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Original poster

Oops, I think my teen is the subject of a moany thread on the local FB group

52 replies

Grottyfeet · 01/08/2020 14:46

It started with a complaint that a group of teens are out in the early hours, a couple of times a week, "talking loudly" and has escalated to:

my van got broken into, must be them
there's been a spate of burglaries (I don't think there has)
they must be responsible for all the litter
there's three of them with back packs and baseball caps, clearly up to no good
young people need to get out and earn some money rather than thinking they can take everyone else's
if they had jobs they wouldn't be out at night, spongers
have you seen all the graffiti?
we need the Bobby on his bike back

I think it may be my son and his colleagues walking home from their late shift at McDonalds. I don't hear him come in anymore, but I'm aware that they've just finished work, this is their social time and it doesn't "feel" late to them. Before lockdown they often went to the gym at 2am, just for somewhere to hang out or they went to the 24hr Tescos and bought food to eat in the carpark while they chatted but those options are currently closed and they can't share a car. (Actually I'm not sure what the rule is there now?)

I've had words but the lack of understanding about why young people may be out at that time has made me laugh. Also the willingness to demonize them, these were the first to step up when volunteers were asked for to return from furlough and get the restaurants open. However, I understand it must be very annoying so he is going to ask his friends to pipe down.

Do I own up on the group?

OP posts:

saraclara · 01/08/2020 17:31

The moderator of our local FB page is very hot on this sort of thing. Demonising the youth or making generalisations or vague accusations

about any age group or ethnicity is frowned on and a warning will be given. Which is good, I think.

Arthersleep · 01/08/2020 17:42

the lack of understanding about why young people may be out at that time has made me laugh

Well, Most teenagers aren't out working until 2am. And regardless if what time if feels like to them, the fact of the matter is that it is very late and they are keeping people awake. Obviously you are unaffected by it as you no longer hear them come in. But nevertheless they should not be making any noise outside. As you don't seem to wake easily, perhaps you should invite them into your house to continue socializing instead.

SnuggyBuggy · 01/08/2020 17:44

Surely it's only a matter of time before your local Facebook moves on to an out of control dog or where the dodgy van has been spotted.

TheFaerieQueene · 01/08/2020 17:46

I’m amazed that FB is still a thing.

Diverseduvet · 01/08/2020 17:51

Just have a word with your son about being considerate to others, then ignore. Never been on FB. Local FB groups sound horrendous!

Original poster

Grottyfeet · 01/08/2020 17:53

@Arthersleep

the lack of understanding about why young people may be out at that time has made me laugh

But you're only allowed one other household in your home, surely you're not encouraging rule breaking?

OP posts:

Northernsoullover · 01/08/2020 18:01

My son made it into the local whinging pages. He went out with his metal detector. I was over the moon that he had got off his arse and PlayStation to go out with friends.
Half hour later I see a post on my local group that there was a group of yobs digging up the sports pitch . I did not own up to being the owner one of the 'yobs' but said 'its probably ill thought out adventure'. There were lots of supportive posts saying that it was better than stealing and vandalising cars. There were also lots of 'someone could break their neck playing there' he assured me they neatly filled in the holes and would not repeat the offence.

Coyoacan · 01/08/2020 18:32

saraclara

I wish the administrator of your neighbourhood's facebook page could give others some lessons.

I live in Mexico City and our local fb pages are equally appalling.

CarolVordermansArse · 01/08/2020 18:43

Someone posted a photo of a young person 'behaving suspiciously' by their front door.

Someone replied that it was their son and he was delivering election leaflets.

However, often there photos of what looks like always the same person trying to break into cars, no-one admits to knowing that one for some reason.

cantstopsinginglittlebabybum · 01/08/2020 18:47

These posts are rife on my local fb.

There's no arguing with stupid. The older generation on these groups will never see your point of view.

VinylDetective · 01/08/2020 19:12

@cantstopsinginglittlebabybum

These posts are rife on my local fb.

There's no arguing with stupid. The older generation on these groups will never see your point of view.

This kind of fuckwittery crosses every age group on ours. In fact the people with young kids are the worst.

TSSDNCOP · 01/08/2020 19:16

Our FB is the same. I really feel for teens this summer. They can't do anything without being complained about whilst plenty of adults that bloody should know better are behaving like utter wankers.

SomewhereEast · 01/08/2020 20:04

Why would you own up? Those groups are basically just the same fifty busybodies going round in circles about bins / parking / teens. Who cares what they think

Original poster

Grottyfeet · 01/08/2020 20:06

I thought I might do something along the lines of "don't panic, it's my DS and his friends walking home from work. They're no threat to anyone but apologise for the noise and will keep it down in future".

Actually I won't, but it crossed my mind.

OP posts:

Andylion · 01/08/2020 20:10

but I'm aware that they've just finished work, this is their social time and it doesn't "feel" late to them.

If they work a late shift, why can their social time not be earlier in the day?

Kettledodger · 01/08/2020 20:18

@Andylion

but I'm aware that they've just finished work, this is their social time and it doesn't "feel" late to them.

If they work a late shift, why can their social time not be earlier in the day?

Because they are teenagers

I am guessing between 16-19 so even at the best of times hard for them to get going earlier. If they are working till 12/1am then by the time they wind down I'm guessing 3/4am bed (guessing from when I did late shifts many years ago) so up around 2ish taking the obligatory 2 hours for teens to get moving in the "morning" the only about 1 and a half hours before they need to get ready for their shift.

I am really only saying this as this is what I was like I know not all teens are like this

Moonshinemisses · 01/08/2020 20:25

Yeah, dont own up & put yourself up for some fakebook flogging & shaming. Everyone knows local groups are just a place for passive aggressive slagging off of your neighbour's or giving dodgy medical advise. I'm sitting with a glass of wine currently being amused by a post from a woman who is a naturopath telling everyone they would be immune to covid if they had a better diet!. That's my Sat night sorted

Original poster

Grottyfeet · 01/08/2020 20:49

Spot on Kettledodger. Even when they were furloughed and other friends were wfh or doing independent study after colleges closed DS's virtual social life started as we were going to bed.

OP posts:

Hodge00079 · 01/08/2020 21:14

Sounds like my local group.

Post moaning about the group of teenagers roaming the streets at 3:30 in the morning shouting.

If people are not moaning about dog poo or fireworks they are not happy. Oh and you do not dare to post a topic on something that isn’t local.

Iggii · 01/08/2020 21:29

Why is anyone out at 3.30 am shouting in the streets ok?
There are groups of teens who hang out (thankfully a few streets from me) with regular fb posts about girls urinating in the street and abuse being given to anyone asking them to quiet down. Three teenagers were arrested last week so it must be more than good natured fun.

Coyoacan · 01/08/2020 22:32

I'm sitting with a glass of wine currently being amused by a post from a woman who is a naturopath telling everyone they would be immune to covid if they had a better diet!. That's my Sat night sorted

Not immune, but our chief epidemiologist in Mexico says that the reason we have such a high death rate is because of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes, which are all the result of a poor diet. While my cousin who is a GP in England says that a healthy diet and exercise will lower our chances of having a very bad experience with covid.

mychickensnameiscamilla · 01/08/2020 22:53

Someone posted on our local town page about the group of four teenagers eating chips next to the local takeaway and if this was 'allowed'. (It was my son and a couple of mates and perfectly allowable under the COVID rules where we live in Australia).

One old bloke direly predicted, 'well, if the place gets burnt down tonight we'll know who did it'.

YardleyX · 01/08/2020 23:13

I think the key phrase here is, “you can’t argue with stupid”.

There is nothing you can say that would be understood, so best say nothing at all.

TenThousandSpoons · 02/08/2020 09:41

I actually think your “I think this could be my son walking home from work...” would be a good post and make people feel safer.

SnuggyBuggy · 02/08/2020 09:47

I don't know if I'd risk owning up on one of those threads

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