A sign of the times? Single, male skiers... enter here-

[Marc]

So it could be that I'm wildly paranoid. Well actually, that's a given. But enough about that.

I was skiing by myself at Wachusett last night, and it being school vacation, there were lots of kids there. On more than one occasion, I saw kids that had to be under 10 years old, in groups of two or three, skiing and riding the lift alone.

I intentionally avoided riding on a chair alone with only one, two or three other kids. All kinds of things were running through my mind, but I knew there wasn't any way in hell I was going to take the risk of sitting alone on a lift chair in the dark with these minors. I know it's probably very implausible that a minor of that age would fabricate something like this, but you never know in this day and age how you might be the target of a witch hunt. I decided waiting a chair, and pissing people off in the process, was worth it to mitigate the risk.

Unfounded paranoia or sad commentary on the state of today's society? Anyone else that skis alone ever had these thoughts?

And what kind of parent is letting their two 7 - 8 year olds ski at Wachusett alone? It's not exactly Killington or Sunday River, but still?? WTF?

 

[Greg]

Unfounded paranoia?

Yes. You younger intellectual types overthink everything.

 

[Marc]

Yes. You younger intellectual types overthink everything.

Me != intellectual. Real intellectuals don't get a kick out of how bad their farts smell in the shower.

 

[severine]

Haven't we already discussed this?

http://forums.alpinezone.com/18482-men-predators.html

And I agree. Who lets these young'uns ski alone anyway? I'm too paranoid to let a 7-8 yr old off on his/her own.

 

[Paul]

Both.

It is a sad state of affairs that unsavory things do occur, however, it is pretty unlikely that a kid would completely fabricate a story like this. Usually, there is some grain of truth to their stories. Think back to when you were a kid, how embarrassing would it be to say that some 25 yr. old dude was gettin' jiggy with you on the lift.

I would think its more likely that a young kid would keep quiet about an actual incident, than to fabricate one in which he is a victim.

Oh yeah, I'm a Dad. My daughter is 7. She ain't skiing without me or her Mom until she's 35.

 

[Marc]

Haven't we already discussed this?

http://forums.alpinezone.com/18482-men-predators.html

And I agree. Who lets these young'uns ski alone anyway? I'm too paranoid to let a 7-8 yr old off on his/her own.

It's a new angle because it's my first hand experience, and all that matters is me.

Besides, it isn't like we haven't discussed other topics here over and over ad naseum.

 

[Greg]

Me != intellectual. Real intellectuals don't get a kick out of how bad their farts smell in the shower.

That fact that you used "!=" for "does not equal" mean you're at least a geek.

 

[Marc]

Both.

It is a sad state of affairs that unsavory things do occur, however, it is pretty unlikely that a kid would completely fabricate a story like this. Usually, there is some grain of truth to their stories. Think back to when you were a kid, how embarrassing would it be to say that some 25 yr. old dude was gettin' jiggy with you on the lift.

I would think its more likely that a young kid would keep quiet about an actual incident, than to fabricate one in which he is a victim.

Oh yeah, I'm a Dad. My daughter is 7. She ain't skiing without me or her Mom until she's 35.

Ok, so what if I've got my mp3 player out and I'm trying to change songs and it slips out of my hands, or I start to lose a glove or something that causes hand to little kid contact? Any number of things could happen and look suspicious without a total fabrication.

 

[Marc]

That fact that you used "!=" for "does not equal" mean you're at least a geek.

Or that I took and intro to programming class in college... :dunce:

 

[Paul]

Ok, so what if I've got my mp3 player out and I'm trying to change songs and it slips out of my hands, or I start to lose a glove or something that causes hand to little kid contact? Any number of things could happen and look suspicious without a total fabrication.

I still think its a bit of an overreaction. But I can completely see your concern.


And are you sure about the age? Definitely too young to be on their own.

 

[Beetlenut]

What scares me is the amount of thought you've already given the way you might start the whole process if you were indeed a perv!

 

[Marc]

I still think its a bit of an overreaction. But I can completely see your concern.


And are you sure about the age? Definitely too young to be on their own.

No, it was hard to tell. I do know that one of the kids in one pair I saw was skiing on 118's. So whatever that makes him, your guess is as good as mine. There were a number of groups I saw like that.

Even if it's an overreaction, let's look at the arithmatic of the situation: I have everything to lose, and I mean everything. In prosecution and litigation that arises from these situations, it doesn't matter if one is actually convicted or not, the news of accusation is the conviction.

OTOH, all I stand to lose by waiting a chair is a couple seconds on the slopes, and maybe some annoyed sliders.

With that kind of imbalance in potential outcomes, I'm willing to wait a chair.

 

[dmc]

We have a tight community in Hunter - we watch out for kids we know...

 

[severine]

I still think its a bit of an overreaction. But I can completely see your concern.

What scares me is the amount of thought you've already given the way you might start the whole process if you were indeed a perv!

Ditto.

Ok, so what if I've got my mp3 player out and I'm trying to change songs and it slips out of my hands, or I start to lose a glove or something that causes hand to little kid contact? Any number of things could happen and look suspicious without a total fabrication.

I'll be honest. I've thought about this just from the standpoint of the person scanning everyone's tickets. Most of the time, I have to grab the ticket and flip it over. Sometimes, a hand slips. It's not intentional... dexterity is tough with gloves or mittens on. But I have wondered if some kid might take it the wrong way (or guy, for that matter) and think there was more to it. I did have a kid shout at me once that I was invading his personal space (mind you, this was after a warning that I was grabbing his ticket). But this was on lift 4 where the kids like to give you a hard time anyway (like the 16 yr old I had 2 weeks ago who insisted it was his job to question authority and he persisted in trying to slip by every time he rode the lift).

The world is in a sad state.

 

[Paul]

No, it was hard to tell. I do know that one of the kids in one pair I saw was skiing on 118's. So whatever that makes him, your guess is as good as mine. There were a number of groups I saw like that.

Even if it's an overreaction, let's look at the arithmatic of the situation: I have everything to lose, and I mean everything. In prosecution and litigation that arises from these situations, it doesn't matter if one is actually convicted or not, the news of accusation is the conviction.

OTOH, all I stand to lose by waiting a chair is a couple seconds on the slopes, and maybe some annoyed sliders.

With that kind of imbalance in potential outcomes, I'm willing to wait a chair.

I certainly don't disagree with you in the least. Play it safe, its common sense. The thing that gets to me though is, if these kids really are young. Like <10. There's a good chance they may need assistance. Being a parent, and especially, a responsible adult, I normally would feel compelled to help. It is a damn shame that that could very likely backfire terribly.

Shame...

 

[SIKSKIER]

Wow! I never ever would have thought along those lines about riding with youths.In fact the last couple weeks I've been asked and obliged to take some kids up the lift for a few ski school.My heads in a different place I guess.I would be more concerned if you were alone in building/room or car or something.Never occurred to me to worry about a chairlift ride.

 

[jaywbigred]

It is not the kids so much as the interpretation of adults later suggesting to the child that something bad happened and the child trying to please the adult.

That is correct.

I'd avoid the chair if it were at all possible.

 

[Paul]

Self-destroyer, wreck your health
Destroy friends, destroy yourself
The time device of self-destruction
Light the fuse and start eruption

(yea, it goes like this, here it goes)
Paranoia, the destroyer
(heres to paranoia)
Paranoia, the destroyer
(hey hey, here it goes)
Paranoia, the destroyer
(and it goes like this)

Paranoia, the destroyer
(and it goes like this.)

Destroyer - The Kinks

 

[BLESS]

Yes. You younger intellectual types overthink everything.

Were you "lifted" so to speak? That does seem a little bit paranoid. IMO, the only way a kid would make something like that up would be if you REALLY pissed them off, even then It's unlikely. If you strike up a nice conversation, why would a kid do this?

 

[Marc]

Were you "lifted" so to speak? That does seem a little bit paranoid. IMO, the only way a kid would make something like that up would be if you REALLY pissed them off, even then It's unlikely. If you strike up a nice conversation, why would a kid do this?

Please refer to Post #8 and Post #12.