TOTALLY GEEKED!

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

RE: Dear Harriette: Daughter Going on Spring Break in Florida

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

lilyofcourse wrote:
But in your example no one should ever attend the marathon again because they could be the victim of a terrorist's bomb.

Umm no, I said run away from the bombing, not a perceived maybe will happen bombing, but a real one. But when a particular geographical location at a particular time of year has a history of crime and bad doings, you don't send your kid there! Seriously????

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I think I'll send my kid into the part of town known for drug dealing and murder.

Ohfour · Hooker

My kids are excelling...are yours? (General yours)

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I think it's strange that an 18 year old can't go to a beach town during spring break but they go fight wars.

Training and all, I know.

But isn't that what a parent is doing for 18 years? Training their kid for the world.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
I think I'll send my kid into the part of town known for drug dealing and murder.

Make sure that it's after dark & they are driving a nice car.

flan

-- Edited by flan327 on Thursday 12th of March 2015 09:52:58 PM

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

http://www.albionpleiad.com/2013/02/crime-and-partying-affects-spring-break-planning/

Crime and partying affects Spring Break planning

Features — 18 February 2013

By Alexa Hyman

Since the mid 80s, when MTV aired its first spring break special in Daytona Beach, Fla., the much anticipated college week off in March became more commonly viewed as a week to get, well, obliviated—even for kids under the age of 21.

During the 80s, spring break evolved into an excuse to party all day for an entire week. By the end of that decade, stricter drinking laws were enforced, and the mayor of Fort Lauderdale made an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America to announce to students across America that they were no longer welcome.

More recently, destinations such as Panama City Beach, Fla., South Padre Island, Texas and a few sites in Mexico are plastered across top ten college spring break hotspots. Has the partying gotten too out of hand?

According to drugfreenoblecounty.org, 20,000 fake I.D.s were confiscated last year in Panama City and Daytona alone.

Besides hosting a weeklong party, however, these spring break locations are home to a dangerous history of crime.

According to The Huffington Post, in February of last year, “The U.S. State Department recommended that Americans avoid travel to all or parts of 14 of 31 Mexican states. It’s the widest travel advisory issued by the U.S. since Mexico stepped up its drug war in 2006.”

According to a local news channel, during March of 2012, Panama City police answered twice as many service calls in the first three weeks of the “spring break season” than they did the year before, totaling about 6,500 calls. During the first three weeks, more than 650 spring breakers were arrested.

According to onlineschools.org, South Padre Island, Texas, averages 25 arrests per day and collects $80,000 in fines during spring break.

Besides not obeying the law, spring breakers also get involved with risky behavior regarding drinking past their limits and increased sexual activity.

According to onlineschools.org, “A survey given to female college students regarding spring break activities indicated that approximately half of the respondents were drunk all day during spring break, and approximately 40 percent drank until they passed out.”

Studies also found that sexual activity increased by 74 percent during spring break, compared to a student’s average college lifestyle. Over 50 percent of students also felt that being sexually active over their break was their way of trying to fit in.

Have you planned for your own personal safety and behavior in your upcoming spring break plans?

Sixteen students in the library were asked whether they were planning to spend their spring break trip traveling. Half answered that they made plans to party abroad, but only one out of the eight students planning to travel said that they considered safety precautions beforehand.

Six out of eight of the students traveling during the week of March 11-17 were going to Panama City Beach, Fla. PCB is popular because it’s cheap and it has a reputation.

“It’s absolutely wild down there, supposedly,” said Brennan Webb, Frankenmuth first-year.

Beware to all students traveling to PCB: law enforcement will be cracking down this year. The “Spring Break Capital of the World” will be preparing itself for its annual bombardment of over 350,000 college students during the month of March. Beach Police Officers and Panama City Police will be teaming up to begin “ramped up patrols” starting March 1.

The softball team will be traveling down to Orlando, Fla., this spring break and Christina Finch, head coach, has already released some regulations to her players.

“The only day that it’s an exception [to leave the gated community] is the day off where we’re allowed to go to the beach or to Universal,” said Nicole Romain, Macomb Township sophomore and softball player.

Orlando is ranked number one (based on violent crimes data, FBI crime statistics, car crashes and murder rates) on AVVO.com’s most dangerous spring break destinations.

So how will you prepare yourself?

The University of West Florida Police recommends:

If you are staying in a hotel, ask the management if there are any areas that are unsafe so that you know what areas to avoid.
Don’t leave your room key unattended (at the beach, pool, restaurant, etc.).
Don’t carry more money on you than you can’t afford to lose. Leave the rest of it in the safe.
Don’t give a ride to anyone you don’t know well or just met.
Don’t go back to your hotel room with someone you just met.
If you are going to drink, drink in moderation. What might seem like a great idea after a few drinks, may turn out to be a disaster once you’ve sobered up.
Volunteer to be the designated driver. It’s always more entertaining to watch people act the fool rather than to be one.

According to safespringbreak.org:

Pace yourself if you choose to drink, and avoid hard alcohol or other drinks that are powerful and have fast effects. Remember that drunks are easy targets.
Drinking and sun equals sunburn and an even worse hangover. Sun can maximize the effects of alcohol, so keep this in mind if you party on the beach.
Even the most experienced swimmer can get caught in an undertow.
Go out with your friends and go home with your friend. This way, you can look out for one another.
Hooking up: No, not everyone is doing it. If you do choose to have sex, make sure it’s protected. Decide before even going on spring break what you’re willing to do, and then get to work setting your boundaries early and often.

A blogger on gradguard.com advised after her trip:

“Utilizing the buddy system is key for PCB because there are thousands of college students on the beaches and in the city. Losing your party or one of your friends can ruin your night, so be sure to assign buddies and work out a communication system prior to leaving the hotel each time.”

Before traveling anywhere on spring break, do research beforehand—the wise research. Instead of researching the best bars, clubs and parties, research the location’s crime rate, which areas to avoid and any other safety precautions to keep you best prepared. Spring break is in your hands—decide your behavior and your boundaries before you go, and don’t show up without a plan.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

flan327 wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
I think I'll send my kid into the part of town known for drug dealing and murder.
Make sure that it's after dark & they are driving a nice car.
flan

-- Edited by flan327 on Thursday 12th of March 2015 09:52:58 PM

Oh yes. Thanks for the help! When DH was a paramedic they used to pull bodies out of the river.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
I think I'll send my kid into the part of town known for drug dealing and murder.
Make sure that it's after dark & they are driving a nice car.
flan

-- Edited by flan327 on Thursday 12th of March 2015 09:52:58 PM
Oh yes. Thanks for the help! When DH was a paramedic they used to pull bodies out of the river.

That must have been heart-breaking. I don't imagine you can ever get used to that.

flan

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Ohfour wrote:
My kids are excelling...are yours? (General yours)

Um, there are lots of ways to "excel". I didn't realize it was a competition. confuse

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

If you don't send your kids to Spring Break, they won't excel! Who knew! Oh noooooo! We're all doomed!

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

flan327 wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
I think I'll send my kid into the part of town known for drug dealing and murder.
Make sure that it's after dark & they are driving a nice car.
flan

-- Edited by flan327 on Thursday 12th of March 2015 09:52:58 PM
Oh yes. Thanks for the help! When DH was a paramedic they used to pull bodies out of the river.
That must have been heart-breaking. I don't imagine you can ever get used to that.
flan

When we moved here DH forbid me from going into that part of town. And yes, I did say forbid. Our therapists wife works with convicts. One of her patients told her he trafficked drugs from Mexico to TX. If people didn't pay his job was to bring back one of their body parts to the drug dealer in Mexico to prove that they had "taken care of the problem".

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

http://www.breezejmu.org/news/article_8f02ce92-5de0-11e1-8041-001a4bcf6878.html

Here is the part of the article pertaining to FL:

Orlando, Fla. is ranked No. 13 as the U.S. metropolitan area with regard to risk of crime, according to a 2010 FBI report. In 2009, the violent crime rate for Orlando was 178.71 percent higher than the national violent crime rate, according to CityRating.

Kelly Weitzel, a senior psychology major, is going to Orlando for spring break.

“Even though I’m not that familiar with the area, I don’t really see Disney as a dangerous place,” Weitzel said. “I’ve been to Cabo and Nicuagra, and they seemed much more dangerous.”

Florida has also been ranked the nation’s most dangerous spring break destination, with Daytona Beach and Las Vegas following closely, in a survey that documented an average of 2,595 violent crimes year-round.

The report accounted for rapes, murders, car crashes and other brutal crimes, according to Neigborhood Scout Reports. Some students think that even if there are potentially dangerous situations where they travel, the best thing they can do is to educate themselves on the violent activities and take precautions.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

http://www.abc3340.com/story/25083437/spring-break-arrests-on-beaches-nearing-one-thousand

Spring Break: Underage drinking, drugs leads to nearly 1,000 arrests on Gulf Coast beaches

Posted: Mar 26, 2014 5:25 PM CST Updated: Mar 27, 2014 1:40 PM CST

By Honora Gathings

Connect

Underage drinking and drug use has led to nearly 1,000 arrests on the Gulf Coast beaches during Spring Break 2014. (AP Graphic, File)

GULF COAST -

The alcohol and drugs are flowing on Gulf Coast beaches. There are no more warnings for underage drinking or drugs, just a trip to jail. The number of people making that trip is nearing one-thousand.

Law enforcement agencies say they just want to keep everyone safe. There have already been two fatal drunk driving accidents in Bay County and a fatal hit and run in Gulf Shores involving alcohol. There's also property damage.

This year, there is a zero tolerance policy

Gulf Coast beaches are the destination for young spring breakers. Underage and illegal party goers will get party favors- not citations, handcuffs.

"It didn't appear they were working. We wanted them to. Now we are going to physical arrests," said Lt. Keith Chamblee of the Walton County Sheriff's Office.

Walton County has a mobile command center set up on Miramar Beach. It's getting noticed.

"Every time we come down here, there are four or five kids under the tent getting arrested," said one college student.

Bay County is reporting 420 arrests.

Walton County has had 574 arrests over the last few weeks. 156 of them involved teens under 18.

School resource officers are even on the beaches. One found these drugs, including cocaine inside a hotel room. Three college students were arrested. But students aren't the only ones keeping police busy.

"What are you doing here? Where is your id?," said police to a man sleeping in the bushes.

Panama City Beach Police call them 100 milers- people from Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia with no where to stay but plenty to sell.

"We arrested four individuals who came down here this morning with no place to stay. We arrested them with marijuana and cocaine. they were down here to sell that because they had a total of 20 dollars between them. They were here to party, to sell illegal drugs and go back home," said Panama City Beach Police Chief Drew Whitman.

Police in Covington County are even stopping drugs, like ecstasy and molly, from getting to the beach.

"We began our probably search of the vehicle and found 18 bags of marijuana in the center consol," said River Falls Police Chief Greg Jackson.

Four people between the ages of 18 and 19 were arrested following that traffic stop.

Police say they aren't trying to end the party. They just want it to continue safely.

Gulf Shores isn't seeing the same numbers. Police are only arresting one or two underage drinkers a day.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I think you'll particularily like how this one guy answered when he was arrested!

http://blog.al.com/gulf-coast/2013/03/spring_break_arrests_on_the_gu.html

Spring break arrests on the Gulf Coast up sharply in some locations

Hmmm. Can't get this one to post. But one of the guys screamed ROLL TIDE!! as an explanation as to why he was totally plastered and naked.

-- Edited by Nobody Just Nobody on Thursday 12th of March 2015 10:08:55 PM

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

http://lawschack.com/news/tag/spring-break-crime-statistics/

Here, read these stats. They're frightening.

Alcohol is a given during Spring Break, but it’s also a contributor to the vast majority of crimes and injuries that take place during the two-month partying season, personal injury attorneys say.

The Spring Break season officially begins early March and runs through April. And in a college town like Gainesville, that means lots of fun-loving teens and young adults with partying on their minds.

Florida is a top destination for Spring Break travelers from across the country. Many of Gainesville’s on-break students will celebrate at local spots, but hundreds will join their friends in visiting hotspots like Orlando, Daytona Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Key West. Unfortunately, many don’t know that Orlando and Daytona Beach consistently top law enforcement agencies’ lists of the most dangerous Spring Break locales. Of the top 10 riskiest places to visit, according to an analysis by Avvo, a legal and medical website, six are located in Florida: Orlando, Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach, Panama City, Jacksonville and Miami.

Crimes like muggings, physical assaults and rape spike in virtually every popular Spring Break destination throughout March and April every year, and the vast majority of those crimes involve heavy drinking. In fact, criminals target Spring Break partiers, knowing that intoxication makes potential victims less aware and more vulnerable to crime. That makes the results of a study of drinking patterns of students during Spring Break all the more troubling:

    The average man reported drinking 18 drinks per day ;
    The average woman reported drinking 10 drinks per day;
    Of the 442 women and 341 men surveyed, more than half of all men and more than 40 percent of all women drank until they became sick or passed out at least once;
    40% of the men and 33% or the women reported being drunk daily.

If you’re a student looking forward to some Spring Break reveling in Florida, it’s imperative to your safety that you’re fully aware of the risks, say personal injury attorneys. Gainesville’s Schackow & Mercadante urges you to study up on Spring Break crime statistics before you choose a destination, and to take precautionary measures no matter where you visit. If you do fall victim to someone else’s negligence or deliberate action and suffer an injury, get medical attention immediately, then call 877-798-7700 to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Alcohol is a given during Spring Break, but it’s also a contributor to the vast majority of crimes and injuries that take place during the two-month partying season, personal injury attorneys say.

The Spring Break season officially begins early March and runs through April. And in a college town like Gainesville, that means lots of fun-loving teens and young adults with partying on their minds.

Florida is a top destination for Spring Break travelers from across the country. Many of Gainesville’s on-break students will celebrate at local spots, but hundreds will join their friends in visiting hotspots like Orlando, Daytona Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Key West. Unfortunately, many don’t know that Orlando and Daytona Beach consistently top law enforcement agencies’ lists of the most dangerous Spring Break locales. Of the top 10 riskiest places to visit, according to an analysis by Avvo, a legal and medical website, six are located in Florida: Orlando, Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach, Panama City, Jacksonville and Miami.

Crimes like muggings, physical assaults and rape spike in virtually every popular Spring Break destination throughout March and April every year, and the vast majority of those crimes involve heavy drinking. In fact, criminals target Spring Break partiers, knowing that intoxication makes potential victims less aware and more vulnerable to crime. That makes the results of a study of drinking patterns of students during Spring Break all the more troubling:

The average man reported drinking 18 drinks per day ;
The average woman reported drinking 10 drinks per day;
Of the 442 women and 341 men surveyed, more than half of all men and more than 40 percent of all women drank until they became sick or passed out at least once;
40% of the men and 33% or the women reported being drunk daily.

If you’re a student looking forward to some Spring Break reveling in Florida, it’s imperative to your safety that you’re fully aware of the risks, say personal injury attorneys. Gainesville’s Schackow & Mercadante urges you to study up on Spring Break crime statistics before you choose a destination, and to take precautionary measures no matter where you visit. If you do fall victim to someone else’s negligence or deliberate action and suffer an injury, get medical attention immediately, then call 877-798-7700 to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

- See more at: http://lawschack.com/news/tag/spring-break-crime-statistics/#sthash.UiYJzp0R.dpuf

Alcohol is a given during Spring Break, but it’s also a contributor to the vast majority of crimes and injuries that take place during the two-month partying season, personal injury attorneys say.

The Spring Break season officially begins early March and runs through April. And in a college town like Gainesville, that means lots of fun-loving teens and young adults with partying on their minds.

Florida is a top destination for Spring Break travelers from across the country. Many of Gainesville’s on-break students will celebrate at local spots, but hundreds will join their friends in visiting hotspots like Orlando, Daytona Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Key West. Unfortunately, many don’t know that Orlando and Daytona Beach consistently top law enforcement agencies’ lists of the most dangerous Spring Break locales. Of the top 10 riskiest places to visit, according to an analysis by Avvo, a legal and medical website, six are located in Florida: Orlando, Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach, Panama City, Jacksonville and Miami.

Crimes like muggings, physical assaults and rape spike in virtually every popular Spring Break destination throughout March and April every year, and the vast majority of those crimes involve heavy drinking. In fact, criminals target Spring Break partiers, knowing that intoxication makes potential victims less aware and more vulnerable to crime. That makes the results of a study of drinking patterns of students during Spring Break all the more troubling:

The average man reported drinking 18 drinks per day ;
The average woman reported drinking 10 drinks per day;
Of the 442 women and 341 men surveyed, more than half of all men and more than 40 percent of all women drank until they became sick or passed out at least once;
40% of the men and 33% or the women reported being drunk daily.

If you’re a student looking forward to some Spring Break reveling in Florida, it’s imperative to your safety that you’re fully aware of the risks, say personal injury attorneys. Gainesville’s Schackow & Mercadante urges you to study up on Spring Break crime statistics before you choose a destination, and to take precautionary measures no matter where you visit. If you do fall victim to someone else’s negligence or deliberate action and suffer an injury, get medical attention immediately, then call 877-798-7700 to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

- See more at: http://lawschack.com/news/tag/spring-break-crime-statistics/#sthash.UiYJzp0R.dpuf

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Gah, now it typed three times.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Well, a quick google turned up tons of terrible stats. I could go on for weeks.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

It doesn't matter. If you want your kid to EXCEL, you need to send them on Spring Break. Otherwise, just fix up the basement so they can live at home for the rest of their lives as bums.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I'm screwed. I don't have a basement.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
I'm screwed. I don't have a basement.

I feel sorry for you...AND your kids!

biggrin

flan

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

And Lily, I like you. I really do. But I call BS on what you're saying. If your daughter came to you and sat you down and said, "Mom, I'm going several thousand miles away to another state for vacation. There's going to be tons of drinking. TONS. Even by underage kids. And no chaperones. There will be drunken men there too. Expecting to get laid. Or at the very least hoping to get laid. There's been a lot of crime there too. Rapes, stabbings, robbing, even an occasional murder or two. And sometimes girls get kidnapped. But don't worry, I won't be drinking. I'll just be peacefully swimming in the ocean with my friends. I'm sure all the peaceful drunks will leave us alone. You don't have to worry." Yeah, you'd tell her no way in hell.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

flan327 wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
I'm screwed. I don't have a basement.
I feel sorry for you...AND your kids!
flan

I have a garage if that helps!

chef · Guru

Spring Break is something I would not partake in. I am not a party person. I don't drink. I hate crowds. Yea, you wouldn't catch me dead in a Spring Break locale during Spring Break.

Assuming Spring Break is still a thing when DS is a senior in HS, he will know that I very much disapprove of such activities. He will also know that I disapprove of the senior prank crap.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
I'm screwed. I don't have a basement.
I feel sorry for you...AND your kids!
flan
I have a garage if that helps!

Okay, but it cannot have central heat or A/C.

flan

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

flan327 wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
I'm screwed. I don't have a basement.
I feel sorry for you...AND your kids!
flan
I have a garage if that helps!
Okay, but it cannot have central heat or A/C.
flan

It doesn't. We're good. We've threatened to send the kids out there to live sometimes.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
I'm screwed. I don't have a basement.
I feel sorry for you...AND your kids!
flan
I have a garage if that helps!
Okay, but it cannot have central heat or A/C.
flan
It doesn't. We're good. We've threatened to send the kids out there to live sometimes.

Next question: Mold? Roaches?

flan

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

flan327 wrote:
Next question: Mold? Roaches?
flan

No roaches. There is an occasional mouse that comes in though. And they are not cute mice. They are ugly varmity mice. But mostly they come in during the cold. As far as I know there is no mold. There could be however. But we keep the trash out there. It gets taken to the curb Thursday night so Wednesday night it gets pretty fragrant in there. Especially in July and August.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Next question: Mold? Roaches?
flan
No roaches. There is an occasional mouse that comes in though. And they are not cute mice. They are ugly varmity mice. But mostly they come in during the cold. As far as I know there is no mold. There could be however. But we keep the trash out there. It gets taken to the curb Thursday night so Wednesday night it gets pretty fragrant in there. Especially in July and August.

I think you're good!

flan

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Yeah! I pass.

WYSIWYG · Guru

This is a really long thread. I just wanted to say, I did Spring Break in Florida as a Senior, but it was very different back then than it is now.

I went with a group that was all couples. During the day, the girls would lounge out by the pool, getting their tans on, and the boys would girl-watch from the balconies. At night, the stoners would get stoned and the drinkers would drink, and we'd each retire to our separate bedrooms to do the wild thing with whomever we dating. Then, the next day we'd do it all over again. No raping. No pillaging. No drunken damage to the resort.

I don't think I'd want anyone I know going to Florida for Spring Break with what it has turned into in the past couple of decades.

I feel sorry for today's youth at the things that they should miss because they have gotten more dangerous than they should be.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

This is a really interesting link complete with several videos. I saw it on the news and had to hunt really hard to find it. The cop who took down the two guys, both 25, is NOT facing any disciplinary charges. Back story. He was off duty and a bunch of kids came up to him and told him there two men having a bad fight on the beach. He went over and started breaking up the fight when the first guy spit in his face. They carry tazers and he had every right to taze the guy but chose not to. He handcuffed him and while he was doing that the second guy came over and tried to punch him. After hauling these two idiots in they came to find out they had both been released from jail earlier in the day.

http://www.theladbible.com/articles/police-officer-chokes-two-students-during-spring-break-beach-brawl

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Ilumine wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
Almost double the national average for the YEAR. I want to see stats on Spring Break. Let compare apples to apples. We're talking about a few weeks out of the year. I guess all crimes happens then...riiiiiggghhhttt....
Panama City has a registered population of 36,877 (2013) and Panama City Beach has a registered population of 12,064 (2013). Are you actually telling me that 48,941 residents (including the geriatric set since this IS Florida) caused more RAPES than the national average? Almost double the crime rate of Pensacola with its 52,703 people?

Yeah....it has NOTHING to do with the spring breakers. But hey what do I know? My husband doesn't work for our county and has an inside understanding of the costs associated with tourism, both the "Spring Breakers" and Families and navigating the insurgent Spring Breakers (i.e. are the income tourist dollars worth the cost of the handling these kids).

It's called denial. Their position makes NO sense whatsoever, so no matter what you say, they will tell you that you don't know what you are talking about.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

If my daughter was 21, had her own money and wanted to go to drink and party, then have at it. As an adult, she can do what she wants. But, again, I don't have to fund it. And, if she was still in college and I am paying bills, I would be pissed if she frittered away money that she worked for and then expected me to pony up for college expenses. So, that is my opinion.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
And Lily, I like you. I really do. But I call BS on what you're saying. If your daughter came to you and sat you down and said, "Mom, I'm going several thousand miles away to another state for vacation. There's going to be tons of drinking. TONS. Even by underage kids. And no chaperones. There will be drunken men there too. Expecting to get laid. Or at the very least hoping to get laid. There's been a lot of crime there too. Rapes, stabbings, robbing, even an occasional murder or two. And sometimes girls get kidnapped. But don't worry, I won't be drinking. I'll just be peacefully swimming in the ocean with my friends. I'm sure all the peaceful drunks will leave us alone. You don't have to worry." Yeah, you'd tell her no way in hell.

If my daughter said "my friends and I are planning a trip to PCB diring Spring break" I'd ask the usual questions, wish her a great time, and then worry till she got back. Like I would if she was going to Kentucky, Nashville, Alabama, or any where else she goes with her friends.

You see, she does go places with her friends now.

She is also 20 now and has been going out of town with these same friends sinc she was 16.

Thats the big thing. I know her, her friends and I know they would be just fine.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

You don't "know" anything. Bad things happen to good kids.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

lilyofcourse wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
And Lily, I like you. I really do. But I call BS on what you're saying. If your daughter came to you and sat you down and said, "Mom, I'm going several thousand miles away to another state for vacation. There's going to be tons of drinking. TONS. Even by underage kids. And no chaperones. There will be drunken men there too. Expecting to get laid. Or at the very least hoping to get laid. There's been a lot of crime there too. Rapes, stabbings, robbing, even an occasional murder or two. And sometimes girls get kidnapped. But don't worry, I won't be drinking. I'll just be peacefully swimming in the ocean with my friends. I'm sure all the peaceful drunks will leave us alone. You don't have to worry." Yeah, you'd tell her no way in hell.
If my daughter said "my friends and I are planning a trip to PCB diring Spring break" I'd ask the usual questions, wish her a great time, and then worry till she got back. Like I would if she was going to Kentucky, Nashville, Alabama, or any where else she goes with her friends.
You see, she does go places with her friends now.
She is also 20 now and has been going out of town with these same friends sinc she was 16.
Thats the big thing. I know her, her friends and I know they would be just fine.

But you DON'T know all the thousands of strange kids who will also be there. It's not a small group from Church.

flan

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Does anything bad ever happen to most people? No. Most of the time everything is fine, pretty much no matter what or where you live. But, I think there are better ways for my daughter to spend her time and money than to hang out with a bunch of drunks, especially if she is underage.

Ilumine · Regular

Ohfour wrote:
Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
I'm sure many kids go and come home just fine. Personally I wouldn't want my daughter to lose her virginity in this environment. Also, I wouldn't want to be the parent of the child who DIDN'T come back okay. Or who didn't come back at all.
I wonder how many murders there are on spring break? I can't recall even one...

Did you even do ONE google search before you posted this? Because with one basic google search "deaths during spring break" I got three in the last 5 years, to include Molly Ammom, who died of Alcohol Poisoning in 2013 and 17 year old high school senior Matt James who fell from his balcony in 2010 - oh and HE had chaperones.

And just last week, Dak Prescott (Miss State quarterback) and two of his teammates were attacked at a "Spring Break" sponsored concert.

Finally, here is the Police Blotter from Panama City Beach for the month of March thus far. Every single drunk driver or belligerent partygoer is a potential killer. Especially when your kids are out there, either drunk themselves or at the very least distracted by the fun and chatter of the group.

http://www.wjhg.com/crime/arrests/headlines/Arrest-Records---March-2015-Bay-Co-Jail-Panama-City-FL-294922261.html

I will say this one last time, as someone who lives just a fraction of what the PCB or Daytona spring breaks are, I will never allow my teenage daughter to participate in a FL Spring Break or subsidize her while she is in college. NOT because I do not trust her, but I know that I cannot trust the people around her. I

huskerbb · Guru

I think the safety issue is overblown--I just don't see the need for high school kids to go galavanting off to Florida by themselves to spend mom and dad's money on booze and pot.

If they want to go on vacation when they are in high school--they can go on family vacations, church youth group outings, sports camps, or possibly to visit friends or relatives depending on the situation.

If they want to have a spring break trip--they can wait until they get a damn job and pay for it, themselves.

Oh, and don't give me some nonsense about them having a summer job at McDonald's or whatever. That money would A) not remotely cover their expenses for living at home, so it's still essentially mom and dad's money and B) be better off saved for college, or a vehicle, or whatever than blown on booze and pot.

Ohfour · Hooker

It's cheaper than prom. I would much rather give my kids money for a vacation than for prom. Talk about a WASTE of money!

huskerbb · Guru

Ohfour wrote:
It's cheaper than prom. I would much rather give my kids money for a vacation than for prom. Talk about a WASTE of money!

I doubt you can send ALL the kids plus dates to Florida for what a prom costs.

I won't argue with you about prom being a waste of money, though. It is, and what pisses me off about prom is all the frickin' fundraisers.

The kids who actually DO the fundraisers, for the most part, could go to mom and dad at the beginning of the year and say we need $1,000 or whatever and they could write a check.

Of course, then some kids and parents will whine that they can't afford to do that--but then those kids and parents are usually the ones who don't show up to help with the fund-raisers, either.

If you are a loser in one aspect of life--most are losers all around.

Ohfour · Hooker

I spent about $500 on each of my kids for prom. That's how much I give them to go on Spring Break.

I've never heard of a fundraiser for prom, although, that's not a bad idea. 2 years ago (the last time we had kids go to prom) the tickers were $120 EACH. That's just to walk in the door. Then you have to pay for food and drink (finger foods and cokes) separately...

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Ohfour wrote:
I spent about $500 on each of my kids for prom. That's how much I give them to go on Spring Break.

I've never heard of a fundraiser for prom, although, that's not a bad idea. 2 years ago (the last time we had kids go to prom) the tickers were $120 EACH. That's just to walk in the door. Then you have to pay for food and drink (finger foods and cokes) separately...

Around here, the juniors have to fundraise and pay for prom for the seniors.

huskerbb · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
I spent about $500 on each of my kids for prom. That's how much I give them to go on Spring Break.

I've never heard of a fundraiser for prom, although, that's not a bad idea. 2 years ago (the last time we had kids go to prom) the tickers were $120 EACH. That's just to walk in the door. Then you have to pay for food and drink (finger foods and cokes) separately...

Around here, the juniors have to fundraise and pay for prom for the seniors.

That's pretty much how it is here--but we also have post prom, which is put on by the junior/senior parents.

I don't see why they just can't go out an drink beer and get laid like we did. If it was good enough for us, by golly.... evileye

huskerbb · Guru

Oh, and here, $500 would barely cover the plane tickets to Florida--let alone any other expenses.

But, in any case--I'm not giving them $500 to go anywhere except maybe church convention.

-- Edited by huskerbb on Friday 13th of March 2015 03:48:17 PM

Ohfour · Hooker

huskerbb wrote:
Oh, and here, $500 would barely cover the plane tickets to Florida--let alone any other expenses.

But, in any case--I'm not giving them $500 to go anywhere except maybe church convention.

-- Edited by huskerbb on Friday 13th of March 2015 03:48:17 PM

They usually borrow our suburban and drive, splitting the gas. The condo comes out to be about $100-$125 a person. That's plenty of money...

Lindley · Guru

I took my dd on a cruise for her graduation present. Her class didn't go on a class trip. The class before them and after them went but they just didn't want to. My son lived in Orlando for a couple of years and avoided the beach during spring break.

huskerbb · Guru

Lindley wrote:
I took my dd on a cruise for her graduation present. Her class didn't go on a class trip. The class before them and after them went but they just didn't want to. My son lived in Orlando for a couple of years and avoided the beach during spring break.

Oh, we took our sons to Cabo when our youngest was a senior in high school. No way am I giving them a bunch of cash to go on their own, though. They can do that when they have a, you know, JOB.

I'm all for giving kids some measure of independence--but independence ONLY comes when you aren't digging in mom and dad's pocketbook for the money to fund said independence.

JPT · Senior Member

Spring break? Heck back in my day, most of us WORKED to pay for college and books. No time off from WORK for break. The only kids that went on those trips were the more well to do kids that didn't have to work.