There is a good point in there. There is nothing wrong with telling your child the truth and just saying no. You are teaching your children, by example, how to be dishonest. Think it's a trifle little thing? Kids absorb that shit and believe me it will cause them and our society more problems latter on...

What do you expect? Most parents in Portland are anything but good at parenting. Then their same piece of shit kid acts out at restaurants and the parent(s) find it amusing. I avoid dating moms for this very reason - they generally have unresolved issues that they thought they could cure by having a kid to boss around. Sad.

What an awful parent, as I recall my childhood when I was around this particular child's assumed age, I was not only riding adult carnival rides but I was smoking cigars and drinking scotch, and I turned out fine, if not exemplary.

I hear ya...a little pot never hurts either...

Putting a kid in a shopping cart and bouncing it on a mini-trampoline is NOT worth "five bucks or a couple of forties," so stifle yourself.

It's worth at least half that...

I was going to post "No one needs child-rearing advice from a carny," but then I realized that EVERYONE needs child-rearing advice from a carny! Portland Mercury, you should make it your next New Column! It may not be as good as One Hulk's Opinion, but it would sure beat the hell out of Ask Becca & Trish, Two Teenagers Texting in a Movie Theater.

By the way, when is Frank Cassano coming back?

I understand why these parents might be making a mistake, but I don't understand why you're so upset about it that you wish them ill.

@ rich bachelor- here is why I see this as a decent example. But first we have to look past the whole "carny" thing. I mean status is really beside the point and is probably more of a distraction.

The parent instead of being direct with the kid, is using an avoidance tactic. Children at an early age pick up a lot of their coping mechanisms and conflict resolution skills from observing their parents. The problem is- while the parent is avoiding a confrontation with their child by being dishonest, they are also passing on this information to the child, which will seriously hinder their communication skills when they enter adulthood. The likely outcome will be a person who is passive aggressive or avoids confrontation by being dishonest in their adult relationships.

Yes, sometimes it's no biggy. Parents get exhausted and can't always be perfect but as long as the parent doesn't continually rely on this method through laziness then whatever...imho...

Yeah, like telling them the straight story and stop being a sociopath lier and hypocrite. That might help. But I think it might not.

Good point rich bachelor...

Yeah, but between the kid stage and the adult stage is like a long transition time. Not that I care what would happen to this I,A kid or whatever.

Definitely agree with Rich's last statement.

Kids are told little white lies all of the time. And it's been going on forever. They don't normally make a huge impact on the people we become.

Also: " “You’ll get motion sick,” (nobody ever has), or “It’s too scary!” (please)."

Do you know said child? No. Do their parents? Yes. You don't know if these are lies.

And the fact that you are suggesting just saying "No" instead of actually giving them a reason for the basic sentiment of "no" is retarded.

I completely agree with you Kay_B. That is a brain malfunctioning view of the issue.

Actually kay_b depending on the circumstances of "little white lies" they can make huge impacts on who we become...

Your way of dismissal and placation is very typical of how Americans prefer non critical thinking...

Overly absent ConflictArtist, you hit that like a book drops on the floor while restraining a hold.

"little white lies" aren't usually used is extreme and serious situations and are generally harmless. Thus them being called "little white lies". Usually used with kids when the real explanation would typically go way over their heads.

I doubt, that once finding out that Santa Claus isn't real, some kid went absolutely nuts and had severe issues afterwards.

It's not for a lack of critical thinking. I explain everything to the best of my ability so that my child can understand things, exponentially being described in more detail to go along with current age. My point is that just because a parent doesn't want their kid to ride a ride for whatever reason, telling them that they think they will get sick or they think they might actually be scared once on it is a legitimate reason, seeing as how the parent know their kids better than anyone else. Especially this particular IA. And he or she getting so angry by it and making a blanket statement of "It will screw them up as human beings!" is a bit extreme.