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

‘Breaking things can be fun’

Yes possibly, when you are six years old.

I don’t think anyone is saying the behaviour of smashing the apples is worrying. Some perhaps are concerned about why a 13 and 15 yo can’t ’let off steam’ a different way without irritating people.

Some people who have multiple boys still have high standards around behaviour.

30 minutes is quite a long time for it to have gone on.

Rotting apples will be eaten by all sorts of slugs and beetles and foraging creatures. Breaking them down might mean that more mush-oriented creatures get more of a feast, and more crunch-oriented creatures get less of a feast. It really isn't a big deal and I'm a bit baffled at the rage.

Is it to do with thinking that 'nature' is a certain picturesque, romantic vision? And that humans mucking about spoils that idyll? Would the woman have been angry at squirrels playing with nuts?

Why would kicking a football around, for instance, be less annoying?

Children are allowed to play in public places and make a bit of noise. That's what public is. If people are too uptight to deal with that, they can sit in their own gardens.

Me and my chums are looking for somewhere to park our camper vans for a few months and would like to know the location of this field that doesn’t belong to anyone. Is it near a pub, we like a drink and it would be handy for having a wash sometimes, and getting a free internet connection and a fixed address for deliveries.

For me it's the principle of not tampering with something that isn't your property.

Taking your own football is fine. Deciding to smash up the apples they don't own is different.

Cricket does actually sound like more fun. The splat would be way better than just booting them about. Would that be violating their fruit based rights?

It's rotten apples, get over it.
Do you not walk on grass you don't own either?

If I'm permitted on the grass by the owner (or have other right of access) of course I walk on it.

Not to mention spoiling the fun of the baby mice who were going to go ice-skating on them 😥

I wouldn't like walking on rotten apple mush and like someone else said some kicking food feels wrong but as anti social behaviour goes it's pretty low down the list. Not even sure it would be on that list as they weren't trying to upset anyone and it seems like no one was at risk of being hit.

Besides they were in a park. Yes ball (or alternatives) games can get loud but it you can't play them in a park then where can you?

What I find really sad though and quite shocking to be honest is the number of people on this thread who said that they seem a bit too old for this kind of game? Really? My kids are still in primary school so maybe I'm being naive but I think kicking a ball (or alternatives) around is a great activity for anyone but especially teenagers. What would you have them rather do in a park? Drugs? Break the playground equipment? Sex in the bushes? Or maybe more likely sit down and scroll social media?

Op if I was you I'd also be happy that my two sons are having fun together, are getting exercise and fresh air and aren't hurting anyone or breaking anything.

Where do you stand on daisy chains and dandelion clocks out of interest?

Think this is the key to it - would the person who owned the field be happy with what the OP's kids did? Would it cause them any hassle?

Just because a person has access to a space doesn't mean they can do whatever they want.

The only reason I think what the OP's kids did was annoying is it made a mess. Apples in public parks often get cleared by volunteers.

Public spaces are for all - not just the loud ones.

Indeed. For all. Noise is to be expected.

Obviously there are levels here and someone rocking up with a massive speaker and blaring out Pink Pony Club is being a dick, but kids simply running about and laughing is well within tolerance. Grumpy fuckers who can't cope with that are the problem.

This thread is absolutely hilarious. Do people actually think apple kicking is a gateway to criminality and domestic abuse 😂😂😂😂.

As someone else said, the thing I find sad is the idea that by 13 you are far too old to be outside being daft. Have you ever met a teenage boy? What would you prefer they did? Because the only way to subdue their natural physicality really is to stick them on TikTok. Our boys read and love boardgames but they still have outbursts of very silly physical behaviour. Generally in our garden thankfully where they can wind me up by using perfectly good apples as weapons.

Don't forget conkers

Yeah she probably overreacted but I can see why this might be a bit annoying.
Maybe there were bits of rotten apple flying around?
Maybe she thought someone might get hit?
Maybe what you see as harmless fun is noisy and irritating to others?
I suppose kicking around a punch of mushy apples could leave the area in a bit of a mess.

Don’t you mean people stealing horse chestnuts and turning them into weapons! Conkers can be used for violent assault and they belong to someone - you’ve stolen them. What about the squirrels??

Don't get me started on daisy chains, daisy chains are chains. Stolen flowers to make symbols of oppression, you wicked, wicked people.

And why are only boys allowed at any age to do silly things while running round. Silly things, throwing, stomping, splashing are some of the best things. According to this thread only boys under 10 are allowed to do them. What a miserable world.

As someone with several fruit trees I'm crying with laughter at the posters claiming that it would attract wasps and make a mess.

Because fallen, rotting apples don't do that already apparently 🙄

Sounds like they were having some harmless and fairly wholesome fun. It's good that there are teenagers in the world like this who aren't glued to screens etc.

The woman was nuts. Like half the posters on this thread.

Bubble wrap!! Who can resist popping it?

I do think this was more than just the fact of destruction though. It's messy and, while the ice can't be used for anything, probably the apples could have been picked over. There is also that uncomfortable feeling when you are around people splashing in mud etc that you are going to get splattered, which is a bit anti-social, even if it's fun for the people doing it.

Indeed.

I still love running through fallen leaves as a 40 something year old, and fuck anyone who thinks I'm immature for doing so. I imagine some people here would be out with a broom immediately afterwards due to the "mess".