Lying about child's age for free admission

[user1489773847]

Costing out a day trip to the zoo, now that DC has turned two have to factor in their ticket cost. DH says that we should just say he isn't yet two so it's free, and that everyone does it. Just wondered what the general consensus is on this? I feel bad lying but see his point that DS is still pretty young and could end up napping through a lot of it so won't necessarily benefit.

Ten years ago Dd and I were on holiday with my aunt and uncle and they suggested we all visit a local Cadw site. Dd was over 5, so would be charged full child price, but we weren't sure how long the property would hold her interest. My aunt suggested we get a family ticket i.e. They would be mine (early twenties) and dd's 'parents', and total cost to us would be approx the same as three adult tickets, therefore saving the cost of her admission and making us feel a little better if we had to leave sooner rather than later because she wasn't enjoying it. She loved it! With the money we saved we bought her a souvenir in the gift shop on leaving. And, seven years later, I am a very proud member of both Cadw and the national trust because she loves trips to historical places so much.
Yes, we were dishonest. But two organisations that do a lot to preserve our cultural heritage have (I think) thus benefited because we found out she loved anything to do with history (the gorier the better!). Plus, you know, they thought I was ten years younger than my actual age (win)!
Maybe the zoo is different, most kids will be more attracted to animals than ruins. But I say do it - and if he loves it, think about buying a season ticket!

My younger sister was tiny and I recall my parents occasionally lying and saying that she was younger. She has grown up, away from a life of crime, as have my parents. They are hard working, fully functioning, law abiding members of the community.

Poor people shouldn't really be allowed luxuries at all. They shouldn't want for anything. They should only have things they need, not want.

It's wrong to want to treat your children once a year (or every few years) to a theme park. It's not a sense of entitlement. It's just a want, like so many other things. And if that want is achieved by taking a 3 year old on their birthday (who would have been free the day before) and getting them in free, then so be it. Either that, or not go I guess. I know what the theme park would prefer.

I really wouldn't teach my child to lie.

I would agree with you in general Trifleorbust but I find the whole issue of truth much more complicated.

I am a very truthful person. I clearly remember resolving not to lie (much, that is. Everybody lies and if people say they don't, they're lying).

I was eight and spun my friend a tall tale that was harmless but made me seem much more exciting. My friend believed me and mentioned it to my mum in front of me. I was willing my mum to go along with it but she simply said: 'I don't think that happened the way Limited said' and then she changed the subject.

That was a good lesson. I found it so excruciatingly embarrassing that I didn't want to go through it again.

The irony is that my mum told lies all the time. Not because she was evil, but because she tried to spare people's feelings or get out of a tricky situation. She was a people pleaser, as many people are.

It would get her in horrible pickles. I found it quite funny to see the knots she tied herself into and would make sympathetic noises but think: 'Sorry, mum. You're on your own. I'm not going to dob you in, but I'm not going to lie for you.'

I did love her and she would always lie with the best of intentions and if those lies ended up hurting her it didn't give me joy.

But the truth is that while many people say they admire truthfulness, in reality, being a George Washington type invariably makes you extremely unpopular. In other words, many people are lying when they say they want the truth.

Truthfulness makes many people very uncomfortable if it provokes confrontation - how many people say they hate confrontation? You see it in MN posts every day. That makes them hostile to a truth teller.

I'm not talking about tactlessness; I'm talking about the times when people won't go along with lies. This isn't a moral stance; more a practical one. I'm happy to lie overtly or by omission when I judge it will do the least harm and be the easiest course. But when I can see the lie isn't going to work and will get us all into more elaborate lies and possibly big trouble, I'm going to knock it on the head straight away.

Anyway, that's a long-winded way of saying that if I could trust a six year old not to pipe up on the way into the zoo, I would. But if not, I'd cough up. If that meant I swerved the gift shop and its massively overpriced tat on the way out, then that's a matter for the company and their business model.

People lie all the time, every day. We all teach our children to lie, if you say you don't you're a liar.
This is just something that you personally choose not to lie about. And if you and your children don't have the intelligence to be able to differentiate between lots of different moral decisions and types of lies, that really isn't everyone elses problem.

I know what the theme park would prefer.

If the theme park really would prefer it, wouldn't they just raise the age limit to three?

limitedperiodonly:

Okay... Well, yes, that was rather a long post. Would you actually tell your child to say they were younger than they were?

I'm going to the cinema tomorrow. Am not planning to pay, because the film is showing anyway

I'm going to a hotel next month. I'll ask if I can stay for free, because all the staff are paid the same whether they have 10 guests or 100

I'm not planning to pay my Council Tax next month. That's fine because the council have to repair the roads anyway

It helps if you understand the point before you make inane and inaccurate comparisons.
Just FYI.

Would you actually tell your child to say they were younger than they were

Here is the theory of the fuck up of a perfectly good lie.

But essentially, yes.

I'm going to the cinema tomorrow. Am not planning to pay, because the film is showing anyway

They won't let you in without paying

I'm going to a hotel next month. I'll ask if I can stay for free, because all the staff are paid the same whether they have 10 guests or 100

They won't let you in without paying

I'm not planning to pay my Council Tax next month. That's fine because the council have to repair the roads anyway

You'll go to prison

But yeah, sounds just the same.

People lie all the time, every day. We all teach our children to lie

Which is why the world is such a shitty, immoral place. Let's not bother trying to change it, we'll just lazily go along with it because it's easier .

Still, perhaps things aren't so bad, since the new definition of 'poor' seems to be 'unable to afford theme park tickets for the family at £45 a head'.

No, thats not why at all.

So depressing that people can't admit to their own behavior!

YOU lie, and you teach your children to. It's not a bad thing. Humans can't live in a state of brutal and constant honesty. If you had the slightest insight or empathy you would realise that.

Still, perhaps things aren't so bad, since the new definition of 'poor' seems to be 'unable to afford theme park tickets for the family at £45 a head'

Yes because to be poor you must only wear rags eat gruel and only have day trips to the park.
You must never ever want to give your children a treat even if that means telling a fib about you being 4 months younger than you are.
You will thank me children when you are older that I taught you not to lie and I taught you your place as a poor person in society.

I'm a terrible liar, so have never had the guts to do this. What if they pipe up and protest at the fact you've forgotten their age?? I know mine would!

Humans can't live in a state of brutal and constant honesty.

So, you're equating lying about a child's age to gain cheap entry to a theme park to the general avoidance of brutal and constant honesty to spare people's feelings?

limitedperiodonly: Okay. That's wrong, even ignoring the dishonesty involved in cheating the business out of their fee.

Yes because to be poor you must only wear rags eat gruel and only have day trips to the park.

Hmm, you're unaware that there are modes of existence that lie between a starvation diet and no trips further than the park, and swanning off to theme parks at £200 a go?

We had a season ticket to local stately home in the 70s. Took Dsis's friend and mum stopped the car before the entrance and popped friend in the boot! it was the 70s

of course lie. Get DH to entertain DC away from the kiosk desk or at least out of earshot and tell the person at the kiosk whatever the hell you want!

For those who are saying you're teaching your kids to lie...sorry you all would lie to them about a jolly old man who sneaks into your home on the eve of 25th December to leave presents. Or that there's a little winged creature that takes your tooth from under your pillow and leaves money in return.

Bunch of golden angels aren't you all?

I got on the bus for half when I was 27 😊

Do it. I wish I'd has the guts to but like a mug I paid full price when my just 3 year old slept through most of it!!! It's not as if you'd carry Id for a child is it so it's down to if he looks 2 ish!

Imo it's not as if these attractions don't make more than enough anyway!!!

Hmm, you're unaware that there are modes of existence that lie between a starvation diet and no trips further than the park, and swanning off to theme parks at £200 a go

You're aware that no-one is actually talking about theme parks at 200 a go?

AldrinJustice:

People can choose to tell the truth all the time, that's up to them. It is different to teach your children to lie to save money.

No really Arch!!

Wow and theres me thinking you either lived in a slum or a mansion.

Arch you really are coming across like a know it all here to educate us poor folk.

Its not a good look.

Your assumption that I am too thick to know the differences in financial life styles of society so you need to point it out shows just how highly you regard yourself above others.

I am cringing for you.