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AIBU?

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Original poster

Child squirting water at stranger

115 replies

LudoBear · 05/04/2021 18:49

Group of children aged around 6 to 10 playing with water pistols. Somebody walks past and one squirts water 3 or 4 times at the person. Person is not known to the child.

As the parent of the child, how would you react?

As the person who has been squirted, how would you react?

OP posts:
daisypond · 05/04/2021 21:14

@Dinnie

As the parent I'd most likely apologise whilst laughing a little and telling my child not to do that again and prompt them to also apologise. If the "Victim" got silly about it I'd tell the to fuck off.

As the "Victim" I'd most likely laugh about it and say not to worry.

It's only a little water kids are kids, there is no malice in it. Mist of us have done something similar

You’re an idiot then. Most of us haven’t done things like that.
LAgeDeRaisin · 05/04/2021 21:17

They all sound like utter pricks, OP.

Anyone else casting back to the birthday party supersoaker thread? I wonder if this family is any relation...

AnneElliott · 05/04/2021 21:22

I'd be getting my own back tomorrow night with a massive super soaker - and I'd ensure the parents copped it as well!

Laughing indeed!

5128gap · 05/04/2021 21:24

I would think the parents were doing a very poor job of teaching their children an important lesson, that people should be allowed to go about their business without the unwanted interference of others, whatever form that takes.
Doing anything to a stranger without their permission is not ok, and it's never to early to learn this.

Joeblack066 · 05/04/2021 21:24

@TeenMinusTests

As the parent I'd apologise profusely and get the child to apologise too.

At the person who was squirted I'd be cross if there was no apparent remorse/apology but gracious if there was.

This ^
eatsleepread · 05/04/2021 21:25

Wee shite. I'd want to ram the thing up the laughing parent's arse.

ThanksWine

Ninkanink · 05/04/2021 21:26

As the parent/responsible adult I would tell my child in no uncertain terms that they should NOT squirt water on someone they don’t know who isn’t a willing participant in the game. How rude and obnoxious.

As the squirtee I’d have been extremely irritated at a child not listening and I’d be extremely unimpressed with any adult who didn’t back me up.

Ninkanink · 05/04/2021 21:27

Oh yes absolutely, I’d make my child apologise.

AWamBamBoom · 05/04/2021 21:30

@Dinnie

As the parent I'd most likely apologise whilst laughing a little and telling my child not to do that again and prompt them to also apologise. If the "Victim" got silly about it I'd tell the to fuck off.

As the "Victim" I'd most likely laugh about it and say not to worry.

It's only a little water kids are kids, there is no malice in it. Mist of us have done something similar

Are you being serious? 'If the victim got silly about it' ??? Please tell me you don't have children
Bitofanexpert · 05/04/2021 22:42

Poor you. This is why we have so many little shits around today. I agree with a previous poster, it’d be in the bin and they’d be in bed!!

MimiPigeon · 05/04/2021 22:46

As the parent I’d be furious. Child would be told “how dare you do that!” and pistol removed, then child would be made to apologise. If no apology was forthcoming then there would be further punishment at home and the pistol would not be returned. OP you’ve obviously encountered some scummy people with no manners, you can see where the kids get their poor behaviour from.

MimiPigeon · 05/04/2021 22:48

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Carbara · 05/04/2021 22:51

Trash breeding a new generation of trash. Tedious.

Dinnie · 06/04/2021 08:09

And you sound snooty

Dinnie · 06/04/2021 08:14

I do have children if they do something wrong they are guided correctly not shouted at and not scolded or shamed. They apologise learn and move on.

If I've apologised and dealt with it and they've apologised and they'll not do it again there's nothing more can be done or achieved out of going on and on at the child. If the stranger weren't satisfied with that and wanted to rant on then yes I'd tell them to fuck off

Dinnie · 06/04/2021 08:16

And just to add I do believe most of us have done knock down ginger or thrown something where we shouldn't or done childish things like that as children.

BeagleEagle · 06/04/2021 08:21

My neighbours kid (6?) once had a snow ball in his hand and was aiming it at me, I was doing the playful "please no!" Thing while looking at his dad. Dad said "don't throw that at the lady", he did it anyway and it went into my handbag. He said "I told you not to do that, apologise to the lady" he did not apologise to me. The dad let it go and we parted ways. I always hated that family.

gannett · 06/04/2021 08:22

If I was squirted I'd be startled and a bit annoyed but properly apologetic parents who were taking some sort of action (ie taking the water gun away from their child) would pacify me quickly and I'd probably see the funny side.

No apology, or worse the scenario for the poor OP where the adults join in laughing, I'd be absolutely seething.

A group of boys at my primary school used to do this. To any other kid they wanted to bully and any adult they thought they could get away with it. Never did it to grown men or the bigger, tougher kids, oddly. I don't really see it as innocent playful behaviour if the kids are school age.

daisypond · 06/04/2021 08:22

If the stranger weren't satisfied with that and wanted to rant on then yes I'd tell them to fuck off

Wow, that is obscene. You’d tell a person, a stranger to fuck off? What is wrong with you? How can you possibly think that is acceptable to say to anyone ever?

Sparklingbrook · 06/04/2021 08:24

I've read the thread. I still don't understand how the vote works but @LudoBear hasn't been back to explain.

If it was my child doing the squirting I would have apologised profusely and reprimanded them after the 'squirtee' had gone.

If I was the 'squirtee' i would probably show faux shock/offence, laugh, think 'it's only a bit of water' and get on with my day.

Dinnie · 06/04/2021 08:24

I don't agree with how the parents behaved towards the OP though and I also don't agree with hitting the child and grabbing the gun and being furious with them either

Mummadeze · 06/04/2021 08:26

I would have found it funny and laughed.

Rewis · 06/04/2021 08:28

As a parent I would be incredibly apologetic, tell off the kids and stop the water games for the day.

As the squirtee it would 100% depend on my mood. Happily walking home from a nice run. Would just ignore and keep going. If I knew the kids might chuckle. If I was leaving the house, going to work, feeling grumpy. I would give them a side eye and mutter under my breath loudly enough what fucking little cunty shits they are.

They did it on purpose and the parents are terrible for encouraging this. This falls into the category that it isn't a big deal on the surface but the the 'victim' it can really ruin the day if it happens at the wrong moment

Dinnie · 06/04/2021 08:30

@daisypond Any stranger who thought it acceptable to shout at my children or tell my children off on my behalf when I was stood there dealing with them would be told to fuck off.

I have a child who experiences difficulty in out door situations and a husband who requires first aid from time to time and I have told many a stranger to fuck off

Sparklingbrook · 06/04/2021 08:31

I read about some children about the same age throwing bricks from the bridge above a bypass and them landing on driver's windscreens. In the big scheme of things etc...

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