Riding crop costumes go bye bye

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Hrm.

I guess this begs the question - just how "show" is the show?

I think they should have stuck to their guns and continued to hire hot chicks for the job. Actually, I think they should have stuck to their guns years ago and continued to hire hot chicks and hot guys for nearly all the jobs.

Disneyland is supposed to be a show-based hyper reality, and I'm ok with that.

Let the flames from the not-so-skinny commence. (No way in hell I'd post this at any other board...)

[Alex]

Well, you either do one or the other. Either only hire the petite and attractive (and how well will that work in an environment where they can't hire enough people even when they're willing to consider anybody mobile and not currently wearing a house-arrest ankle bracelet) or change the costumes to accommodate the people actually wearing them.

Fat isn't necessarily unattractive (nor vice versa), but the wrong clothes certainly don't help.

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Let the flames from the not-so-skinny commence. (No way in hell I'd post this at any other board...)

Jenny, if I didn't already love you I would have some serious fighting words. Not for your opinion, just for this line. (Although I do disagree with the opinion as well.) From this pregnant two of the three last years fat and trying hard to lose it person: OUCH!

As far as whom they should hire, I would much rather encounter a friendly, outgoing CM who happens to be overweight than a thin mediocre one. I would hope they would be sued if they discriminated for any reason. Would you also like for them not to hire disabled people? Many of them aren't text book attractive.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by tracilicious

Would you also like for them not to hire disabled people? Many of them aren't text book attractive.

See, that's a sticking point there. How much is Disney a show? Should all movie companies be sued for discrimiation for hiring only attractive people to play the roles?

For better or for worse, a portion of the role of tour guide is asthetic. As a whole, the company shouldn't discriminate. But if a specific job would be most profitable to the company if it's filled by someone fitting the, perhaps unfair, American perception of attractiveness, why shouldn't they do that?

Of course, perhaps they've found that no longer to be the case, that people are just as likely to take the tour whether the CM is "attractive" or not. In that case, I stand by my previous lament that the solution is to cover EVERYONE in a gunny sack. Ideally, it'd be possible to tailor each CM's outfit, no matter their physique, to flatter them most. Honestly, when you start making these "one shape fits all" costumes, people who may not be stick thin but otherwise would be highly attractive with the right clothing are going to come out looking like fat people trying to hide it.

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

For better or for worse, a portion of the role of tour guide is asthetic. As a whole, the company shouldn't discriminate. But if a specific job would be most profitable to the company if it's filled by someone fitting the, perhaps unfair, American perception of attractiveness, why shouldn't they do that?

How far would you like to take that? Are you willing to accept that race and gender also play into perceptions of attractiveness? Or is it just fat cripples who should man the stockrooms?

[€uroMeinke]

As much as Disneyland likes to pretend it's employees are "Cast Members," they don't want to pay them at the "entertainers" pay scale so they long ago gave up the right to dictate that part of the "show."

While I'm sad to see this traditional costume go, I'll wait to see what replaces it. I've liked some of the new costumes I've seen and hated others. But if they are better tailored for who will be wearing them, I think that's probably a plus.

People come in all shapes and sizes (in ways much more complex than fat vs skinny), and clothing styles and cuts that looks good on one doesn't necessarily look good on another. I'm just hoping the costumes look good when they're worn.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Hrm.

I guess this begs the question - just how "show" is the show?

I think they should have stuck to their guns and continued to hire hot chicks for the job. Actually, I think they should have stuck to their guns years ago and continued to hire hot chicks and hot guys for nearly all the jobs.

Disneyland is supposed to be a show-based hyper reality, and I'm ok with that.

Let the flames from the not-so-skinny commence. (No way in hell I'd post this at any other board...)

OK. The text above IN BOLD is where the problem began. CP obviously doesn't like hot chicks or hot guys that are no-so-skinny. Or, it seems rather that anyone who is no-so-skinny is not hot and, therefore shouldn''t be hired by Disneyland.

Personally, I find that statement pretty naive and childish and I don't blame anyone for taking her to task over it. I would actually be surprised if no one did.

But, things seem to have gotten a bit more intense so I'm gonna recommend that CP cut her loses now and stop digging an even deeper hole. I think there are some interesting kernels of discussion to be had here but I don't think there is much that can be done to repair the damage done by the statement above in this thread. And, things may just get worse. I would hate to see that happen.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

OK. The text above IN BOLD is where the problem began. CP obviously doesn't like hot chicks or hot guys that are no-so-skinny. Or, it seems rather that anyone who is no-so-skinny is not hot and, therefore shouldn''t be hired by Disneyland.

Personally, I find that statement pretty naive and childish and I don't blame anyone for taking her to task over it. I would actually be surprised if no one did.

But, things seem to have gotten a bit more intense so I'm gonna recommend that CP cut her loses now and stop digging an even deeper hole. I think there are some interesting kernels of discussion to be had here but I don't think there is much that can be done to repair the damage done by the statement above in this thread. And, things may just get worse. I would hate to see that happen.

Excuse me? I apologized and withdrew that. That was a mistake. It was supposed to be an over the top joke spoofing flame wars. Upon reading it again I realized it wasn't funny at all. I'd go pancake on it if I could because I did NOT mean what it says.

You might want to read the thread before posting.

ETA - if anyone wants to continue discussing my last few posts, I'm game.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Excuse me? I apologized and withdrew that. That was a mistake. It was supposed to be an over the top joke spoofing flame wars. Upon reading it again I realized it wasn't funny at all. I'd go pancake on it if I could because I did NOT mean what it says.

You might want to read the thread before posting.

ETA - if anyone wants to continue discussing my last few posts, I'm game.

I have read the whole thread, which is why I posted what I did.

Sometimes things can't be retracted, you just need to let them fade away with time. That was a pretty heavy hit. I suggest you walk away, but you may choose to hold on like a bull dog.

Oh, and what are you excusing me for? I didn't burp.

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

But, things seem to have gotten a bit more intense so I'm gonna recommend that CP cut her loses now and stop digging an even deeper hole. I think there are some interesting kernels of discussion to be had here but I don't think there is much that can be done to repair the damage done by the statement above in this thread. And, things may just get worse. I would hate to see that happen.

I have to disagree. I was shocked by CP's original post, but she has stated that it didn't come across as she intended it. I think we all have moments where we come off as a jerk when we didn't intend to.

In my first post I put, "Jennie, if I didn't already love you, I'd have some serious fighting words." Meaning that I KNOW that CP doesn't think that fat people should be hidden behind desks or whatever. I know that she doesn't find someone ugly just because they are overweight, even though they may not occupy her fantasy life. Next time we meet IRL am I going to wonder for a second whether she is judging me for being overweight (well, maybe by then I won't be, but lets not count our calories before they're lost)? No way.

Moreover, I think her posts since have been an interesting look at an opposing point of view. I think that sometimes people forget that there are other body types that are harshly judged. I know when I was in junior high wanting to die because I was fat I wasn't thinking that there was probably a skinny girl that the same thing was happening to. In fact, if I had known that I would have wished to be her, because well, at least she was getting made fun of for being thin, and how could that possibly be bad? Even now, I have a flat chested friend that is self conscious about her boobs. My first reaction is, "Well at least she can wear certain clothes without a bra." But that doesn't really take her feelings into account. She'd like to have my big boobs, which I would gladly be rid of. for a pair more average sized. CP, is right, the grass is always phucking greener.

I suppose there is always something to judged for. My disneyland will be staffed entirely by Vin Diesel, Edward Norton, Zach Braff, and Steve Buscemi (who I am strangely attracted to, but would never kiss. Those teeth - UGH!). I don't expect Disney to alter their hiring practices to fit it though.