How would you feel if...

[ButAIBUtho]

.... you lived in a block of privately rented and owned flats, you shared a drive way and one day came home to find some chalk drawings on the floor from one of your neighbours kids? Some squiggles, a stick man and a name of one of the children?

Would you speak to the parent and tell them you don't like it and please could you stop?

Would you ignore it unless it kept happening and assume the parent had dealt with it?

Would you speak to the managing agent, get them to come round, take photos of the evidence and send it to all 16 flats telling telling them how this would not be tolerated?

I am The Least Child-Friendly Person in the World, but personally I'd smile, be pleased the kids were out playing, and wait for the rain to wash it away.

(unless it said 'ThistleAmore is a massive twunt', obviously)

It's not a reverse! I'm not pretending to be the other person, I'm asking how others would feel. As a neighbour, how would they feel/react to seeing it.

It was on the drive way, the shared drive way.

I can't figure out if it's enviable or tragic that all this neighbour has to worry about is anything to do with the flats.

I find this treatment embarrassing though. It's my kids name sent round to all the flats with a telling off. Like we are the naughty black sheep of the place.

If it's them that share the drive way with you then surely they have as much right to use it as you have.
Like others have said - it's children's chalk drawings, its nice not offensive, I'd do nothing.

I would feel vaguely nostalgic and remember chalking hopscotch on the yard when I was eight.

I’d think ‘oh that’s nice’ and if was feeling particularly in a good mood and add my own drawing and name on as a game with the kids.

I wouldn’t personally allow my D.C. to draw on a shared driveway but I also wouldn’t be particularly bothered by someone else’s kid drawing on it (unless say I was selling my flat and having pictures taken for example)

Their response seems excessive however if they don’t like it ask your D.C. not to do it again.

It’s not worth a major argument with another resident.

Another neighbour told the kids off tonight and told them they were being filmed.

What the fuck is wrong with people? Why can't they approach me, the adult and parent? It's been dealt with, they won't do it again. Ffs.

I really want to come and write fuck off cockwomble on your shared drive in chalk with an (in)appropriate drawing and await the next round of photos.

Told the kids off for drawing it for something else?

I’m a bit confused about the timeline.

Josiebloggs beat me to it!

We all received the letter and photographic evidence today. The actual drawings are gone, they happened a couple of weeks ago.
The kids went down to play tonight before it got dark and they just told me that a man from one of the flats came out, letter in hand, telling them over and over again not to draw on the floor and that they were being filmed "so we know it's you."

But OTT?

He’s filming children?

Fucking hell, he sounds a treat!

I’d tell him bluntly if he films or intimidates your children again you’ll call the police.

Creepy bastard.

Ring the police and report him for filming the children.

Your neighbours are going a bit over the top. I bet they would've drawn all over pavements with chalk when they were kids; I know I did. It isn't seen much any more, from what I can tell, so their memory must have become a bit selective since their own childhoods.

I imagine most of your neighbours couldn't believe that such a petty letter was sent to you all.

I agree - knock on his door and say if he has been filming your children you will call the police on him. Then I’d review my tenancy and see if there’s anything outside I can call mine and help the kids draw on it in chalk.
It is most certainly not enviable that he thinks this is a problem!

If I saw it, I wouldn’t think anything andnjt wouldn’t bother me in the slightest.

BUT!

If I was in your shoes. Shared driveway. Two residents expressing displeasure then I would not allow my children to continue doing so.

If the children are being filmed on private property he’s breaking the law.

My dh has a a serious irrational hatred for chalk drawings. I don't understand it, it washes away and as long as it's not offensive what's the problem? His only saving grace is that he grew up on a farm miles away from anyone so this is his first time living in the 'burbs lol.

However, he just quietly fumes would never report it or threaten children that he's filming them

I’d report them to the police.
What they are doing is harassment telling the dc they are being filmed. Posting pictures of the chalk drawings all over the building.
Disgraceful, antisocial and bullying behaviour they should be ashamed.

I bet these would be the same miserable people who would say children spend too much time on computers and should use their imagination more.

I’d be going down to speak, very politely, to the flat guy acknowlefging jis concern, explaining that the drawings were weeks ago and won’t reoccur but making it clear that it’s deeply inappropriate for him to speak to your children in a manner that could be construed as threatening.

And then bin the chalk.

Is their behaviour generally good? Seems like a lot of fuss for some chalk drawings?

If I saw chalk on a driveway then no, I wouldn't care a jot. Would likely make me smile.

However I suspect this is more to do with something else like the noise of kids playing that they cannot officially complain about but are using he chalk drawing as a way of shutting your kids up.

Good grief - that is totally unacceptable. It's chalk. it's inherently very, very temporary. It would make most right-minded people smile and then think no more about it. Approaching your kids and telling them they're being filmed is beyond OTT - it's cowardly intimidation and I would be having serious words.