# Alligator drags away 2-year-old boy in Florida **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 15, 2016, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403 "2016-06-15T06:15:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/81 "2016-06-15T23:43:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > If it’s such common knowledge to the locals that all bodies of water are infested with alligators and potentially dangerous, why was the shore accessible to the public in the first place? If you want the guests to be able to see the water, then just build patios extending out over it. With railings. Disney puts a ton of effort into making sure their guests have no need or desire to ever leave the property. So instead of people going to the actual beach an hour away, they can hang out at the “beach” at their hotel. > [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > Here ya. Stupid fucking people! Don’t let your kid play around the shore of a place where alligators are a risk and there is a sign saying, “No Swimming.” If I see a sign saying, “No Swimming” I ask why. I do so because I like to know what the dangers around me are. > > If I’m in Florida and I see a sign like that, especially in a resort with a man-made lagoon, I assume snakes or gators but I want to know which. The parents didn’t bother to ask or research, they let their kid act like prey and their kid was treated like prey. > > Sad for them, but no more so than for parents whose kid wanders into traffic. Or maybe they did ask, and they were told something like the water isn’t clean enough for swimming, or a lot of boats use it, or something other than “it’s infested with alligators.” ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/82 "2016-06-15T23:57:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I visited Brazos Bend State Park in Texas a couple of years ago. They had signs up warning visitors about the alligators and telling people what specific situations were dangerous. Signs like [this](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-31/crocodile-warning-sign-cooktown-queensland/7462162) and [this](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-03/nt-croc/7065138) are very common in Northern Territory and Queensland. People still do really dumb things though. Just last month a woman was killed while wading in waist-deep water at about 10:30pm [Cindy Waldron feared dead in crocodile attack in far north Queensland - ABC News](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-30/cindy-waldron-feared-dead-in-croc-attack-daintree-far-north-qld/7457878). May as well have rung the dinner bell. I was taught by my dad, who worked form any years in Northern Australia as a geologist not to go into the water north of Rockhampton unless it’s a long way inland or on a marked and patrolled beach. Having said that, if I was doing the tourist thing at a Disney facility and not from the area, I probably wouldn’t think about a 'gator unless the water was signposted. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/83 "2016-06-15T23:59:57Z")
You’re in Florida. You oughta know that water=gators. If you don’t then it is because you are to lazy to have learned that. I live in Manitoba - a good few thousand miles from the farthest north any gator would think of going and I know that Florida = gators. Just like I know that Arizona = killing heat and tropics = malaria. I have little sympathy for terminal laziness. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/84 "2016-06-16T00:14:05Z")
The least Disney could do is offer the family free tickets to Finding Dory. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/85 "2016-06-16T00:22:18Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > What a nightmare for the parents. But why are there no signs warning of alligators? If you’re in Florida near fresh (non-salt) water, there’s likely an alligator nearby. I grew up there and that’s the best attitude to take. It’s not like Colorado has signs saying “WARNING: MOUNTAINS MAY CONTAIN HIGH ALTITUDE”; it’s just a part of the area. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/86 "2016-06-16T00:52:13Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > The body had only a few puncture marks apparently. The boy clearly drowned when the gator pulled him under. Stiill a dreadful tragedy but at least the parents don’t have to cope with the image of their boy being devoured by the animal. And apparently the body was found very close to where he was initially attacked. I guess it is some small solace that he was intact. Still, what a nightmare. ---
**Author:** ![67java89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/aeb1de/32.png) [@67java89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/67java89)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/87 "2016-06-16T00:52:21Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > The body had only a few puncture marks apparently. The boy clearly drowned when the gator pulled him under. Stiill a dreadful tragedy but at least the parents don’t have to cope with the image of their boy being devoured by the animal. > > Any thoughts as to why the alligator, having secured his prey, wouldn’t eat it? Hmmm…something is starting to not seem right about this. Did the Dad have something to do with it? The police should check the life insurance policies. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/88 "2016-06-16T00:56:11Z")
> [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](#): > > You’re in Florida. You oughta know that water=gators. If you don’t then it is because you are to lazy to have learned that. > > I live in Manitoba - a good few thousand miles from the farthest north any gator would think of going and I know that Florida = gators. Just like I know that Arizona = killing heat and tropics = malaria. > > I have little sympathy for terminal laziness. Christ you’re a piece of work. Because they didn’t research the dangers present at their expensive, kid oriented resort hotel, which has a beach set up on their manmade lake, they’re lazy? I only hope you find yourself on the wrong end of such “laziness” in the future. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/89 "2016-06-16T01:03:28Z")
> [@67java89](#): > > Hmmm…something is starting to not seem right about this. Did the Dad have something to do with it? The police should check the life insurance policies. Really? Multiple sets of witnesses saw the gator grab the kid, and because you’re an expert on gator attacks, you think the dad had something to do with it. This board is unbelievable sometimes. I guess it’s good it took 3 pages for the slime to ooze out. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/90 "2016-06-16T01:10:31Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Christ you’re a piece of work. Because they didn’t research the dangers present at their expensive, kid oriented resort hotel, which has a beach set up on their manmade lake, they’re lazy? You don’t need to research Florida + water = gators. Because pretty much anyone knows that Florida + water = gators. Further, inquire about the “No Swimming” sign. There is no answer to that inquiry, when speaking of a man-made body of water in a luxury resort, that isn’t “wildlife” should occaision a secondary inquiry. I didn’t say they deserved it. I just said that I have as little sympathy for them as I do for someone whose kids runs out into traffic. Tragic? Sure. Grab a fucking brain? Absolutely. ---
**Author:** ![67java89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/aeb1de/32.png) [@67java89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/67java89)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/91 "2016-06-16T01:10:49Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Really? Multiple sets of witnesses saw the gator grab the kid, and because you’re an expert on gator attacks, you think the dad had something to do with it. > > This board is unbelievable sometimes. I guess it’s good it took 3 pages for the slime to ooze out. Someone has to ask the tough questions. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/92 "2016-06-16T01:17:53Z")
Yeah, like: 1)When did this thread reach 3 pages? 2)Just who exactly is the slime he is speaking of? Enquiring minds want to know. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/93 "2016-06-16T01:21:18Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > The sheriff just said they’ve switched from a “rescue” to a “recovery” search. > > The last time a wild animal snatched a small child there was [considerable outrage on this board.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=794367) I guess I’m just a cynic, but after 15 hours, where’s the outrage here? Where’s the call for criminal prosecution for the parents for letting their child get away? Where are the cries to close down Disney because they didn’t build a good enough fence to keep the child out of water? Most of all, where are the people claiming that an alligator is [more deserving of saving than a human child](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19367547&postcount=58)? (Well, that particular poster was banned, but I’m sure there are others.) Jesus, a blind man could see the difference between these two cases. > [@kayaker](#): > > So, gorilla vs alligator; who do you bet on in a no-holds-barred fight to the death? Well, we now know gorilla vs. kid, the kid will win. Gator vs. kid, the gator will win. So I’m guessing the gator can beat the gorilla. > [@watchwolf49](#): > > Sure is a bad week for Orlando … [“‘The Voice’ Singer Christina Grimmie Killed By Gunman At Orlando Concert Venue”](http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/11/481671638/the-voice-singer-christina-grimmie-killed-by-gunman-at-orlando-concert-venue) - June 11th, 2016 Yeah, plus there was another minor shooting there recently, wasn’t there? > [@muldoonthief](#): > > Really? Multiple sets of witnesses saw the gator grab the kid, and because you’re an expert on gator attacks, you think the dad had something to do with it. > > This board is unbelievable sometimes. I guess it’s good it took 3 pages for the slime to ooze out. I dunno. Are we sure the father didn’t “suggest” to his wife a nice wade along the shore? Really though, I can’t fault the parents. This is Disney. You’re practically bullied into feeling safe. Sure, maybe there’s some guy in Manitoba who would know better, but these are Nebraska yokels. What do they know? And it’s Disney! It _must_ be safe, because it’s _Disney_! Sure, no swimming, okay, but we’ll just wade. No swimming involved. Those signs must be because there’s no lifeguard. Sure. Kind of tacky, but the news on the MediaCorp out of Singapore was reporting this story, then immediately segued to “The Happiest Place on Earth” – coverage of the new Disneyland that just opened in Shanghai. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/94 "2016-06-16T01:22:19Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Or shoot you. No, for some strange reason Australia reacted to a [mass shooting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Arthur_massacre_(Australia)) by passing strict gun control laws. ---
**Author:** ![67java89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/aeb1de/32.png) [@67java89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/67java89)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/95 "2016-06-16T01:23:14Z")
At the very least the dad was negligent. He plopped the kid into a lagoon with No Swimming signs (at night), then fabricated some story about trying to save him. Probably didn’t even notice his kid was missing till he saw him in gator’s mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/96 "2016-06-16T01:31:56Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > No, for some strange reason Australia reacted to a [mass shooting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Arthur_massacre_(Australia)) by passing strict gun control laws. And the world didn’t end. Huh. Imagine that. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/97 "2016-06-16T01:35:56Z")
> [@67java89](#): > > At the very least the dad was negligent. He plopped the kid into a lagoon with No Swimming signs (at night), then fabricated some story about trying to save him. Probably didn’t even notice his kid was missing till he saw him in gator’s mouth. Please cite your source showing that he fabricated trying to save him. You’re amazing. ---
**Author:** ![67java89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/aeb1de/32.png) [@67java89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/67java89)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/98 "2016-06-16T01:41:50Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > Please cite your source showing that he fabricated trying to save him. > > You’re amazing. This is my opinion. I’m saying that something doesn’t feel right here. This should be investigated further.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/99 "2016-06-16T01:48:15Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > …Sure, maybe there’s some guy in Manitoba who would know better, but these are Nebraska yokels. What do they know? You seem to be suggesting that the average Manitoban is somehow less yokelish than those found in Nebraska.I am here to tell you that we can hold our own and MORE against any yokels you chose to put us up against 😛 > [@](#): > > Kind of tacky, but the news on the MediaCorp out of Singapore was reporting this story, then immediately segued to “The Happiest Place on Earth” – coverage of the new Disneyland that just opened in Shanghai. Now’s that’s funny. I’m going to hell :o ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403/100 "2016-06-16T01:53:23Z")
> [@67java89](#): > > This is my opinion. I’m saying that something doesn’t feel right here. This should be investigated further.:dubious: Thank you, Mr. Monk. But I believe there were plenty of witnesses to the gator incident? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alligator-drags-away-2-year-old-boy-in-florida/757403.md?page=6)