HappyAndy wrote: I would think that any properly manly man could go toe-to-toe with a 4 foot gator on land, maybe even in the water
I wouldn't suggest putting that theory to the test. Me thinks you are vastly under estimating their speed and strength.
I was thinking that lots of states are just as crazy, but don't have alligators.
Around here, SoFla, gators are everywhere. Locals pretty much know to stay away from ponds, lakes, etc., and to call authorities if one is spotted in a populated area. Those trappers that catch them are busy. Regardless, Fluffy disappears often. I have caught a 4' gator with my hands, for a very short time. 7'? No way.
GameboyRMH wrote: This isn't a problem with Florida being crazy, this is a problem with Florida being infested with alligators. You should assume any inland bodies of water have alligators there if you're not sure. 99% of the time you'll be right.
The problem isn't the alligators, it's the bajillion of tourists and residents that visit this swamp.
spitfirebill wrote:Huckleberry wrote: In Nebraska, they don't really have the expectation that a giant reptile might lunge out of a puddle and eat your babies. I expect it came as something of an unimaginable shock.Yea but the signs around the place should have given them a clue.
The only signs my parents paid much attention to said "Wet Paint". Everything else is just a suggestion. I would Imagine they never would have expected alligators to drag us off.
Now... if we can just keep Dr. Hess from posting how the gator is registered to vote...
Florida just has a lot of people.. Lots of people.. lots of opportunity for crazy.
Fueled by Caffeine wrote: Florida just has a lot of people.. Lots of people.. lots of opportunity for crazy.
And with warm weather year round, lots of opportunities to present itself.
mtn wrote:spitfirebill wrote:Might be natural.Huckleberry wrote: In Nebraska, they don't really have the expectation that a giant reptile might lunge out of a puddle and eat your babies. I expect it came as something of an unimaginable shock.Yea but the signs around the place should have given them a clue. I question why they would have a sandy beach if you couldn't go in the water. Sunbathing?
It would be the only thing in Disney World that is natural, but heard this morning the lake is man-made.
I thought the pythons were going to kill all the gators.
spitfirebill wrote:mtn wrote:It would be the only thing in Disney World that is natural, but heard this morning the lake is man-made.spitfirebill wrote:Might be natural.Huckleberry wrote: In Nebraska, they don't really have the expectation that a giant reptile might lunge out of a puddle and eat your babies. I expect it came as something of an unimaginable shock.Yea but the signs around the place should have given them a clue. I question why they would have a sandy beach if you couldn't go in the water. Sunbathing?
Wait a minute... did this reptile make a tick-tock sound? Maybe it was an inside job?
DrBoost wrote: A 2-year old boy was taken by al alligator at a Disney resort!! It seems any time something you never imagined could happen (homeless man eating others faces, night club shooting, singers being shot at a performance, alligators waling around with a human body in it's mouth, and on, and on) it's in Florida. Why is there a higher concentration of crazy down there? Can we just evacuate the 341 normal people and sawzall the state line and let it float away? Of course this is posted in jest. There could be upwards of 400 normal people down there ;)
Was talking aboutthis incident this morning with swmbo who is a manager at another resort. Things the media will not post-
There is no swimming anywhere near where that that kid became a chicken nugget. Disney likes local wildlife, and seven seas is sort of a refuge. There are signs posted all over in about every language ever.
The kid was taken at 9:30 pm. Gators are nocturnal, opportunistic feeders. It was dark, and there was a happy meal in his space. Food is food.
This one comes down to tourists being tourists and either not reading, or not following the rules. Unfortunate for the kids parents, but its all on them.
Also seven seas is man made.
I read the parents notified a life guard?? Why was there a lifeguard if there is no swimming?
The interwebs also said a gator chased another family a week or two earlier.
spitfirebill wrote: I read the parents notified a life guard?? Why was there a lifeguard if there is no swimming? The interwebs also said a gator chased another family a week or two earlier.
They likely notified the guard at the pool. You know the one with no gators in it. Which is near the walking sand, but not in.
Is anybody else a Carl Hiassen* fan? This is straight out of one of his books.
*Most of my Florida environmental destruction history has come from Mr Hiassen.
Why is it suddenly now OK to not pay attention to your child when out in public?
Hiaasen is my favorite author. The man truly loves Florida, but not happy about the changes. Great reads though.
Bobzilla wrote: Why is it suddenly now OK to not pay attention to your child when out in public?
Because its disneys/teachers/chuck e cheeses responsibility, obviousl.
My standing assumption is that every body of water in Florida has like, 10 gators minimum in it.
Tom_Spangler wrote: My standing assumption is that every body of water in Florida has like, 10 gators minimum in it.
Accurate
Tom_Spangler wrote: My standing assumption is that every body of water in Florida has like, 10 gators minimum in it.
Except the ones that are saltwater... then it's sharks.
HappyAndy wrote:spitfirebill wrote:I was just in the Polynesian resort a couple weeks ago. There are signs saying no swimming by the lake, but nothing indicating an alligator hazard, and in many places the sandy beach goes right up to the water's edge just like any other swimming lake.Huckleberry wrote: In Nebraska, they don't really have the expectation that a giant reptile might lunge out of a puddle and eat your babies. I expect it came as something of an unimaginable shock.Yea but the signs around the place should have given them a clue. I question why they would have a sandy beach if you couldn't go in the water. Sunbathing?
It's going to be interesting how this pans out.
Yes, I agree the parents should be watching their kid when down by the water but if there's beaches going down to the water's edge, where do you draw the line between swimming and wading?
The signs say no swimming but is there anything listing the potential for gators in the water other than it's Florida, in the swamp and you should just assume there's alligators? Whether the parents should have known about the danger or not, a lawyer might have a field day with this.
An example of Florida being crazy and needing some serious help was the report last year of this one guy disemboweling his girlfriend for saying her ex's name during "play time." In either case, the results are very sad.
stafford1500 wrote:Tom_Spangler wrote: My standing assumption is that every body of water in Florida has like, 10 gators minimum in it.Except the ones that are saltwater... then it's sharks.
Or jellyfish
stafford1500 wrote:Tom_Spangler wrote: My standing assumption is that every body of water in Florida has like, 10 gators minimum in it.Except the ones that are saltwater... then it's sharks.
Also, Crocs. And not just the horrible footwear.
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