GoTravel

I can honestly say I would never do this and have never done it.

I know what non-transferable means.

Barbara

What GoT said.

janisj

This thread is very sad. Of course I would not do this. But that even a few people would and think it is OK is just plain scary.

What GoT said again . . . . . .

NeoPatrick

janis, even more frightening than those who would do it themselves, are those who chastize anyone who suggests that those who oppose it are making a big deal out of nothing.

NewbE

aucho, I don't agree with you on the setting a bad example part--I think the parents would be--but I do agree with this:
"I respect all opinions on this site however I find it hard to believe that many (maybe not all) of the ppl who are claiming they would never do such a thing would actually spend 200$ of their own money when faced with the opportunity to save it"
The Internet is rife with righteousness, b/c it's easy to talk the talk.

J_Correa

Put me in the camp of those who would not choose to "save" the $200 by using the borrowed tickets. If I didn't want to spend the money to buy admission, then I wouldn't go. Now don't get me wrong - I am a frugal person and like to make my dollars go as far as I can - but I draw the line at breaking rules such as using non-transferable tickets. This is an ethical issue for me, and regardless of what anybody else does, I will not work the system like that to save some money.

I will comb the internet looking for discount coupons, use our AAA discount, travel in the off-season, use Priceline for hotels, have picnics rather than restaurant meals, camp rather than stay in lodges when in national parks, and use a variety of other money-saving methods. But I wont break the rules to save a buck.

exiledprincess

It's all about integrity. Some people have it and some people don't.

I would like to think that I have it - especially for a measley $200.

aucho53

NewbE - You're totally correct, it is much easier to talk the talk online....

NeoPatrick - I don't want anyone to think that I am chastizing them...that's not how I wanted it to come across.

I just don't see the big issue in giving it a shot...and I respect the fact that many of you do see an issue with it, we are all entitled to our opinion...

All i was trying to say was that I don't think it's such a horrible thing to do, and I don't think the OP would be setting a horrible example to their children by trying it.

Sorry if anyone got offended....not my intentions at all.

Layla

j_999_9

It seems like there's a debate like this one about every few months or so, and the most entertaining parts are the bizarre analogies -- the "cotton candy" one is a total mystery, for example.

For me, the question is this: A business makes a rule (not a law) about the purchase of its services or products. The rule is designed to enhance revenue, not out of safety concerns, etc. Is it unethical to refuse to follow the rule?

I really don't know. It's not the same thing as hopping the fence to get in without paying (which would be against the law anyway).

With kids, it's hard to cover every situation. If you say to them that they must slavishly follow every rule, is that the right thing to do? I just used to say to mine: If it feels wrong, it probably is.

capxxx

[Begin Flame:]

If the ticket says nontransferrable, then, fine, it is part of the contract. It would be dishonest to try to sneak in if you are not the original user.

But the ever increasing use of nontransferrable tickets (including airline tickets) brings a host of social evils that I would like to protest, if I could figure out how. Here are just three obnoxious outcomes of the SeaWorld fingerprinting/id policy.

1. Loss of privacy. Your name, credit card information, name of your kids (!) and when you enter and exit the park are now logged in the SeaWorld database. Probably, this information is associated with photos taken of when you enter. You should not be required to give that information up just to enjoy a day at SeaWorld. It should not be common practice to expect you to do so -- this is just not a good way to run a society. It leads to 2 and 3:

2. Increased threat of identity theft (or worse). How secure is SeaWorld's database? Park employees and outsiders can associate your name with your credit card number, and with your kids names, and they know when you are not at home/in your hotel.

3. Extreme profiling/marketing. The more data they gather about who enters the park and what they do, the more they can target their advertising: suppose the SeaWorld tickets are offered to your cousin for $100 and to you for $300, and the offer is not transferrable. (It happens increasingly often these days.) We should not encourage this type of profiling.

4. When people get used to loss of privacy, it spreads from corporate practice (SeaWorld) to civil practice
(ID required in parks and on streetcorners). I read that some of the towns on the Jersey Shore expect to implement a ``smart'' beach tag, which will log your credit card information, kid's ids, and other useful info, so you don't have to bring cash to the beach with you -- it will of course log when you enter and exit the beach. ( If that happens, I'll not return to my favorite beach town. )

What should we tell our children about the dangers of passively agreeing to be monitored at all stages of life? Sadly, my private boycott of SeaWorld and Disney World seems not to be working.

[End of Flame]
Thank you for listening. I feel better now.

MikeT

"What should we tell our children about the dangers of passively agreeing to be monitored at all stages of life? Sadly, my private boycott of SeaWorld and Disney World seems not to be working."

I say tell them. One my most vivid memories as a kid was being excited to go to some show like Ice Capades or something and my father refusing because it would require crossing a union picket line. It was a great lesson from my father that I never forgot.

GoTravel

<""It's not the same thing as hopping the fence to get in without paying (which would be against the law "">

Actually, yes you would be breaking the law. If you entered the park without paying or by means that they don't recognize as valid, you are tresspassing.

I know this because people try and play my golf courses all the time by sneaking on and we have them arrested and prosecute for tresspassing.

One of the huge things is if they get hurt or injured, our insurance will not cover us.

NeoPatrick

"With kids, it's hard to cover every situation. If you say to them that they must slavishly follow every rule, is that the right thing to do? I just used to say to mine: If it feels wrong, it probably is."

But if parents are consistently encouraging breaking rules, why would a child ever develop a sense of anything feeling wrong? Isn't that part of today's problem -- many children not seeing anything wrong with many of their actions?

321go

GoTravel, same thing for hotel pools in the town where I work - people who are not guests of the hotel are caught trespassing frequently.

kealalani

capxxx, I enjoyed reading your very interesting spin on this topic. Thought provoking and disturbing.

moneygirl

I have three small sons (8,5 and 3) and am currently going through a divorce and money is tight. There is no shame in letting your kids know that things cost a lot of money... we're leaving next week for San Diego and the kids chose between SeaWorld and Legoland. No big deal.

Wouldn't consider it. Don't do it.

Walter_Walltotti

Why don't you just sell the 2nd day voucher to an avid "ticket collector" on ebay - you'll probably get a few bucks which can then be used to sub your day out with your conscience clear (ish)

paula1470

Hi moneygirl. Hope you have a great time in San Diego. Let me know if you want to have a little GTG although I am sure you will be very busy.

j_999_9

Neo: I don't claim to know what "today's problem" is with children. I do know that parents are called upon to make literally thousands of decisions, most of which are open to criticism.

My point was that "always follow the rules" sounds like safe advice but often isn't.

bs83

I posted this question awhile ago, but figured I'd do a follow-up in case others were in the same situation and doing a search. We did go ahead and take the "borrowed" tickets and figured we'd give it a shot, and if they didn't work, oh well. All of the tickets but 1 did not have names printed on them (I'm not sure why...). The tickets without names printed on them worked just fine, even with the "fingerprint scanning" (which was just odd in my opinion, but whatever.) The ticket that had my uncle's name printed on it did not work. They asked for ID and obviously my brothers name did not match, so he just went back to the ticket booth and we all pitched for 1 ticket.

So I guess, its worth a try, but be prepared to pay the full price anyway.