Vacation BAD....Gun and Knife show GOOD...

[KBR]

First off...the BAD,



Just got back from a family vacation to Six Flags Astroworld in Houston, TX and have to say that my family and I will NEVER be going back there again. Why?? I didn't know that I was going to be forced to go in KNIFELESS. Metal detectors were set up way before you even get to the gate. The teenage &quot;screeners&quot; absolutely freaked when I pulled out my knives(I was carrying light that day<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>); Calypso, Jr. PE, Jester SE, Spydercard 50/50, and a Kershaw Chive that I was using as a money clip. In the end, I just went and put my blades back in the car, I didn't trust those little punks with my Spydies. In short, my wife, kids, and I were completely disappointed with that place!!! I will not be giving any of my hard earned cash to ANY business that &quot;asks&quot; to hold my EDCs until I leave their places of business. I will not be a slave to security!!!



Our vacation was not a total loss, though. The GOOD was that across the highway at the AstroArena was a Gun and Knife show!!<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0><img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> The wife didn't feel like going with me, so she and the kids visited with some relatives in town while I went to have some fun. I picked up a green Lum Chinese &lt;img src=&quot;spyder.gif&quot; width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0&gt; and was SO glad that the vacation wasn't a total loss. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0><img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0><img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>



Survive, Adapt, and Overcome...



Edited by - KBR on 7/7/2002 11:42:46 PM

[CalypsoKid]

I guess that 6 Flags might be worried about your knives klunking peeps on the head when they fall out of your britches as you ride the rides.

~C

[SpyderNut]

What a drag! I know what you mean, about guys trying to frisk you for any sharp objects. (Good grief!<img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>) I remember a time when I was coming out of Hollister at the mall, and the stupid security alarms went off. My first thought was that it was due to all the steel I was packin'.<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> However, the real cause was that the sale's girl forgot to take off the little protective micro-chip doo-hicky that prevents people from walking off with merchandise. For a sec' there, I thought I was toast! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Michelob

[KBR]

I was dead tired last night, so forgive me if my post didn't make much sense.
Anyways, CalypsoKid I just about fell off my chair from LOL!!, but I know what you mean.<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

SpyderNut, I hope that it never comes to that. I don't know what the heck I would do if everyday outings required you to be frisked for any knives, nail clippers, tweezers, paper clips, etc.. That would be the day that I'd probably lose it and get hauled to the pen!<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>



Survive, Adapt, and Overcome...

Edited by - KBR on 7/8/2002 8:11:35 PM

[SpyderNut]

KBR,

You and me both, man. *Hee hee* <img src="tongue.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

&quot;They can have my Spydies when they pry them out of my cold, lifeless fingers....&quot;

Mike

[sotyakr]

You can thank Osama and Co. for Six Flags' (and probably most other theme parks these days) no pointy and sharp things through the front gate policy. Prior to 9/11, our park didn't use walk-through metal detectors, and hand-helds only on 'special occasions' (Halloween for example) when the local idiots come out of the woodwork.

Even the employee entrance now has a walk-through detector. Fortunately, my Native rides with me when I drive in. Besides, it's a necessary tool for my job.

[Zabrewolf]

Gentle&lt;img src=&quot;spyder.gif&quot; width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0&gt;s,
My question is what are the Amusement Parks afraid of? Are you likely to highjack the roller coaster and refuse to let anybody else ride it? Are they declaring with a loud clear voice &quot;We are too much of a sheeple to allow a innocent person with a pocket knife in our presence with out panicking and stampeding.&quot;?

This is stupid people. Why are people incapable of correct level of security for correct level of threat?

&quot;Ne vyklykaj vowka z leesoo, ..... bo tsej vowk maje <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> .&quot; Don't call the wolf out of the forest, because this one carries a <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> .

Edited by - Zabrewolf on 7/9/2002 7:22:34 AM

[sotyakr]

I think it's largely a matter of 'perceived security' by the general public. Most of the GP wants to feel they're going to a 'safe' place, and with things being they are, this is an unfortunate by-product. Given a choice, I really doubt the theme park operators want eat into their bottom line by spending the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars per park for all of this equipment and extra security staffing. I'm not being an apologist for them, but unfortunately, that's just the way it is.

[glasshartt]

Sotyakr,

I don't think we can blame this on 9/11. I was at Six Flags-Fiesta Texas in San Antonio last year and had the same experience. They said it was a San Antonio ordinance. After hearing this, I think is is probably company policy. The strange thing is that we could take in our other &quot;hardware&quot; without any problems.

Linda

<img src="http://www.spyderco.com/forum/spyder.gif" border=O> Integrity is being good even if no-one else is watching <img src="http://www.spyderco.com/forum/spyder.gif" border=O>

[SpyderNut]

Evil prevails when good men do nothing...


Mike

[KBR]

Lady Glasshartt, you have a point there. Although I had to take out all of my knives and go through that damn metal detector, my camcorder bag and its' contents were not searched. My wife had suggested, while we were in line, for me to put my EDCs into the bag but I'm too stubborn to &quot;hide&quot; anything. As far as it being a company policy, I don't remember it being in place the last time I had gone to a Six Flags theme park. But then again, it's been a while for me since I've been to one.

One more thing that I forgot to mention. I DID NOT do this intentionally, but I was able to get into the park with a &quot;knife&quot;!! Like I said, it was unintentional but I had forgotten my Victorinox Swisscard in a hidden pocket in my wallet. The Card, as many of you may know, has tweezers, toothpick, small scissors, pen, etc.. It also has a small one inch or so blade. In retrospect, I think that maybe the plastic in the card maybe concealed the metal parts. Anyways, what's done is done.

As SpyderNut said,&quot;evil prevails when good men do nothing.&quot;





Edited by - KBR on 7/9/2002 11:45:42 AM

Edited by - KBR on 7/9/2002 11:46:56 AM

[sotyakr]

Linda,
I shouldn't have made it sound like a metal detectors we're a new thing at all of the Six Flags parks post 9/11. As I mentioned, our park in CA didn't have them until this year. A competing park in the area, has had them for a while, mainly due to some gang activity in the past. As far as other 'hardware' goes, I wouldn't feel too safe as an employee knowing some of our locals were packing. I think the folks in your area have a better grasp of how, and when to use such equipment.