REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Tigger punches kid during photo op

POSTED BY: REDLAVA
UPDATED: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 12:11
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Tuesday, January 9, 2007 6:00 AM

REDLAVA




ORLANDO, Fla. — A Walt Disney World employee dressed as the character "Tigger" was accused of hitting a child while posing for a photo, a spokeswoman for the theme park said Saturday.

Park officials temporarily suspended Michael J. Fedelem while they investigate the accusations, Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez said.

"Naturally, physical altercations between cast members and guests are not tolerated," Suarez said.

Jerry Monaco of New Hampshire videotaped his son, Jerry Jr., posing with the costumed character at Disney-MGM Studios on Friday and recorded the confrontation, according to a statement from the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

The father said Fedelem intentionally hit his son "on or about the head," said sheriff's spokesman Carlos M. Padilla. "The tape only shows a fraction of what happened. Now it's up to us to find out what led up to that."

A message left by The Associated Press for Monaco was not immediately returned. A telephone listing for Fedelem could not be located.

In 2004 a Walt Disney World employee dressed as Tigger was accused of touching the breast of a 13-year-old girl while she posed with him for a photo. A jury found the man not guilty.


Bet you $20 bucks that a Fruity Oaty Bar commercial was playing somewhere.





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Tuesday, January 9, 2007 6:15 AM

HERO


Tigger was defending himself. The kid deserved it. Besides, I think everybody know what happens when you pull a tiger by the tail.

I note for the record the Winnie the Pooh is a known thief who steals to serve his addiction. Piglet is a gay Jimmy Carter type. OwlGore? The so called 'Hundred Acre Wood' became the latter day setting for the movie 'The Village'. Eeyore suffers from clinical depression making him the most beloved character by children who see in him a reflection of their own parents and/or their almost inevitable drug-induced future. Heffalumps are fictional representations of black people and Pooh is a closet racist.

But this here Tigger, he's just workin hard, not bothering nobody...sometimes a Tigger just needs ta get paid. I'm just glad it was some punk and not another Tigger...last thing we need is another story about Tigger on Tigger violence.

H

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Tuesday, January 9, 2007 6:28 AM

FINN MAC CUMHAL


I’m not sure what we can expect from men who dress in Tigger costumes, but frankly, it doesn’t look to me like an aggressive altercation. Based on just what I can see in the video, it looks to me like Tigger may actually be stumbling backward, and may have inadvertently hit the kid, not intentionally. Now the family is getting a lawyer to sue Disney, but based on what I see here, I really can’t say that the father isn’t just opportunistic.



Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.

Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.

-- Cicero

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Tuesday, January 9, 2007 6:37 AM

FINN MAC CUMHAL


Quote:

Originally posted by Hero:
But this here Tigger, he's just workin hard, not bothering nobody...sometimes a Tigger just needs ta get paid. I'm just glad it was some punk and not another Tigger...last thing we need is another story about Tigger on Tigger violence.



Damn, that was funny.



Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.

Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.

-- Cicero

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Tuesday, January 9, 2007 6:46 AM

SIGMANUNKI


Gonna agree with Finn on this one and add that if this kid was actually hit, the effect would be rather more obvious i.e. the kid would have had his head more than just fractionally turned.

It's a shame that people can't let things like this go and let the company deal with things. Especially since the kid is obviously unharmed. Make a formal complaint, allow the company to get a copy of the video and walk away. Perhaps get the police involved if necessary. But suing?!?!

Can anyone else say court reform?

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Tuesday, January 9, 2007 6:48 AM

DESKTOPHIPPIE


Yep. Looks like an accident. Actually, it looks like the kid started dragging out of Tigger and that made him stumble back, accidentally whacking the kid accross the face.

Also, the kid was still smiling after it happened, so it doesn't seem to have been that hard a hit. It also looks like Tigger apologised straight away, since he took one of the kids hands in his hands (paws?) and shook it up and down. There's no sound, but the gesture makes me think the guy was saying "Oh, Geez! Sorry! Didn't mean to do that!"

How can the video only show "a fraction" of what happened??? It was trained on them the whole time! I mean, unless they turned it off just before Tigger beat the snot out of the kid or something. And seriously, how effective are his punches going to be? He's wrapped in inches of felt and foam!

Actually, having seen the video I'm now very angry that the guy was suspeded. This could be completely unfounded, but I can't help thinking this is greedy parents smelling settlement money from a rich corporation and not thinking about the guy working on minimum wage who's likely suspended without pay.




Graphics available at www.desktophippie.com
Blog available at http://desktophippie.blogspot.com

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Tuesday, January 9, 2007 7:10 AM

PIRATECAT


I saw the film I like how the news portrays its a child. It's a teenager who is pulling on his tail. If Tigger hit him for no reason just hit him back no big whoop. But the brat started it. The father is a jackass for making a big deal out of nothing. The father should have clubed Tigger if his child didn't do anything. That's the problem with parents they don't watch their kids. They think their kids are so sweet. I've told jackasses with kids who are problems I'll knock the f*** out of you if I have problems with your sweet child. Just saw it in a movie theater myself and another older man had to tell this jackass to keep his son quiet. Banging on the seats that's not your property. Twice, now the third time I was going smack the dad in the head. I love telling rude people that their rude it offends them. The lousy father had to be told that his son is not allowed to bang on the seats. What a jerk. One time its over then you leave.

"Battle of Serenity, Mal. Besides Zoe here, how many-" "I'm talkin at you! How many men in your platoon came out of their alive".

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Tuesday, January 9, 2007 7:49 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


Can you say "deep pockets"? Sure you can.

Good thing there's a video. Not that I like being in a constantly surveilled environment, but it's like PirateCat said- some parents don't seem to understand when their kids are being jerks. One of the interesting tactics that school districts are taking to combat misbehavior on school buses is to place videocams in the back of the bus. You'd be surprised how many parents don't believe their little darling could possibly be guilty, until they see the tapes.

---------------------------------
Reality sucks. Especially when it contradicts our cherished ideas.

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 6:15 AM

ANTHONYT

Freedom is Important because People are Important


Our choices?

1) Tigger suddenly, for no reason at all, decides to arm-lock and swat at a child. A random psychopathic attack that ends after 3 seconds of foam-padded rage.

2) Child does something behind tigger's back prompting him to arm-lock and swat at the child. An instinctive response to a provocation.

I'll go with option 2.

However, given how Disney needs to protect their image as the cuddliest place on earth, I suspect the costumed character gets sacked regardless of how this turns out.

--Anthony

"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 6:24 AM

CHRISISALL


Tigger was responding to a tail-pull, and as a trained martial artist, I must say that Tigger was severely off-balance to land an effective blow which leads me to surmise that it was merely a 'fun' shot, not meant to hurt, but diplay a good-natured retaliation to a teen that had it coming, and seemed to have no problem with it.

Judgement: $250,000 to the plaintiff for pain and suffering.

Case closed Chrisisall

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 7:09 AM

RIVER6213


Quote:

Originally posted by Redlava:



ORLANDO, Fla. — A Walt Disney World employee dressed as the character "Tigger" was accused of hitting a child while posing for a photo, a spokeswoman for the theme park said Saturday.

Park officials temporarily suspended Michael J. Fedelem while they investigate the accusations, Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez said.

"Naturally, physical altercations between cast members and guests are not tolerated," Suarez said.

Jerry Monaco of New Hampshire videotaped his son, Jerry Jr., posing with the costumed character at Disney-MGM Studios on Friday and recorded the confrontation, according to a statement from the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

The father said Fedelem intentionally hit his son "on or about the head," said sheriff's spokesman Carlos M. Padilla. "The tape only shows a fraction of what happened. Now it's up to us to find out what led up to that."

A message left by The Associated Press for Monaco was not immediately returned. A telephone listing for Fedelem could not be located.

In 2004 a Walt Disney World employee dressed as Tigger was accused of touching the breast of a 13-year-old girl while she posed with him for a photo. A jury found the man not guilty.


Bet you $20 bucks that a Fruity Oaty Bar commercial was playing somewhere.







*laughter*

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 7:15 AM

SIGNYM

I believe in solving problems, not sharing them.


It looked to me like Tigger stumbled more than anything.

---------------------------------
Reality sucks. Especially when it contradicts our cherished ideas.

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 8:10 AM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by SignyM:
It looked to me like Tigger stumbled more than anything.


Ahhh, trademark of the Drunken Style of Kung-Fu!

Deceptive Chrisisall

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 8:44 AM

THATWEIRDGIRL


Poor Tigger. That guy puts up with all kinds of jerks all day, all year, I think he'd have a good reason for smackin the kid upside the head. I think the kid did something to his suit and he fell back and then BOOM. Kid hits back awfully quickly, like he knew it was coming...sheesh, teens...Now this guy doesn't have a job. Thanks dad!

---
Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?" Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night."
-- Charlie Brown

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007 8:07 AM

CAUSAL


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
Tigger was responding to a tail-pull, and as a trained martial artist, I must say that Tigger was severely off-balance to land an effective blow which leads me to surmise that it was merely a 'fun' shot, not meant to hurt, but diplay a good-natured retaliation to a teen that had it coming, and seemed to have no problem with it.



I agree that Tigger wasn't throwing a punch. I've got some experience with punching myself, and I can tell you that you don't strike when you're off balance. You probably won't connect and even if you do, you won't have any power, and you might even make your balance issue worse. Also, you don't bother to arm-bar someone before you hit them, because that ties up half your weapons. You would however, arm-bar someone who you needed to get control of, and quick, and if you're in a top-heavy Tigger costume, and someone is pulling you off balance, you better get control of that someone PDQ. I don't even think the paw-to-the-face was a strike as such; looks to me like Tigger is going for the kid's left shoulder to peel him off--which makes more sense if indeed the kid was pulling him off balance.

________________________________________________________________________
Grand High Poobah of the Mythical Land of Iowa, and Keeper of State Secrets


I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.

Vote Firefly! http://www.richlabonte.net/tvvote/index.html

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007 10:53 AM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by Causal:
Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
Tigger was responding to a tail-pull, and as a trained martial artist, I must say that Tigger was severely off-balance to land an effective blow which leads me to surmise that it was merely a 'fun' shot, not meant to hurt, but diplay a good-natured retaliation to a teen that had it coming, and seemed to have no problem with it.



I agree that Tigger wasn't throwing a punch. I've got some experience with punching myself, and I can tell you that you don't strike when you're off balance. You probably won't connect and even if you do, you won't have any power, and you might even make your balance issue worse. Also, you don't bother to arm-bar someone before you hit them, because that ties up half your weapons. You would however, arm-bar someone who you needed to get control of, and quick, and if you're in a top-heavy Tigger costume, and someone is pulling you off balance, you better get control of that someone PDQ. I don't even think the paw-to-the-face was a strike as such; looks to me like Tigger is going for the kid's left shoulder to peel him off--which makes more sense if indeed the kid was pulling him off balance.



Causal, you and I gave serious consideration to the martial antics of a guy in a tiger suit.


I think we need help Chrisisall

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007 10:56 AM

CAUSAL


Oh, God--we did, huh? I think I'm going to swear off FFF.net for a while to regain my obviously tenuous grasp on reality.

























Wait, no I'm not.

________________________________________________________________________
Grand High Poobah of the Mythical Land of Iowa, and Keeper of State Secrets


I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.

Vote Firefly! http://www.richlabonte.net/tvvote/index.html

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007 11:10 AM

THATWEIRDGIRL


Quote:

: posted by chrisisall
Causal, you and I gave serious consideration to the martial antics of a guy in a tiger suit.


I think we need help Chrisisall



You need help? I keep picturing Tigger in a unifrom with a black belt around his waist.

---
Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?" Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night."
-- Charlie Brown

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007 12:05 PM

FREMDFIRMA


See, now yer gettin him confused with Hong Kong Phooey.

That was Hanna Barbera, Tigger is Disney.


*laughing evilly now*

-Frem

*Cue 'Tash for HKP pics, I KNOW he's got em...

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007 12:11 PM

THATWEIRDGIRL


Alright now you've done it! I've got the Charlie's Angels of animation in my head. Phooey, Tigger, and Cpt. Caveman. Not the most competent group, but effective nonetheless.

---
Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?" Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night."
-- Charlie Brown

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