Destroying a sandcastle

[Courtandspark66]

I don't know if I am being unreasonable or irrational or both.

We found a lovely quiet beach and my husband and son built this incredibly elaborate sandcastle. Then, when they finished, they went for a walk.

A young woman and her friend then came along the beach in a dune buggy and to my horror they ploughed right through it. Wheel tracks all across the middle. I actually got the impression that they did it completely on purpose because they changed course as they approached where at first they looked like they'd pass some way away from it.

I realize that the beach is for everyone and there is nothing around that says you can't drive buggys on it. But actually I felt really cross and aggrieved and had to vent somewhere about it. Why would someone just destroy something like that? My son in particular was really disappointed.

Do I just need to get a life?

i’d be raging too.

it’s just the basic meanness of humanity

What a nasty thing to do.

They were a bit mean, but perhaps thought the people who had made it had left. I wouldn’t destroy a sandcastle even on an empty beach, because someone had fun making it, but some people just don’t think like that, unfortunately.

I’d be raging too - some people are just horrid!

That's so unnecessary and mean. Some people are just vandals.

Part of the joy is that the sea will slowly reclaim it.

That was really mean of them. I can only think they didn't realise you were still there.

They were a bit mean, but perhaps thought the people who had made it had left. I wouldn’t destroy a sandcastle even on an empty beach, because someone had fun making it, but some people just don’t think like that, unfortunately.

I wondered the same thing. But I still found it pretty galling. And in fact I was there and of course had to watch it get flattened by their wheels.

Even if I had been abandoned it would have been nice to be left intact for others to enjoy. Bit of a nasty thing to do imo

Not just you OP it would really annoy me too. I'd be internally seething 🤣

It’s nasty, but people definitely will do this if sandcastles etc are left unattended. I’ve found if you leave them alone someone will see it as a fun challenge, or even just kids will think “hey that looks fun to jump off”. In no way always malicious- depends on age of the “destroyer 😀” - but it’s best to hover right by it / surround it with beach towels and spades in a “we are still here” type way. And expect it to be gone in the morning- they are ephemeral things, but it’s easiest if you don’t have to see them being trashed!

I’ve cheerily but firmly scooted over to castles my kids have been building (eg when they stopped for biscuits) if others start showing an interest, and bravely engage my cheeriest firm mum approach “oh hello, sorry, my kids are still building this one, maybe try over there?” <big smile>

It’s nasty, but people definitely will do this if sandcastles etc are left unattended. I’ve found if you leave them alone someone will see it as a fun challenge, or even just kids will think “hey that looks fun to jump off”. In no way always malicious- depends on age of the “destroyer 😀” - but it’s best to hover right by it / surround it with beach towels and spades in a “we are still here” type way. And expect it to be gone in the morning- they are ephemeral things, but it’s easiest if you don’t have to see them being trashed!

Sure. And yes it was always going to come to grief in the end and I did feel stupid retrospectively that we didn't somehow protect it. It was some way away from where our other stuff was. But I did think it was rather splendid and no way did I anticipate that a full grown adult woman would wantonly drive over it purely for a second's entertainment.

I think that's a part of what makes me so cross. I feel a bit stupid that I thought it was completely safe when in the end it was just moulded sand on a beach that was clearly a temptation rather than a barrier!

I hope I’m never on a beach with you! Power mum!!
I don’t think driving over the sandcastle was a nice thing to do, but this approach is next level!

I’m with you op.
unnecessary destruction of something you’ve spent time on.

we are elaborate sand castle makers as well, we normally end up with a team of tiny builders joining in.

What next? Crying over the snowman melting?

I know. But I can forgive the sun no problem. Or the sea. Or even kids.

If their stuff was still there and it was clear that they had just wandered off briefly, then YANBU

If they left the area and the castle appeared to be abandoned, then YABU. I think lots of people enjoy jumping on sandcastles. Not malicious, just for fun

They'd walked away, it's not like they were sat next to it with spades in hand. It's sand!

Jesus I thought you were going to say some toe ragged 10 year old kicked it not an actual fully grown woman deliberately driving through it. Very bizzare behaviour.

Two rules in life.

1.if a toddler gives you a toy phone you answer it.

2.you never ruin someone else's sandcastle

Dune buggy drivers like to do that sort of thing, driving a dune buggy requires someone to have a slightly destructive nature. The very essence of the dune buggy is a contempt for nature, not for reason of utility - like the contempt for nature a Land Rover Defender has - but for contempt for the sake of contempt.

In Cyprus years ago I remember people were doing donuts in a field in a dune buggy. Letting off steam on holiday no doubt, but also destroying a farmer's crops in the process.

If you're still there then, absolutely no way.

But if the person is gone and the sand castle is abandoned I see no issue with jumping on it. You do have to double and triple check they've gone though.

The freshly dug sand feels lovely on the toes.

My two girls like to build a huge sandcastle then jump on it themselves. I find it a bit annoying when other people's kids come up just for the jumping part.

YANBU. Blame the parents. I’ve noticed on my local beach that many people, particularly dads, build big sandcastles then immediately jump on them/kick them over/smash them to pieces. That seems to be the ‘game’.

Two boys came over when my DS was building an elaborate one with multiple towers and roads, and wanted to ‘help’, but it transpired all they were waiting for was when it was finished - so they could smash it up 😳

If you were near enough the sandcastle that she should have known it was yours, she was wrong. If it looked like an abandoned sandcastle, she was just doing what (some) people do to abandoned sandcastles.

But yes, it does seem rather immature to drive over a sandcastle. Some people never grow out of that "someone built this, so I must knock it down" phase.