Blackballing "Bad" Guests

Main Entry: 1black·ball
Pronunciation: 'blak-"bol
Function: transitive verb
Date: 1770
1 : to vote against; especially : to exclude from membership by casting a negative vote
2 a : to exclude socially : OSTRACIZE b : BOYCOTT

mOOSH

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Jeff said:
It's blacklist, not ball. You're confusing your colors and such with a term associated with a male sexual condition.

Oops. I'm really sorry about that! I didn't mean anything in regard to race, in case anyone thought that I did. I was simply referring to the refusal of admission to ANY people that were known to cause a park problems.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Well Rob, according to Moosh's entry (he's so smart), you had it right ;)

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Lyrically, I'm supposed to represent
I'm not only a client, I'm the playa president!

The season pass thing sounds like the easiest place to start. It may not be 100% correct (no plan is), but it would allow the blacklisted person the inability to acquire a season pass. Simply have their information at the season pass processing area and instruct the manager there who to look for. Without a sp, the blacklisted person would be at the park only a fraction of the time. Couple that with the possibility of being prosecuted with tresspassing should keep most away.

With the season pass idea, how many times have you actually had the ticket person compare your face to the face on the card? I can think of maybe once....

Also, it's not terribly hard to lie on the cards. You can put down 100% fake information on your season pass voucher and still be handed a pass in a couple of minutes.

And as far as blocking a person's credit card, the person could very easily pay with cash.

--Ryan

Maybe something like a fingerprint scan would work. Would that cost to much?

It would be quick and easy.

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I stood up and Bowed.

thepinkdoomofmonkeys said:
Maybe something like a fingerprint scan would work. Would that cost to much?
It would be quick and easy.

I think it'd be in the parks' best interest to implement systems that show some amount of discretion in denying admission to guests. They're not going to make it so sirens go off and helicopters land and SWAT vans roll in if Joe Enthusiast tries to get in.

Thus, I think a system of DNA testing and fingerprint scans designed to keep people away will do just that -- it'll keep everyone away.

Nobody wants to know or hear that park X installed fingerprints scanners because people have a history of being injured on their rides -- regardless of who was at fault.

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--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?
May the Schwarz be with you.

Maybe theme parks can get training from local police departments on how to look out for certain people. Maybe if you get removed from the park once and they tell you they don't want you back you have to sign a contract saying if you come back we can sue you and charge you with trespassing and stuff. Just an idea.
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I think they have decent face recognition software now...

Perhaps they should build a special punishment ride for bad guests. Kinda like the feeding machione that Porky Pig is strapped to in one of the old Warner Bros cartoons...or how about a spanking machine? ;)

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"Not happy birthday! Anything but that! NOT HAPPY BIIIRTHDAAAAYYY!"

Parks don't even need to resort to extreme measures... they just need to enforce the rules that are already in place. Whether it's line jumpers, or enthusiasts-behaving-badly, parks just need to show some consistent, and visible consequences of bad behavior. Bad behavior is never going to stop completely, but a stronger and more visible presence of park security might discourage it. No need to ban people... let them learn their lesson by continuing to pay admission to the parks, and continuing to get kicked out for their behavior. Their wallets might figure it out before their brains do.

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Colin D.
Ask about my references!

Right... I think more dedication to making sure that guests follow the rules will go a long, long way.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Wait a minute, I could see that backfiring with certain people. People might want to go on the spanking ride or feeding machine. It'd be out of hand! Oh---My----Gosh! ;)

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

janfrederick said:
Perhaps they should build a special punishment ride for bad guests. Kinda like the feeding machione that Porky Pig is strapped to in one of the old Warner Bros cartoons...or how about a spanking machine? ;)

Don't most parks already own something from Vekoma?

(ooooh, I know. I know.)

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--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?
May the Schwarz be with you.
*** This post was edited by Chernabog 9/19/2003 4:28:48 PM ***

You beat me to the punch, Maddie. :)

These fingerprint/iris scan/nosehair analyzer systems are a little bit far fetched to those who are still serious.

--Ryan

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95.32% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

Casinos regularly ban people from their establishments if they are caught cheating or suspected of card-counting. They also have expensive security including face recognition software. Obviously this level of security would be cost prohibitive to any amusement park.

I think the easiest thing to do would be to inform the individual that if they step onto the park's property again they will be arrested for trespassing. If they make it through the day without incident (or being recognized), fine; no harm, no foul. However, I wonder what kind of enjoyment they would get looking over their shoulder all day wondering if they're going to get busted.

My buddys brother got banned from Knoebles. He used to pick fights and just be a bad a$$ at the park. I guess he gave them so many problems everyone basicly knew who he was. When ever he would show up at the park security would see them and escort him out.

I can see it working for a small park but a big park that has lots of employees it would be a lot tougher. They could take the persons picture and post it at the front gate and where everyone punches in but still it would be tough. It would be easy if there were only like one or two people to spot then but if there were a hundred people to look out for it would be pretty tough.

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Signature will be closed today. Sorry for the inconveinance.

Actually, Disney has some kind of biometric system that they use for their season pass holders, and have used for a number of years...Something about measuring the thumb and forefinger......

(Which is interesting, considering that Mickey only has *three* fingers)

Anyway, the reality is that telling a person he is no longer welcome is usually enough to get that person to not come back at least for a while. And if he does, charge him with trespassing. And it can all happen so quietly that uninvolved people never know what happened...!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Disney's biometric machines measure the distance between your bones, I believe.

Have you ever waited in line behind a group of people trying to get those things to work? It slows things down pretty considerably.

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--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?
May the Schwarz be with you.

Ah yes, the infamous "Bobbies" that pop out of bushes and grab the offender by the elbows, and quickly and quietly escort him or her out. A model of efficiency. :)

Now didn't Didney plan a community at one point? Didn't that evolve into Epcot? Could you imagine if the dream had been realized? Hmmmm....if yer a bad boy, Bobbies will pop out of bushes and knock on your door.

Sorry to get off topic. Too bad some folks have to act like spoiled brats.

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

Here's an idea:

When we go to a park we (normally) have to pay something for parking, why not have the parking attendants enter the license plate number into a computer. Then you could quickly tell if that car's occupants have a history of misbehavior in the park. Plus, for chains like Six Flags, Cedar Fair and Paramount, you could tie those systems together, and then ban that car from all parks their parks. I don't honestly think it would be that had to do (Being a computer science student). It would have it's flaws but at least it's a solution.
*** This post was edited by Brian W 9/19/2003 8:09:30 PM ***