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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have told a kid off for playing knock door run?

76 replies

FuryFowler · 21/08/2015 16:30

I know it's the holidays, and that the kids are bored! But it's the 2nd time they've done it today. I let it slide the 1st time, but the 2nd time, I happened to be in the hall way and I could hear them outside the door fighting over who should knock!

So I waited for him to knock and flung the door open :)..... Safe to say he looked pretty shocked! And nearly slipped over!

So I told him off and that I had two young children and a dog and didn't want to have to drop everything to open the door, and that I didn't want him breaking his leg on my property by running away and slipping. And that if he did it again I'd go tell his parents!

Am I mean?! I think I was a bit too shouty! (It's the teacher in me :/)

OP posts:
StillStayingClassySanDiego · 21/08/2015 16:32

Too bloody right, I would have loved to have seen his face when you opened the door Grin.

No you weren't mean.

FarFromAnyRoad · 21/08/2015 16:32

YANBU. I'd have told him the dog's just back from custody after the last time he chewed a stranger's leg off and you really really don't want that to happen again so soon! Grin

TheCatsMother99 · 21/08/2015 16:33

Not mean at all!

wankerchief · 21/08/2015 16:33

yanbu

I'd of been waiting with a bucket of water...

Piffpaffpoff · 21/08/2015 16:34

No YANBU. My imbecelic next door neighbours kids did this to me just as I was putting baby dd to bed and then hid (badly) in a bush at the end of my drive so I marched round to their door with pj clad tired baby in my arms, told their dad, pointed out where they were attempting to hide and told him to sort it. Which he didn't really, but that's another story that's too long and boring for here...

SideOrderofChips · 21/08/2015 16:35

YANBU. I have told the kids on this estate off enough times now. The way i got them to stop was that they kept kicking their football in my garden and expecting me to go and get it and then play knock and run. So i ignored the door every time.

After a while they asked me when i was outside why i wouldn't give their football back to i explained to them that if they were going to play knock and run that i just wasnt going to answer the door and to read the story of the boy who cried wolf.

Since then i dont get knock and run OR footballs. My summer has been lovely this year!

Original poster
FuryFowler · 21/08/2015 16:42

Haha wanker

I just felt bad (and old!) afterwards as I remember doing as a kid too :/.... Now I know how much of a pita it is for the recipient that I'll be telling my kids not to do it when they're older!

Also feeling a bit paranoid for my 6yr old, who plays out in the street, but not directly with these boys as they're a bit older.

OP posts:
MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 21/08/2015 16:45

Yanbu. It's annoying.

SirChenjin · 21/08/2015 16:45

YANBU at all - it's bloody annoying. Getting a bollocking is all part of the thrill of knock door run (or ring bang skoosh as it's called up here) Grin

Rachel0Greep · 21/08/2015 16:49

YANBU. I did something similar recently. I usually ignore them, but this particular day, three of them were getting very brave outside the door, and I flung the door open, and ran them. They got a bit of a fright, when I opened the door, they didn't do it since.

BloodyDogHairs · 21/08/2015 16:52

Chap door run here Grin

I remember playing it as a child and now I'm older with my own dogs and DC's I now realise how bloody annoying me and my friends were Blush

vvviola · 21/08/2015 16:56

Yes, what SirChenjin said. It's part of the risk of playing isn't it, that you might get caught.

Annoying as it is, I think it's one of things that drives adults mad, kids do a few times, and then get it out of their system (especially if they get an earful).

I even did it as a kid, and I was a real goody-two-shoes. Grin

Doesn't mean YABU to be really annoyed by it though.

indieblack · 21/08/2015 17:05

Knock down ginger here in S London Grin Loved it as a kid and yep getting caught is part of the game. Although YANBU to be annoyed it's part of a traditional British childhood so I'd try to allow the kids some mischief.

FortyCoats · 21/08/2015 17:10

Part of childhood most places I'd say Smile

In Dublin we called it nicknack!

FortyCoats · 21/08/2015 17:11

But YANBU

KittyLovesPaintingOhYes · 21/08/2015 17:32

Knock down ginger in Surrey too - of course a bollocking should be dished out or what's the risk of getting caught?

AcrossthePond55 · 21/08/2015 17:47

Never happens here as they'd have to traipse up the driveway through a closed gate. Plus, you know, we're all armed with AK47s over here (not really).

When I was young we called it 'White Rabbit'. When my sons were young it was called 'Ding Dong Ditch'.

Bogeyface · 21/08/2015 18:24

Knock and run is bad enough but about an hour ago I went out and yelled at a bunch of kids who took the wheelie bins (bin day so some are still out) and the bollards from the builders over the road (another MAJOR irritation!) and blocked off the road.

Got a mouthful back of a girl of about 8 who said "We'll just do it again" and started laughing to which I said fine, I'll just mention to your mother that YOU were the one who did this. X isnt it? Works at the Co-op? and her face fell a mile! I will be speaking to her mother too, not that she will give a shit, she being of the "I dont care who they are annoying as long as they are not annoying me" school of non parenting, but I suspect it will embarrass her so it might make a difference.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 21/08/2015 18:45

No YNBU.
Half the time though I don't think the parents give a flying fuck what they do.
I once heard and use this term very lighly a man screaming at a little sweet old women because she had reprimanded a bit who was picking flowers from her garden.
Poor little old women. Was told. Don't you fuckin tell my lad off. If he wants to pick fuckin flowers from anyone's garden he can.
I happened to be upstairs at the time changing my bed with my windows open. I'd heard enough. If this my nan. I would have hoped someone had gone to her aid, so I went over to see if let's call her Aggie was okay.

I got told to mind my own fuckin business, so as you can imagine an altercation occured. The thing is, If I see someone weak and vulnerable being targeted. I won't stand for it. I make it my business.
Aggie's DGS turned up while this way all going on. Mr pick on old ladies went the color of boiled shite
Oh sorry mate. Just a little kid understanding, between me and your nan.
No there wasn't a little misunderstanding, you just shit your sekf when faced with a man.
I won't repeat what Aggie's DGS said but let's just say. She was never bothered again.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 21/08/2015 18:51

Nicky knocky nine doors in the good old NE.

momb · 21/08/2015 18:59

the kids don't do it here....it tends to be parcelforce: they drop the card, ring the bell, race to the van and speed off!

ComposHatComesBack · 21/08/2015 19:00

Fucking amateurs.

Proper knock a door run is far more involved. It requires a piece of rope and two terraced houses. Tie the rope to the front door handles and knock both doors.

Stand back and watch as the householders open and close each other's doors.

Kids today. No bloody commitment.

Lurkedforever1 · 21/08/2015 19:33

Yanbu.
But anyone thinking it's not their little darlings when they're playing out is likely to be deluded. I know dd and friends play it, cos she tells me. And therefore I've at least imposed some sense on it, no houses with closed blinds/ curtains, wheelchair ramps, signs of elderly/ disabled/ babies etc, and of course nowhere where you suspect or know anyone not able bodied etc lives. Meanwhile dds mates who's parents think they'd never be so silly, would knock on anyone's door. I've just told dd if she gets caught then a normal telling off is nothing to do with me and not to ever tell anyone which houses I've definitely okayed as fair game.

dilbert19912 · 21/08/2015 19:39

When dd was 3 weeks old we had her asleep In our old house where our front door was in our living room and some little shits did it about 4 times in one night scaring her half to death. The final time they did it my Dp ran out barefoot after them and caught one of them who was on a scooter, he must've been 12/13 so dp stole his scooter and told him he would only get it back if he sent his parents to our house for it.
They came and collected it and gave said child a massive bollocking, never happened again.
Grin

Original poster
FuryFowler · 21/08/2015 21:09

Oh Bogeyface you've reminded me of when we used to our the sand out of the old style traffic cones in our street when the very popular horse racing was on each year :)

I also remember being told to buzz off for knock and run - we called it sally strawberry :/ - and we'd literally buzz off :)

I feel bad now for telling him off, but I guess as you say, it's art of the risk!

Iliveinalighthouse that's awful, nothing worse than cowardly bullies. Glad her dgs turned up, and good on you for going down. I'd have done the same :)

haha compo where did you grow up?!

OP posts: