I had originally planned on titling this series "confessions of a costumed character" but it has such broader impact on our industry and all involved.
Indeed, this impact much more than entertainment, but also speaks to the madness that is so prevalent worldwide. If you work with children, interact with children, or just have heard about children, you should be aware of this perspective. There is too much evil to avoid being impacted by it, and we cannot be too vigilant or protective against it.
We recently had an event with a pair of costumed characters - characters that were very popular with children (sometimes of all ages) and we have a set of policies that many just don't understand. It's very hard to explain via telepathy or insinuation, especially with the more trusting individuals. So I'm writing this series as a reference to "WHY DO/DON'T WE (or others) DO THAT?"
Unfortunate Policy #1: Personal Space: Little to no physical contact.
This is the logic that has been forced upon us that has led to this position. See if you can follow along with what we're expected to understand without your brain locking up:
A) Kids should be able to hug each other, but only at certain times, places, situations, conditions and within specific relationships.
B) Adults should be able to hug each other, but sometimes not. Perhaps if you're married but then again not in some areas and depending on how you hug or what environment you're hugging in. And sometimes not at all ever in public and probably in most private settings either.
C) Kids should be able to hug adults but not ever in reverse - and sometimes not at all in either approach. It depends on the adult, and the additional conditions alluded to in "A and B."
D) All persons should avoid hugging any stranger unless either that person or the stranger is wearing a costume - but then again, probably not, unless someone who seems to have authority stands nearby and says it's okay and that someone should understand "A-C" (and hopefully they're right.)
E) Hugging procedure for all of the above should follow certain approaches from the East and West but never from the North or South and with the obligatory 12 inches or more distance between any area between shoulders and knees.
Is your head swimming yet? Do you "not want to play anymore?" Welcome to our world.
The resultant policy? NO HUGGING. Maybe a high five? MAYBE! I know this smacks of pandemic rules such as "we can't be inside unless the inside is outside."
And let's just address "D" for a moment. No matter where you are (theme park or not) are you encouraging your child to hug a stranger - every stranger in costume? Are you telling them that character "is the REAL.....?" Conflate that goal with the likely hot/sweaty/claustrophic environment the performer is working within and you want your child/grandchild to nuzzle their face into that which has probably been nuzzled 100 times before? I'm not pandemic phobic, but seems like a great way to spread SOMETHING.
Everyone seems to point to Disney as the official stance everyone should have. Disney is somehow morally superior to all teachers, clergy, family, etc. Look, we can't have it both ways. Disney is not the god of all things magic and childhood. Dig deeper and you'll be disgusted at what they have done to pervert Walt's dream. Are we in denial about the agenda of a multi-national conglomerate? Do you really think they care about you - just you - and your family?
Furthermore, do you expect that everyone who works with children has pure intentions? Are there no scandals almost everywhere with every organization on this planet that involves interacting with children?
It is perhaps one of the saddest things in this world when good people with good hearts are forced to adapt to evil. So please don't blame those who are just trying to champion what should be acceptable based on today's rules. Let's have a little more personal space and teach our children that such discipline is not the enemy of enthusiasm.