Would you "rat" these kids out? ( update in #73 )

[lisajl]

I would definately rat them out! The problem is that sometimes people let things go and still the kids persist with stuff. If you say something, they may try to get back at you, if you don't say something, it will continue and probably get worse.

I am tired of kids being bullies and being obnoxious. If I EVER said ANYTHING like that in front of my parents (or to a neighbor), I would not be typing this now.

Lisa

 

[Marseeya]

I'd definitely tell, and I'd want to know if it were my kid.

Several years ago, word got to me 3rd or 4th hand that my son was using a potty mouth in the neighborhood. Apparently, the person who heard it firsthand had the attitude of "the parents must let them get away with that crap." Well, I went straight to the source (non-confrontationally) and told them that I'd appreciate if they'd TELL me the next time it happened and I certainly WOULDN'T let him get away with it! She was actually pleasantly surprised to hear that I would want to know. Duh.

 

[va32h]

I get your point. I have no idea if you are a man or a woman, but my wife was within 3 feet of them when the one boy screamed it, and she was quite upset by it. And, yes, they were in the street.... like 6 inches from my lawn.

I am a woman. Were these boys calling your wife this word? Because just hearing a swear word, even the worst possible swear word, doesn't upset me too much. I might roll my eyes, but I won't faint or burst into tears or anything. Being called an offensive name might make me angry or annoyed, but not emotionally upset. If my kids were around, I'd be angry, and I'd tell my kids "that is a horrible thing to say, and we don't ever say it."

If the kids were younger, 5-7, I might say something to the grandparents. But a kid who is 11 years old knows perfectly well what he is doing when he uses a swear word.

The friend who made the sarcastic comment about cleaning up language - he's probably already been talked too about his swearing, how else would he acquire the classic fuddy-duddy parental phrase "keep it clean".

Swearing is not nice. But it does happen, and you can't control the language other people use.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Snitch. I would do it! Especially since you know the grandparents.

 

[kdibattista]

Absolutely... rat them out!!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well PD, considering the tales you tell from your street, I would MOVE!

I probably would not have said something in the first place. As my HS Freshman dd says...and I quote..."middle schoolers are ANNOYING!"

 

[marymrg]

Since you called them on it today, I would wait to see if it happens again and then rat them out. The one kid was trying to be the BMOC and yank your chain by not only repeating it, but making it even more offensive.

If you do end up talking to the grandfather, I would do it kind of casually. You don't want to get him all defensive.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Well PD, considering the tales you tell from your street, I would MOVE!

I probably would not have said something in the first place. As my HS Freshman dd says...and I quote..."middle schoolers are ANNOYING!"

I know, but you know what? The actual residents on my street are very nice for the most part. And my neighbors are great.

That said, we went out last night and looked at a house that is for sale.

 

[Saffron]

I am a woman. Were these boys calling your wife this word? Because just hearing a swear word, even the worst possible swear word, doesn't upset me too much. I might roll my eyes, but I won't faint or burst into tears or anything. Being called an offensive name might make me angry or annoyed, but not emotionally upset. If my kids were around, I'd be angry, and I'd tell my kids "that is a horrible thing to say, and we don't ever say it."

If the kids were younger, 5-7, I might say something to the grandparents. But a kid who is 11 years old knows perfectly well what he is doing when he uses a swear word.

The friend who made the sarcastic comment about cleaning up language - he's probably already been talked too about his swearing, how else would he acquire the classic fuddy-duddy parental phrase "keep it clean".

Swearing is not nice. But it does happen, and you can't control the language other people use.

I totally agree.

Don't you drop the "F bomb" yourself, Papa Deuce. I do believe you've posted as much. If I recall you recently did so to a teenage driver who was speeding on your street.

Rat them out if you must. Then practice what you preach.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I totally agree.

Don't you drop the "F bomb" yourself, Papa Deuce. I do believe you've posted as much. If I recall you recently did so to a teenage driver who was speeding on your street.

Rat them out if you must. Then live what you preach.

I did it one time, in public..... and if you recall, it was yelling at a kid doing like 50 MPH in a residential neighborhood, that is posted 25 MPH. I certainly would not yell it with a woman 3 feet from me. It certainly is an ENTIRELY different situation. I may have yelled that, and I may have also saved someone's life. We have lots of little kids on my street.

And even that kid came back and apologized later on. And I also said that I felt bad that I did it at the time. Certainly these kids did not feel bad, in fact, they proceded to yell it again, after I asked them not to do it at all.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would rat them out, and I am usually against ratting on anyting...but smart mouth brats really tick me off.....I actually stopped my car down the block when this little bratty kid was standing on his front lawn giving every car the finger and yelling a foul word at each car.....I opened the window and asked very calmly "is that a nice thing to do, why would you do that?" well the kid busted out crying and I sat there in front of his house a good 3 minutes before anyone came out to see why this FOUR year old boy was crying (I could have had that kid in my car and been in the next town and they wouldn't have known it if I was some pervert)..I told his mother what he did and said, she apologized and took him in the house...I haven't seen him outside doing that again but I am sure once this kid gets older he will be a holy terror.

 

[Planogirl]

I like the idea of not saying anything this time and seeing if it happens again. Maybe they'll cut it out now even though the one kid was obnoxious. Keep in mind that the other kids weren't and might actually try to keep it clean.

 

[binny]

I would mention it to them too.

I would want to know ( so I could ground him for life for being disrespectful to an adult )

 

[MrsPete]

If my child did that, I'd prefer a neighbor tell me.

 

[mamacatnv]

Good for you for saying something! I think more of us should.

I do not hesitate. I am the "mean" Mom at the school events, sporting events and just out and about in public. But over the years, the kids have learned to be respectfull at least in my presence and I hope they carry that into their daily lives.

Having a high school age kid, I am truly amazed at the language that comes out of their mouths and their true lack of concern to those around them that hear it. The use of foul language by our youngsters is running rampant, at least here in my neck of the woods and there does not seem to be a lot of concern nor are there a lot of adults that will tell them to knock it off.

Every neighborhood has the resident hoodlum who is destined to reside behind bars someday

It sounds to me like you confronted the Grandson and he apologized, then along comes the neighborhood wise@#$ and you got more attitude than apology.

I think I would mention to Grandpa to be on the lookout for the neighborhood loudmouth. I would "warn" Grandpa that this kid can be a real wise@#$. If Grandpa seems receptive then maybe you could fill him in.

 

[nealymouse]

Tell on them. I would be grateful if someone told me my child was acting that way.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Who yelled it when they were going into the house? If you know if was the grandson and you have a good relationship with the grandparents, I would tell them.

It sounds like you handled it with the grandson, his friend rode up and added fuel to the fire, and the situation went downhill. Perhaps the bigger problem is the company that he keeps.

If you aren't sure who said it the second time, but you still want to tell the grandparents, make sure you are clear to them that you don't know who said it.

I would sometimes tell a parent if a child did something like this, but it would depend on the parents. Some parents care, some don't. I'm sure one that would care, but I know plenty that wouldn't care or would defend their child no matter what.

 

[disykat]

As far as I'm concerned, if someone is shouting certain foul words in my presence - they ARE calling me those words.

I'd definately rat them out. I'd want to know if my child was treating the neighbor that rudely, and/or using that kind of language, and/or hanging out with kids that were.

 

[Charade]

I would tell on them

 

[MouseWorshipin]

I wouldn't call. Seems like tattling to me, so I wouldn't.