Amusement Park Bans PDAs and Smartphones 474
Ant writes in with news that an amusement park in the UK is trying out a ban on smartphones and PDAs, with the intent to enable families actually to have fun together. The press release says that from May 25 to June 1, adults found using a PDA will be asked to drop it off at a "PDA Drop Off Zone" — no word on what happens if they refuse. But both the Sun and BoingBoing, which picked up their brief story, strike a more ominous note with the claim that "special wardens" will confiscate the devices. If the experiment is deemed a success the park may make the ban permanent.
I understand their point... (Score:4, Insightful)
Oh Please... (Score:5, Insightful)
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Re:Oh Please... (Score:5, Insightful)
That's only vaguely true, and not even vaguely relevant. The owners of private property have every right, legally and ethically, to require visitors to that property to agree to (practically) any terms they want. The visitors are free to leave if they find the terms unacceptable. I can't imagine any US or UK court upholding terms that allow illegal behavior, but for anything short of that, what do you think "private property" means?
And in this case, there's nothing remotely illegal about the terms being set. The amusement park operators are simply not allowing certain devices on their property, and offering a (free?) storage service for those disallowed devices. Visitors can leave their smartphones at home, or in the car, or in the park-provided storage. If you don't like those choices, don't go to that park.
The real issues are:
- Would you personally visit an amusement park with this policy?
- Is this policy a sound business decision?
My answers are no to both, as I assume yours are, but this is ABSOLUTELY NOT a legal/civil liberties issue.Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
I agree that anyone bothered by this should just take their business elsewhere. I also agree that this isn't a legal issue. But I disagree about it being a civil liberties issue. This is yet another little bit of presumptuous oversight that people will eventually acclimate to. It's not some huge step in Big Brother control, but it is yet another situation where people will get used to surrendering t
Re:Oh Please... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Oh Please... (Score:4, Funny)
It's virtually censorship... they're preventing my free expression of chicken-eating. I demand chickeny freedom!
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Re:Oh Please... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Oh Please... (Score:5, Insightful)
Smartphones/PDAs are not just used for business, after all.
Re:Oh Please... (Score:5, Interesting)
Smartphones/PDAs are not just used for business, after all.
Re:Oh Please... (Score:5, Informative)
You seem to be very vocally confused about exactly what's going on here, so perhaps a bulleted list will be of some assistance:
* This is the United Kingdom, not the US, so the Constitution means fuck-all to anyone involved.
* Even if this were the United States, you'd still be horribly wrong. With very very few exceptions, nothing in the Constitution has any jurisdiction over private organizations. I direct you to the first words of the First Amendment as an example: Congress shall enact no law...
* Finally, the Constitution doesn't even remotely say what you claim it says. The confusion you seem to be having is over the Tenth Amendment. It says that any "power" (power to make laws) not expressly given to the Federal Government, is automatically given to the states. It says absolutely nothing about whatever laws the states may or may not have that aren't written in the Constitution.
That's just for starters, so perhaps you should take a political science course or two before your next ill-informed
Re:Oh Please... (Score:4, Informative)
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Yeah, but you didn't have your six year old with you with his noisy hand-held game.
Country clubs are wise, they stop the problem right at the source. They don't just have a policy against devices, they have a policy against kids. They either prevent you from takin
Re:Oh Please... (Score:5, Insightful)
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(Also wondering if you've made a common-but-wrong assumption here).
Re:Oh Please... (Score:5, Insightful)
A manager at the store blocked my path once, immediately after I purchased something, and asked to see my bag.. the bag the check-out clerk just gave me. I told him to get out of my way or I'm calling the police. He first looked like he'd be happy to have the police there until a little spark went off in his little reptilian brain and he got out of my way.
If I hang up a sign in my house saying "I reserve the right to cavity search" or "I reserve the right to confiscate your property", it doesn't mean I suddenly am exempt from laws against assault or theft perpetrated against people I asked onto my property.
Re:Oh Please... (Score:5, Insightful)
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Re:Oh Please... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Oh Please... (Score:4, Insightful)
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You DONT have a right to have you phone on their property. So quit acting like you do.
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You don't have the right to confiscate the property, but you also have the right to not allow with people with cell phones onto your private property. The "drop off" point that this amusement park is providing is nothing more than a convenience. You're free to leave your phone in your car or at home if you choose.
Re:Oh Please... (Score:5, Funny)
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Ahh.. policy.. The bureaucratic form of "I was only following orders"
I agree - Nazi germany [wikipedia.org] was the first thing I thought of when I heard about people not being allowed to use their PDAs.
I will give you a better analogy. The local US embassy confiscates cellphones. Apparently there is a sign at the door that you can leave the phone at a drop-off point across the street for the equivalent of $3 US. My wife who went to the embassy to pick up some papers had to leave her place in line (after over an hour in line outside the building) and hide her phone in the bushes because she didn't have the cash on her.
Sniff, sniff.. (Score:2)
âoeItâ(TM)s important for parents and kids to focus on nothing more than having the best possible time.â
What? Seriously, am I paranoid or does this sound so outrageously stupid that it's concealing a darker purpose?
I can't figure out -- even in this insane world -- what that purpose might be, but
Re:Sniff, sniff.. (Score:5, Insightful)
First question: Are they confiscating all cell phones, or only smartphones?
If it's only smartphones, it's a liveable policy -- provided you can buy everyone a non-smartphone. It's still moronic that they're trying to enforce fun -- it's not like it spoils anyone else's fun if you want to spoil your trip by playing Solitaire on your smartphone the whole time.
If it's all phones, well, you've just eliminated a useful tool for finding lost kids, or for preventing kids from getting lost. It's all well and good to say "We'll meet here at 5:30," but it's nice to be able to call if they don't make it.
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It's still moronic that they're trying to enforce fun.
Welcome to the UK mate. And we laugh at Germans about their ordnung and organisation...
We should just look at ourselves. We run "mandatory entertainment" during kids birthdays, "entertainment" is regularyly brought to the nurseries for all notable occasions. And the kids that refuse to participate are tagged for referral to the SENCO (for the non-brits: Special Educational Needs COodinator) for fast track to meet the child psychologist.
No wonder some people after that go and decide that when fun is deliv
Re:Sniff, sniff.. (Score:5, Insightful)
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And yes it really will spoil your 10-year-old's day if you're playing Solitaire instead of joining them on the rides.
Not at much as me spewing my guts all over her and the rest of the family. I have an inner ear condition which make me very prone to motion sickness. I simply cannot ride many amusement park rides without becoming violently ill. Waiting at the ride exit playing solitaire while my wife takes our 5 and 10 year olds on the rides is a preferable alternative to projectile vomiting.
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I understand their point... (Score:5, Insightful)
The fact is, private amusement parks can have rules, and can ask you to leave if you refuse to follow them. This is just an example of that.
If you're so very important that you can't turn your blackberry off for a day, you have the option of not visiting Alton Towers. If you really are that important, maybe you should turn your PDA off anyway, so your employers can be prepared for if you ever die or move jobs.
The smartphone dilemma (Score:2)
Re:The smartphone dilemma (Score:4, Insightful)
IMHO this ban is protection from asshole bosses who think they own you 24/7/365. When you go to one of these places you can say "I took my kids to such and such, they don't allow cell phones inside."
Clearly this doesn't work for anyone who has a job that requires 24/7 availability (for example, you need to be notified if your data center catches fire.) However, if your job is one where your availability ISN'T needed 24/7, but your asshole boss THINKS it is, then this works.
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My boss has only once in 7 years rung me up out of hours, and he told me that he was very sorry, as it could be taken as harassment.
You're all missing the point (Score:5, Insightful)
"Amusement Park Provides Secure Drop-Off Point for PDAs and Smartphones" would be more like it. To advertise this service they have a kid dressed as a policeman "banning" people from using PDAs and pointing them towards the drop-off point.
Re:I understand their point... (Score:5, Insightful)
Parents are being ASKED to relinquish/put away their PDAs etc, in order to spend 'quality' time with their children.
The article says 'no word on what will happen if they refuse' because nothing will happen. There's no story here, no news, just an advertisement...
...and no need for any nerd to get their knickers in a knot. ;)
Re:I understand their point... (Score:5, Insightful)
It's a minor story about a crap gimmick Alton Towers are using to get some publicity, and it's being presented here as an "OMG!!!!! They're taking away our rights!!!!!!!!11111" story.
Aside from the fact it's a private amusement park (not a pseudo-public space like a shopping centre), it's not even being done for the usual surveillance-state bullshit "pedos might take photos of our children" type reasons. (*)
You don't like it? Don't go to fucking Alton Towers! I wouldn't...
(*) Given the popularity of using pedos to justify every ludicrous measure, if this isn't the reason being given in public, then it sure as hell isn't the true reason either.
Don't forget, it's The Sun (Score:3, Informative)
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Well your pedo argument really doesn't mean much as cameras are still no problem apparently. I guess this means they have to wait till they get home to upload it to their pedo pals?
I really don't get your point. *My* point was that even the usual "OMG!!! Our children must be protected from pedos" reason (which I was genuinely expecting to be the scaremongering overreaction behind Alton Towers' actions) *WASN'T* being used in this case.
At least you got an opportunity to bring up the relation of pedophiles
Only insofar as they're used as an excuse for many of the infringements on our civil liberties. (Ignoring the fact that in the majority of sexual abuse cases the perpetrator is known to the victim).
and a persons ability to walk around with what they want.
Again, I don't understand what you're getting at here
Re:I understand their point... (Score:4, Funny)
For reference, I believe there are other circumstances that can in principle make presence in a courthouse obligatory.
Just don't go. (Score:4, Insightful)
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Re:Just don't go. (Score:5, Insightful)
And second, being callable doesn't mean you'll necessarily take a call. My phone is always on, and always on me, short of airplane travel -- but I'm only rarely called.
Intrafamily phoning (Score:2)
Re:Intrafamily phoning (Score:4, Insightful)
On a recent trip to Disneyland with relatives, cellphones were used a couple times to check in and coordinate. Very handy if you ask me.
Personally, any park that says I can't have my phone won't get my business.
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What if the alternative is not going at all? Mom or Dad can spend a few minutes taking a call while the kids have fun, instead of sitting home by the phone for a call that may or may not ever arrive.
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Not just PDAs (Score:5, Interesting)
Criminal damage (Score:5, Insightful)
texting on the PDA? (Score:2, Interesting)
Kiss my ass.
Smart... (Score:5, Insightful)
Who are they going to call? The parents without the cell phones?
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They allow phone calls (Score:2, Insightful)
Heading the wrong way! (Score:3, Interesting)
Instead they should be going the other way, and see how they can integrate mobile devices into the "fun" they are offering. Disney does this today in a limited way in an attraction at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World, called the "Laugh Factry" or something like that. It's an animated live stand-up comic show, where while you are waiting to get in you can text jokes you like to them and they use some of them in the routine.
That's pretty limited, but you could imagine parks texting you when a show or parade you signed up for was about to start, or having some mobile app that could somehow integrate into a ride or receive SMS messages with pictures of you on a ride.
Anyway, there are lots of better things they could be doing that trying to strip away technology from people who will be very reluctant to do so.
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There. Fixed that for you.
Like when you are watching TV and they implore you to text an answer to a quiz, or vote, or some other MORONIC activity during the show. Send in your answer now! Every entry gives a chance to win a ringtone!!! Send in your answer now, send in your answer often! Only $1.99 per TXT.
Personally I
Forced fun? (Score:4, Interesting)
Isn't it the other way around? (Score:2, Insightful)
Not Going to Work.......I Think (Score:2)
Re:Not Going to Work.......I Think (Score:4, Insightful)
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Heh. If we're talking about sad... (Score:3, Insightful)
But the couple that stuck to my mind were a boy and a girl having a picnic on a blanket on the grass. Well, when I say 'picnic', it was
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What you should have done: (Score:4, Funny)
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From what I gather from the featured article, the amusement park officials apparently will confiscate PDAs upon sight, and place them in a storage for the day, so the owner gets it back when they leave with their family in the evening. I'd imagine that the de-PDA'd owner will get some kind of claim check for it, to be returned for the PDA upon leaving. Similar to how coats are checked-in and checked-out at some restaurants during the winter.
Also, I think they better have the security details for this stor
Stupid. (Score:3, Insightful)
I've tried telling the office to only call me for emergencies when I'm on vacation. That didn't work. Now they know that I'll check my messages at night, and if they haven't fixed the problem, I'll remote in and fix it when I get a minute.
Vacation means vacation. The fact that they're not willing to hire someone else who can take some of the load off of me, doesn't mean that I'm going to give up my vacation time (says the puppy, posting from work on Sunday on a holiday weekend).
/.'ers don't have to worry (Score:3, Funny)
Class Warfare at its finest. (Score:2)
this is a good business decision?
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Define 'fun' ? (Score:2, Insightful)
Fun fun fun!
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I know this is Slashdot and this might be the wrong place to say this, but is technology really so crucial that a life could be devoid of happiness without it?
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I can have plenty of fun without my phone, but more often than not half the fun of going out is getting to a pub later and reliving the event with all your friends.
I'm from the UK, and have quite enjoyed Alton Towers a few times.
I certainly won't be going again if this policy becomes 'official'.
Actually, that is probably not true. I'll go, have fun, use my phone to take pictures, and kindly tell these phone police people to take a hike.
This is what we can all PR gimmick (Score:4, Insightful)
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Good for them! (Score:2, Insightful)
A corresponding story:
I think I am the only one in my family who actually hates sitting down for dinner because either 1. no one ever sits down for dinner at the same time, or more importantly and more relevant 2. everyone turns to watch whatever is on the TV at the moment, even if their back is to the TV they'll take a bite and turn around to watch while continuing to chew their food. (And before anyone tries to cry foul and point out the obvious, yes, I have mentioned my extre
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Just so you know... (Score:3, Insightful)
I highly doubt they're going to kick up a fuss or cause an argument for the sake of it, they'll more than likely go to the kids and be all "hey kids, tell daddy to put the phone away! I'll even take it off his hands and put it in a safe place, how about that?!". As cheesy as it sounds, it might ACTUALLY work.
Ban watches, phones, mp3 players... (Score:5, Funny)
I'm going to play the asshat (Score:2)
People who bring a PDA/Smartphone and wip it out all of the time at an amusement park are likely missing the whole point of the amusement park. No loss if they don't go anyway.
I think the ban is just as much for the kids as the grown ups. You are missing half of the amusement park experience if you don't pull your eyes away from the PDA every once in a while. You stop noticing things like the smells of the food etc.
Talking on a cell phone can be obnoxious, making other paying customers enjoy their e
Good Daycycle Citizen! (Score:3, Funny)
Thank you for your cooperation, Citizen, and remember to have fun!
Your Friend,
The Computer
This is a great idea! (Score:2)
Actions like this, where large multi-million euro corporations arbitrarily impose their will without regard go a long way towards reinforcing the attitude of British Subjects that they are merely un
Re:This is a great idea! (Score:5, Informative)
A few things to think about;
1. England != UK. Confusing the two is bad form; our Scots and Welsh brethren will surely kick up a stink at that. 2. Alton Towers are free to trial this. The fact they are trialling it first is a good way to go about things. 3. We use the Pound (Sterling) as our currency - you'll prise it from my euro-sceptic-dead-hands.
Considering the pasting that Labour are getting in the papers and at the polling booths, I'd say us 'British Subjects' are still quite capable of fighting back, in the more general sense of the political climate here at the moment.
As much as this is a non-story. (Score:2)
Picking up on a good idea from earlier (Score:2)
why, I like it (Score:2)
Otherwise, this is good. The age of information really calls for some changes to the unwritten laws of common courte
this will backfire (Score:3, Insightful)
The type of person who is going to be using their smartphone/PDA at an amusement park generally isn't going to be doing so because they think it's more fun than hanging out with their family or going on rides, they're going to be doing it in most cases because they have to be able to have those communication options to even be able to get away. If the person's family doesn't have a problem with it, then why should the park?
What about people who want to have their smartphone AS A PHONE?
This is just so stupid and I think that it will cost them business. For any person who would find this appealing, there are going to more than twice as many who will hate it.
What a GREAT IDEA! (Score:4, Insightful)
Correct me if I'm wrong since I'm in the US... but where in the UK law does it say "Right to bear cell phone"... it doesn't you twits.
This is a terrific idea made by a PRIVATE entity on THEIR property. I cannot tell you how often I hear loud obnoxious people on cell phones distracting from MY fun. How the families they are with are like "Come on dad" or "Honey can't you do that later" and they reply "Just one sec" while being blissfully ignorant of the line behind them.
I WOULD go to this theme park simply because it removes the ADD enhancing objects in our lives and lets us focus on conversation with each other and paying attention to ones surroundings.
Let's carry a laptop instead! (Score:3, Interesting)
What? But I'm a Doctor, on call...! (Score:5, Insightful)
How will those who are doctors, law enforcement officials and such who are on call or other emergency personnel be able to remain in touch with their call-in stations then and who are required to carry such devices (and may even be issued them as part of their standard equipment)?
And isn't that called "theft?" Or, at least violation of personal property under UK law?
While I appreciate the idea of not having to be interrupted at every turn by some idiot either playing a video game or answering a mindless "WHASSUP?!" call in the middle of a show, there should be some better way to do this.
And what happens when someone loses their claim ticket or, worse, the park loses their smart device? The cost to the park will be far in excess of the "social savings" this ban might give them.
From this side of the pond, it's just another sign that every petty administrator, everywhere, wants to control a little slice of the lives that come into their sphere of influence.
They are going to have a LOT of very angry people to contend with when they try this because, more and more, smart devices are becoming the norm, rather than the exception. What a wonderful way to turn the happiest place on earth into a focus for seething animosity!
Well done, park officious officials!
Does "paying customer" mean nothing anymore (Score:3, Interesting)
If the PDA addict's wife says to put it away that's another story.
The Law of Unintended Consequences (Score:3, Insightful)
Given such a situation, this attempt to encourage family togetherness could just result in LESS family togetherness.
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So they can't let themselves off the leash for an hour? What sad, pathetic lives they must lead. That is just about the limiting case of tragic failure.