Guys like this is why parks shouldn't be babysitters...

Dave: No offense, but that's a GOOD CALL. Damn good call. My hat's off to the keen-sighted officer. Single, middle-aged guy with no kids taking a buncha shots? In many cases, that's the MO.

Obviously, you kept the shots. They asked you what you were up to, you checked out and life went on.

Molested kids are effed up for life and that's putting it mildly. The scars--whether they're borne inward, with trust and relationship issues (at the minimum!) or acted out through violence and abberant sexual behavior towrd other kids--will never quite disappear.

I'd much rather they cut too close to the bone than too far away. While Westcoaster man's experience was WAY outta line, yours was just about as it should be.

-'Playa

*** Edited 9/14/2005 4:30:05 AM UTC by CoastaPlaya***

and yet parks STILL insist that childless enthusiasts "find a kid" when looking for that ONE lap on a kiddie coaster? Come ON, I'm not looking to "hog up the ride" so kids cannot ride it - I need one stinking LAP....and I'm FAR from the only one here without kids.

Not to take it off tangent, but I've never gotten too much grief about pictures (like some here obviously have)...I have gotten considerable hassle trying to get a credit lap on some rides....Frontier City in particular. Put a limit on the NUMBER of adults allowed per train, or whatever, but REQUIRING a kid to ride makes lots of enthusiasts *appear* to be predatory. I'm just hunting COASTERS, not your children!

Again though, PARENTS are the best protection, NOONE else is as invested in your kids as you are...

In general, I lean more towards Andy or dexter in terms of compassion or forgiveness or what-have-you, but I work for programs that deal DIRECTLY with abused/neglected kids, so my POV on these issues is FAR removed from how I feel about crimes against other adults...

Yeah I find it really hard to take photos at waterparks anymore. I totally agree with Gonch on that. It just seems like as soon as you take out a camera at a water park, everyone just assumes the worst. Although I have never been questioned by security, I always worry about it. And I know for a fact that people get kicked out of water parks a lot for this kind of stuff, because I happen to work at one, and I've seen it happen a few times in my day.

And if you're not a pedophile scoping out the kids, you're a terrorist planning a strike at an amusement park. This particular case was far enough on the far side of the line that there seems to be no question about his intent.

The unfortunate thing though is the broad question of how and where to draw the line between protecting members of our society and protecting liberties for all. Not just on the issue of pedophiles. It's sad, but the message anymore seems to be that everyone is evil, no one is trustworthy. And I think that kind of paranoia and lack of trust makes society as a whole less civil.

Reminds me of an episode of the old Twilight Zone series-- humor the old guy here. Typical early 60's traditional American neighborhood, until someone got the idea that there was an alien from outer space living there disguised as a regular person. No one was above suspicion and the paranoia grew as the episode went on. That's what I see happening around us today. Just fill in the blank for whatever it is you fear the most... terrorist, homosexual, pedophile, foreigner, pro-lifer, pro-choicer, and on and on...

No answers here, just making an observation.

I LOVE The Twilight Zone...Great show.

I have never been questioned on taking pics of rides or attractions/areas where kids were playing. I'm by myself at parks a lot, and I know it looks strange.

I use throw-away cameras. Thinking about it now, one could easily show a park security guard what one is taking pics of with a digital, but a non-digital (35mm for example) would be much harder to get prints from if those pics were questionable. I think an innocent park loving person would look strange either way.

I agree with Bear that we as a socity are starting to look at our brothers and sisters with distrust and paranoia. I blame the government and the media for only showing what's wrong with the world and less of what's right. Everyone is scared of some kind of "boogieman" who is going to distroy your life somehow. Just watch a commercial for an upcoming news program..."Are you and your children in danger? We'll tell you at 11!"

Aren't we as a people being a little overly cautious? Shouldn't we all be having fun instead of stressing over who's out to ruin our lives?

I'm all for worring about kids saftey, but it should be in the back of our minds and only come to the front when a red flag is raised. Most people use way too much energy looking for that one in a million pedo, a needle in a haystack, who is going to do harm to their kid. Those people are sick as well, imho.

And just to make sure, I understand and pretty much agree with all of you.