is another thing entirely. Building rides that can accommodate heavier and larger passengers can be expensive. It's up to the park whether they want to make that initial investment and have those additional customers or risk losing them but save some money by building rides that might not accommodate them.18 -
TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »What is the solution?
Informed overweight / obese consumers voting with their wallets after deciding that the restrictions cause the entrance fee to be uneconomic and not going?
Given the spate of serious accidents which have happened with theme parks recently it's not surprising that companies want to limit their exposure to accidents occurring and impose more stringent safety restrictions. I guess the wording this company used was somewhat inelegant however but I'm sure that's better than someone losing a limb (as one poor girl did over here in the UK due to an accident if I remember rightly.)
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I don't think they forget to acknowledge the average population, it's that the cost and engineering of thrill rides above a certain weight would uneconomical for the theme park. It's not their fault so many people are now morbidly obese. I was only just able to fit in some rides at Universal at my highest and that's nobody's fault but mine.
Disney is "friendlier" in that respect but of course has fewer thrill rides that would require height and weight limitations of riders.20 -
Went to an amusement park here six years ago when I was 265 lbs. I fit into almost everything, but the experience was miserable.
Went again a few weeks ago at 175 lbs. Much better experience all around.
If my n=1 is any indicator, I think we have a solution to this problem.49 -
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TheWJordinWJordin 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?30 -
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/TheWJordinWJordin 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?
33 -
That was really stupid of them to put [x population can't ride y] but the safety risk is there.
I live near Cedar Point. I think they're up to like 17 roller coasters or something now...
At the entrance of each ride is a person with a pole to measure height. If you're shorter than the pole, you don't ride the ride (my friend's brother used to wear his soccer cleats when he needed an extra boost!)...
They also have a replica of the ride's seat and you can sit in it to make sure you "fit."
If the seat belt doesn't buckle, you don't ride the ride. Although that is embarrassing enough, at least you don't have to wait 1-3 hours in line to find out you don't fit when you get up to the actual train.
I always felt bad when my heavier friends couldn't ride a ride when we were younger
success story: I went back with that friend a few years ago after she had WLS and she can now ride everything
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I would rather see a weight restriction in general. We are really past the stage where we limit anyone by gender . I don't have an issue with anything else but would prefer them just limit in generally and no scale . I feel sorry for the person who has to tell someone sorry you cant get on
I don't see why anyone who cant fit into the rides should get a reduced rate. If you cant fit into the ride don't go . We shouldn't reward obesity . Are we going to give pregnant women a reduced rate because they cant go on the rides too ?
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TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »
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/TheWJordinWJordin 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?
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.4 -
I imagine that some rides would not work for small people if they were designed for the obese. People would be falling out.
Do any parks have a big and tall section where a few seats are designed to fit larger people? I wonder if that would work?11 -
TheWJordinWJordin 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?
I don't think it is discrimination or unfair that you need to be a certain size to fit on a ride safely. If a person tries to get on the ride and doesn't fit safely then they would have to miss it. I don't think the concept of rides don't fit everyone is new ground for children, short people, overweight people, or very tall people.
I think fair would be saying upfront at the entrance, web site, brochures that this is the minimum height and weight and this is the maximum height and weight to ride each ride. I don't think people should get a discount if they can only go on 8 rides out of 10. If they could only go on 2 rides out of 10 then maybe a discount would make sense. I guess you could have everyone just buy individual ride tickets with a smaller park entrance fee.
Singling out women specifically is the discrimination issue. There doesn't seem to be any reason for that wording. Saying the ride manufacturer wrote it that way is just lame.
Should ride manufacturers make rides differently to accommodate very large people? Can they do that and have the ride be safe for others? I don't know.6 -
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.4
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Ride restrictions are based on test data via their risk management process. This system is designed to ensure maximum safety standards are followed and to minimize the chance of injury.
Allowing people to ride that do not fit the minimum criteria would result in increased injuries and legal action.
Crying discrimination over this is ad absurdum.21 -
TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »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?4 -
TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »
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/TheWJordinWJordin 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?
no it is not...
11 -
TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »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.
3 -
janejellyroll wrote: »TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »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?
That future is getting easier and easier to envision, unfortunately.10 -
janejellyroll wrote: »TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »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?
Anyone else read this and picture the interior of the B&L ship from Wall-E?29 -
TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »
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/TheWJordinWJordin 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?
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.
We're heading to an amusement park this weekend and since most rides trigger intense anxiety in me, I'll literally only be going on 2 of them (bumper cars and then there's a white water raft ride that isn't a trigger). I'm still paying full price and I'll still enjoy the day because the park has other entertainment venues that I can do, (on top of just having a good time with the family). We go every year and I notice lots of other people sitting down along with me, waiting for others to go on rides, for whatever reason. It's still a good time even without all the rides.
eta: I forgot about the swan boat rides-I can go on 3 rides woohoo lol.12 -
Ride restrictions are based on test data via their risk management process. This system is designed to ensure maximum safety standards are followed and to minimize the chance of injury.
Allowing people to ride that do not fit the minimum criteria would result in increased injuries and legal action.
Crying discrimination over this is ad absurdum.
Yep, if you made the seats to fit the extreme obese, this would most likely cause safety issues for smaller individuals. In addition, the stress of the additional weight may require redesign of existing rides for safety (not just making the seats bigger).7 -
I imagine that some rides would not work for small people if they were designed for the obese. People would be falling out.
Do any parks have a big and tall section where a few seats are designed to fit larger people? I wonder if that would work?
There used to be a theme park in South Carolina where at least one of the coasters had a row with larger harnesses. It used to be the hard rock theme park, then it was something else for a season, then it closed, I believe.
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TheWJordinWJordin wrote: »What is the solution?
I don't mean to sound callous but it sounds like the solution is for people in Alabama to eat fewer calories than they burn.47 -
At some point, we have to stop imagining that the world revolves around us. I wouldn't walk into a fish restaurant and expect them to offer pizza or give me a discount because I'm either allergic to or just don't like fish.
It's not discrimination. They offer what they offer with physical guidelines in place to protect themselves and you can choose to go or not.41 -
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Lets not forget... going to the fair is about more that just the rides... its about that fair food!!!!!13
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Being fat isn't an uncontrollable disability, there shouldn't be concessionary rates for eating too much. Does it suck to be fat? Yes. Most of us on this site either are or have been overweight up to morbidly obese. Should businesses have to invest millions in order to accommodate me eating too much? No. I should either suck it up or lose the damn weight so I can fit on the rides I want to ride.
It's not as simple as making a seat bigger. I'm not an engineer but basic knowledge suggests that weight loads/distribution could be thrown off dangerously by someone very heavy on some rides. And as with flying, there's the comfort of other guests around them. Ever see some poor kid flying around a ride with a straight across lap bar because the adult with them is obese?
21 -
How about a pro-rated price for everyone? Each person could be run through a series of screens on their way into the park, checking for height, weight, and age, as well as other medical conditions such as epilepsy, pregnancy, heart disease, orthopedic injuries, etc. Then the price could be based on the percentage of attractions that the person could potentially visit. So small children would only pay for the attractions in the kiddie land, carousel, etc. plus all the shows. Obese people wouldn't pay for roller coasters or kiddie rides. (Unless they are obese kids).
Those who get motion sickness can't really ride the roller coasters either, or any other "motion" rides, so they shouldn't have to pay for those.
Sound like a good idea?7 -
Ride restrictions are based on test data via their risk management process. This system is designed to ensure maximum safety standards are followed and to minimize the chance of injury.
Allowing people to ride that do not fit the minimum criteria would result in increased injuries and legal action.
Crying discrimination over this is ad absurdum.
+13
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