18 Injured When Carnival Ride Collapses (Calaveras County Fair & Frog Jump/Angels Camp, California)

Hi, Drago,
After Reading the comments on this subject, I had to sign up, if only to come here this one time.

I grew up in Angels Camp, went to the fair every year. I moved away when I turned 18, but still try to come down every 2-3 years. I'm now 50.

In all these years, not once have I heard of a ride breaking down at the Frog Jump, or any of the famous fairs in my area. As you say, these machines are built by man, and if there is a breakdown especially of this magnitude, while a shame, and to those on it, I am deeply sorry to hear you've been hurt. I hope none of my friends, or their family were on it. Did you stop to think how the people who put the ride together must feel right now?! They have no more desire to see your loved ones get hurt than you do.

I will continue to ride rides, only not this particular one! Not because it broke down, but because the thing scares the wits out of me! I don't do well with any ride that goes past fun in my book, but there are many rides I do enjoy, and won't hesitate to do so again. I'm a big kid, and have enjoyed many a fair, including the Frog Jump, with my own children, and grandchildren!

There are much worse statistics of being hurt in the bathroom than carnival rides falling apart. I'm a mother and grandmother, and will take my grandchildren when I can afford to and ride rides with them. I think there's too many paranoid moms, and very ignorant people who have posted their comments before this one. Has anyone taken the time to talk to a carny? They're quite interesting, friendly for the most part, and enjoy at times someone who's really loving their ride, gives them a few extra turns. If you treat a person with suspicion and fear, automatically consider him a threat, what kind of attitude do you think you'll get in return?

I think you should keep your children in sight at all times, not because of carnies, but because child molesters know it's a good way to find some poor child left to themselves to victimize.

And too, what does being Mexican, and not speaking English have to do with anything? My brother-in-law owns a huge local farm, and every year, without fail,the workers from Mexico arrive on time, do their job very well, and are able to live on the much lower salary they're paid than an American would pick it for. This income sustains their family well for quite a while. If Americans were paid to pick produce, they would expect a much larger salary, and guess what that would do to the price of produce! We wouldn't be able to afford the high prices that would cause!

And does every American speak Spanish? I don't think so. Many of us visiting Mexico have no idea what is trying to be asked politely of us in restaurants, hotels, so forth. They put their pants on the same way we do, like to shower, stay clean. Many are in the professional fields, such as Doctors, so forth. Not all of them make a living with a leaf blower! Should we all be looked at as a danger to Mexicans? This is ridiculous! Step out of the box and learn tolerance for people of any race!

If you conduct yourselves with moderation, your children would be allowed to have at least some fun! What you're doing is a very unnecessary amount of overprotection, and your kids will resent you dearly as they grow older! Let them have fun, keep a close watch, do craft-type things with them, make it a well rounded visit, not one they know they won't be allowed to do much of anything fun! That's just plain mental abuse. Don't blow one accident that happens so infrequently into a daily affair! Suck it up, and try to enjoy yourself by watching your children have fun. They're only young once; Isn't that what fairs are for?

How many times has your child fallen off a bike and skinned there knees? Oh, gosh golly that bike riding is hurting my baby! It's too dangerous! We'll have to get rid of it. Or they've tripped on their jump rope while trying to learn to do a new trick. Oh, no, that goes too!

You can't cushion every blow, or be with them 24/7. Accidents happen, some more serious than others. At least these people weren't on a plane that crashed. Injuries would be welcome then rather than death!

There's a large diversity of people living in our world. Embrace it, learn of the culture, try the food. Don't make ignorant comments about someone or something you don't know about! You're teaching your children to fear, rather than embrace all the wonderful people and places out there to be discovered.

And by the way, I'm 100% Caucasian, so none of what I've said about any other nationality pertains to my background.

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