I need opinions

[smb6]

Swearing isn't illegal- grabbing your neighbor by the neck is.

Actually, it can be. Certain words are considered "fighting words" - they intice fighting- in some cases it can even be illegal to say them to an adult.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Yesterday I witnessed some of the kids in my neighborhood fighting. These three 8 year old girls (triplets) were pressuring this younger girl (age 6) to fight two boys (6 and 8). The triplets would tell her to hit the boys then turn her around and push her at them. The younger girl would slap the boys and then they would punch her and knock her down. So I got really mad and yelled at all the kids to "go the f@#k home".
I am not proud of the language I used and admit that it was wrong, but I was so mad after seeing this that I flew off the handle.

My question is how would you react if you were the parent of the children I yelled/cursed at? Would you be paying me a visit to yell at me for yelling at your children?

You want honest answers, I assume? If I heard you yell that at such young children (really any children), I'd question your mental health. I would not pay you a visit because a) I'd be afraid you'd get violent and b) I'd think it best to just avoid you.

 

[ORMom2Four]

I would not have been mad. "It takes a village"

When I was a kid back in the late 70's, early 80's, we had to watch for all of the Mom's on the block! Do something wrong and you'd get yelled at and sent back to your house, where you just knew that Mom was calling your mom to tell her what you'd done wrong, lol.

 

[taylor1293]

Big deal...the OP used the F word. I guarantee these kids have heard this word countless times before.

OP, I hope you had the mother arrested.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I can totally understand getting upset and expressive with a choice word or two...

AND, Whoa!!!!!!!!
The triplets were encouraging/forcing/bullying physical assault...
Then, the mother, an adult, (not just kids messing around) actually physically assaults - you. (I have NEVER heard of any illegal words, unless something can be shown to be a threat, hate speech, or slander)

This scenario sounds CLASSIC for behavior of kids who are being physically abused.
And, it sounds CLASSIC for behavior of a physically abusive parent.

if it were me... again, if it were ME, I might consider calling CPS.

PS: OP, at this point, I think your behavior was probably crossing the line of what might be found 'acceptable'. (NOT just the curseword... I can be very expressive myself.... I totally and completely understand that...) But, everything else that has been posted that might indicate that your attitudes and behaviors, unfortunately, might not be the most reasonable and credible adult. (sorry, but just giving my honest instinct from what what has been posted)

Like I said, I can totally understand becoming upset and kind of losing it with a choice word or two... I am NOT passing any judgement whatsoever on that... It is the larger picture as a whole... So, I am very sorry to say that I am not sure I can totally back you here.

 

[Wishing on a star]

OP, I hope you had the mother arrested.

Myself as well....

But, something about these posts tell me that she could not do this without being held complicit and liable to charges and arrest herself.

As indicated in my above post... I think the OP's words and behaviors probably have now rendered her powerless here.

 

[RadioNate]

Would I care. Not really. I'd assume my kids were doing something unacceptable to warrant that kind of response.

Curse words don't really bother me to much. Is it terribly classy? No. But I'm also not going to give it that much power.

I probably wouldn't confront the parent. But obviously this woman did and it seems, like mentioned, that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

 

[smb6]

(I have NEVER heard of any illegal words, unless something can be shown to be a thread, hate speech, or slander)


.

I for sure know this is under O.C.G.A. 16-11-39. This is for GA, but most (if not all) states have similar laws.

 

[doxdogy]

If my kid(s) had come and said a neighbor cursed at them, I probably would have asked them what they did wrong. I harbored no illusions about my daughter and knew that she was not a little angel. I also wouldn't have one bit of concern regarding your mental health. Now that you know the home environment, if they are picking a fight go to the parents of the child that is being picked on and explain what you witnessed. I would then give them a heads up their mother.

 

[Polyluvr]

I would not have been mad. "It takes a village"

When I was a kid back in the late 70's, early 80's, we had to watch for all of the Mom's on the block! Do something wrong and you'd get yelled at and sent back to your house, where you just knew that Mom was calling your mom to tell her what you'd done wrong, lol.

Exactly what I was thinking!!!

And God forbid an adult had to yell @ you-that meant more trouble!

OP- I'm soo sorry you had to go thru that! And no judgements on the cursing-kids making kids beat up/fight w other kids would have set me off too!

 

[keelhauled]

I really had no idea that saying the F-word could be illegal. I guess I better drop the assault charges. I don't want them to turn around and arrest me for disorderly conduct or something. I just want to say again that I knew I was wrong, I just didn't know how wrong.

Thanks to everyone who doesn't think I'm a total nut-job.

 

[Wishing on a star]

If using the F-word was so illegal, I don't think they could build enough courtrooms or jail cells!!!!!

OP, many people have gotten upset/angry and used a choice word or two... But, I think that perhaps you might want to try to take an objective look at your behavior in the situation as a whole.... Ask yourself... did it help, or just complicate things and possibly make them worse. Did it make a difference in the situation, or possibly make you look bad.

 

[keelhauled]

After PP's stated that it was illegal I searched the web for some conformation. I found many instances of people being arrested for shouting obscenities. One bizarre one was a lady cursing at her toilet overflowing in her own house. Apparently the window was open and a cop was nearby to hear it.

But you are right, it made things worse and it made me look bad. No argument there.

 

[samshane]

I would be upset if you did - but not confront you about it. I would just tell my kids to stay away from you... like another poster stated - I know my kids aren't angels, but the obscenities should have been left out. I live next to a park and see things like this between kids - I tell the kids to stop or I will start calling parents (I mean, I am not always polite, but I never curse at them). It always stops in seconds - and no parents have ever shown up at my door.

We have a parent in our neighborhood who did that right in front of my house to some boys. Now, they weren't being well-behaved, but she went crazy on them - swearing and everything. Another parent came out and confronted her and a fight started (not physical - but verbal)... anyway - the parent who was swearing is known as the neighborhood nut case now. Her son as issues and she takes it out on everyone else. That being said 0 she should never have laid a hand on you either.

 

[Nancyg56]

OP, many people have gotten upset/angry and used a choice word or two... But, I think that perhaps you might want to try to take an objective look at your behavior in the situation as a whole.... Ask yourself... did it help, or just complicate things and possibly make them worse. Did it make a difference in the situation, or possibly make you look bad.

I think that this is the best advice. Your reaction may have actually made this situation much worse than it needed to be. Perhaps before reacting to violent behavior with more anger and wiolence it would be better to take a moment to calm down and then step in.

This is nto going to be the first time you observe kids whose behavior is violent and you will need to stop that but you need to step in without escalating the situation. If you cannot do that it would be better to call someone who can.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I really had no idea that saying the F-word could be illegal. I guess I better drop the assault charges. I don't want them to turn around and arrest me for disorderly conduct or something. I just want to say again that I knew I was wrong, I just didn't know how wrong.

Thanks to everyone who doesn't think I'm a total nut-job.

Wanted to clarify what I said. I don't think you're a total nut-job. I just can't think of anyone I know screaming the f word like that at small children. I think it's wrong, but given the situation it's somewhat understandable. However, I don't know you and if I heard that, I'd want to stay clear. I've dealt with very angry parents before and it's not fun.

My husband once yelled at 11 year olds to stop being a-holes when they were being mean to my son (7). I thought that was a little much, too, but also understandable.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I had to, finally, end up in a confrontation with a 9 year old because he was really, actually, being in-my-face, because after seeing him jump my son from behind, take him to the floor, and then jump on top of him giving him very forceful 'noogies', I finally stepped in, said very firmly and forcefull "GET OFF HIM", and then told him a couple of times that 'we keep our hands to ourselves', 'keep your hands to yourself'.... When he ended up in-my-face I flat out told him something to the effect that he was being a bully.....

I ended up being requested by one of the people in charge to come and speak with the kids mother, where I was berated for 'intimidating a child' and calling him names...

(but, of course, I wasn't laughing at the time.)

 

[dogluva]

I am a teacher and I don't think it is ever ok to swear at a child. These were kids and I don't understand why the curse word had to be used. Couldn't you have just told them to go home? Why the strong language. While it is not ok to fight like that, they are kids. You are the adult so should have a little more self control.

A neighbor of mine swore at my son thinking he was someone else and I was very mad. She used language I don't even think he had ever heard before. I confronted her on this because it was wrong. I think you were over the top but so was the mother who put her hands on you.