It is a cute video, seems almost staged, either that or a testament to a certain human stupidity about parenting.

As an aside, I've been looking for years to aquire a REAL nickel crane machine, last seen in Canada in the mid 70's or early 80's when the RCMP swooped in and confiscated them all as illegal gambling machines.  Of course these things have a way of ending up in ex-RCMP now retired basements...  If anyone has a line on a reasonably priced one, I'd be greatful.  I spent hours and hours trying to grab the nickels from the bottom of the crane game!  

Certainly seems staged. The "parents" seem way too relaxed. I'd be freaking at the point when I can see the legs but not the head.

Still crazy that it can and has been done.

Duane

The fake part is, instead of getting help right away, any REAL brother or sister would have gone to get a
few loonies and tortured the kid first...

Wayne: Why is it a testament to a certain human stupidity about parenting?  Kids do stupid things man, they're kids and this one is what, 3-4 years old?  This has nothing to do with parenting and just kids being kids.  I'd accept "testament to a certain human stupidity about being a kid" eheh.  

Seems very legit to me, Usually on something staged with kids, kids don't cooperate like this.  Some kids just happen to be more curious than others .

I got to agree with Loafer on this one.  I get very nervous when my guy starts poking around crane machines.  He's the type to climb in with out a doubt.  I had to pull him out of the travelling fair's fish pond last weekend... fun for all!  No point in freaking out, that only makes him freak out and that is no good for anyone.

Quoted from The Loafer

Seems very legit to me, Usually on something staged with kids, kids don't cooperate like this.  Some kids just happen to be more curious than others .

Loafer,

I know your comment is directed at Wayne and not Duane I say it is totally staged. The Mom walks by when the kid's head cann't be seen and she feels the legs. At this point, any parent would be freaking and trying to take the damn crane apart. I know I would. The fact she just calmly walks around tells me it's staged.

Duane

Quoted from newf112

I got to agree with Loafer on this one.  I get very nervous when my guy starts poking around crane machines.  He's the type to climb in with out a doubt.  I had to pull him out of the travelling fair's fish pond last weekend... fun for all!  No point in freaking out, that only makes him freak out and that is no good for anyone.

True, but his head isn't caught in a machine!

Duane

Quoted from The Loafer

Wayne: Why is it a testament to a certain human stupidity about parenting?  Kids do stupid things man, they're kids and this one is what, 3-4 years old?  This has nothing to do with parenting and just kids being kids.  I'd accept "testament to a certain human stupidity about being a kid" eheh.  

Seems very legit to me, Usually on something staged with kids, kids don't cooperate like this.  Some kids just happen to be more curious than others .

Stupid parents let these kinds of things happen by not watching their kids (or stage them with their kids). Maybe I'm overly protective of mine, just my opinion. And you're right, accidents can happen to anyone - but having it caught on video just makes it stupider.  

Quoted from TwilightZone

Loafer,

I know your comment is directed at Wayne and not Duane I say it is totally staged. The Mom walks by when the kid's head cann't be seen and she feels the legs. At this point, any parent would be freaking and trying to take the damn crane apart. I know I would. The fact she just calmly walks around tells me it's staged.

Duane

It's not a machine that eats kids Dwayne, it's just a trap door, I know I'd be going "Holy crap Steph (my daughter), what the hell are you doing in there?". Plus, from the angle we can't see or hear right?  she might have said "what the" and the kid might have responded "Hi mom" with a big smile. Don't assume the child saw this as a bad scenario... yet.

Wayne: I understand, but the child was with a sibling and imho, parent have to nurture responsibility to the kids (including self responsibility).  If you look at the vid again, the mom is there, her back is just turned.  Are you telling me there's no time your back is ever turned to your children?  Dude, that's just not possible, and in that instant when your back is turned THAT's when crap like this happens.

just how old are your kids anyway? (not said in a derogatory sense).

Time for a kid story and a little perspective:

When Steph was 3 years old, we get back from Ottawa (I live in Embrun) and she asks "Dad, I wanna movie at the video store". I was beat, I told her "in a few minutes Steph, Dad has to sit down for a few minutes just to rest, ok?"

She insisted (not being far removed from the terrible two's). "I want a movie now!"

I repeated: "Steph, I'm telling you again, I need to rest a minute.  We'll go to the store later, but as it is, if you keep pushing it, you won't get anything at all, no movie"

Her response:  "I said I want a movie NOW"

"That's it Steph, I told you to wait just a couple of minutes. Now, you're not going to get one at all.

She sat down on the steps sulking of the door sulking.  About a minute later, I see her take her baby carriage and go to the neighbours house where she plays with the kids next door (great family!).

"Well, she's over it already, going to play with Sam or Cassandra" I tell my wife.

disclaimer time:  We live in Embrun and although many would state they wouldn't let a 3 year old go from house A to house B, I respectully disagree. I don't want my kids to fear living life, but to cherish it and Embrun is a pretty awesome place so.... /end of disclaimer

So anyway, about 15 minutes goes by and the phone rings.

"Hello" I said.  "Hi, this is Embrun Video, your daughter is here to rent a movie?"

WTF?  Well, my wife and I freaked. The little tyke veared at the door of the neighbours, walked a good 10-15 minutes to the video store, chose her films and brought them to the counter and told them to call us.

So we rushed over and I will speak the truth, we felt both tremendous anger and also incredible pride in our daughter. Steph is now turning 15 in a month and she is still the same independant person. She is not perfect, what person is, she makes mistakes but nobody, NOBODY ever stole her lunch money.  When she was 2 years old, she defended a 4 year old boy from a 5 year old girl bully.  Her exact words were "you want some of this?  no, then leave him alone".  No we never though her that.

Back to the story, we popped in the store, saw at the counter and she says "don't worry dad, everything's ready you just have to pay".  In her mind, she was doing us a favor, in our mind, she disobeyed and showed irresponsibility in running off without us.  But akin to this story, sometimes you thnik your kid is right there, and they're not.  She would go over and play with the neighbours all the time, why should today be any different.

So what did I do? Why I rented the movies of course.

I mean, she was grounded for the week, might as well look at some disney flicks