I punched a Man at Disney, Kinda Funny Now!

[Scurvy]

Um, well, the danger was already done so it is not like he was some innocent by-stander. If someone came and slapped your child, I guess you would just talk rationally to them also???? I don't think most parents are very "rational" when a grown person has hurt their child. I think it is silly so many people are worrying about the affect of a woman's punch on a 200 pound grown man and not about a grown man who goes around knocking down and injuring a little child. If someone hurt my child, I feel I am morally correct to hurt them. Now legally, that is different, but morally, it is just my opinion (and I would not normaly do so b/c I would not want to cause my child harm by seeing mommy arrested). But I live in Texas, and here we can shoot someone who is trying to steal from our home/trespassing, so a woman punching a guy who just caused injury to a child doesn't seem so steep to me. Maybe it's a regional thing. Not trying to cause a political debate, but just trying to point out why we might be seeing this all a little differently from each other.

No actually when a man slapped my child I reported him to the employees at the restaurant where it happened and they made him leave. Apparently he thought my son was his child because they had the same color hair and were wearing similar shirts, and he was "joking around" and came up behind my son and slapped his face. Lightly, but still slapped it. I took his picture and threatened to call the police, and wrote a letter to his employer. (He foolishly told me he was a security guard at a local hospital when he argued that I couldn't take his picture.) And yes, I did talk rationally to him, even though I have never been that angry in my life.

The man in the OP wasn't an innocent bystander, but as you said the danger was done. That takes it from "defending" to "retaliating". I think the man was rude and careless and someone should have talked to him about his behavior, but assault was not appropriate.

And because I'm confused, I have to ask: In Texas, if you track down the person who trespassed after they have left your property, can you still shoot them? Is it still considered defense if you do that?

 

[tink1969]

Wow people! Give the OP a break! As she said, her motherly instinct kicked in. While I don't agree with what she did, she was reacting to her child being hurt. The man could have at least stopped to say he was sorry and see how the little girl was and the OP could have approached him without being physical.

 

[Leajess99]

I am just simply sharing a story. Not trying to start anything. Perhaps, the Disney Police would have escorted the Man out for injurying my Child. Maybe I should have reported him. You never know what you will do once put in a situation. I did feel bad about what happened, I am not a violet person at all. I must say this is for sure a Disney memory, I can learn from and laugh about now!

That man may have been running due to an emergency and you did NOT know it at the time. As for the bolded, I tend to have to disagree. I have had children knocked down and punching the person was not in my mind. Making sure my kids were okay was my priority. Just curious but who had your child while you were running after the man??

 

[E-Stop]

not cool to react with violence when you have been slighted (real or imagined) This does not bode well for our society when acts like this are condoned or encouraged. Was the man wrong for being selfish, inconsiderate and ignorant? yes he was. Your choice was to actively chase someone down and assault them. That is criminal.

 

[handinpocket]

Wow people! Give the OP a break! As she said, her motherly instinct kicked in. While I don't agree with what she did, she was reacting to her child being hurt. The man could have at least stopped to say he was sorry and see how the little girl was and the OP could have approached him without being physical.

She is lucky he wasn't a psycho or something. He could have followed her back to the hotel and killed her. What she did was stupid in the extreme.

 

[kimgg]

And because I'm confused, I have to ask: In Texas, if you track down the person who trespassed after they have left your property, can you still shoot them? Is it still considered defense if you do that?

Can you "track them down" - no. But we had a case that was in the last couple of years where an elderly man shot two guys in the back who were stealing from his neighbor's house and he went out to confront them. He was NOT indicted. Many people disagreed, but because they ran on to his property and he felt threatened, (even though they turned away at the last second) he was within his legal right. So if the mom felt the guy threatened her child (even though he had walked on) it seems kind of similar to me, seeing as a child is more valuable than the neighbor's stuff the guys were stealing. Not exactly the same, I realize, but similar.

Would I shoot somebody or think it is a good thing? No, and I don't own a gun at the moment. Would I punch a guy who knocked my kid down? I don't THINK so, as I've never punched anyone in my adult life. But I can see it happening. And it does not sadden me, it saddens me more that the guy had no regard for a child he hurt. I am taking the OP at her word that he knew he did it, and did not care. If he really did not realize it, then I would also be saddened that she hit him.

I am not a proponent of violence. But there are cases in which it is understandable.

 

[crashbb]

I'm still trying to figure why the OP bothered to start this thread? I could see it as part of a "Stupid things I've done at WDW" or something like that, but I'm not seeing the point of this.

 

[Leajess99]

Yes, He must have been blind or something to accidently go between 2 people that were walking close together, injure one, and keep going. I ACCIDENTLY Punched him as well. It really was an accident, I couldn't control myself. I am not perfect.

You stated the man was an adult and not all adults look down when walking so how do you say he had to be blind?? Are you or your daughter 6 feet tall?? Do you hold your hand and her hand above your head?? Accidents happen as many adults do not look down for kids when they are walkikng. Thay get focused on where there are going. Your reaction was assault plain and simple and are you saying you just left your daughter for your dh to stop and tend to while you ran off to assault this man?? Great motherly action.

 

[Flight]

Hooray for you!

You not only defended your child but all the other children this idiot was likely to hurt in the future. This knucklehead will probably never act in the same reckless manner again. You did all of us a service.

Disregard all the criticism you have received on this thread.

 

[Loritlc3]

I do fell kind of bad for the OP. She was trying to tell a story that she thought would get her praise and it backfired on her.

Every time I hear someone say 'motherly instinct' I think wouldn't that be to scoop up your child, clean their injury and comfort them? I would think your focus would be so much on your child that you wouldn't necessarily be able to identify the person in the crowd.

It all boils down to motivation:
Scenario 1-The man was hurrying and careless and probably didn't notice what happened and then looked back because he felt something. If your child was on the ground maybe he didn't even see her. You and your family then caught up to him and after being confronted he apologized and said he didn't know what happened.

OR

Scenario 2-Intentionally running around to knock down small children smiling as he looked back "Aha I got another one!" (purposeful act). This guy could have turned around and hit you back or your husband right in front of your children.

I think that since you all caught up to him you could have pointed out what he had done and received his apology without resorting to physical aggression. The focus on retaliation without thinking about the consequences makes the OP's actions seem worse than the offender.

 

[Sanchez]

I think we are all imagining this situation differently in our minds. I am giving her the benefit of the doubt that she punched him to get him to see that his actions led and could lead to others being hurt. I don't see it as her "assaulting" him. Yes, legally it could be considered that so she did take a chance but we are not the police. I don't think people should think the worst of others automatically.

I think more people should act pro-actively to stop people who hurt children. That's just my opinion. Too many people are passive and let others be hurt for fear of being judged just as so many are doing here. Obviously we have differing opinions on this, and to each his own.

Just don't knock down my kid, please, or if you do knowingly do so, apologize. Thank you.

Isn't that what the OP did to the guy?


I have no doubt that the guy knocked the little girl to the ground. I have no doubt that he was in a rush. I have no doubt that the OP punched the guy. I do wonder whether a 200 pound guy ran like Jim Brown through a mother and daughter, stopped, appeared to understand what he did wrong, turned and continued running, was chased down by mama bear, took a punch, denied any wrongdoing, all while a crowd was forming, at which time the crowd unanimously informed the OP that she should report him to security.

The parks are busy. People run into each other. Sometimes people move into the path of another. I wish the child had not been injured (I would be upset regardless of the circumstances) but pulling a Rocky Balboa made little sense and was unwarranted.

 

[Leajess99]

Um, well, the danger was already done so it is not like he was some innocent by-stander. If someone came and slapped your child, I guess you would just talk rationally to them also???? I don't think most parents are very "rational" when a grown person has hurt their child.

Actually when my ex's girlfriend slapped my son I did not retaliate even though I wanted to. I CHOSE to handle it legally and not assault her. Funny thing is that karma has a way of making things right. Like for example, this woman has had all her kids taken from her and is now a defendent in a legal case. I teach my kids to WALK away because you never know what someone may do. My daughter has a classmate slapping her on the backside and she uses her words and when those don't work she goes to the teacher and gets her involved. She's 7.

 

[TCPluto]

I totally agree with you! I am not a violent person, and was simply defending my child. I got angry when he was aware of what happened, yet didn't acknowlege it. Like I said before, I bet he will be more careful around children, if not, someone else needs to punch him. I have been pushed, kicked, food knocked out of my hand, spit on by a kid, all at Disney, all were by accident, and I knew that. However, this situation was an accident as well, but he saw what he did, and didn't stop and apolygize, his only concern was the Parade, come on. If the man thought I was so wrong, he could have reported me, he must have obviously knew he was wrong!! My DD prolly wasn't the first kid he knocked down that day, but I hope she was the last. I think its funny how everyone is defending a grown man who was well aware of his actions.

BTW, People that witnessed the situation, told me to report him. People around us were angry. Not everyone takes a 200+lb man knocking a 35lb kid down lightly.

You didn't act in defense of your child. You acted out in retaliation, pure and simple. He may have been careless in what he did, but you acted out purposely and assaulted him.

He probably didn't report it because he didn't want to be bothered.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

Cool - so if you bumped into my family walking down Main St and accidentally knocked over a child I had in my party and I can turn around and just deck you and it's ok.

Good to know

If I knocked your child or any child down, I would stop and acknowlege it, not run off and ignore what just happened. Your senario is totally different than what actually happened.

 

[TCPluto]

If I knocked your child or any child down, I would stop and acknowlege it, not run off and ignore what just happened. Your senario is totally different than what actually happened.

So the guy was inconsiderate and rude. It's not against the law.

You on the other hand, willfully and porposely assaulted him. Big difference.

 

[ShannonMB]

You stated the man was an adult and not all adults look down when walking so how do you say he had to be blind?? Are you or your daughter 6 feet tall?? Do you hold your hand and her hand above your head?? Accidents happen as many adults do not look down for kids when they are walkikng. Thay get focused on where there are going. Your reaction was assault plain and simple and are you saying you just left your daughter for your dh to stop and tend to while you ran off to assault this man?? Great motherly action.

I don't at all condone what the OP did, but I can't even believe my eyes that some on this thread are going the total opposite and defending this man in order to make the OP see the error of her ways, suggesting that "Oh, stuff like that happens at Disney, people bump into each other." BS.

Like I said, I don't think I would have punched the guy, but I know at the very least I would have screamed at him "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING YOU FRIGGING MORON", and I HOPE for the sake of all the little ones in earshot that I would have kept it that clean. Sorry, there's no excuse for knocking a little girl to her knees, even if you are in an emergency, let alone to get a spot for the parade!!!

 

[sweetpeakaris]

This incident happened 2+ years ago. DH brought it up today, I started thinking about how if something like that happened on our upcoming trip, how I would respond, differently of course, and thought I'd share my story as I do think its silly now, Thats all. I still can't believe I did something like that. I see this thread is turning into a whole different story. I would hope that all Mothers/Parents protect and defend their children in a responsible way. Perhaps even learn from my story, or whatever. I never thought I'd punch a stranger, yet alone at Disney. Would I do it again?, Maybe! LOL!

 

[Scurvy]

Can you "track them down" - no. But we had a case that was in the last couple of years where an elderly man shot two guys in the back who were stealing from his neighbor's house and he went out to confront them. He was NOT indicted. Many people disagreed, but because they ran on to his property and he felt threatened, (even though they turned away at the last second) he was within his legal right. So if the mom felt the guy threatened her child (even though he had walked on) it seems kind of similar to me, seeing as a child is more valuable than the neighbor's stuff the guys were stealing. Not exactly the same, I realize, but similar.

Would I shoot somebody or think it is a good thing? No, and I don't own a gun at the moment. Would I punch a guy who knocked my kid down? I don't THINK so, as I've never punched anyone in my adult life. But I can see it happening. And it does not sadden me, it saddens me more that the guy had no regard for a child he hurt. I am taking the OP at her word that he knew he did it, and did not care. If he really did not realize it, then I would also be saddened that she hit him.

I am not a proponent of violence. But there are cases in which it is understandable.

I'm not seeing the similarity. They were on his property and he felt threatened, and so I can see how it was reasonable for him to take whatever action he felt necessary to protect himself. The OP's incident was completely different. She wasn't being threatened. She chased him down after an accident and retaliated. I really can't see how the Texas laws have anything to do with the situation in the OP.

Like I said, I don't think I would have punched the guy, but I know at the very least I would have screamed at him "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING YOU FRIGGING MORON", and I HOPE for the sake of all the little ones in earshot that I would have kept it that clean. Sorry, there's no excuse for knocking a little girl to her knees, even if you are in an emergency, let alone to get a spot for the parade!!!

I don't condone what the guy did - he was a jerk if he realized he knocked a kid down and didn't come back to see if the child was okay. I probably would have said something to him about it if I had seen it happen. However, that doesn't mean that the OP had a right to hit him.

 

[kimgg]

I don't at all condone what the OP did, but I can't even believe my eyes that some on this thread are going the total opposite and defending this man in order to make the OP see the error of her ways, suggesting that "Oh, stuff like that happens at Disney, people bump into each other." BS.

Like I said, I don't think I would have punched the guy, but I know at the very least I would have screamed at him "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING YOU FRIGGING MORON", and I HOPE for the sake of all the little ones in earshot that I would have kept it that clean. Sorry, there's no excuse for knocking a little girl to her knees, even if you are in an emergency, let alone to get a spot for the parade!!!

100 % agree. Would not have even responded but the responses she is getting are hard for me to beleive. I don't think what she did was smart, but understandable. I don't understand why people like him run kids down though, well on second thought, I guess he was just inconsiderate and not thinking. Sounds like she made him think twice, if nothing else. Still not saying it was smart, don't get me wrong.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

This incident happened 2+ years ago. DH brought it up today, I started thinking about how if something like that happened on our upcoming trip, how I would respond, differently of course, and thought I'd share my story as I do think its silly now, Thats all. I still can't believe I did something like that. I see this thread is turning into a whole different story. I would hope that all Mothers/Parents protect and defend their children in a responsible way. Perhaps even learn from my story, or whatever. I never thought I'd punch a stranger, yet alone at Disney. Would I do it again?, Maybe! LOL!