Cedar Point new security checkpoint

e x i t english said:

Honestly, it doesn't even bother me enough that I would take the time to do that. I go to enough concerts that I'm used to it, so I barely even notice it.

What sort of concerts is that normal at? I have yet to attend any concert that I had to prove I was not armed.

Absolutely every concert I have attended in the last 15 years or more. Back when I was young and into all kinds of punk rock bands, you got patted down for weapons and wallet chains.

Now that I'm older and going to shows with at venues ranging from the house of blues to a 40,000 seat amphitheater, I've been patted and wanded at almost all of them.

I travel the country going to different venues, and it's the same everywhere.

I too have been to concerts where I am wanded and/or patted. Especially if they're held at First Energy or Heinz stadium.

I've noticed that Pittsburgh is a little more thorough on their pat/wand patrols than some other cities I've been in - then again, they've got quite a rowdy/party crowd for concerts out there. The most lax I've seen is up in Wisconsin. Downtown Chicago? Might as well submit to a colonoscopy.

So true. I've never been to Chicago for a concert though. That's interesting.

Life in Color in Cleveland this past year had the most security I've seen at a venue like that in a very long time.

I've walked through a metal detector for a concert probably at Gund/Q/whatever company gave them the most money lately arena but last time at Hous of Blues I don't remember there being anything at all. Of course I ate at the restaraunt which got me to the front of the line getting in so maybe I bipassed security that way.

My son and I went to a Blue Jackets game a couple weeks ago and had to pass through a metal detector. No wanding but they had them ready in case anybody tripped the detectors. The difference is they do everybody all of the time. I'll echo what most everyone has said about CP's farce of a process. I went in the Resort gate Saturday just after opening and was not checked. Left the park, came back around 7 and was wanded. So basically, anybody wanting to cause problems just needs to get in early before they start checking.

Paisley said:

... last time at House of Blues I don't remember there being anything at all. Of course I ate at the restaraunt which got me to the front of the line getting in so maybe I bipassed security that way.

Note to self: when seeking to spread gunfire into the crowd at House of Blues, make dinner reservations and enjoy pan seared jumbo shrimp simmered in chipotle garlic cream sauce before unleashing mayhem.

One of the problems with security theater: all the holes in the system. Take advantage of expedited access provided to customers spending enough money. Study when an amusement park does and does not have its outsourced, security-costumed "security" in place. Get hired by the company providing outsourced, low-paid corporate suite cleaning services at a sports arena.

noggin said:

One of the problems with security theater: all the holes in the system. Take advantage of expedited access provided to customers spending enough money. Study when an amusement park does and does not have its outsourced, security-costumed "security" in place. Get hired by the company providing outsourced, low-paid corporate suite cleaning services at a sports arena.

Good point, while we are at it we should get rid of cops. People can scope out an area for a few days and see when they can go kill people with police around. Maybe you should take all the anivirus software off of your electronic devices because if hackers take the time they can still be around those software.

This whole idea of this increase security not being worth it because they can find away around it is a stupid argument becuase you can say that about security practice.

Overly dramatic much?

Sorry, but I see distinct differences between police officers -- highly-trained personnel with specific legal authority to detain and arrest malefactors -- and security costumed, low-paid outsourced staffers who have zip zero zilch legal authority to detain and arrest malefactors.

The former do an important job, keeping us safe. The latter do not.

I'm not aware of antivirus software that appears to prevent viruses from infecting your computer while in fact having no ability to prevent such viruses.

People that are accepting that these checkpoints are OK are what is wrong with this world today. It's not just because of "wasted time", it's because it's a violation of our privacy and freedom. I'm sure the founding fathers would gag if they saw something like this. It's an insult that the park thinks of us as potential criminals.

^^Can you please inform me as to how you know the added security doesn't prevent anything or if they have confiscated any weapons? I am guessing you probably can't because they don't want that information going public. By implying that you know this added security doesn't do anything to help make the place safe, while in fact having no factual information to back it up makes your argument weak. Here is how your stance comes across to me

You: This is security theater and it does nothing for safety

Opposing view: What makes you say that?

You: You can get around the security

Opposing view: That goes for all security practices

You: Those others are different as they do protect you from something

Opposing view: How do you know they aren't protecting you in any way?

You: Because you can get past security

repeat

I hope you can add something to your stance instead of being the old crazy guy who states his opinion and when anyone challenges it, you just say they are wrong. You constantly try to downgrade the opposing argument by using the term security theater which has a negative connotation instead of calling it just additional security, and now you are implying that you know for a fact that this added security does nothing. These make your arguments very weak and tough to actually take serious.

Thabto said:

People that are accepting that these checkpoints are OK are what is wrong with this world today. It's not just because of "wasted time", it's because it's a violation of our privacy and freedom. I'm sure the founding fathers would gag if they saw something like this. It's an insult that the park thinks of us as potential criminals.

It's not a violation your freedom. It is private property, they are not taking your freedoms away. They don't think of you as potential criminals, that is you who is classifying yourself as that. They are just trying to come up with ways to make their day go as smooth a possible not to make you feel like a criminal.

Am I the only one who read this and pictured a stereotypical redneck(wearing jeans and beater while holding a PBR in one hand and a gun in another) shouting this at Obama?

No, when I read this, I pictured one of the many crazies I see on YouTube or Facebook thinking they can talk to authority how they want to because they "know their rights"

Dead Sexeh said:
...while we are at it we should get rid of cops.

That's a completely absurd straw man.

The objection to these practices has nothing to do with whether it's private property, or assumed secret dangers that this security theater supposedly protects us from. It has everything to do with us, as a society, simply bending over and allowing ourselves to slowly become a police state, all in the name of assumed safety.

We will never be safe, no matter how much money we spend. The TSA has spent billions of dollars, resulting in no measurable increase in safety. In fact, the TSA sucks so bad, they were http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_07-04_Oct06.pdf]alerting screeners about upcoming undercover effectiveness tests. Think about that... the TSA is so self-aware of their ineffectiveness, that they were cheating the system designed to measure how effective they are. Because god forbid they lose funding and some government employees lose their demonstrably unnecessary jobs.

On top of that, a 2015 investigation found that the TSA was only 5% effective in preventing prohibited items.

I don't care whether or not CP checkpoints are inconvenient or not. The fact of the matter is that for all intents and purposes, they're pointless. If someone wants to harm guests at CP, they can simply carry their gun up to the herd of sitting ducks waiting to be wanded, and open fire.

TwistedWicker77 said:

No, when I read this, I pictured one of the many crazies I see on YouTube or Facebook thinking they can talk to authority how they want to because they "know their rights"

This complacency about what and who authority is makes for a scary future. I sincerely believe that the vast majority of police are professional, excellent people, and I'm truly thankful for their service. What scares me is the people who mindlessly defend and justify the actions of the minority who are not professional, excellent people. Law enforcement exists to enforce the law, not act as the judicial system. When police shoot unarmed people in the back, or beat the crap out of a child, under any circumstances, they circumvent due process. That's not how our nation was set up, and accepting that circumvention is a wholly awful idea.

Thabto said:

I'm sure the founding fathers would gag if they saw something like this. It's an insult that the park thinks of us as potential criminals.

They might not like it, but as been stated before, this is private property. Just like I have a right to search people coming into my home if I so desired, they have a right to do the same.

I don't disagree that they're pointless, but they are well within their absolute right to do so.

I still say this - if you haven't reached the point where you refuse to attend, then you obviously aren't THAT bothered by the checkpoints.

I'm bothered enough that I took the time to email the park. People who are just willing to bend over and take it are part of the problem.

What is sad is that both businesses and people seem to accept this as the new norm in this country and these security theater checkpoints spring up like weeds probably because of expectations by both customers and business owners. Take MLB for an example. Never in the history of the Cleveland Indians has there been a serious weapons incident at either the old Municipal Stadium or Progressive Field. Yet, last year, it came down from MLB that all ballparks must have metal detectors to screen fans. So now we go through the empty your pockets and walk through the box routine to enter the ballpark. There is no historical justification for this other than fear mongering that a ballpark may be a terrorist target. Terrorists don't have to attack, they already have us cowering in fear. The terrorists have won.

As for CP, they seem to run the security theater on Fridays and Saturdays during Halloweekends. If they leave it at that and things are back to normal next summer, I can give them a free pass. I would be really annoyed to go through this BS if this is a permanent part of daily operations however.

Halloweekends is a good time for the park to be any easy target to someone who wants to do something stupid. It's open late, there are enclosed spaces, and people are dressed up in costume. It's a perfect opportunity for "hey guys, check this out!"