To want to go and give this absolute idiot a piece of my mind?

[WobblyWoman]

DH (keyworker) often takes the DC out for walks in the dark after work. DC prefer going with him than me as he plays games with them as they’re walking like hide and seek, skipping/jumping around, chasing, making animal noises etc, and they like going out in the dark just as background.

Anyway tonight they were walking down the main road and turned into a side road to cut back across to our house. Teen DS was walking ahead and didn’t notice they were going into the side road so carried on walking. DH bird called to him to get his attention and he walked back so DH and little DS decided to hide behind some bushes at the bottom of a small cul de sac round the corner so they could jump out at him. They were on the opposite side of some houses in the cul de sac and nowhere near gardens etc. Anyway within seconds a man threw open his front door of the house in front of them and shouted at DH and DS to ‘get out of it’ and get off his property or he’d set his dog on them! Cue massive ugly staffie like thing coming out of the front door towards them. DH explained what he was doing and said they weren’t on his property but the man kept on. DS was very scared and shaken by this point and worried about the dog so DH decided to just let it go as DC were there and came home with a very upset DS.

I’m absolutely furious that this man thought he could behave this way and want to knock on his door tomorrow and give him a piece of my mind about him threatening people with his dog. It’s only the next street up. There’s are lots of these little cul de sacs in our area, we live in one ourselves, and they are not the homeowner’s private property to dictate who stands near them!

AIBU?

The risk to your children of agitating an already hyper vigilant neighbour and setting up your kids as potential targets outweighs your self righteous need to “always be right”.
Start connecting with your neighbours in positive ways such as neighbourhood watch or community groups so you can get more of a feel for what is acceptable or appropriate behaviour when something like this happens

OP didn't bother to mention what time it was for some reason.

I think it was a good lesson for the 3 of them that they aren't so precious and special that they can wander around at night making noises disturbing people's peaceful evening and hiding in someone's bushes scaring the shite out ot them.

Maybe they aren't used to being told off and they needed knocked down a peg.
Just because you're the most important keyworker in the universe and possibly have some money doesn't mean others have to kiss your ting and put up with your shite.

A bloke creepy around my place at night would result in me shining a torch on him and yelling or possibly calling the police. I'm sure the 'mucking about' argument has been used by many wannabe burglars...

I think she's heard all of that loud and clear.

Unless I've missed it, there's no indication in any of the OPs posts that she's taken on board anything that suggests she might be BU

@ineedsun I'm just projecting my thoughts in general. This wasn't the correct post to say it.

The guy sounds a bit of a prick but i think YABU. Mucking about in the dark will definitely get you unwanted attention. People will wonder whats happening and take steps to protect their property if they feel under threat.

I think you should leave it. The man shouldn't have made threats with his dog but not should your husband have been dicking around in the dark.
You dont know what's going on with him, maybe hes been burgled or attacked in the past. It doesn't excuse his behaviour of course but just leave it be. Also no need to apologise to him given that he was also in the wrong.

Honestly, if your DH feels he was unfairly treated it's down to him to address the man. If your DH is a keyworker it's not a clever idea to get into an altercation with a stranger at the moment.

Maybe advise your family not to go about hiding in the bushes in the dark OP. Especially at times when people in general are kind of jumpy given the climate etc. I can't believe you encourage this kind of nonsense to be honest.

Your husband scared an old man (by accident) don’t go round and then shout at him, just move on.

@ANoiseAnnoys the OP wants to go and give the man a piece of her mind and a note calling him a cunt. That is the unreasonable pasty as it was a misunderstanding that was resolved in the moment and doesn’t need dragged out. The OP should just leave it and remind her DH that lurking in
Bushes seems suspicious. A friend of mine was chased home by a bloke lurking in bushes and jumping out and chasing lone females.

Keyworkers have every right to hide in people’s bushes at night - they are heroes!

But I wouldn’t post a cunty note through the man’s door. What if he opens it and surprises you with his massive stiffy?

No don’t send hate mail you lunatic!!

If he was happy to threaten your DH with a dog he’s going to be happy to threaten you too!

Don’t know why you would go round there.

I'd have called the police as I don't have a dog.

Next time tell him to take his key worker status medal out with him if he needs to prove why he is entitled to behave like an asshat out of work

So thoughtless of your DH to make noises and be weird when everyone knows that a pandemic is going on and stress levels are high. Leave the poor bloke alone now, YABVU to suggest contacting him and causing him any further stress.

What if he opens it and surprises you with his massive stiffy?

😂

YANBU that Staffies are ugly and drooling dogs are disgusting but on every other point, YABVVU.

My dog drools everywhere. God he’s so ugly isn’t he

I'd be out with my dogs if some weirdo was lurking in bushes near my house making strange noises.

My husband is also a VERY important key worker, we manage to stay home of an evening and not bother people by bird whistling, suppressing giggles whilst waiting to jump out at people and generally just not behaving like an eejit......

What exactly would the "report to the police" consist of?
I was hiding in the bushes making bird sounds, Officer, and the householder said he'd set his dog on me if I didn't get lost
They'd be really interested in your dh's explanation of why he chose to do that, given pp examples of what it usually signifies.
The one hauled in for questioning may not be the one op is hoping for.
If you add poison pen letters calling him a cunt into the mix... 🤦‍♀️

How about this Thursday at 8pm we all hide in bushes while making bird noises to show our appreciation for the NHS?

@NoveltyFunsies what a beauty!