another angry rant about out-of-control children

innocent x

Greene-Eyed Monster wrote: I defer to your great, good judgement.

This really is the best way to go.

bklyngirl

First of all, were you there? Is this how it happened? Second, what would have been an "adequate" apology? A swift and public spanking?

I believe the victim pretty much described it as such. And isn't there an example of an adequate apology in the above post? ]

Sorry, but the "victim" said the parent made an apology, only they weren't "sincere" enough. And Brooklyn Potter, I don't mean to pick on you, but you are the ONLY PERSON who has given specific instances. Everyone else is just a yes-man here.

guest wrote: And third...can you tell me how to deal with the lady who was gabbing on her cell phone, smacked head on into me, and burned me with her cigarette?

"You need to watch where you're going. There are other people out here too, you know. Please pay attention next time." (And expect an apology.) Kinda of what a parent might say.

Did that; quite kindly I might add. it was right after SHE told ME to watch it.

This would never have happened in Nazi Germany under Hitler's rule.

bklyngirl

Hal wrote: To suggest that a childless adult can’t tell the difference between good parenting and bad is ignorant at best, arrogant at worst.

No, to suggest that someone who has never parented a child can "tell the difference" is idiotic. Parenting is not something that happens in a series of incidents, or seconds, or minutes. It happens over time. What the OP pointed out were some isolated incidents, by different children. Parenting happens over time; a sequence of events that even those involve aren't aware of. To suggest that a childless adult - or even a parent - should know how to do everything right all the time is just dopey.

I think we can all agree that even the most idyllic-looking families can be living in hell at home. You don't know, and you can't assume.

michaelkeys

Unbelievable.

brooklynpotter

bklyngirl wrote: And Brooklyn Potter, I don't mean to pick on you, but you are the ONLY PERSON who has given specific instances. Everyone else is just a yes-man here.

so this means, what, exactly??? that these things only happen to me? that i make them up?

and don't give me this line about not wanting to pick on me, you've been at me since your first post.

bklyngirl

brooklynpotter wrote: hi, brooklyngirl, nice to meet you. i'm brooklyn potter, the "someone" who you deduce from my original post was "mad because it ruined my day."

brooklynpotter wrote: really? i said that? because this is actually what i did say: --sitting in the park enjoying a lovely day and having kids with kites start running by my blanket. one kid dragged his kite across my blanket twice, thwapping me on the face in the process. barely an apology from the moms.

No, and I will quote from your post of jan 7:

--parent bashing. because i can. because these parents ruin nice aspects of my life.

Sorry for the misquote. Now it's verbatim. I don't mean or want to pick on your personally - it's just really hard to be civil when it feels like the claws are always coming out.

I think Hitler said that...... :?

anonymous

bklyngirl wrote: [quote=brooklynpotter]hi, brooklyngirl, nice to meet you. i'm brooklyn potter, the "someone" who you deduce from my original post was "mad because it ruined my day."

brooklynpotter wrote: really? i said that? because this is actually what i did say: --sitting in the park enjoying a lovely day and having kids with kites start running by my blanket. one kid dragged his kite across my blanket twice, thwapping me on the face in the process. barely an apology from the moms.

No, and I will quote from your post of jan 7:

--parent bashing. because i can. because these parents ruin nice aspects of my life.

Sorry for the misquote. Now it's verbatim. I don't mean or want to pick on your personally - it's just really hard to be civil when it feels like the claws are always coming out.

I think Hitler said that...... :?It seems to me that you are definatly looking to pick on posters who disagree with you. I don't see any reason debating the topic of this thread with somone who is not interested in hearing any view outside of their own. And as for keeping this conversation civil, scroll back up this page and see what you posted yesterday.

How f*cking dare all of you. Get over you damn selves.

anonymous

To suggest that a childless adult - or even a parent - should know how to do everything right all the time is just dopey.

Nobody suggested that anybody should know how to do everything right all the time. You might find yourself feeling less offended by the posts here if you actually took the time to read them.

Someone suggested that a childless person can tell the difference between good parenting and bad, and that is true. No, I can't tell how someone else parents her children every minute of the day and night, but if I see someone beating the hell out of her kid, I recognize that as bad parenting. If I see someone paying zero attention while his child zooms around a restaurant dining room, pulling stuff off tables, shouting, getting in the way of the waitrons and busboys, etc., I know that is bad parenting. By the same token, if I see someone gently but firmly quieting her screaming child or removing him from the scene, I know that she is, in that moment, practicing good parenting.

anonymous

(why are you offering logical insight, don't you know it will get you nowhere?)

anonymous

It seems to me that you are definatly looking to pick on posters who disagree with you

Not so. I have been in agreement with many posters. And many posters have been in agreement with me too. It really doesn't matter to me who is right. It really does matter to me when some people place judgement on things they know nothing about. Some chose to take it personally.

Going back to my Boerum Hill (soon to be atlantic yards) neighborhood. We like kids here, but god forbid you litter..... :roll:

gradoniv

Last week I was leaving the grocery store. There were a a few young kids around the check-out area, perfectly ordinary for the afternoon. A young boy, maybe 5 or so was playing with his sister in front of the door. I said excuse me, lifted my bags so no one would get knocked and walked around them. The boy looked at me, deliberately stepped into my path, when I stopped to wait for him to go, he punched me as hard as he could in the leg. I said to him "That wasn't very nice, would you mind saying I'm Sorry?" His mother was just about beside me at the register. She demanded that I tell her what happened. I told her and gave her one of those 'kids will be kids' shrugs. She said to her child "Would you mind apologizing?" The child said "No!" The mother looked at me and said "He said no, what's your problem."

Now, a child hitting me does not hurt me or my feelings. But I find that a parent that thinks their child is somehow entitled to behave that way to another stranger in a public space is revolting.

le chien

I would have handed her a condom....but I'm snarky that way ;-)

michaelkeys

GradonIV wrote: Last week I was leaving the grocery store. There were a a few young kids around the check-out area, perfectly ordinary for the afternoon. A young boy, maybe 5 or so was playing with his sister in front of the door. I said excuse me, lifted my bags so no one would get knocked and walked around them. The boy looked at me, deliberately stepped into my path, when I stopped to wait for him to go, he punched me as hard as he could in the leg. I said to him "That wasn't very nice, would you mind saying I'm Sorry?" His mother was just about beside me at the register. She demanded that I tell her what happened. I told her and gave her one of those 'kids will be kids' shrugs. She said to her child "Would you mind apologizing?" The child said "No!" The mother looked at me and said "He said no, what's your problem."

Now, a child hitting me does not hurt me or my feelings. But I find that a parent that thinks their child is somehow entitled to behave that way to another stranger in a public space is revolting.

None of that ever happened. It's a figment of your imagination. You are a lying, self-absorbed, child-hater.
(Just preparing you for the thrashing your story's gonna get soon enough.)

idlewild

MichaelKeys wrote: [quote=GradonIV]Last week I was leaving the grocery store. There were a a few young kids around the check-out area, perfectly ordinary for the afternoon. A young boy, maybe 5 or so was playing with his sister in front of the door. I said excuse me, lifted my bags so no one would get knocked and walked around them. The boy looked at me, deliberately stepped into my path, when I stopped to wait for him to go, he punched me as hard as he could in the leg. I said to him "That wasn't very nice, would you mind saying I'm Sorry?" His mother was just about beside me at the register. She demanded that I tell her what happened. I told her and gave her one of those 'kids will be kids' shrugs. She said to her child "Would you mind apologizing?" The child said "No!" The mother looked at me and said "He said no, what's your problem."

Now, a child hitting me does not hurt me or my feelings. But I find that a parent that thinks their child is somehow entitled to behave that way to another stranger in a public space is revolting.

None of that ever happened. It's a figment of your imagination. You are a lying, self-absorbed, child-hater.
(Just preparing you for the thrashing your story's gonna get soon enough.)

It sounds very OJ too me. And since it never happened then what Gradon could have done, hypothetically of course because it didn't happen, was body slam the mom. Hypothetically of course. I believe an appointment with Judith Regan is in order.

gradoniv

You guys are cracking me up, but it really did happen.

cbukster

Subject: Rant redux

Okay, at this stage in the life of this thread, there’s only one thing left to do…and that’s for all of us to get together…and…recreate the scene of the crime. Here’s how it’s going to work:

Scene 1: On a Blanket in the Park
Early afternoon, partly cloudy with an occasional 10-15 mph cool breeze.
The park is packed with kids, dogs, parents, nannies, squirrels and hipsters alike.

Players:
Brooklynpotter: self;
Mom # 1: (hot, bothered and looking a bit out of place): kensingtonmom
Kid # 1: (running aimlessly to and fro w/kite): MichaelKeys
Hipster # 1: (with video camera): Friendlypitbull
Mom # 2: (on cell phone in animated conversation with someone named T): Bklyngirl;
Kid # 2: (in mid temper tantrum because he can’t get mom’s attention): Raw
Threatening Looking Adult Stranger: Innocent X
The balance of the cast, rollerbladers, unleashed dog walkers, joggers, double stroller pushing moms: played by Alafairnadia, Rose, ArmchairWarrior and Carnivor.

As the scene unfolds, a colorful kite drifts overhead;
A sudden calm falls over the area; the kite points sharply downward;
Brooklynpotter, noshing on organic carrot sticks, sipping a glass of cool green tea, glances up in horror.
If not for BP’s quick reflexes and thick skin due to years of molding Prospect Park Lake mud into beautiful, not so artsy crafty gravy boats, the tip of the kite would have done more damage than the mild scratch she received.

At this stage, (are all of you taking notes?) BP gently handed the fallen kite back to the kid.
“Hey kid? You know your kite nearly poked me right in the eye. I could have really been hurt. Please be more careful next time.” To which the kid responded, “Screw you and your hipster friends.”
This prompted BP to walk over to Mom # 1 to confront her with what just transpired and her child’s behavior. “Excuse me,” said Brooklynpotter, “its bad enough that I was nearly impaled by your child’s kite, but your kid was very rude to me as I handed his kite back to him.”
“Yeah, and your point is?” inquired the mom.
“My point is that I believe you and your kid owe me an apology,” stated BP.
“You want an apology? Okay…I’m sorry. But never talk to my kid again without my knowledge.”

Scene 2: Tea Lounge
Before we move to Scene 2, you all have a homework assignment:
Parents: you all need to bring a wifi-ready laptop, preferably an iBook;
Childfree and Hipsters: please come with double strollers.

michaelkeys

Best. Treatment. Ever.

idlewild

I'm wondering where the "...and then the ladies kiss and make up" scene is.

homeowner

GradonIV wrote: Last week I was leaving the grocery store. There were a a few young kids around the check-out area, perfectly ordinary for the afternoon. A young boy, maybe 5 or so was playing with his sister in front of the door. I said excuse me, lifted my bags so no one would get knocked and walked around them. The boy looked at me, deliberately stepped into my path, when I stopped to wait for him to go, he punched me as hard as he could in the leg. I said to him "That wasn't very nice, would you mind saying I'm Sorry?" His mother was just about beside me at the register. She demanded that I tell her what happened. I told her and gave her one of those 'kids will be kids' shrugs. She said to her child "Would you mind apologizing?" The child said "No!" The mother looked at me and said "He said no, what's your problem."

Now, a child hitting me does not hurt me or my feelings. But I find that a parent that thinks their child is somehow entitled to behave that way to another stranger in a public space is revolting.

Okay, so here's my solution. Kneel down until you are kid height, ball up your hand and say to the kid "I'm sure your parents taught you not to punch people, because they just might punch you back." Then sock him in the arm and say "And I'm not sorry either."

After all, shouldn't your inner child get to be rude and disruptive as well?

anonymous

Subject: Re: Rant redux

cbukster wrote:
Players:
Brooklynpotter: self;
Mom # 1: (hot, bothered and looking a bit out of place): kensingtonmom
Kid # 1: (running aimlessly to and fro w/kite): MichaelKeys
Hipster # 1: (with video camera): Friendlypitbull
Mom # 2: (on cell phone in animated conversation with someone named T): Bklyngirl;
Kid # 2: (in mid temper tantrum because he can’t get mom’s attention): Raw
Threatening Looking Adult Stranger: Innocent X
The balance of the cast, rollerbladers, unleashed dog walkers, joggers, double stroller pushing moms: played by Alafairnadia, Rose, ArmchairWarrior and Carnivor. .

Wait, I won't play unless I have a latte in my dressing room. And I get to wear Prada.

greene-eyed monster

Okay. I get that I'm not a major player in this, but can't Innocent X and I be on a park bench having a heated debate over whether it's appropriate for a child to walk up to a perfect stranger, three-sheets to the wind in O'Connors to say hello? Pleeeeeaaaaase????

karl the druid

Greene-Eyed Monster wrote: Okay. I get that I'm not a major player in this, but can't Innocent X and I be on a park bench having a heated debate over whether it's appropriate for a child to walk up to a perfect stranger, three-sheets to the wind in O'Connors to say hello? Pleeeeeaaaaase????

Shame on you. Everyone knows that drunken children freak out bar patrons, especially at OCs. -12 HP.

greene-eyed monster

But, see, that's my point exactly! Hopped-toddlers are a total buzz kill. They should be shooting up and throwing back martinis at home with their nannies, while us responsible adults can sit around formerly smoky <sigh> bars discussing Proust and Joyce without being molested for "come on! just one more" and cries of "you're not my friend! you don't know me!"

anonymous

The thing I've noticed lately about the "new" slopers (with
and without children) is just a basic lack of consideration.
They remind me of teenagers... The world and everything in
it revolves around them.

I can tell that most have grown up in a suburb and were
never taught how to cope and live harmoniously with a lot of
different people in a small space.


Consideration and respect for others. Basic manners. That's all it takes
to make everyones day a little better and to avoid building
resentment.


IE. Gee, maybe it's rude of me to be teaching 2 yo Joshua
how to use the self-checkout in Pathmark with all these
people waiting behind me.

karl the druid

Greene-Eyed Monster wrote: But, see, that's my point exactly! Hopped-toddlers are a total buzz kill. They should be shooting up and throwing back martinis at home with their nannies, while us responsible adults can sit around formerly smoky <sigh> bars discussing Proust and Joyce without being molested for "come on! just one more" and cries of "you're not my friend! you don't know me!"

I bet hatchlings don't tip. if I were bartender, they'd never see a buy-back.

hal

bklyngirl wrote: [quote=Hal]To suggest that a childless adult can’t tell the difference between good parenting and bad is ignorant at best, arrogant at worst.

No, to suggest that someone who has never parented a child can "tell the difference" is idiotic. Parenting is not something that happens in a series of incidents, or seconds, or minutes. It happens over time. What the OP pointed out were some isolated incidents, by different children. Parenting happens over time; a sequence of events that even those involve aren't aware of. To suggest that a childless adult - or even a parent - should know how to do everything right all the time is just dopey.

I think we can all agree that even the most idyllic-looking families can be living in hell at home. You don't know, and you can't assume.

I contend that it's not idiotic. Furthermore your comment that even a parent can't be right all the time reinforces my point. I don't pretend to be right all the time, but I have a lot of confidence that I am right sometimes.

anonymous

How to be considerate:

1. Walk on the right side of the sidewalk. Pass on the left.

2. Say "excuse me", "Thank you", "you're welcome", etc.

3. Respond when someone says Good day! or Hello! to you. Do not just look at them as if they had 2 heads. All of us natives are not looking to mug you. This is especially important if it is a neighbor or someone else you see everyday.

4. Help someone else once in a while. Help an elderly person with their packages, hold the door open for someone, etc.

5. If someone smiles at you, most of the time it is safe to smile back. It's even safe to smile at another person first.

6. Stop playing chicken with cars on 7th ave. Someday, someone will run over you, I promise. It is especially important not to play chicken with cars on 7th when you are wheeling a carriage. You may be willing to risk yourself but it's not fair to the kid. Someday, someone will run over you, I promise.

7. When out with your children, do not let them touch other people or other peoples stuff.

8. When you are in a restaurant with a child, remember you and your children are guests. A guest does not run around and touch everything and roam wherever they would like and scream at the top of their lungs. If the children will not behave, they must be removed. Again, basic manners.

9. Some people have a morbid fear of dogs, some people are very allergic to dogs. Walk your dog on a short leash. Don't bring them in stores, and please don't let them touch other people. Someday, someone will smash your dogs face in with their boot.

10. Be considerate of the toys you bring with you to keep your babies occupied. For example, bringing an xylophone for the 2 hour wait in the post office is a bad idea.

11. Give up your seat to an elderly or disabled person or a person with a small child on a bus or train. And teach your children to do the same.

12. Buy a $15 umbrella stroller for the bus and train trips. Never bring a big carriage on a train unless you keep it folded and in front of you. Bring the umbrella stroller to the supermarket and fold and put it in your shopping cart. The baby goes in the baby seat.

13. If you are going to stop and stare at a package of skinless chicken breasts for 15 minutes, please push your shopping cart to the side of the aisle.

14. Do not let your children sit and play in the middle of any floor space that is not in your own home.


And for chrissakes please LOSE the crocheted hats with the pom-pom on top. They look like your grandma made them for you when you were 10.

michaelkeys

Anonymous wrote: How to be considerate...

Somebody post this all over the neighborhood. Hell, all over the city!

joneshilary

MichaelKeys wrote: [quote=Anonymous]How to be considerate...

Somebody post this all over the neighborhood. Hell, all over the city!

Agreed, but please add:

"Those push to talk/walkie talkie phones are obnoxious as all hell. Don't use them in public"

brooklynpotter

bklyngirl wrote:
No, and I will quote from your post of jan 7:

--parent bashing. because i can. because these parents ruin nice aspects of my life.

Sorry for the misquote. Now it's verbatim. I don't mean or want to pick on your personally - it's just really hard to be civil when it feels like the claws are always coming out.

I think Hitler said that...... :?

first of all, "ruining nice aspects of my life" is a giant umbrella for things to fall under. being hit in the face didn't ruin my day, but it made it unpleasant. if you were hit in the face with a kite, might that make you unhappy?

and the quoting hitler thing. well, it's my experience that once people bring up hitler, or quote hitler as being correct (which is sick, IMO), then the conversation has turned to a place it cannot return.

so here: you're right, i'm wrong. kids never scream and yell and kick people and throw things, so i am a giant liar. oh, except for when the kids have particular problems, like autism, then i'm not lying if i see kids like that. but only for kids with autism. and since i can't tell which kids have autism, then i should just stay inside.