A new bag policy is coming down at Lane Stadium. It will be a lot like the policy for Bristol and NFL stadiums. It will be strongly encouraged for the first three games and strictly enforced starting on Oct. 20th vs Miami.
http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/20160808aaa.html
Allowed
- Clear plastic bag (no larger than 12" x 6" x 12")
- Gallon size ziplock bag
- Small clutch bag (no larger than 4.5" x 6.5")
I get this policy, but not allowing diaper bags seems asinine considering how many people bring young children to games.
The ass pocket will still be there on gamedays.
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Maybe the message is being sent that this might not be the most appropriate venue for children needing diapers, despite how cute those pictures can be.
You're preaching to the choir. I've never understood why people bring kids that are too young to understand/enjoy the game. It's still going to piss people off.
agreed, those are the worst
Say a curse/bad word..... "HEY MY LITTLE KID IS HERE, WATCH YOUR MOUTH!!!"
.... yuck
Yep. I'm pretty good about knowing my surroundings and keeping myself in line, but sometimes it can't be helped. I'm hoping that we get a good offense going under Fuente and the need/desire to curse subsides. But we'll still have to deal with Ron Cherry.
yea I am fine with keeping yourself in line, but there are some parents/families that think because they brought children with them that everybody should just pipe down and sit on your hands.
Each environment is different but ones at a game/bar/high emotion places, some people just don't get it.
Like the parents who freak out when they hear cursing around their children.... at the bar
"excuse me everybody, I brought my child(ren) in here, please keep your voices down, and no cursing, thanks!"
there is a time and a place. I wouldn't bring my kids into a beach dive bar and expect to see tuxedos and evening gowns.
However, if I'm going to Chilli's on Tuesday at 5 PM in a mall and there's no sports games, I do expect a certain family atmosphere.
In my brewery, I advertise to bring the family. I do not expect boorishness and exclusion.
Vt has a kids club. The kids club gives out free tickets to kids for a home game.
Therefore VT has declared that football games are for the family, not just yer drinkin' buddies.
Somebody looks crosseyed at kids at a VT home football game? It's not because VT didn't invite my kids there.
Most of that sort of depends on the behavior of the kids, and the expectations of the parents. Kids may well enjoy the game experience. If it's just because the kids have no place else to be, I'd prefer the parents hire a sitter/friend/other parent/grandparent/etc. Yes, it costs money, but the quality of the experience goes up for all involved (parent, toddler, the people who paid good money to attend the event).
If I go to a restaurant, movie, or sporting event I go to enjoy that activity, not to hear someone else's kid scream (unless they're cheering for VT). I think it's great to bring kids to sporting events. It's up to the parents to teach them correct behavior and monitor it at the event. Babies, not so much, which is how this conversation started (diaper bags).
Family restaurants are family restaurants, but if someone's kid is screaming, the parent should take them outside. If they're running around other people's tables, the parent should correct it. If kids are in a nice restaurant, they need to behave at the level of the restaurant.
Tell you what, I'll start watching my language at the brewery when the parents actually start watching their kids.
The kids are what drives them to the bar. It's a vicious cycle!
Um...How about just use appropriate language? Then, you don't have to worry about it.
Just playing devil's advocate here, but appropriate language is subjective. I know people who get mad at someone if they use the phrase, "pissed off"
That's true. I am talking about the drunk young idiot who has to be cool around his friends and use the f word about 3 times a sentence.
Oh I agree. Some people are more sensitive to language than others but there's really no place for crazy ranting and screaming expletives in a public setting. Not saying it doesn't happen on occassion, it's when it becomes the norm that it's a problem. If you feel like you can't reasonably handle yourself, stay at home and watch the game. I do plenty of screaming at home when the Hokies are playing away games that I would never do in Lane.
does an office count as a public setting? Cause my boss is the reason I haven't brought my kids in to see what daddy does at his new job yet...
Sounds.....like an interesting work environment lol
My office is definitely like that as well, half the guys I work with are retired Navy Chiefs. One in particular can use the F-word in every part of speech and uses it for 75% of his vocabulary. At least until a woman/kid is around. At that point you wonder who abducted him and replaced him with Mr. Gentleman. He's a good dude though.
That's just college my friend. Many students just have an inherently vulgar vocabulary while in college. That's just how it is.
It's almost as if kids weren't exposed to crude language when they were young but begin using it overly so when they are on their own...
How circular this has become.
There is a difference between assimilating and conformation and peer pressure. That is my point.
This makes a lot of assumptions that are rather misguided. Personally, I've always been stone sober at games, am quite intelligent, and have the sort of friends who aren't impressed by four letter words. Yet, in any given conversation in a relaxed setting, I do tend to toss in the occasional "fuck" between SAT words. That's only heightened in emotional situations. I don't say it to impress friends or offend you. It's simply a part of my vocabulary, which happens to be quite useful at communicating precisely the emotion one wishes to convey. So please, if I'm next to you in the stands, don't take it personally, or even call attention to it. It's basically reflexive and nothing you say during a football game is going to undo years of conditioning.
me saying "what the hell" or "pissed off" might be fine to others and some not, 'appropriate language' is too subjective. some curse words just slip out for me when I am talking but there are too many people in today's world that get butt hurt over the smallest things.
Fuck. That.
Well it's not just kids, but about 90% of the population that doesn't want to hear F-bombs non-stop from the wannabe tough guy. I get when you're really upset, do it up, but not all game. I was actually embarrassed the first time I brought my wife to a VT game since there was one of those guys in our section. Just understand that there is certainly a limit, even at a football game. And this is coming from a sailor...
Side note: I remember when I was still in school a buddy of mine pointed out to me how much I was cursing and I didn't realize it. I started doing pushups after each one to try and bring it down a notch, totally helped me realize how much I was doing it.
Some of us have wives who also want to go to the game. It's a football game, not an Ozzy concert.
No one here or anywhere has the right to say who does and doesn't belong at a Hokie football game.
Everyone here should remember that some of us here are in the "people we are saying don't belong at our football game" group. I'll be bringing my four-year-old this year who understands that sometimes people get too excited and can't control their language, but you bet I'd be irate if someone was cursing up a storm. I don't bring my younger kids because they're too much to handle for a few hours in a stadium, but I understand people who bring their kids.
There's a time and a place for everything, and if you're upset someone is cursing around your kid at a football game, the issue isn't with the person who is cursing.
You don't bring a poodle into a gator pen and get upset when it gets eaten.
I'm never going to agree with this. Sorry. Swearing in public is just something I don't do and look down on. It's a free country, but I don't have to like public swearing. Nothing personal! I know some folks think its appropriate, and that's fine.
Kids under 5 shouldn't be at football games. And babies that spend the whole game screaming and crying are a lot more annoying than people who cuss every once in a while. But it's a free country and if you don't like people cussing around you you can do as I do when there is a crying baby around me, ignore it.
I disagree.
Why are football games a no-kid environment?
Does this include those that have mental disabilities that give them mental ages under 5 or are we just talking actual physical ages? This is rhetorical, of course, and submitted in the Socratic method type of question.
Because it's a setting where alcohol consumption is condone/encouraged. The stadium may not be - but other parts of campus (parking lots) are literally roped off each home game to allow alcohol consumption/open container, when they otherwise would not.
Not saying this is necessarily a 'no-kid environment,' but I do think it's unfair/unwise to expect fans to behave differently in the stadium than they would after leaving TOTS. It's up to each parent to decide if their okay bringing their kid to that environment.
Disclaimer - I'm not a parent, and don't want to be for a while.
EDIT/Addition:
My point is, any adult who attends a game should know that alcohol consumption is condoned before and after the game right outside the stadium, and that, while not condoned, it often happens during the game. You also know how people act when they've had too much alcohol. If you're bringing a child, they need to be mature enough that they can correctly respond to 'inappropriate' behavior. Example - if they hear someone swearing, they need to be old enough to know that they shouldn't repeat those words.
Yea no, the school gives kids tickets for free when they join the kids Hokie Club. As for open container laws, Virginia allows open container so not a big deal. What VT doesn't allow is general consumption of alcohol in the stadium, in fact if they find someone in possession of it they reserve the right to kick you out. College football is very much a family activity.
Um, since when?
It's been an open container state for some time. The law doesn't talk about having open containers. As for what the law does talk about, "public drinking" I can't tell you the last time I saw someone charged with it outside private property such as an amusement park.
Ok, maybe it's not open container but drinking in public and VA's laws are ridiculous when it comes to that. You can get a ticket for drinking on your own porch if it can been seen from a public area.
I
don't think it has ever been open container.Edit: I think you might be right after a few google searches - but public consumption is not allowed, which seems to me to be the same thing at the end of the day.That is why you see the yellow ropes around every tailgating lot - except lot 1. Pretty sure VT pays for some type of license to allow
open containerspublic consumption inside the ropes.Two Pitt guys got stopped by the police a few years back and I heard the police explain to them that they can drink from a bottle anywhere in the yellow ropes, just don't do it outside of them. They were carrying around a 12 pack of Corona and were indulging - but the cops were nice enough to give them a welcome and a warning.
I tried, I really did. Just couldn't do it.
Good catch my phone suggested it when stated typing and I didn't look at what it suggested.
Don't get me wrong, open consummation would be much more interesting to witness than open consumption
would make Game Days a little more festive
and decidedly NOT family friendly
Hmmm I feel like this toes the grey area, considering you can't have a family without consummation in some form, so by definition it has to be family friendly, no?
Stick it in!
Stick it in!
Stick it in!
You can do that, but no hip thrusts allowed!
maybe if you're these guys, but just no
But is it really appropriate? I mean, people bring children to the games. What if one of them saw? Well, it's irresponsible to be openly consummating. But it's my right! Don't bring your children near me when I am consummated.
TL;DR: This thread.
What have you been typing for your phone to suggest that?
Not sure it also doesn't like: Hokie (Homie), any of my three kids names, or numerous other things I type about the fire service or EMS.
http://www.technipages.com/how-to-add-words-to-iphone-ipad-dictionary
Consummation of alcohol? So like this?
the best part of the GIF is the reaction of the woman next to him. He starts chugging, everyone else starts clapping, and she recoils in disgust. lol
she's probably just happy not to have to be kissed by a total stranger.
He's probably just happy he didn't have to kiss her.
There are only 10 districts in the nation where open containers (meaning you can walk through a public area with an open can of bud light, take a sip in front of a police officer and it's okay) are allowed - none in VA.
Correct drinking in front of an officer can be an issue (at VT it is not a primary concern) but just having an open container is not in itself a violation of any law I've read in the code book. I know we have lawyers on here who practice in VA, open container laws in VA versus drinking in public laws?
This is why you drink from a solo cup or use a koozie. Unless they're close enough to smell it, they can't tell what it is. Even if the 5.0 around football games wasn't so lenient, you cold still drink booze from a solo cup in front of an officer without them being able to do anything so long as you weren't showing signs of being intoxicated or giving them a reason to believe it's alcoholic.
And even if they catch you, if you're overage, there's really not much they can do
I know this, because they tried to get me for it after I graduated. Undercover cop in plain clothes tried to get me before the VT-ECU game in 2007
Him: "why are you drinking out of that cup"
Me: "Because I can"
Him: *flashes badge* "Let me see your ID" *gets citation ready*
Me: Hands him Drivers License showing I'm well over 21
Him: *deep sign and puts citation away* "Just make sure you throw it out when you're done" *Walks away*
Wooooooo Hood River! I actually do hang out there a lot, since it's quite close to some top-notch skiing...
See this is where I disagree with you.
The presence of alcohol isn't an indicator of a non-family environment.
I know it's not appropriate to bring my kids to TOTS but, a VT football game is nowhere near anything like TOTS.
That is clear and described as such by VT.
If they are giving away football tickets to VT football games specifically to kids, in the Hokie kids club, then it is definitely designed by VT to be a kid friendly environment.
A VT football game is in no way similar to an experience at TOTS. The athletic department has bent over backwards to encourage families to attend the games. Also, alcohol consumption is absolutely not encouraged at VT football games. These games are not for you to do as you please, consequences be damned.
There's multiple parking lots less than 30 yards from to the stadium where you can binge drink. Alcohol consumption is not encouraged AT a game, but it is condoned before and after. While I hope/expect most people to drink responsibly, that doesn't always happen.
HEY! Watch your mouth! I don't want my imaginary kid being exposed to that filth of verbal expression!
If my kid is screaming or crying in public, I remove them from the situation until they calm down. Do you believe that people cursing should do the same?
But isn't the crying or screaming kid an asset when we're on defense?
That's why we have a while section of them in the NEZ. :D
Well...
I was taken to Hokie games WAY before I was 5 years old, and I daresay that fact has a great deal to do with the Leonard that you see standing before you this very day.
Thank you Leonard Sr.
You are so wrong, I don't even know where to start. How about thinking about others instead of yourself all the time?
I'm sorry, I can't tell if you're talking about the self-centered parents who attempt to control the behavior of everyone around them wherever they go, or the self-centered people who don't care how they act around others regardless of situation.
Exactly. There's too much "I paid for this ticket, I'll say whatever I want." attitude.
This is a good place for this, a gentle reminder for ALL HOKIES!
That program got shelved a few years ago didn't it? Trying to take all the fun out of the game was a Jim Weaver specialty i.e. The stick it in chant. If youre going to jack the price of the tickets up to 70 bucks a pop I doubt you're going to see very many small children.
The sentiment still is valid.
Anybody have a video of all of Lane booing the 5 year old Miami and UVA players on the big screen?
Anybody?
Because we all know how that went over.
Ok, now THAT's funny.
But my favorite part of it is the Amanda Seyfried lookalike directly behind the guy holding the sign. Her line of sight should NEVER be blocked.
Taking a kid to a football game is nothing like taking a poodle to a gator pen.
And never should be. Not even close.
A Lane stadium is not a gator pen. Nor should it feel like one. Or be acceptable if people act as if they are the gators in a pen.
The only weekend I want to be like these guys is at Bristol!
And against that other school in Beamersville Va, I presume?
I would never say that they shouldn't be allowed and if that was how I came across I apologize. Sometimes I just don't understand the struggle of trying to keep a kid entertained for 4 hours when someone could just get a sitter. I also know that sometimes that isn't an option for everyone. I know that sometimes my ass pocket gets the best of me and that I need to be told to shut the hell up. Usually, Mrs. APFOW takes care of that before anyone else has to. But no one should raked over the coals for expressing their emotions from time to time, and I appreciate parents like you that realize that.
When all your friends are VT fans and you don't have relatives even in the same state, a sitter isn't practical.
I know there is no way I'd be able to get a sitter for 6 home games. Without bringin kids to the game, I don't get season tickets. I also know that lots of people think their preferred entertainment is for people their own age, not others.
I know that's not true. These things, fall Saturdays at Lane stadium, are the kinds of things my kids will remember fondly for the rest of their lives.
My kids go to all the home games since the youngest one was 4 years old. I only ask for a bare modicum of decorum and for seat stealers to stand in front of me, not my kids, and to not give me dirty looks because I want my family for a VT game.
I don't sit in the student sections so, That is not too much to ask.
Not sure if you were arguing with me without actually reading the comment or just trying to illustrate my point.
I am not for cussing up a storm either. However, I think you're confusing what a football game should be versus what a football game is. It's just plain negligence to bring your kids to a football game and expect everything to be hunky dory. Unfortunately, it's just how things go. When people are very passionate about something and then things don't go their way, they get upset. You're setting yourself up for failure if you think your kid won't here/see bad things at a Hokie football game - most any major sporting event for that matter. Additionally, it's not like if a certain number of people deemed the conduct unnecessary and Babcock or Sands said anything that things would change (see Hokies Respect). It's the nature of the beast.
For one I'm glad we have an athletic dept that isn't afraid to piss people off. You can't please everyone, and if they think they can be more secure and/or create a better environment for the largest group of people, have at it.
What aren't they afraid to piss people off about?
How am I going to hide all my beer now that I can't use a false bottomed bag? This is terrible.
I hear hidden plastic bags with tubes coming out one's sleeve have worked quite well in the past, although back in the day my group had each of five members smuggle in an entire fifth bottle each at a Wake Forest game. (We're not talking airline bottles here). The return drive was very scary, and I basicly gave up drinking during games after that.
I was being holistically sarcastic. I didn't drink often in college as I was the tailgate chair for my fraternity. I grilled for 100-150 people for an average game and a drunk cook cannot handle that.
An Athletic Dept. that isn't afraid to piss people off?
That actually seems like the last thing an athletic department should be doing. This is an odd comment from a guy that constantly posts about how VT alum don't support the athletic department, while supporting changes they make that discourage exactly the demographic that might have the type of disposable income to support the athletic department.
At what age are they too young?
You remember the Marshall monsoon of a game?
My daughters were 4 y.o. and 7 y.o. They stayed through 3 quarters because they thought it was fun and we had a blast, then they just got too cold. they outlasted a whole bunch of people. I stayed until the very end.
Last fall my daughter was 6. She decided to set a goal that she would be a VT cheerleader and set about getting prepped, taking cheer leading classes and gymnastics.
If you raise them right, kids are young adults. But that doesn't mean I want people issuing streams of invectives and puking on them.
Just because one is at a football game doesn't mean one should relax mores to be coarse and vulgar. That's boorish.
Does one curse at one's grandmother and puke on her couch just because one are watching football?
Now, I do not expect one to act as if we are in church .
My comment said if they were too young to understand or enjoy the game. Obviously, yours are enjoying themselves. And as far as the cursing goes, I've responded ad nauseam to many different posts on this thread about my feelings on it and don't care to again.
If the new bag policy means you cannot arm yourself with the equipment necessary to accommodate your child, they are too young.
obvous exception: children with specific needs that I'm sure the hospitality staff at Lane would be happy to help with
Either that or the new policy needs adjustment.
You've already identified one reason why there may need to be an adjustment.
I have not yet checked to see if my rain gear fits into one of those bags.
Quite frankly, I do not see this policy changing. Just way to much Nasty stuff going on in the world today with terrorism. It's only going to get worse.
Just to expand upon this, I'm not sure if anyone on here was at stepping out this past weekend, but nearly every road that led to Main Street had official vehicles parked in the streets so u could not get there by auto. This was a direct response from what happened in Nice France.
So we are at the point in history where efforts must made to protect everyone. And quite frankly people don't need to be brining in big ass bags anyway, there not a ton of room in those rows when they are packed.
I always have a ton of room under my seat. That's where I usually keep my bag with additional rain gear and cold weather gear.
I understand that some standard must be set, I bet that after a couple games they will solicit advice as to how to adjust.
Larger, smaller, one that includes diapers and baby bottles, blah, blah, blah.
I hate waiting in lines for bag check BUT have to bring everything I own everywhere I go, so I would recommend getting a (clear, I guess, just to be safe) foldable bag and carrying it while wearing all of the cold/ rain gear through security/ into the stadium, then taking everything off and putting it in the bag. I have a huge purse that folds down, so I do this to skip the line.
I do think there is a serious dissonance between having the Kids Club/ encouraging Lane as a family-friendly venue/ requiring tickets for ALL fans regardless of age vs. banning diaper bags. I mean, come on.
Also I cuss a lot everywhere I go, and I see both sides of the argument. I don't feel like there's an easy answer here - if everyone acted like responsible adults and minded their children and their language, respectively, there wouldn't even be a question.
But if I see a kid throwing a goddang paper airplane all bets are off.
Thank you very much for your considerate and well positioned argument.
It will certainly lead me to consider that other people have different conditions and situations than my own.
I had not considered the hardship that the larger size of a bag may be for others. I will consider your position in the future of these sorts of discussions.
I stand humble and corrected.
-Egbert
Ummmm I think something got lost in translation. I wasn't making an argument or correcting you at all, but was rather just trying to make a helpful suggestion for when you need to get all of your stuff into the game given the new policy.
I can see some unintended backlash from our older alumni as well...
Can't wait for Frank to be in a video segment complaining that he's been bringing his bag here for years.
Glad you said it so I won't have to. :--)
One day if I'm lucky enough to be able to afford club/ box seats you damn well better believe I'm bringing my kids no matter how old they are. While it's tough with kids in the general admission area sometimes bringing the kids is the only way the parents can come to the game.
I understand that argument as well. My views stated above do not mean that I don't believe they should be allowed. They do alter how I enjoy the game at times.
Nobody is saying that the clear bag cannot be used for a diaper bag...there's still that option.
I nominate APFOW to be TKP official Minister of Information on Lane Stadium carry-in policies. It just fits.
What's that they say..."no one knows the law better than a criminal"?
I have NO problem if you want to bring kids. But babies are a whole other thing. I like lists so:
1. Lane is and should always be too loud for a baby. It should be our PERSONAL goal to make every home game a terribly loud place that could damage a baby's hearing
2. Fans should have the opportunity to jump up and down. If I accidentally jump on another adult fan's foot, I can always say: "I'm so sorry, have some whiskey". If I accidentally jump on a 5 year old kid's foot, I can always say: "I'm so sorry, have some whiskey". If I jump on a baby, I just killed it. NOT OK.
3. Language (coming from a guy who doesn't swear much): If you want to bring your kid to a college campus, then it's your job to educate your kid on whats appropriate to say, and whats not. If you don't want them exposed to foul language, don't go to a college campus during the school year. And if you chose to, its YOUR job to educate your kid.
4. I have no problem with Lane making it inconvenient to bring a baby to a football game when making rules that are consistent with other stadium experiences. Having said that, I think every kid should have the memorable Lane Stadium experience they deserve (and have no problem toning down my language to do so). I just don't think that applies to children that can't use a normal bathroom.
so you're telling me I can now fill my clear bag with booze instead of bringing in the bottle?. GENIUS IDEA
This is more along the lines of where I thought this thread was headed when I posted it. How wrong I was!!!
I think we all agree that's the logical conclusion of why this new policy was put in place. Plenty of kids owe their existence to booze and cursing all night.
I had a friend try this years ago. The bag ruptured in the dense crowd before the gate. He still got in, but it was a pretty cold game he says.
Rule #1: Always, always double bag your bourbon.
And if it's Evan Williams 1783, I recommend triple bagging. Strong stuff it be.
I witnessed this interaction at a LOLUVA game a couple of years ago at a gate between a student age wahoo with cargo shorts attempting to enter and a security peson doing bag checks:
security guy: Excuse me sir, what's that in your pocket (points toward open, bulging, side pocket on shorts)?
wahoo: (who had obviously had a few, starts to reach into his top pocket) Just keys...
security guy: Not that pocket, the bottom side one.
wahoo: Oh...um...that? Um...that's just...um...a bag of alcohol.
security guy: That can't go in sir, you need to return it to your car or toss it in the can.
wahoo: Um...I can't take it in? (slightly slurred)
security guy: Car or can, sir. NOW! (security guy was getting irritated because the wahoo was holding up the line)
wahoo mumbled something and tossed the bag in the trash and went in. I watched him for a bit as he weaved his way toward the stadium. Kid wasn't even smart enough (or was so trashed) that he couldn't even come up with a good lie. It might attest to a statement I saw a while back: Three things don't lie....very small children, very drunk people, and yoga pants.
That was obvious in his choice in schools.
Looks like we got a lot of non-parents on here...
Oh no worries, we're just anxiously awaiting all the parents to come and tell us why we should constantly be altering our behavior when they choose to bring their children to places that, in their nature, don't conform to the standards those parents demand.
Well that doesn't exactly further the conversation, and in fact paints an ironic picture of parents being nonresponsive to alternative views. Funny stuff.
On the contrary, it's an attempt to cease the devolution of the conversation from a post about how the bag policy has changed to how one should parent their children. I read Alum07's post and my immediate reaction was
So forgive me for not continuing an argument which does not actually further the initial point of the post in that the bag policy has changed. I'll accept all the criticism you wish to give for doing so.
The majority of the discussion seems like less of how to parent, more of places kids of a young age are less appropriately suited.
being at a football game doesn't let you act like a jack-ass (parents and non-parents)
This...
If it takes effort for you not to be a shitty person because kids are around, then chances are that you are just a shitty person.
I don't think that asking someone to not drop F Bombs for 3-4 hours is quite the same thing as legitimately asking people to alter their entire behavior. Parents do need to be cognizant of the type of atmosphere a college football game is (unless said game is at UVA) The back of the Lane Stadium ticket does not guarantee a person the right to be a douche the whole time.
absolutely correct.
Actually, I believe that if you are making an effort not to act like a shitty person because kids are around, you are NOT a shitty person. A shitty person wouldn't bother to make that effort.
100%.
I'm not bringing my kid right now because he's 3 and it's not gonna work. We did a dry run last week with Salem Red Sox baseball and he couldn't stay seated for more than two minutes. Not fair to him, not fair to the people up and down the row he'd hit accidentally as he runs past, and damn sure not fair to my $200+ to get us all there, in, and back.
But when LittleCVT is ready in a couple years, I can tolerate telling him after a turnover that people are angry and using inappropriate language, we're not going to do that at home. I'm not gonna lie that I haven't sworn a time or six at Lane. Having to do that after every play, though, will just make the experience miserable for all of us. I'd like to teach him to be a Hokie. And even discounting kids, a stadium full of foulmouthed dickheads isn't what I want Virginia Tech to be. I can go to Maryland or WVU for that.
I had no idea the can of worms I was opening with this. That being said, I think there's some middle ground on the whole cursing at Lane. Hot-tempered, redheaded veterans with a potty mouth like me shouldn't be allowed to scream obscenities at will, but parents also shouldn't flip out when someone yells "horseshit" at a horseshit call. It is a public place, but it's also a football game, but it's a fucking public place, but it's a motherfucking football game.......
Bottom line, don't be a dick. If someone asks you to tone it down, tone it down. If someone yells "horseshit" at a horseshit call, have your kid sing "Let it go" to you.
Now, I'm confused. Is this new policy for the children or for the parents of the children that crap their pants whenever an obscenity is shouted? [I keed in jest of course]
I blame Joe for this thread. I could've just posted the link and that would have been the end of it. But nooooo, he wants us to add our own input/opinions. /s
Fair.
hoboy!
via GIPHY
Beat me by 11 secs
Haven't read the books. Haven't seen the movies. But: I think this might apply somewhere in here.
In the context of most of this thread, I don't find it appropriate to use the word "bitch" in defending your daughter from cursing.
A few year's back I took my son to a game when he was 18 months old. I packed everything I'd need diaper-wise...in a gallon ziploc bag. I'd had to bike to the game with him in the toddler seat so I wasn't about to bring my wife's Mary Poppins diaper bag. Worked out just fine.
Exactly! You don't need a ginormous bag for a 4 hr game. You can change before game and after at your vehicle and have one for during the game. You can leave a lot in your vehicle.
Exactly... how many diapers and wet wipes do you really need for a 4 hour interval?
As someone who is not a dad or even an uncle, in my head children are just constant pee/poop machines and require about 18 diapers a day. Nice to hear it's possible to make I through a football game with one spare diaper.
As a dad, I would never recommend not taking extra., especially with younger kids. You may drag it around for nothing 30 days in row, but there will always be that one day.
We do entire days out using a fold up booster seat which houses diapers, toys, wipes and usually snacks. It's pretty compact. Could easily do 4 hours in Lane with a gallon ziplock with a couple diapers and a pack of wipes. Although, from the wrong side of the Atlantic I don't think he'll be at any games for a couple of seasons.
I would like to apologize in advance for the one (maybe two) times in the coming season when our opponent scores and an expletive deleted escapes my lips before I catch it. This does not include my jumping up and down on my hat and yelling ",aahhhh" repeatedly. I do not consider this cursing but more like the reaction one has when hitting your finger with a large hammer. It's just inhuman to not expect some kind of emotional response from a passionate fan.
I feel very fortunate to not yet need diapers, but who knows what the future may hold ... I am old enough to not take anything for granted any more.
Sincerely yours,
Doesn't bother me. It seems sensible.
Somewhat related question, since I'll be attending my first game since the 2006 win over Clemson. The prohibited items list mentions weapons but doesn't define what is considered a weapon. I almost always have a pocket knife with me and don't really think of it as a weapon. If I wear athletic shorts I'm likely to forgo carrying a knife that day anyway, but wanted to check.
Also would someone be able to have a drawstring bag in their pocket to transfer items they are carrying in a ziplock bags, have in their pockets, hands, etc. to it after going through security?
For purpose of the law length of knife and how knife functions matters, for purpose of rhino security at Lane stadium I wouldn't bring any knife.
This thread was way more contentious than I expected it to be based on the title.
Shit happens :--)
Excuse me, poo poo occurs.
Now would be a good time to step back and acknowledge the things that unite us rather than divide us. For instance, who else is excited that hokie football kicks off in just 26 days?
You teaser, isn't that like telling an alcoholic he can have a drink Next Week ? Primal scream therapy rehearsals start in one hour (otherwise known as enter sandman).
I've been going to Hokie games for as long as I can remember, but I don't remember hearing foul language till I knew what those words were already. Does that mean no one cussed around me when I was at the game no, but if you don't draw attention to it, a screaming person is just a screaming person.
Does that excuse the bad language no, but recognize that you are more likely to hear words that are frowned upon than you will at day care.
Kids also have every right to be at the game, part of the reason I'm such a big fan is that I have been going to games since I was 4. People shouldn't penalize the genuine young sports fans just because some would rather be watching cartoons.
Wow. This thread got ugly quick. Ok, I have no problem with kids coming to a game. I brought my son to one and it was great. I also didn't try to censor people around me. For that matter, I'm not a huge fan of censorship in general. If I tell a drunk to shut up at a game, it's probably going to be because they are annoying the crap out of me, not because of the profanities (for the record I never have, but I have asked somebody if they got everything they needed this time after making an entire row clear out for the 6th time for another order of nachos).
Now to the actual subject of the post. You should be able to fit all you need in the bags allowed. If small children come, likely you will have multiple bags you can fill. I don't see a problem here.
I think...I think this is the answer to all of these problems.
Except for the issues with the new Bag Policy, which I think this thread is sort of about.
no no no. The hokie pokie is what it's all about.
Ya know what is most disturbing is how a few of you feel that you are in any way justified in telling me where I should and should not take my children. Sorry that's not your call to make. Second vast majority of hokie fans are considerate and tolerant on both sides of the obscenity debate. It's only the outliers on either side that are problematic. And both need to chill out and relax. This little thread got way out of hand way to quickly. But hey there 's only a few more weeks......
My kid turns 4 this fall. Which, if you read through this thread, seems to be the magical number provided in most of the "kids should be at games" examples.
Still, because of who my kid is, I still won't take him to a game for at least another year or two. He doesn't have the patience to stay in one spot long enough to concentrate on the game. I just attempted Redskins training camp for the first time yesterday, and we barely made it through that. My goal this year is to get him to be still long enough to see a couple of drives uninterrupted.
But honestly, other people are not a factor in my decision to not bring my son to a game. I won't be able to enjoy the game, because he's not enjoying the game. And I'm not going to waste the money on three tickets if at least two of us won't be able to watch large portions of the game.
The alcohol or cursing factors never even crossed my mind, because honestly, I rarely see that many people who are that wasted during a game. I'm not going to be all offended if a few cuss words slip out, because there's a good chance several of them will be coming from me. If there is some obnoxious jackass spitting out nothing but cuss words, I'll probably be saying something regardless of if my kid is there or not.
Since Battle and Bristol and Lane Stadium have both adopted this policy, I decided to purchase something that was clear, but other than a plastic bag. It's cute, and perfect for carrying a phone, I.D., and money. You can find the bag on amazon if you want to show the bag to your female friends! Link.
I like it. Man-Purse????
My context clues of the above post say no....
It's European
my 8 yr old watches Last Chance U with me, the cursing, praying, and football, and all. Just teaching her the rights and wrongs along the way. Also appreciating the life she has, cause some of these stories are deep and heavy. I'm on episode 4, no spoilers please.
Let me throw in my 22 cents, I have seen that same mom who corrects people for their language when her kids are present, be the biggest most obnoxious drunk when the kids are not there. Just a tab bit of HYPOCRISY! Kids should be welcome if both kids and the parents know what to expect. Some things are just obvious, don't bring your kids to Disney World if they need a stroller.
Man, strollers at Disney World are weaponized instruments of "get out of my way." I can't say I've never used a stroller that way, but it's usually justified because it's on a narrow city sidewalk and people are basically about to run over my kid or force the stroller into the street. But at Disney World, especially after the fireworks those things are used for being able to cut your walking path off from 8 feet away.
A) this policy is a security thing and has nothing to do with VT not wanting kids at games (that makes zero sense financially and for long term health of the athletic department and school)
B) if you can't enjoy watching a game without cussing up and down, maybe you should watch something else (or talk to your doctor about a xanax prescription)
C) i think the biggest issue is how soon to season this is, as i've seen lots of people say that they had already purchased bags, etc specifically for going to football games that now probably aren't compliant
for everyone who thinks parents are trying to take away their freedom of speech (or something):
obligatory freedom of speech post:
Except getting security involved and getting you thrown out of a stadium (and I've seen thrown in the lockup until the blood test comes back due to the automatic assumption of drunk in public) due to profanity being used does actually kind of violate those 1st Amendment rights.
Just sayin...
The situation is not so clear-cut.
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/profanity-the-first-amendment
had to be shared from that article:
Drunk in public does not require a breathalyzer or BAC test.
you know what? Here I am trying to lighten the damned mood and reverse the downward spiral that is this thread you just have to keep it going.
Its interesting how both sides on this argument are arguing the same thing.
"I'll act how I want, and you'll act how I want as well"
like i've said: don't be an ass just because you're watching football, and don't be an ass just because your kid is at the game
there are people who don't want to hear cursing regardless of the presence of kids
HEY, language!
Guys and Gals,
This whole thing started because someone mentioned that they can't bring a DIAPER BAG into a stadium. DIAPER BAG implies a baby or a child young enough (special needs kids are the exception) to use a normal bathroom. That's pretty f'in young. Are there really people on this board that think that a child can have a truly memorable lane stadium experience at an age where they require diapers? Should Lane put in diaper changing stations in the stadium? C'mon lets be reasonable.
Already have them for one and YES they should have them.
Yeah they should have them... For the parents irresponsible enough to bring a child with a developing brain to an event where the volume level can and will get loud enough to potentially damage it.
Now, if you're talking about a toddler or a 4year old or someone else, that's fine, if the child will remember it and have a great time, absolutely have at it. But understand the environment when you go and understand you are going to see drinking, you are going to see public intoxication, you are going to hear lots of profanity, and there's absolutely nothing you can do to shield your children from that. If you aren't comfortable with that environment for your children, you're better off watching from home. At a certain point, as a parent, you need to realize you can't control everyone and you need to take responsibility for your own actions and the environment where you bring your own children, and if the reality of where you're going isn't perfectly suitable to your own standards, you don't need to go there with your children.
Edit: I see someone has gone through and methodically downvoted every one of my posts in this thread... Classy
Speaking as someone who as only been to 5 total games at Lane, 4 this past season, I've never seen a bunch of drunks, cursing like you imply. I'm also pretty sure there are entire areas of the stadium not surrounded by college aged kids doing these things. Jeep brings his kids and sits in the end zone club seats, they sell indoor club seats where I'm pretty sure this isn't an issue.
I agree entirely. This year, I went to 2 games and sat in the West Stands for the first time ever. It was very different from being in the thick of the student sections. The North Endzone and East Stands can be downright dangerous (part of the fun of undergrad), but everyone around me in the West (literally everyone) was fun to be around with no problems whatsoever. The stadium is, of course, a loud environment, but there are many areas that should not be viewed as war zones that endanger children.
All my games were in middle upper East. Never saw an issue. Doing West this year since I'll never be able to afford it again.
Honestly I've never encountered anyone that drunk or cursing that badly. My issue with the sentiments in this thread was purely the statement that people who bring young kids shouldn't be welcome at Lane.
That can't be true, the entirety of Lane Stadium is filled with drunk obscene fans, where children will have their morals corrupted if allowed inside the gate!!
Does anybody feel that the direction of this thread has gone the way of this?
It really has nothing to do with safe spaces.
You're correct in that the actual thread topic itself does not. The banter, however, is what's giving me the general vibe.
The concept of a safe space is for individuals who have "triggers." No one here is getting a triggered and will have a panic attack. They are talking about their personal experience being changed due to the fact that another group of individuals are enjoying a Hokie football game in a different manner than they are.
I never want to have kids if it's gonna make me have a stick up my ass like some of the comments here... For the most part it's been fairly reasonable but some are so set on the whole "it's my kid and I'll raise them how I want" thing.
For the most part, nobody is saying don't bring your kids to the game. Just don't bring your kids to the game and then complain when people don't behave how you'd like them to. I think we're all in agreement that an obnoxious drunk is an obnoxious drunk, whether kids are around or not. You shouldn't be a drunk asshole at a football game or anywhere else, but the responsibility falls on the parents. It's your kid, so don't expose them to that situation if they can't handle it. If they're good kids from a good family, they won't want to repeat any of the vulgar stuff coming out of the drunk clown's mouth.
I agree that the parents of someone who feels the need to get so drunk that they become obnoxious should have taught them better. I'm glad to see you get it.
Now you're just arguing for the sake of arguing. We get it, you have kids.
Even if I didn't have kids I don't want to stand next to someone so drunk they can't control themselves or their actions. What fun is watching the game when the guy next to me can't stand up on his own, is yelling nonsense the entire time and is being obnoxious.
Did I or did I not just say you shouldn't be a drunk asshole? You even quoted it, so I know you saw it. Like I said, you're just arguing for the sake of arguing. We all agree that an obnoxious drunk is annoying. You can stop trying to convince me now.
Yet you lay the responsibility on parents. You even say it's lies with the parents. I'm a parent yes I don't want to stand next to a drunk I'm also a sports fan I don't want to stand next to a screaming baby at a game. You know who is responsible for each of those? The person doing the action, the parent should remove the screaming baby until it calms down the the adult who is drunk should either remove himself, be removed by friends or be removed by law enforcement. A kid can't help they cry it's how they communicate, that drunk could have not gotten drunk in the first place, but to say it's the parents fault I don't even know how to describe how ignorant that is.
The responsibility is on the parents to recognize the atmosphere and environment you're walking into and know whether or not that is appropriate for your children. If being around out of control drunks is not the type of environment you want your children to be present, then Lane Stadium on a gameday probably isn't the best place for them, because eventually, regardless of how people in Lane should be acting, you're going to run into someone who is blitzed drunk. Its just the nature of the venue and event, and there's absolutely nothing you can do about that.
Lane Stadium isn't HOME OF THE OUT OF CONTROL DRUNKS. I'm not a parent, and I'd hate to be surrounded by it. YES it happens. You're next to "that guy". You make the best of it and focus on the game. I don't want Lane's rep to be "everyone is annoyingly hammered".
There's a balance. You bring your kid on the CHANCE that you could be next to someone who's drunk and obnoxious, and you have a plan to deal with that. At the same time, lets all try not to be obnoxious (drunk is ok though).
Oh yeah, everyone hates being next to that guy, but you go into each game knowing there's a somewhat decent chance that one of those guys will be in your section or a section near you and you're eventually going to hear it. Its just the risk you take by going into the stadium.
And you're right, you don't want out of control drunks... But 'drunk enough you don't realize you're yelling way too loud on defense and there's no way in hell you'll have a voice by the morning"... that's the right level of drunk for Lane
I think everyone is in agreement for the most part. We all think you shouldn't get out-of-control drunk. But it seems like Fireman thinks alcohol shouldn't exist. He's had essentially the same point spelled out for him several times by multiple people in this thread, but he keeps insisting on nobody getting drunk. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but alcohol exists and it's here to stay. Society has an alcohol problem, and that's also here to stay. If anybody has a solution, I'm all ears. But there is no solution, so we have to adjust and deal with it.
First I've never said people shouldn't drink, I drink, my wife drinks I being alcohol to Tech. What I'm not ok with is someone knowingly and purposefully drinking so much they can't control themselves. Being loud isn't an issue with me, saying obscenities doesn't bother me, not being able to stand, not understanding your personal space is not mine or my wives bothers me, making comments about woman around you or kids is not ok. That's my issue. Drink away but learn to control it.
What makes you think anyone is knowingly and purposefully getting so drunk he or she simply cannot control him or herself? I know the few isolated times I've gotten blitzed, it was completely unintentional.
When people walk up to me and say things "I'm going to get so drunk I won't remember this game", I need to buy a second ticket so I can leave at halftime and get shit faced" , when your goal is to drink so much you can't remember something your drinking too much on purpose.
I have to commend this comment. Not often you see hyperbole taken as fact.
But then you see the examples in the stadium being frog walked out between two state troopers. Or passed out in the bathroom or passed out in the parking lot on the way to the stadium.
I agree with most of what you have said, Fireman.
There can be fan behavior that takes away from the game. I would be comfortable bringing my 4 year old daughter to a game in the West stands. We don't though. Thankfully, we live where grandparents are on hand. The last time I was in the East stands, it was too rowdy for my wife, let alone my daughter.
Again why is it on parents? Why is their no responsibility on the drunk, his friends or anyone else? If I remove my kid because she is crying why is their no expectation of the drunk being removed?
There is... Drunk in public is illegal, I think.
When you become a parent, you all of a sudden realize that you are responsible for protecting and training another human being with the end goal of his being a healthy, happy, functioning member of society. You start to look at things in a different light. You look back on things you experienced that you wish you didn't and you want to find some way to protect your kid from them. You look at lessons you learned later in life and you try to find ways to teach them earlier on to avoid some of the same missteps. You look at people you know who are crappy examples of humanity and stay awake at night wondering if they were a result of bad parenting and if you're doing the same things their parents did.
This is all going to manifest itself in different ways. All in all, I 'm actually encouraged by parents making an effort, even if it's misguided. I've seen a few examples of people who decided that being a parent was not going to change how they lived their lives. The resulting kids were sorely lacking in a lot of what makes a healthy adult. Of course, this is anecdotal, but I believe that everything else needs to take a back seat to parenting once you move into that phase. This is going to look different for each person (some kids will see going to a game as bonding, others will see it as being ignored while your dad can hang out with his friends, etc), but if you will demand that your life look the same before and after you have kids, you probably aren't ready to have kids.
I completely understand everything you've said and I've understood both sides of this whole thing. I think both sides are right, in a sense. Every kid deserves to experience a game in Lane Stadium (some of my favorite childhood memories are in Lane and a lot of us wouldn't be so passionate about this school/team if we didn't have those early memories), but it's also not unreasonable to get drunk for a football game (to a certain extent).
And like you said, you see people who are crappy examples. Well, that creates an opportunity for a teaching moment. "Hey, son, see that loud drunk guy? See how everybody is glaring at him? See how he can't take care of himself and can't stand up? Let's never act like that"
But at some point when your kid is exposed to a vulgar drunk, the parent has to take some responsibility for putting the kid in that situation. The drunk asshole didn't come into your living room. You took your child to a place where you knew drunk assholes would be, and you either hoped you wouldn't encounter one, or you knew your kid was mature enough to handle it. If you don't think he/she can handle it, don't put them in that position.
Or and I know this is crazy we don't create an enviroment where if your so drunk you can't control yourself you are welcome. No one should be so drunk anywhere much less in public they have no control over their own actions.
In an ideal world, this would completely be the case at all times. Unfortunately, the reality is that shit happens, and people drink too much and get out of control. I'd wager to bet its happened to a majority of the people in here, and a majority of those cases, it did not happen intentionally. And when you mix 60,000+ people together in a stadium where tailgating with alcohol is encouraged its going to happen, and eventually, you're going to be dealing with someone like that.
Then that person much like a screaming baby should be removed until they can return to the group. I remove my kids when they act up why isn't the same standard ok for the drunk?
Something, something
[I'm just screwing around. I'm really here for the food]
you two are arguing semantics on the same issue multiple times.
Alum07 is correct. There will be inebriated and drunk people at sports games. Know your environments and don't be a wet blanket to people drinking and having fun.
Fireman is correct. Drinking is fine, but if you are out of control drunk to the point of not controlling your actions you should be removed.
great. you are both correct and neither are disputing the others claims. let's move on.
Who said that removing the drunk from the situation was unacceptable? If they're that belligerent, sure kick them out. But if they're just throwing a couple expletives around at key parts of the game, its not your place to be their parent and tell them how to act. And if your kids start developing bad cursing habits from things they overhear in the stadium, its on you that it happened because you put them in that position to learn it.
Having enough alcohol to the point where one cannot stand or walk is not the same as having enough alcohol that it removes the filter you would normally have between your brain and mouth. The former has never happened to me at a game. I'll be honest, the latter happens once or twice a season. But once someone calls me out on it (like I said, it's usually Mrs. APFOW that has that honor), I realize I'm being that guy and tone it down because I'm not a dick. Just because someone enjoys the use of colorful language doesn't mean that they're a dick, or even that they lack the vocabulary. Now, once you ask someone to tone it down and they tell you to "fuck off" then you can safely conclude said person is a dick. I don't assume that a parent that asks me to tone it down is a dick either. If they do it after some fairly tame choice words for the ref, I may then begin to believe said parent is a dick, but not until that parent goes to event staff before asking me or they curse at me whilst defending their child's delicate ears do they truly reveal themselves to be a dick.
I believe you can curse at a football game without being a dick. You can also be a conscientious parent without being a dick.
JUST DON'T BE A DICK!!!
Also...
I never realized how much I cussed in college until getting out and having to relearn my vocabulary to become a teacher. I now reserve F bombs for intense rage or pain. I assure you, I can substitute lots of words that convey enough emotion its obvious what I mean. My college age son now cusses, and I do get on him, or even his friends if cussing at my house, but wold not do so for them away from the house. I have also made a comment about how small someone's vocabulary is at a game before even when the kids were not with me. (never had to for a VT fan, though I no longer sit in the student section).
Telling the ref he would have made a better call if he got is fat ass in better position during the play would be offensive to some, and my wife does like me yelling stuff like that, but I do it anyway. Point is everyone's line is at a different place, but IMO opinion letting someone else's vocabulary control your mood is usually worse than ignoring it, having tried both.
I used the spring game as a test run for both kids before deciding if they were old enough to take to a real game.
My then elementary age younger son and older brother spent the car ride back from the ACC Championship game chanting "We hate the Seminoles, They suck our genitals" thanks to the VT students near us. We spent the last few minutes of the ride discussing our values on language with them. They still chant it during FSU games.
For cadence purposes, the FSU chant flows much better with "Fuck the Seminoles, Suck my genitals." Just saying.
I'd get a little red in the face if I did that.
I heard lots of "f*ck the Seminoles, Seminoles f*ck animals" at the ACC Championship in 2010
Oh I like that! Added to the list.
The problem with 'response' chants is that, on the field and through the TV, they just sound like more FSU fans doing the original.
yeah but when FSU is losing on the road and you year the "Toma-mock" chant you know that it's mockery and it brings a smile to my face and warmth to my heart..
If it's brought out, it's because we are in the 4th and up by three scores. I love that. If people think it's the Noles chanting, they are intelligent enough to get into FSU.
My experiences do not jive with this.
wow, so much divisiveness on the issue of kids at sports games.
Here are the Rules of Engagement on this issue:
a) parents are responsible for the environment they take their kids to.
b) cussing should be expected to be heard at a sports game. players say them, coaches say them, fans say them. It happens. If you are a parent and expect an entire crowd of 50,000+ people to abide by your own rules you are kidding yourself and need to leave the kids home.
c) if you are someone that needs to drop a phuck, shite or arse in every other sentence then you need to grow up. If you are someone that gets over emotional to the point of losing your shit over a sports game, or getting belligerently drunk then you need to grow up.
d) neither you the fan with a kid, nor you the fan without a kid have the moral high ground. It's simply called courtesy. If you're asked to stop using foul language, apologize and try to. If you're so sensitive about your kids not hearing bad language in an environment that has ALWAYS had it, then don't bring your kids.
e) Everyone should want to see kids at games. Those are the next generation of Hokies. Fans are of all ages. To say they are not welcome is ignorant to the thousands that attend every year and the many that probably know the players by number better than you do. Kids have always been welcome to Lane for as far as I remember.
and lastly,
f) don't be a dick. That goes for everyone.
I think f) covers most of it, but it implies interpretation.
I think the problem comes up when either:
a) people pretend to be able to control the entire environment around them, rather than understanding that the environment is what it is, and they need to make decisions accordingly, or
b) people think that their rules/needs/desires are superior to those of everyone else.
I didn't read anywhere that kids aren't welcome to games. What I did read is that bringing a baby or toddler to a game may not make sense for a variety of reasons.
I'm in the camp that believes that as long as the kid is old enough to enjoy the game, it's great, but if the entire section needs to be quiet, alter their behavior, or sit down for the kid to be comfortable, or if the kid can't behave at the very low standard required to attend a sports event without ruining everyone else's experience, or if the parent doesn't have a gauge on when their kid is a disturbance, it's better to leave them home.
Doesn't seem all that complicated.
- I certainly wouldn't bring too young of a kid into a football game. My son is only 18 months and it would be a pretty big hassle and think it would be too loud/rowdy for him.
- But I do think it would be ok to bring him MAYBE even as young as 3 or 4, since he'll be much more aware of what's going on and used to that many people by then. I think he'd have fun and I also think/hope that Lane would be a good environment to bring him to.
- There are only a few completely hammered folks, and certainly the majority of which are in the student section. There will be those who have had a few and are a bit too over the top in my, now older and somewhat conservative, opinion. The former were annoying to me even when I was the later.
- As a soon to be parent of 2, it's certainly my responsibility where I take them to and to protect them everything ever.
- But I also don't think you can assume a sporting event is a place only for those who are non-stop swearing and/or ok with it. When a ref overturns a Danny Coale catch and you shout out a WTF, I totally get it and I would too if my wife and kids weren't there. It's just the other "That old F'ing Beamer needs to F'ing retire already" and the like all throughout the game that I think shouldn't just be chalked up to being the norm.
So my wife and I went to Atlanta last month and took a tour of the georgia dome. At the end they gave us official Georgia Dome clear bags that conform to the NFL's bag policy, and as I understand it, Lane's bag policy mirrors this. So I have two bags that conform to this policy.
Now let me say I don't have kids. I'm like four or five years from having kids. I don't know shit about what goes in a diaper bag . I don't know what goes into taking a diaper needing child into a football game either and what materials are required.
But, these bags are bigger than you think. My wife and I took ours into Water Country yesterday (it was the only bag we had). It held a change of clothes for both me and my wife (shorts, underwear, and shirt), sun screen, my phone, my wallet, and both of our towels. We could probably have fit more stuff in there as well.
So if the outrage is over not being able to fit materials necessary to change a diaper, I'm not sure it's warranted. I would think you'd be able to fit a few diapers, wipes, and whatever else is needed in that bag. It's pretty roomy. And waterproof. It rained yesterday and everything in the bag stayed dry.
EDIT: PS I had a great day at water country everyone thanks for asking. Can confirm - it's kid and 24 year old adult friendly.
So if people are efficient, they can make it work?
Makes sense, but where is the room for moral outrage in that?
I can't speak for others but for me it's not the policy that's the issue, it's the view of fans who think kids shouldn't be welcomed into Lane, that it's "no place for kids".
I think there are parts of Lane Stadium that are better for kids than others. It's a weird line for sure. I want my kids to one day enjoy games at Lane but I also want it to be a nasty place for opposing teams to play. It seems like west stands have been more kid friendly but I also know they're pricey. I don't remember seeing any kids in upper east last season against UNC. It was rowdy but never out of control. Just one guy referring to every player as a sick bastard - UNC and VT guys.
I think most of the extreme behavior mentioned here that would be offensive to kids might be offensive to normal adults as well.
Rowdy is good, but crazy amounts of profanity or taunting other teams are unnecessary. Falling down drunk, also unnecessary.
I like loud, but not rude.
I don't think anyone has actually said that. Some have suggested it might not be great for very young kids. Others have said that some cursing should be expected. (That should not be read as, "I will have to put up with excessively drunk assholes.") I don't think anyone thinks or has said Lane is "no place for kids." So, for the love, stop arguing about it.
Edit: Deleted edit and posted in a new comment since there was a response in the middle of my edit.
How else should a parent read that? Or this:
I just wanted to clarify the reason I specifically told you to stop arguing about it. Because you responded to a comment that had nothing to do with what you're arguing about. Warthog was only talking about the bags and you insisted on bringing the issue of kids being at the games back up. It would have been fine had you responded to a comment that mentioned that, but you didn't. At this point, I have to agree that you are arguing for the sake of arguing and it's getting old.
Fireman, I get it dude. I have a 4 year old daughter. I would love her to go, but I wouldn't bring her. She is just too young to a) enjoy it for the entire length, b) to put up with the noise and c) because taking care of her would honestly take away from my enjoyment and the others around me when I have to get out of the line of seats constantly.
That's just me. It doesn't apply to you or any other parent.
But taking an infant or a kid that is still in diapers to games is a judgement call you have to make. Not just for yourself, not just for your kid but also hopefully for the others around you. Just as you don't want some asshole getting drunk next to you, people likewise don't want screaming baby and smell of shitty diapers around them. That's just natural for both cases.
It doesn't mean you can't bring your kids. It doesn't mean you shouldn't. But you shouldn't be surprised that people would prefer not having infants/young toddlers in diapers next to them at a sports game.
Well stated.
That's the same reason we don't being our kids to anything but the Spring game (which wasn't without its asshole moment from a guy in front of us). But I won't tell other parents what they should do and I don't feel like that's anyone else's place either. I view a child no matter how old as the responsibility of the parent, take them out if they get fussy etc, but I view small children the same way I view a drunk. There is no reason either one needs to take away the experiance for anyone around them, but it seems many on here are more accepting of one than the other at games, that's my issue. Who are we to tell a parent whether or not their child should come to games. Those kids should be welcomed as long as they act within age expectations and don't overly disrupt people around them.
Again, as I stated above. I think inherently everyone is saying the same thing just in different ways, and that's what is rubbing people the wrong way.
I don't think anyone is overtly saying kids are not welcome. They just don't want to be blamed/shamed for getting rowdy at the game by parents who seemingly think it should be the same environment as Disney on Ice. You never said that, but you took up championing the parents cause because kids are and should be welcomed. That's where the blinders came on for both sides of the argument.
Kids should be welcome! We should be allowed to drink and not be bothered by parents with kids! Again both right.
key rule of thumb: Everyone is welcome until they become an asshole. That's not an age thing.
key rule of thumb: Everyone is welcome until they become an asshole. That's not an age thing.
BOOM
I guess maybe there is some nuance in the word "kids". I'm in favor of bringing kids who are old enough to be aware of the experience, and can behave at the low standards required. Not really fond of bringing babies to a sporting event.
Bringing babies is a parental choice, but like I said above, it's not really helping anyone's game experience (baby, parent, or everyone else in the immediate area). If it's just to avoid shelling out babysitting money, I'd say take up a collection in your row. I'd contribute to a fund to leave the little angel at home. Babysitting is part of the expense of games for parents of a small child.
This is an opinion forum, so I'm guessing there are differing opinions on this.
I just wish all you guys would get off of each other's lawns.
Yes, get off and go to Macy's and pick out a tasteful clutch for each game. Let's make the most of this.
The only clutch I've ever had was the one that you press to change gears in a manual transmission, but I see where you're going with this, and I like it.
Actually I'm going to start a line of VT themed clutches that conform to the policy. It will be named Warthog and Gobbler.
Very good. And I shall exchange fundage for certain items of said clothing line.
As someone who recently went from non-parent to parent, I will share my thoughts.
Three years ago I was the guy that wanted you to shut your kid up on a plane. Now, I give zero f---s if my two-and-a-half-year-old screams for an entire flight. Deal with it. Right or wrong, point being, your perception of kids will change once you have a kid.
As it relates to this thread, everyone goes to Virginia Tech football games for different reasons. Some go because they are diehard fans who want to blow their lungs out for the Hokies, others view it as social event, some view it as family time, dads want to bond with their sons, others want to fly paper airplanes, Jerry's only there because he won a ticket on the radio, etc... There are a million more reasons to go the Lane, and for any given person there's most likely more than one motivation to do so. No one has the right to tell a person how to enjoy a football game, and as a corollary, we cannot generalize why everyone shows up to Lane.
I do agree a football atmosphere is one more conducive to drunk people, swearing, loud noises, etc...I swear at football games. I yell at football games. I tailgate before games. Because of that, there are times when my emotional rollercoaster ride during 60 minutes of Hokie football presents itself as obnoxious to other Hokies. If I am asked by someone standing next to me to be mindful of their children, I apologize and do my best to respect their family's enjoyment of the game, because everyone in Lane has a right to enjoy the game. (This has been my attitude well before I had a son.)
With all that said, if everyone respected and had empathy for each other's desire to enjoy the game, there would be less friction in Lane. (And that goes both ways.)
What does this have to do with the bag policy? /s
Don't you tell us what we can and can't talk about in this thread! /s
;)
Mentioned....kids and planes.....blood.....boiling.........
phew, that was close.
This. I made that transition about the same time (April 2014). My kid got upset on planes when he was little (only briefly and then usually ate and slept), it happens, other kids do too, and I feel bad for their parents (as long as they aren't completely ignoring the kid). Cabin pressurization messes with their ears and they don't comprehend how to fix it.
Also, Lane is supposed to be a welcoming place to all fans regardless of what brings them there. We aren't wvu. We are louder and friendlier. We will yell our lungs out all day to be a nightmare for the opponent and have a drink with opposing fans after the game. In fact, my biggest beef with the whole Hokies Respect campaign was that I thought we were already pretty respectful.
Dad of 7, Grandad of 4, so I have a little experience in flying with kids. And, I'm a million mile flyer on American alone, so I have suffered through many flights with screaming little ones.
You're absolutely right, it's often the changes in cabin pressure that gets them wailing like a banshee. Kids need to be given a bottle, a binkie, gum, or hard candy...something...at take-off and when the plane is beginning it's descent. It helps tremendously. I generally carry the latter two in my briefcase, and have rescued many anxious parents and the surrounding passengers during flights.
Other than that, duck tape works pretty well, too. /s
I'll defer to your experience, but I thought dipping your finger in bourbon and letting them suck on that was the solution to all infant problems.
Ha ha, the gum and mind-numbing effects of bourbon works well, too!
That, and baby-ludes. /s
My brain is working so slowly right now that I read this:
And thought you were putting children in briefcases. My first thought wasn't terror. It was, "well I guess you wouldn't hear any screaming that way." I am not proud of myself.
Ha ha! If they're misbehavin', they're gonna be stuffed inside the luggage and checked at the gate. Pick 'em up in baggage claim after the flight. Every once in a while I think I hear muffled screams from down in the cargo hold...
s/
I think LOLUVA should ban their fan from having kids to begin with.
This comment should win the entire universe.
I mean, I generally advise anyone against travelling to the Upside Down
Yes, that's right... Wahooism = The Upside Down
see this is funny because of the whole LOLUVa yoga thing too. Cause that joke was a ridiculous stretch...
i see you
This has to come from the top down. From the White House. Call it Executive Order 38-0
I see what you did there. And I like it.
Otherwise, it would be child abuse.
Two thoughts:
1) I just spent 30 minutes reading this thread instead of going to sleep. Nice try adult-ing, Joey.
2) I need a beer.
"This thread is ...
Favorite part is the dying LOLUVA fan.
That was actually really good. But it doesn't clear up whether we can swear or not.
Only in front of the kids. We went over this!
They played it on the Jumbotron at Fan Day. Sad UVA fan got a huge cheer and laugh.
I expect they'll play this at every game. Very nice if true!
That was savage