No more high-fives for the lollipop man

Pawnless Endgame · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:05

Personally I don't agree with the council's decision. It's not like he's averting his eyes off the road texting on his mobile like what some drivers do?! I think it was either some entitled parent got 'offended' ("omg paedophile!!!!!!1111one2") or one of the council's admin staff fancied a spot of micromanagement.

BBC News said:
Link to article

A Dumbarton lollipop man has been banned by the local council from "high-fiving" children as they cross the road.

Mynight · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:07

I'd like to high five the council in the face with the lollipop stick for this decision.

If it's anything like the one in my area where he operates on a traffic light crossing then there's little need for his eyes to be on the road.

Besides the stick isn't a magical way of stopping a car if they haven't noticed him standing there along with kids in a hi vis jacket.

HecFam · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:08

Is that why they were safety glasses to not get high fived in the face?

Castiel · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:09

Daft, just pure daft.

Derek W · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:10

Pawnless Endgame said:
Personally I don't agree with the council's decision. It's not like he's averting his eyes off the road texting on his mobile like what some drivers do?! I think it was either some entitled parent got 'offended' ("omg paedophile!!!!!!1111one2") or one of the council's admin staff fancied a spot of micromanagement.

Don't worry about it. There's a Facebook Campaign backing the Lollipop man. Justice will be serverd

Edrof · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:14

Council in stupidity shocker.

Hyburnate · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:16

I don't think we actually have any lollipop peoples :confused:

aardvark · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:19

moronic decision.

scorza · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:20

Good.

Tefal · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:22

This ensures that they can be seen and effectively provides a barrier between school pupils and the traffic."

yep that should stop a car doing 30!

Pestilence · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:33

If I had my way, high fives would be mandatory, along with US-style sign-throwing skills when he's perched at the side of the road.

arknor · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:35

Hyburnate said:
I don't think we actually have any lollipop peoples

I think health and safety or some madness put a stop to it around here

V F · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:37

Pawnless Endgame said:
I think it was either some entitled parent got 'offended' ("omg paedophile!!!!!!1111one2") or one of the council's admin staff fancied a spot of micromanagement.

Sometimes I wonder if a time will come where adults or a large percentage will stop talking to children in public places because you'll likely face a backlash. Just like photographers and/or play areas.

Remember the incident an elderly man walking through a park just out enjoying the fresh air? They requested him to stay away.

estebanrey · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:38

Pawnless Endgame said:
Personally I don't agree with the council's decision. It's not like he's averting his eyes off the road texting on his mobile like what some drivers do?! I think it was either some entitled parent got 'offended' ("omg paedophile!!!!!!1111one2") or one of the council's admin staff fancied a spot of micromanagement.

Or they just don't want to face a lawsuit if someone ends up knocking down a child.

Look at it this way, kid gets run over while lollipop man if doing his high-five thing. Driver hires clever lawyer who argues that as lollipop man was not standing with arms stretched out as guidelines state it should mitigate his case. Council then get asked by judge why they allowed their employee to not follow the rules and get sued as a result by parents of injured child.

As someone who works for a local authority I can tell you that contrary to popular belief we don't want to 'micro-manage' people's jobs , but we know how quick the general public are to criticise us for the smallest of things. If a child was knocked down and it was shown the lollipop man was not following procedure it would just be another stick to beat the council with.

Hyburnate · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:39

arknor said:
I think health and safety or some madness put a stop to it around here

I googled and it's budget cuts here -_-

V F · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:40

Has the country become like America? Sued for the smallest thing over the tiniest thing.

Kronos · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:41

Castiel said:
Daft, just pure daft.

+1

estebanrey · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:42

V F said:
Has the country become like America? Sued for the smallest thing over the tiniest thing.

Sadly yes, when we have solicitors advertising all day on TV with catchphrases like "Where's there's blame, there's a claim" and a promise of thousands of pounds it's only likely that many will seek their services looking for a pay-day.

As we see from the Amnesty thread, when the government put rules in place to stop frivolous claims and outlaw 'no win, no fee' they get accused of denying justice to Joe Public.

Pestilence · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:44

Well... you never know. He could always injure a child's wrist. And you're only ever an injured child wrist away from a full blown paedophilic rape in broad daylight. Right?

arc@css · 26 Feb 2015 at 18:52

Kronos said:
+1

+2