Santa's knee off-limits for New Zealand children

[grinner]

Santa's knee off-limits for New Zealand children


A small town in New Zealand has banned children from sitting on Santa's knee because organisers fear liability if anything goes wrong, organisers said.

Instead, children in the South Island village of Mosgiel would be asked to sit next to him, on specially decorated "elf chairs", as they discuss their Christmas wish list.

Organiser Gail Thompson, secretary of the Mosgiel Business Association, which is organising the event, said the precaution was "ridiculous" but necessary. She feared children coming back in at a later date with allegations about Santa's behaviour.

"None of us really want the risk of someone saying in 15 years' time 'When we sat on Santa's knee at market day ...', so they are sitting on elves' chairs."

Graham Glass, who will be Santa, was less than impressed.

"It's bloody ridiculous -- I can't believe we have become so politically correct."

The town has also declared that scrabbling for lollipops in a free-for-all would be too dangerous for the children, who will instead be handed sweets from a basket. http://sg.news.yahoo.com/031128/1/3g9yf.html

[Darth Buddha]

Yep, this is a good example of how the left wants to dictate what you can say, do, and think.

This has me feeling more libertarian that ever.

PC is totally out of hand.

[who45]

I know this isn't the same thing, but it reminded me of when I went to a teaching conference a few years ago. Several preschool teachers were telling us that in their county, they were told that they could no longer hug their students. It would insure that no one would take that as touching a child improperly. The day that I am told that I can not hug or comfort my 4 year old students, or any student for that matter, I will no longer teach.

[grinner]

That goes to far. I am sorry... but we as humans are Social Beings. There have been studies that holding children HELPS their development. Now... inappropriate touching goes elsewhere... but by hugging a child... you are giving them validation and comfort.

[Harveylives]

Originally posted by Darth Buddha
Yep, this is a good example of how the left wants to dictate what you can say, do, and think.

This has me feeling more libertarian that ever.

PC is totally out of hand.


It's time for a third party to emerge, but be wary, this is how most dictators come to power.

[who45]

Originally posted by grinner
That goes to far. I am sorry... but we as humans are Social Beings. There have been studies that holding children HELPS their development. Now... inappropriate touching goes elsewhere... but by hugging a child... you are giving them validation and comfort.

I agree. I have seen a lot of children that do not get that at home and they desperately need the comfort of a hug. I think that sometime in the future, the way things are going now, teachers will not be allowed to touch their students...and I mean touching as in a hug.

[grinner]

I feel sorry for the youth of tomorrow. :g2f:

By the way... I really like this smilie:g2f:... as it conveys so much of what I feel at times... that everything has gone to far... and common sense was subtracted from the menu.

[who45]

Originally posted by grinner
I feel sorry for the youth of tomorrow. :g2f:

By the way... I really like this smilie:g2f:... as it conveys so much of what I feel at times... that everything has gone to far... and common sense was subtracted from the menu.

I know I'm probably going to get a lot of flack from this, but that's one reason why I'm really thinking that when and if I ever marry, I may not want children. I'm not saying that I'm 100% on that. I do love children, but what's it going to be like for them in the future.

and yes, I've noticed you've been using that smilie a lot.:D

[grinner]

Originally posted by who45
I know I'm probably going to get a lot of flack from this, but that's one reason why I'm really thinking that when and if I ever marry, I may not want children. I'm not saying that I'm 100% on that. I do love children, but what's it going to be like for them in the future.

and yes, I've noticed you've been using that smilie a lot.:D But... if you raise and train/teach your children to be respectful, honest, and intelligent thinkers... you shouldn't have any worries.

[LT Garrix]

Un-frelling believable. The litigiousness in society has gotten way too bad. I mean seriously, mom and/or dad is generally right there when the child is going to see Santa. It would be so incredibly difficult to deliberately inapporpriately touch a child in those circumstances.

It's gonna hit the point where everyone has their own personal sheild so that no one can touch them. Every time I hear something like this I am reminded about how impersonal society is becoming because of the threat of being sued for sexual harrassment.

Right now, hubby and I don't have kids and aren't sure if we want to. In part because we like our lifestyle and in part because there are many things messed up about society.

[Darth Buddha]

Originally posted by grinner
But... if you raise and train/teach your children to be respectful, honest, and intelligent thinkers... you shouldn't have any worries.
But look what you are up against!

[grinner]

yes... but I still have some faith in humanity...

[who45]

Originally posted by grinner
But... if you raise and train/teach your children to be respectful, honest, and intelligent thinkers... you shouldn't have any worries.

It's not how I would raise them is the problem, because I would raise them to be respectful, honest, and intelligent thinkers same as my parents raised me, it's what's out there that the kids will have to go through in the future.

[AgentSun]

there are so many absolutely WRONG michael jackson jokes one could make here.

i will refrain cause i know you're all thinking of them now.

instead i will say this: this is another example of parents not taking responsibility for their kids and not making sure they raise their eggs good...teach them good christian values...or jewish, if your egg is jewish. sorry, my mind is doing a relapse into buffy episodes.

[Defect9]

Jeez. this is retarded. Even at age 23 I'd sit on santa's lap and beg for presents. I mean, what happenned to the days when santa was your friend, not a community risk? Kinda makes me glad to live in a backwoods community. old-school values still exist, and anyone that tries to tell us differrent gets beaten to a pulp.

...you can all sit on my lap if it makes you feel better. :D

-Jared

Political Correctness can lick me.

[BlackThorn]

Originally posted by Defect9
...you can all sit on my lap if it makes you feel better. :D

Is that a promise? :ewink:

[tedbragg1]

No kids when I get married. Sometimes I regret being alive in THIS day and age.

[Harveylives]

Originally posted by tedbragg1
No kids when I get married.


That's what my dad said to my mom when they got married, apparently she twisted his arm or something else.

[grinner]

condom broke? Forgot the pill? just kidding there buddy. :P:O

[Defect9]

Originally Posted by BlackThorn
Is that a promise? :ewink:

You better believe it. You can sit on my lap all night Thursday if you want to.

...and you can beg for presents if thats what you're into. :D

[BlackThorn]

Originally posted by Defect9
You better believe it. You can sit on my lap all night Thursday if you want to.

...and you can beg for presents if thats what you're into. :D

Response #23 -- I claim the lap for Thursday. *checks the datemark* Hell, it's still only Monday. :kick: *datemark* Move faster!

Me? Begging for presents? I think not! We'll see who ends up begging for presents. :D (Gods, no matter how I say that, it still sounds bad.)

[Defect9]

Originally posted by BlackThorn
Me? Begging for presents? I think not! We'll see who ends up begging for presents. (Gods, no matter how I say that, it still sounds bad.)


You're right. that does sound bad. and we'll see.






...evil is good.

[grinner]

Originally posted by Defect9

...evil is good. Yeah... but are there Human sacrifice, riots in the streets, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!

*edit* because I forgot the Human Sacrifice bit.

[NebariNookiee]

Originally posted by grinner
Yeah... but are there riots in the streets, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!
See -- only Scapers could quote Ghostbusters and make it sound good!:smokin:

[Defect9]

quote:
Originally posted by grinner
Yeah... but are there riots in the streets, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!
whats wrong with that? I could have made the case that warm sheep = clean if you'd have prefered. its been proven mathematically by BlackThorn and I

[BlackThorn]

Yes, warm sheep = clean. A very precise mathematical study proved that theory.

[grinner]

sheep? is there something you want to tell us? I really don't think we need to know your eccentricities... just keep it in your bedroom... or something.

[Defect9]

Yes grinner, there is something i've been meaning to tell you.


...but i forgot what it was

[grinner]

Baaaahhhh Baaahhh

[BlackThorn]

Get your mind out of the gutter, grinner. :whip:

Of course, it can't look good for Defect9's case considering Nevada's motto. "Nevada: Where men are men, and sheep are afraid."

Anyways, warm sheep =clean is a perfectly logical and innocent fact.

[grinner]

nervous sheep... who are we going to count if they are nervous? Defect... leave those sheep alone.

[Defect9]

originally posted by grinner
Baaaahhhh Baaahhh

thus:

grinner = sheep

[BlackThorn]

:roflmao:

So by that logic, grinner = warm

[grinner]

hey know... that is just wrong.

I was trying to call Defect out of the sheep pen so that they can be counted... as I am tired.

[BlackThorn]

There are too many things I could say to that, grinner, and all of them would just be glemphy! *searches desperately for the duct tape*

[Defect9]

<hands BlackThorn a roll of Duct Tape>

[BlackThorn]

Thanks!

Defect9 . . . what were you doing with my duct tape?

[grinner]

ya'll are just bein' rude... and crude... and blue. It works for me.

[Defect9]

Defect9 . . . what were you doing with my duct tape?

It was a spare. I've always got one or two in the shop

[BlackThorn]

Then who has my duct tape?

[grinner]

didn't you wrap up your boyfriend?

[BlackThorn]

Not yet, but . . . Shhh!

[Defect9]

originally posted by grinner
didn't you wrap up your boyfriend?

Maybe you should go and ask the boyfriend... He might be more open about that.

-J

[grinner]

:lol :shucks:

[Defect9]

shucks? WTF?

[grinner]

my post wasn't in response to your post... but to BlackThorn's. :ppbb:

[Defect9]

Oh. then i'm really out of it.

[BlackThorn]

Oooo....I got a grin and a :shucks: I feel special

Were you ever in it, Defect9?

[grinner]

Methinks he might be missing a few

[Defect9]

I've got the whole six pack but i lost that plastic thing that holds 'em all together.

[BlackThorn]

Don't believe him. They aren't all present. He drank a few.

"That's boy's cheese has slipped off his cracker."

grinner, on the other hand, just ate his.

[grinner]

*buurrpp*

[BlackThorn]

Was it at least tasty? And what kind of cheese was it?

[grinner]

pepperjack... and it was GOOOOOD

[BlackThorn]

I envy you. I still don't know what mine is. It keeps growing fangs and leaping off my cracker to attack people.

[grinner]

sounds like a Muenster

[AgentSun]

good cheese! i like that and mozzarella...but only on pizza and string cheese. mm string cheese.

[BlackThorn]

Fried mozza sticks. Mmmmm..... With ranch!