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AIBU?

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Original poster

A policeman in the supermarket ,would you do this?

286 replies

girlfriend44 · 26/06/2026 13:48

This morning there was a policeman doing some shopping in the supermarket.

A family walked past and when the dad noticed the policeman in the aisle he said to his little girl.
Look there's a policeman. If your naughty round the supermarket he will take you away to prison. The little girl. Just listened and didn't say anything .
He made sure she saw the policeman and as said told her he would take her to prison if she was naughty.
The policeman never heard but I did . I was right by them
Would you do this?
AIBU to think it's a bit odd.

OP posts:
BlibBlabBlob · 26/06/2026 13:57

Probably also a parent who tells their kids from the start of November that Santa is always watching and they won't get any presents at all if they are naughty between then and Christmas.

And who threatens to leave their toddler behind if they don't co-operate with leaving somewhere immediately.

Because a bit of terror and blackmail is always a great parenting choice, obviously. Especially when the dreaded outcome is clearly never going to actually happen in reality. (Well, maybe the Santa one if a parent is especially cruel. But not the police arrest for naughtiness, or toddler abandonment in a public place.)

Some people are really thick and don't think things through properly.

And some of those people become parents.

MyCrushWithEyeliner · 26/06/2026 13:57

I don’t think parents should tell their kids another adult is going to tell them off, be it police, shop staff etc

Original poster
girlfriend44 · 26/06/2026 13:56

GreenFootstool · 26/06/2026 13:55

I can tell you for free that that sentiment really pisses off a lot of police.

Kids should be able to see police officers as someone to go to for help, not someone to be afraid of.

Threatening kids with police has its place, but if you want children to ask safe adults for help then police officers should be one of those safe adults.

I appreciate that seeing police that way is culturally and socially more complicated for some people.

Exactly.

OP posts:
Fairygoblin · 26/06/2026 13:56

Father educating daughter

GreenFootstool · 26/06/2026 13:55

I can tell you for free that that sentiment really pisses off a lot of police.

Kids should be able to see police officers as someone to go to for help, not someone to be afraid of.

Threatening kids with police has its place, but if you want children to ask safe adults for help then police officers should be one of those safe adults.

I appreciate that seeing police that way is culturally and socially more complicated for some people.

OriginalSkang · 26/06/2026 13:55

Its not odd, the guy was just thick/a shit parent

Marwoodsbigbreak · 26/06/2026 13:55

It’s pretty pathetic tbh.

MauriceTheMussel · 26/06/2026 13:55

Oh fuck me

BeSunnyLemonSheep · 26/06/2026 13:54

Yes, it’s odd.

You should not teach your child to fear the police.

Original poster
girlfriend44 · 26/06/2026 13:54

Why wasn't everyone else doing it then? She wasn't even being naughty.

OP posts:
beefthief · 26/06/2026 13:52

of course it's not odd, good lord

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