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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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To have bashed this drone?

89 replies

Dronebasher · 23/02/2019 18:54

Went for walk/picnic along the river today with DH and our 3 small DC. While we were eating lunch a group of boys maybe 9-11 years old appeared and were a short distance from us climbing an old tree that had half fallen in the water. Eventually they egged each other on and a few of them stripped off and were jumping into the river. We couldn't see a great deal but could hear them clear enough. DS7 was truly fascinated!

A few minutes after the boys start jumping in along comes a drone flying low. It's a giant bloody thing and comes right down over our heads. DH starts waving at and it carries on to where the boys are and is just hovering. Now the boys are hooting and hollering at it while throwing stones. I go running over yelling put your clothes on that thing is taking pictures of you! The drone is now hovering and zipping around a few feet over our heads and making no move to leave. I pick up a fallen branch and start swinging at it and managed to make contact. It ended up in the river.

Lo and behold the owner shows up ten minutes later in absolute rage saying he's going to report me to the police for destroying his drone. I tell him it wasn't safe to be flying so damn close to people and he was clearly taking pictures of naked children. He says they were in public and he can take photos if he wants. We ended up leaving with the gaggle of boys following us (I think at this point they were all fairly spooked).

It really wasn't the afternoon I expected and now I'm wondering if I'll be contacted by the police!

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 23/02/2019 21:49

If you're close enough to hit them, then do - it's the only way to deal with them

It's not ok to be intimidated by them

Dronebasher · 23/02/2019 21:51

It was warm here today. We were only in T-shirt's and jeans. I wouldn't have gone swimming but I don't go swimming outside in the UK hardly ever because it's too cold. My kids happily paddled in the river and weren't cold.

As for the kids stripping off - it's what happened. You can believe it or not. I wouldn't have gone over there if I thought they had shorts on. We used to strip off as kids and go swimming because who wants wet pants on the way home? We were in a fairly secluded wooded spot so not as if they were on a beach.

The drone clearly had a camera or the man couldn't have been operating remotely. He wasn't anywhere near us and it took him ten minutes to get to us.

Drone man was parked in the same car park as us so he has my registration. DH took a photo of his as well. I don't want to waste police time but maybe I'm better off contacting them first. I was worried the stupid thing was going to bash into wither me or one of the boys. He was getting it as close as possible. Arrrrgh. This was not the day I was hoping for!

OP posts:
Cremeeggsareforever · 23/02/2019 21:58

I would have done the same thing, and reported him to the police.

snowball28 · 23/02/2019 21:59

The police are more likely to quiz him on his drone license 👀 which he clearly doesn’t have if flying so close to people.

I’d of bashed it down too, hate drones with a passion. Creepy things

LaurieFairyCake · 23/02/2019 22:00

I actually think you should report it to the police

Cremeeggsareforever · 23/02/2019 22:00

DH took a photo of his as well. I don't want to waste police time but maybe I'm better off contacting them first. I was worried the stupid thing was going to bash into wither me or one of the boys. He was getting it as close as possible.

He sounds like a sick twat using a drone to watch kids without clothes on. That is not wasting police time.

Amrad · 23/02/2019 22:05

Hang on a minute MNHQ. You've allowed this thread despite people questioning it but you deleted mine? Feeling a little victimised here!

Santaclarita · 23/02/2019 22:05

It's not wasting police time. He is a potential paedophile.

WorraLiberty · 23/02/2019 22:39

We used to strip off as kids and go swimming because who wants wet pants on the way home?

You don't wear them home, you put your trousers or shorts back on and your pants in your bag, surely? Confused

Dronebasher · 23/02/2019 22:44

I'm not sure what bone you have to pick here Worra. I've been around bloody ages and MNHQ can see it. I've had a different experience to you and you're not adding a damn thing.

OP posts:
MistyMinge · 23/02/2019 22:47

I would have done the same as you. I'd be surprised if he goes to the police, I bet he knows he'd be on dodgy ground himself. They'd be more interested in him filming young naked boys than the damage to his drone. Bloody things should be banned for anything other than commercial use.

WorraLiberty · 23/02/2019 22:48

I'm adding comments. If you don't like them I can't help that.

I've never worn wet pants on the way home and nor have any of my childhood friends.

However, we didn't swim naked in public when we went for a day out, we swam in our pants and just carried them home.

Just like you, I'm stating my different experience.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 23/02/2019 23:05

YABU to not bash up every twatting drone out there.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 23/02/2019 23:07

I don't know how under one of the many human rights act. 'I have the right to a life and private life' they're even allowed.

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