AIBU? Kid's kicking rotting apples in a field / parent had a right go

This

And some people are just arseholes who think they don’t have to consider anyone else.

Well they were clearly doing something to piss the woman off enough for her to risk challenging a couple of teen boys.

It's apples, not animals. You'd tell off kids chasing pigeons or whatever, but kicking some rotting apples around? If it was close to other people or noisy, that would be one thing, but just messing around in a corner of a park isn't affecting anyone.

I don't think your kids are destined for a life of crime OP.

Would rather tread in smashed up apple than dog crap.

Yes may not look or smell pleasant for a few days, im sure birds and wildlife could still eat the apples too, might even be a bit easier for the birds to eat.

I'd much rather see some teens mucking around with some rotting fruit than chasing each other with a knife or doing wheelies down the road into oncoming traffic which seems to be the norm around here at the moment.

Years ago there was a plum tree on a green that didnt get used in a village where me and my friends used to hang about about age 14/15. We used to have plum fights with the fallen fruit, didnt harm anyone, may have stained our clothes but that was the least worrying thing we did back then 🫣

Insects are the wrong kind of wildlife

Oh absolutely. It's not like they're a critical part of any food chains is it? Or pollinate any plants? Of help recycle dead matter? FFS! 🙄

Yes and if you squash them, you simultaneously ruin it for the wildlife but also attract more wildlife. Insects are the wrong kind of wildlife.

So the people picking intact windfall fruit are taking food away from wildlife?

I would not have said anything but I would have thought:

1. kicking fruit is going to damage it; some people will collect decent windfalls to eat. We collect them for horses;
2. I think ball games in public spaces are anti social - unless they are in a designated area;
3. windfalls survive longer intact and may provide food for wildlife for longer after a very bad summer for wildlife;
4. squashed windfalls will attract insects more, are a slip hazard and can adhere to your shoes and make a mess.

What’s selfish about some kids kicking apples to each other?

I didnt need anything clarifying tbh it was all very clear 😬

And some people are selfish fucks who think their wants override those of other people.

Humans are, by and large, irritating and selfish creatures.

Both are possible - I assume the woman would have only spoken up if she had good reason BUT we will never know. does that clarify things for you?

I wouldn’t do either of those things but just writing people off as miserable if they do complain about things is short sighted. The teens in hoodies is a stupid example. But plenty of people would be annoyed by a loud party even as a one off.

Youve contradicted yourself - you assumed the woman wouldnt have said anything if they werent behaving badly, now its "we'll never know".

Ill assume the second part of your post isnt in response to mine, unless you actually would object or dont think its miserable to object to a neighbour having a party once every 3 years til 11pm and you would put a post on FB if 2 teens wore hoodies and gloves in December.

Won't somebody think of the half-decomposed apples!

Some people are just arseholes who like to complain about anything and everything.

That's maybe why.

Of course it’s possible.

It is also possible that the boys were not just playing nice, we won’t ever know.

Interesting that anyone who dares object to things is automatically called miserable. I suppose it saves people taking responsibility for their poor behaviour.

Its simply about a lack of respect. I wouldn't want my lads doing that. Take a football instead

Its entirely possible the woman was just a miserable person and is the type to complain if a neighbour has one party every 3 years that finishes at 11pm, or if they see 2 teens wearing hoodies and gloves in December they put a post on their local FB page warning the village there are criminals about.

And some people just dislike seeing others enjoying something they wouldnt do or they think is unusual. They cant get their heads around the fact people are different so assume there must be something wrong going on.

Which is why people won’t generally tackle teen boys even if they are being irritating. The fact she did means whatever they were doing was presumably worth risking speaking up.

I think it’s great that everyone assumes they are just two sweet little boys playing innocently but why would someone say something?

Good lord some people have to find something to moan about.

All of this "I think it's wrong but can't even remotely say why" in other words they can't actually think of a tangible reason to find something offensive, but are going to say they'd find it in some way offensive anyway.

As for the ones acting like 2 teenagers on a walk with their mum, kicking a few (already fallen) apples around for a bit is one step away from a life of crime... Oh if they'll do this, what's stopping them from VANDALISM or worse?? Good lord.

I dread to think what some people on here would do if they stepped foot into the estates round by where I live. Heads would be exploding!

And we only have the OP’s side of it.

So people who speak up are the same as bigots now? What an odd comparison,

People really don’t just tell others off for fun and games. Particularly not teen boys. We don’t know what was said or why the woman said it. So it’s hard to know whether it was justified.

Harmless fun with windfall apples that were already rotting into the ground anyway. Two boys outside having a laugh without swearing or damaging anything is completely normal. The other parent massively overreacted and needs to get a grip. 🙄🙄

Your kids are why some people should just stay out of the country if they can't behave.
People take windfall apples.
Animals eat them.
Why was trashing stuff and making a mess their go-to for'fun'?