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.

To all the 'I'll lie to get in brigade', do you feel zero guilt about the 'mugs' who have paid?

Why should anyone feel guilt for your behaviour? It's not their fault if you're sucker.

Roomster101:

It's not guilt for the behaviour of others they should feel. They are the ones telling lies.

C'mon, we are talking about theme parks and zoo's we are not talking about things like food and heating. I feel empathy towards people who are skint but I can't feel sorry for people who claim they can only afford to go to a theme park or zoo if they lie about their child's age. If your finances are genuinely that tight then I think you could probably find something better to spend your money on.

I think I have a 'black and white' view on not defrauding companies. I just don't do it and it literally doesn't cross my mind that I could. I dissaprove of people who make excuses as to why they think it's an ok thing to do. I have a lot more respect for people who at least acknowledge what they are doing is wrong but don't care.

@SookiesSocks 😂

I don't get it @Trifleorbust, you can honestly stand up and say you have not never EVER told a white lie? Don't forget if you bend the truth here...you're lying.

Don't mascarade under the "alternative facts" guise either 😂

How dare you make that assumption. A money making corporation is hardly a charity isn't it?

A quick Google search indicates that a large number of zoos in the UK are indeed registered charities, so the assumption seems quite reasonable given that the thread is about cheating a zoo out of entry costs.

I do it all the time - don't think twice, don't feel guilty

Meh. With all the immoral things in the world to get upset about, I think its pretty pathetic that a 3 year old pretending to be 2 to save a fiver or whatever is what people choose to rant about.
The rigid black and white morality, the judgemental attacks, the hyperbole and dramatics, its all rather sad.

I get accused of lying. Soft play place we go to is free for under 6 months old babies. DS looked and weighed like a 6 month old at 3 months. He's a big boy.

Lady accused me of lying. I made a point of taking his birth certificate next time and rubbed her nose in it. (Because she was so rude)

@ArchNotImpudent you also assumed the OP is in the U.K. And is visiting a U.K. Zoo

fgs it's a child entry ticket to a zoo. Not evading taxes by moving your accounts offshore.

Aldrin

you also assumed the OP is in the U.K

"also" - also in addition to what?

Zoos with charitable status are a global phenomenon, in any case.

But not all zoos world wide are charities.

And those that are are still also businesses, some making large profits (and ethically unsound in the opinion of many people).

AldrinJustice:

I've told white lies and I've told straight up lies. I'm not trying to say I am perfect. What frustrates me here is people saying this is one when it's the other.

What frustrates me here is people saying this is one when it's the other

You're only frustrated because you can't seem to understand that your opinion on which it is is just that: your opinion. Other people do not share that opinion. This does not mean you are right and they are wrong, no matter how strongly you feel about it.

@Trifleorbust that is clearly not what you're arguing. You're preaching to the masses your opinion is right. As Spartacus sums up.

@ArchNotImpudent see my previous post of what else you assumed.

see my previous post of what else you assumed

Aldrin, I think you might be getting some of the posts confused - your reference makes no sense in the context.

I remember going to
Drayton manor in the 1990s and the boot of my uncles car with my cousin so he didn't have to pay for us...

AldrinJustice: I definitely think my opinion is right - it wouldn't be my opinion otherwise. Besides, "stealing and lying is wrong" isn't one of my more controversial views!

But have you grasped that its not an objective wrong yet?

Lying isn't always "wrong", we've already established that.

As far as I am concerned, there is no real difference between lying to avoid paying for something, and putting your hand in the till and taking money out of it.

People can try to justify it all they want, but I will not accept that it is OK for people to steal either by physically taking the money or by lying to avoid paying, unless it is to obtain something essential - food for yourself or your child because you are in such dire circumstances you cannot afford it.

Cheating a visitor attraction is ethically and morally wrong.

As far as I am concerned, there is no real difference between lying to avoid paying for something, and putting your hand in the till and taking money out of it

And as far as I, and many others, are concerned, it is entirely different.

Nobody needs to justify themselves to you. Your ethics and morals do not matter to me. Your opinion on what is wrong does not matter to me, it is not an objective fact.

It's quite troubling that grown adults don't understand how ethics and morals work!

I remember going to
Drayton manor in the 1990s and the boot of my uncles car withmycousin so he didn't have to pay for us*
Brilliant, bet it made the day more exciting.
Oh but what terrible dishonesty, hope Drayton manor didn't have to shut down.

It's quite troubling that grown adults don't understand how ethics and morals work!
And your understanding is better than theirs? I don't think so.

Of course it, when they think they can make absolutist moral pronouncements!
I would hope most adults didn't think like that, clearly its in vain here.

I learned my dishonesty at my mother's knee. She took me to see Saturday Night Fever in 1978 when I was 14 and looked about 12. It was an X certificate (18).

The woman in the ticket office queried my age and my mum declared in an outraged voice: 'Do you take me for the kind of mother who'd let her child see an X film?' The answer was clearly 'yes' but the woman mumbled no. My mum was formidable. It probably killed her to have to pay full price though.

I think of her whenever I obtain a pecuniary advantage by deception; keeping the seat next to her in hell warm for me...

It's quite troubling that grown adults don't understand how ethics and morals work!

Yes, it is!

You get to choose how you behave. You don't get to choose whether it is wrong or not. I don't mind you deciding to lie about your child's age. Well I do, a bit, but not much. What is unreasonable is redefining facts to suit you.

Speeding is speeding whether you choose to do it or not.
Cheating to get into the park is cheating, whether you choose to do it or not.

You lie about your child's age. You get in without paying when the sign says you should pay.

I am struggling with your logic, yes.