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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think this was rather cruel?

34 replies

Thunderduck · 08/08/2009 11:08

This might not seem like much but I thought that it was a pretty mean thing to do to a child.

While walking along the canal the other day I saw a couple with a small boy who was about three.

They kept dragging him to the edge of the bank and saying we're going to throw you in, and then you'll drown.
The poor kid was terrified, he was screaming his head off and pleading inbetween screams. He most certainly was not having fun.

They did this repeatedly, at one point dangling him over the water, again repeating 'We're going to throw you in'

I had to say something to them. They just thought it was funny though the child was extremely distressed.

AIBU to fail to understand why anyone would find this amusing?

OP posts:
Narketta · 08/08/2009 11:26

Bloody hell FlightHattendant thats horrible.

Its pisses me off when people get some kind of sick enjoyment out of making there DC cry, its bullying!!

shinyshoes · 08/08/2009 11:23

Some parents have no frickin idea do they

bastards

Good on you for saying something

FlightHattendant · 08/08/2009 11:21

Nasty

I saw a woman in the swimming pool the other week, with a maybe 20mo? boy. She was repeatedly dragging him backwards into the water, smiling to herself (she was lying down, holding his ankles - it was the baby pool) and at first I thought he was laughing hysterically, but no, he was sobbing

I kept staring at her, she seemed insane, then she had a big strop with him about 'tantrums' he was tiny and rolling around screaming because he didn't want to go in.

I stared and stared and eventually she stopped grinning and picked him up, wrapped him in a towel, kissed him (he stopped crying) and disappeared.

But I was at her behaviour and felt so sad for him.

Original poster
Thunderduck · 08/08/2009 11:20

They were his parents. I heard the poor kid screaming no mummy and no daddy don't when they were pretending to throw him in. Twats.

OP posts:
Original poster
Thunderduck · 08/08/2009 11:19

I was nice at first. I said that I think he's had enough, that he's very distressed and needs to be comforted.

They just laughed and said it was only a joke. I said he doesn't know it's a joke, and if it's a joke it isn't a very funny one. It's cruel so stop torturing him.

They just said you're making a fuss about nothing, and walked off.

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 08/08/2009 11:17

That is really shocking and amounts to abuse IMO. Poor little soul. Were they the parents do you think, or could they have been strangers? (horrible thoughts of James Bulger...).

HecatesTwopenceworth · 08/08/2009 11:16

What did you say and how did they take it?

I think it was a very stupid thing they did. How is it funny to distress your child? Idiots.

Narketta · 08/08/2009 11:15

They sound nice
Good on you for saying something to them.
What did you say?

slyandgobbo · 08/08/2009 11:09

YANBU. They sound insane.