Should I just mind my own business?

[stacktester]

I'm out in my garage today and I see a golf cart stop in front of my house. I look out and there's a kid about 9 driving it with 3 other kids his age. He backs up and almost slams the back passengers into the mailbox. This is not your regular mb either. It's the big metal jobber with like 15 boxes in it on a steel pole. I saw them drive back fast again so I walked out and asked the kid where his parents were. he said at home.

So about 20 minutes later I see them fly past again and the dad is on a bike behind them. I asked him was he really serious letting his kid ride without supervision. I'm not going to be a hypocrite, I've let Annie drive on my moms farm and at the fort. She got her 1st 4 wheeler when she was 5 and drives better than some I know and a lot safer. Letting him drive wasn't the problem it was nobody out there. The guy looks at me and said it has nothing to do with me and mind my own business. I said well when somebody is being an idiot letting a kid drive a cart that goes about 25 mph and he could hurt me, my kid or my property it becomes my business. So he says let me get this straight, you're calling me an idiot and I said yeap, I sure am. He kept saying so I'm an idiot like 5 times. Never figured that out.

I'm usually pretty laid back but when i get pizzed it takes a lot to cool me back down. I just want an unbiased opinion if I was wrong or not.

 

[jriae2000]

Sounds like you called it right. If the kid would have hurt the other kids you would be on your way to court soon as a witness when he got sued.

 

[BRDof3]

You were right, but unfortunately the idiots never seem to get the message. Part of being an idiot is not being able to know you're an idiot.

Keep an eye out for the GC when you back out of the driveway from now on.

 

[LONE-STAR]

I think I would have just told the dad that they almost wreaked the cart and I wanted to let him know so no one would get hurt and left it at that. Or told the guy to bring the cart back and lets raceYou never know how people will react.

 

[stacktester]

I think I would have just told the dad that they almost wreaked the cart and I wanted to let him know so no one would get hurt and left it at that. Or told the guy to bring the cart back and lets raceYou never know how people will react.

He told me he'll raise his kid as he pleases. What about the other kids? They weren't his because i know their parents. Not sure if they even knew about this. What I always love is when people walk away mumbling something. I know what I heard and I asked if that's what he said but got no response.

 

[Tigger1966]

You were absolutely right on this and I believe my next step would have been local law enforcement.
I let my DS 14 ride his motorcycle down our gravel road but I check on him and if he was acting stupid the bike would get parked.
We do have an insane neighbor who called the sheriff because he was afraid he might fall down and hurt himself. They came out and had a good laugh with us and told hin to stay away from the neighbor then left

 

[LONE-STAR]

He told me he'll raise his kid as he pleases. What about the other kids? They weren't his because i know their parents. Not sure if they even knew about this. What I always love is when people walk away mumbling something. I know what I heard and I asked if that's what he said but got no response.

Some people just should not be parents. If he doesn't change his parenting it will catch up with him one day. I don't blame you one bit for saying somthing.

 

[des1954]

You can't change a life time of stupid in a 5 minute conversation. I would have made the same attempt you did, but when the guy came back with his terse reply, I would have called the Po-Po & let them deal with it. The video app on your cell phone would have been all the proof you needed.

Florida DOT regulations do not allow GC's on public roads unless you are in an NEV/Golf neighborhood. Most NEV neighborhoods in Fla are 55+ communities.

If you see this again, get a video & call the cops to report (use the non-emergency # and not 9-1-1). If you have a name and address of the guy who owns the cart plus a video of kids driving the cart on a public street - all the better! Although you have good judgment Donnie, not everyone else does. When you add the feeling of "entitlement" to stupid - you have a dangerous combination. Let the Po-Po do the job you're paying taxes for them to do. You'll be doing your civic and moral duty - and not getting yourself into trouble by being confrontational.

 

[stacktester]

The funny thing is we have 3 cops that live on my street and not one of them were around yesterday. Go figure.

 

[des1954]

If I were one of those cops, I wouldn't get involved. They have to suffer with this idiot as a neighbor, too. Better to make it an official complaint & let the dispatched cop deal with it.

 

[DaveInTN]

If you had kept your mouth shut and then the kid had a serious accident later on, you would be beating yourself up for not saying anything. You did the right thing. If the father was not receptive, all you can do is shake your head and know you tried. Or, if like Deb said it's on a public road...call the cops to report it next time.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

The whole "So Im an idoit?" thing would probably progressed to throws if I were involved....which is why I usually dont get involved with things like that. I just dont handle confrontation like an adult very well. Ya did the right thing, Donnie......and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

 

[iwrbnd]

You did the right thing but maybe not the calling him stupid, though!

My teenage son was driving on our street while his friend was trying to jump on the car. (I swear teen's brains are missing their frontal lobe!) Although I was inside at the time I didn't know they were doing this. I really appreciated my neighbor telling me! My son got in trouble and it maybe saved his friend's life. I don't want to even think what would happen if my son ran over him being a new driver and all! Sounds like your neighbor is being too defensive!

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

hmmmm... wheres my 10 ft pole ?

 

[2goofycampers]

911, put it on speed dial, you may need it.

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

Next thing you know he will be suing you for his kid wrecking his cart on your driveway. Video tape it and Call The po po. Some people need protecting from themselves. DON'T LOOK THE OTHER WAY.

Remember the guy in the red cart at FTW on Halloween night. The one that basic parenting rules /Laws/comon sense didn't apply to him.
If Disney had stopped/parked him his daughter would still have her front teeth.

 

[disney4dan]

We have a neighbor who is like that, has pizzed off everyone on the street. We used to joke around about calling him "the Shirtless Wonder", screams at his wife and kids and neighbors constantly. Last summer I told his teenage son and friend to get off the front porch of the abandoned house next to us because I didn't need them partying in that place some weekend. Next thing you know, the Shirtless Wonder is standing at the curb wondering if I had a problem with his kid. All attitude and bluff until you call their bluff. He backed down when I called his bluff and told him my real problem was him and started walking toward him. It's been real fun since!

Can't wait to get my winning lottery ticket and buy 200 acres of land with no neighbors!

I think you did the right thing Donnie. Time was, the police didn't have to deal with all the neighbor stuff. People settled their differences and watched out for each others kids. Man, if that doesn't sound like my Dad

 

[3gr8kids]

I agree with a PP that basically said better to address the problem and know you tried to do something, rather than beat yourself up about not doing anything if something DID happen. It kind of baffles me when I see something not right, and people look the other way, not wanting to get involved. I don't LIKE getting involved, but if I'm witness to a dangerous situation (ESPECIALLY involving children), you can bet I'll step in and try to rectify it. (Of course, my DH would say, "oh great. My car will probably be keyed or my tires slashed tomorrow, thanks honey").
It also goes the other way. I wonder how the other kids parents would feel seeing what you saw? I know if it were me, and it was my child driving and acting reclessly, I would hope someone would let me know, or if one of my kids was a passenger, I would be kind of ticked that the dad didn't seem to really care.
I say good for you for speaking up.

 

[des1954]

Remember the guy in the red cart at FTW on Halloween night. The one that basic parenting rules /Laws/comon sense didn't apply to him. If Disney had stopped/parked him his daughter would still have her front teeth.

Oh yeah...I remember that incident because....IT WAS ON THE NEWS!! Okay.... I was there when it happened and saw the ambulances, too.

 

[stacktester]

Oh yeah...I remember that incident because....IT WAS ON THE NEWS!! Okay.... I was there when it happened and saw the ambulances, too.

You need to get your facts straight. I heard they drove the golf cart in the pool 1st before they flipped. If you're going to report it be accurate.

Oh and BTW, a bus driver AND a lifeguard told me the real story.