Crowd Control In Action- Inauguration Organizers Working To Keep Kids Out

[KittyWampus]

Inauguration Organizers Working To Keep Kids Out

The committee organizing Barack Obama's inauguration is providing some strong disincentives against bringing children, banning strollers and expressly warning that attendees will have to stand in one place for hours. Said a spokeswoman for the committee: "They are shorter than everyone else; they can be stepped on. Parents should think long and hard about bringing a small kid to an event with 1 million people."

[tabbycat31]

1. I looked at the list of banned items

and it was no different from the rallies I went to. I wouldn't bring a stroller to a crowd either.

[Sebass1271]

2. AGREE

[glowing]

3. AND those planning people must not have children.. Are those people the younger one's

who just don't have the patience for children? Parents know their own children better.. if they want to bring them, they will.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Having been in a lot of these kinds of crowds in DC, that's actually good advice. nt

[gollygee]

5. People can carry young children in baby carriers

There are many that hold kids up through toddler age. Strollers aren't practical at something like that, and they're right that it isn't a good idea to have a young child on foot in a large crowd. But people could bring young kids in safe ways if they wanted.

[Warpy]

6. That's the only reasonable way to do it

because if you want your kiddo to be there for an important occasion, you want the kid up high enough to see some of it.

The problem is really the younger school age kid, too short to see, too tall to be carried, and easily trampled.

I can remember being terrified in crowds when I was a little kid. I got stepped on a lot.

If I had young kids and I absolutely had to be there, I'd hire a baby sitter.

[Blue Diadem]

7. I don't think they are working to keep kids out. They're putting the info out there

because some people aren't aware of the length of standing time, the crowd and space allowed and the rules like no umbrellas if it should rain. Small children get bored easily and would have a hard time standing among taller adults and not being able to see much. Small children and the elderly don't often have the stamina for standing for long periods.

Full list of info here:

http://inaugural.senate.gov/2009/planyourtrip.cfm?utm

[Carolann]

8. Look, Gentle People...

I am very short and I am terrified in crowds...AND I'm a mother and grandmother. Taking a child (or a short person) to an expected one million person rally is sheer ignorance. You may think your child would want to be at this important historical occasion, but you are DEAD wrong. Your child does NOT want to nor will s/he thank you for it later. I can remember being held up on my father's shoulders for some parade and I was stunned stupid by the terror I felt (which is probably why I still hate crowds..but no matter, it was a defining moment!) Do you think your children don't have thoughts or feelings about this? Ask them...and if they're too young to ask, they shouldn't be put into that type of danger. BTW: Baby carriers are more dangerous than strollers...these rallies CRUSH people together like sardines. Please don't be selfish because YOU want your children to be there...THEY DON'T WANT TO BE THERE!

[Mike Daniels]

9. I notice that the organizing committee is claiming 1 million attendence

In fact the only source for the 4 to 5 million attendees that gets tossed out is the mayor's office.

I'm not sure where the mayor is getting his information but it seems to go against every other estimated crowd attendance figures.

[Arkansas Granny]

10. I don't think they are trying to keep kids out, but rather making sure the

parents who want their children to attend have a full awareness of just what is involved. For myself, I wouldn't want to take younger children, and certainly not infants, to any gathering of that size. I would be terrified of them getting injured or separated from me. I've had a small child wander away from me at a much smaller event and it's a nerve wracking experience.

[Missy Vixen]

11. Good for them

This is not a place for children. If adults want to stand for hours in bitter cold, that's their prerogative. Plus, it's DANGEROUS.

One million people crowding onto the Mall, and there are still those on this site who believe they should be able to bring a baby? God.

Julie

[Captain Hilts]

13. Exactly right. And what do you do if the kid has to pee? You're out of luck...

in a crowd like that. I've been to some of the huge marches, the kind where women forcibly take over the men's bathroom in Union Station, etc. No place for a kid.

[taterguy]

12. Whatever happened to believing that children are our future?

:mad: :mad: :amd:

[IndianaJones]

14. I think there shouldn't be any old people allowed either. Or the obese. nt.

[EFerrari]

15. I wouldn't take my babies to such an event and they usually went everywhere with me.

Too much discomfort, not safe enough. :shrug:

[Scout]

16. if i had kids, i wouldn't want to take them there unless they were teens

too many possibilities for some kind of mishap with a smaller child.

I don't want to be in a crowd like that either, honestly. Historic event or not.