Pregnancy, children, and their irrelevance in my line of work (language)

[Can I Help Your A$$?]

I get asked that and admonished all the time for it. I have my own personal moral reasons for not having children, which involves my health and my conscience.

Once, when I was pushed beyond trying to change the subject, I finally went into specific gory details about what my body did when I once was pregnant, and exactly how bloody it was. We're talking TMI here to an extreme.

Hey, she wouldn't stop. She had done it on multiple occasions. But that shut her up and she never bothered me about it again.

[Food Lady]

It's true, this works BEAUTIFULLY. Especially if you can raise one eyebrow. I keep getting the "oh, it's not too late you know!" cheerful reassurance response, when the topic of children comes up around people I know ....Unfortunately I look about 15 years younger than I really am, so everyone thinks I have forever and a day left to think about babies... and I just plain don't. Biological reality. I'm 38, I'm a spinster

I thought I was the only one!

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

Suck the First - Wherein your choices don't exempt you from the lawI really don't give two short shits that your grotesquely swollen belly makes it "hard for you to get closer to the table". The law states that your cards have to remain over the table at all times. This is to prevent cheating, fraud, collusion, and all other sorts of fun things that are, idk, illegal.

Not trying to be a pedantic asshole, but I do have a question. How does your casino accommodate the physically disabled? Say a person in a wheelchair? I understand that the pregnant woman needs to abide by the rules and laws as her condition is not considered a disability, but what about a person who can not reach the table for other reasons?

[morgana]

I keep getting the "oh, it's not too late you know!" cheerful reassurance response, when the topic of children comes up around people I know slightly (and therefore can't use the Miss Manners response).

Why can't you? If they're going to be pushy, I'd say you're entitled to push back. And if they persist, there's always the Miss Ill-Manners response:

1. Raise eyebrow. 2. Stiffen back. 3. Look down nose at them. 4. Frosty voice. 5. "Why on earth is that any of your business?"

Nobody yet has ever had an answer for that. I've had one or two sputter and stumble for a few seconds, but most go, "Um . . ." and change the subject.

[PepperElf]

Not trying to be a pedantic asshole, but I do have a question. How does your casino accommodate the physically disabled? Say a person in a wheelchair? I understand that the pregnant woman needs to abide by the rules and laws as her condition is not considered a disability, but what about a person who can not reach the table for other reasons?

I can understand that - say if the player has no arms or truncated arms. i guess they could provide an assistant to hold the cards for them?

[veniteangeli]

Not trying to be a pedantic asshole, but I do have a question. How does your casino accommodate the physically disabled? Say a person in a wheelchair? I understand that the pregnant woman needs to abide by the rules and laws as her condition is not considered a disability, but what about a person who can not reach the table for other reasons?

No, it's a good question. We actually have a number of players in wheelchairs, and the inspectors will move the other chairs out of the way so that they can approach the table, and they stretch their arms out to keep the cards over the table. We as dealers are happy to deal their hands "further out", that is, instead of the spot we usually place the cards, deal the disabled person's cards further out toward the edge of the table, to make it easier for them to pick them up. Truly the only place this is a problem is in the poker style games - in blackjack and baccarat, the cards stay on the table (in baccarat they can be squeezed, but that's another story all together).

The issue with this woman wasn't that she "couldn't reach the table". It's that she couldn't be bothered trying, and decided she was going to use her pregnancy as an excuse for that. Her arms were perfectly functional, she was just a lazy entitlement bitch.

[veniteangeli]

I can understand that - say if the player has no arms or truncated arms. i guess they could provide an assistant to hold the cards for them?

From what I've seen, the people who have that level of disability usually bring someone with them to help facilitate that sort of help. Unfortunately while we would love to provide that level of service and accommodation, it comes down to staffing and the fact that we're usually run off our feet at best.

THAT SAID. I work nights, when we're busiest. I know for a fact that during the day it's a LOT quieter, and there are times when they've got people opening tables that stand empty just because there's nowhere else to put them. If that were the case, then I know enough of my management that they would close one of the dead tables and have that dealer go and facilitate the disabled player's gaming.

Bottom line is, we are as accommodating as the law** and the current climate and staffing issues allow us to be Like I said to the previous poster, the issue with the pregnant woman wasn't that she "couldn't reach the table". Her arms were working perfectly, she was just too lazy to try, so she decided to use her pregnancy as an excuse. That doesn't fly with me. Not to mention that most disabled people like to be as independent as their conditions allow them to be - like, it's a pride thing for them? I'm not sure, and I don't mean to offend with that last comment, it's just an observation based on my admittedly limited experience.

**I don't mean "we're as accommodating as we're forced to be". I mean, "we're as accommodating as possible without breaking the rules/laws like, cards have to be kept over the table".

[Ironclad Alibi]

The issue with this woman wasn't that she "couldn't reach the table". It's that she couldn't be bothered trying, and decided she was going to use her pregnancy as an excuse for that. Her arms were perfectly functional, she was just a lazy entitlement bitch.

Just another example that SCs do indeed breed, however much we wish they wouldn't. And the process of producing little SCs does not make them any nicer to deal* with.

*Yes, it's a pun.

[downforit2008]

Excellent points! Being pregnant does not make you ABOVE THE LAW and you should have kept your ass at home if you're that far along. And people need to stop socializing with the casino dealers. They're not your best friends. Their job is to TAKE YOUR MONEY for a living and give you some back if you're lucky enough. They're not like Walmart people-greeters who will swoon over you and try to socialize just because you're "paying their salary." In my casino experiences, I at least respect the fact that the casino dealers are on the clock and trying to focus on their work. If they have anything to ask me, I will answer. Other than that, I'd be trying to focus on not losing all the money I brought to the table.

[veniteangeli]

I don't mind talking with them, but in the sense that I'll talk about the weather, the headline news, the earthquake - though that one I shut down pretty quickly these days, since it makes me cry haha. It's when they start to be TOO familiar that I object.

And re: pregnant entitlement whores - you CHOSE to get pregnant! You made your bed now you can lie in it, and not expect the world to compensate you for your mistake. Seriously, unless a miracle happens and I knock someone up (I'm a girl lmao) I don't give two short shits about accommodating pregnant EWs.

[LillFilly]

There's an elderly group of regulars at my mall that EVERY DAY ask me when I'm going to have a baby (because my coworker had on, so they say it's my turn) and offering to be the fathers. Gah. I just tell them 'never' now, tell them to have a nice day, and keep walking. I don't want children, and due to health issues probably can never have them without risking my life; but that's none of their business! However, I had been told that it's 'my duty' to bring a new generation into the world. I think there's plenty being brought in already!

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

There are currently two pregnant gals at the swamp I know of. Both have been, or currently are, in the hospital with complications of some kind.

I'm not too anxious to see any more pregnancies. I can only imagine what they're going through right now.

[Food Lady]

I would have to be on bedrest because my spine couldn't handle it. And then, after it was born, the baby would be too heavy for me to hold. Yeah--no babies for me.

[BeenThereDoneThat]

"I do have a daughter, but she died when she was 7 days old, and I nearly died due to my pregnancy with her"...that usually shuts them up but quick. I rarely pull that card, though...sometimes for my own sake, sometimes for theirs, depending on how annoying they are.

[PepperElf]

**I don't mean "we're as accommodating as we're forced to be". I mean, "we're as accommodating as possible without breaking the rules/laws like, cards have to be kept over the table".

that makes lots of sense. thanks

I would have to be on bedrest because my spine couldn't handle it. And then, after it was born, the baby would be too heavy for me to hold. Yeah--no babies for me.

one of my coworkers on my first ship was a toothpick. i saw her pregnant twice. both times she was a toothpick with a bump on the side. dunno how easily she gave birth cos she was off the ship as soon as they legally had to take her off but she did say that she hated going to movies in that condition cos she felt cramped