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Amusement Park Bans PDAs and Smartphones

Posted by kdawson on from the cold-dead-fingers dept.

Ant writes in with news that an amusement park in the UK is trying out a ban on smartphones and PDAs, with the intent to enable families actually to have fun together. The press release says that from May 25 to June 1, adults found using a PDA will be asked to drop it off at a "PDA Drop Off Zone" — no word on what happens if they refuse. But both the Sun and BoingBoing, which picked up their brief story, strike a more ominous note with the claim that "special wardens" will confiscate the devices. If the experiment is deemed a success the park may make the ban permanent.

5 of 474 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I understand their point... by Dogtanian · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...but stepping up and taking away someone's personal property is nothing but thuggery. property, privacy, rights, entitlements, money, etc... welcome to .uk. Enjoy your stay Oh, fuck off. Seriously, this is the kind of kneejerk reaction that detracts from the damages to civil liberties that are happening in the UK.

    It's a minor story about a crap gimmick Alton Towers are using to get some publicity, and it's being presented here as an "OMG!!!!! They're taking away our rights!!!!!!!!11111" story.

    Aside from the fact it's a private amusement park (not a pseudo-public space like a shopping centre), it's not even being done for the usual surveillance-state bullshit "pedos might take photos of our children" type reasons. (*)

    You don't like it? Don't go to fucking Alton Towers! I wouldn't...

    (*) Given the popularity of using pedos to justify every ludicrous measure, if this isn't the reason being given in public, then it sure as hell isn't the true reason either.
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    "Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
  2. Re:Oh Please... by howlingfrog · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So ? A policy at whatever place cannot override the law. If I have a policy that says I'm allowed to kill you on my private property, I'm still going away for murder if I do.

    That's only vaguely true, and not even vaguely relevant. The owners of private property have every right, legally and ethically, to require visitors to that property to agree to (practically) any terms they want. The visitors are free to leave if they find the terms unacceptable. I can't imagine any US or UK court upholding terms that allow illegal behavior, but for anything short of that, what do you think "private property" means?

    And in this case, there's nothing remotely illegal about the terms being set. The amusement park operators are simply not allowing certain devices on their property, and offering a (free?) storage service for those disallowed devices. Visitors can leave their smartphones at home, or in the car, or in the park-provided storage. If you don't like those choices, don't go to that park.

    The real issues are:

    1. Would you personally visit an amusement park with this policy?
    2. Is this policy a sound business decision?
    My answers are no to both, as I assume yours are, but this is ABSOLUTELY NOT a legal/civil liberties issue.
    --
    The original Howling Frog is a fictional character and has no UID.
  3. Re:I understand their point... by Blue+Stone · · Score: 5, Insightful
    They're not taking anything from anyone - it's just a little marketing gimmick accompanying a little 'family friendly' advice.

    Parents are being ASKED to relinquish/put away their PDAs etc, in order to spend 'quality' time with their children.

    The article says 'no word on what will happen if they refuse' because nothing will happen. There's no story here, no news, just an advertisement...

    ...and no need for any nerd to get their knickers in a knot. ;)

    --
    Corporation, n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. - Ambrose Bierce
  4. Re:Oh Please... by frdmfghtr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you are seen using a Palm, iPaq or other personal digital assistant or smartphone, the special wardens will take it away from you."
    My question is: what if you are using it to communicate with other members of your party in the park? Suppose you have a copy of the park map on it?

    Smartphones/PDAs are not just used for business, after all.
    --
    Government's idea of a balanced budget: take money from the right pocket to balance...oh who am I kidding?
  5. Re:Oh Please... by timeOday · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think we're making too much of it. It's no different ethically or legally from movie theaters that ban outside food.