To be annoyed about her collecting the stones?

[forestblade]

I thought there was an unwritten rule that if you found a stone someone had painted you would pick it up and hide it somewhere else for someone else to find on their walk etc.

My SM now has a collection of painted stones she's found and leaves on her doorstep. I was round the other day and noticed the collection had grown somewhat and was quite surprised and then annoyed. She doesn't paint stones and leave them for others herself, just collects everyone elses!

AIBU??

Maybe they don't know the unwritten rule

She’s misunderstood the game.

I have never seen a painted stone!

The Facebook group I follow says keep or rehide. Does she log her finds on the page info painted on stone? AS I think this is the bit most appreciated by the painter.

I've never heard of this unwritten rule/game. Has she? Did you explain to her before you got "annoyed"?

Maybe she doesn't know there's an unwritten rule, because it's unwritten. Maybe she just likes them.

It's not really something I could get bothered about, they're stones

Because there all at OPs SM house.

I explained to her when I first noticed them as I was aghast that she kept the first 2 or 3. She just shrugged and said she liked them.

The rule is usually keep or rehide.

We have kept a pretty one from Wales, but I think to keep too many is excessive. Perhaps you could explain that it’s not very polite.

Here's what the group says..... (attached)

She doesn't follow any groups on FB. Just pockets them and then displays them on her front step.

Most of them that I have seen say 'keep or rehide'. I think it's fine, and she's putting them on display.

I couldnt get worked up over "stones" painted or not !

People don't make up a rule and expect the whole world to find out about and follow whatever rule they invented. I'm sure the painters understand that some finders may just assume the pretty stone is for whoever picks it up, and therefore put these things out into the world without expectation as to what will happen to it.

What's an SM?

I've never heard of this unwritten rule nor a facebook group. Surely if it's a stone it's just a piece of nature and not subject to any "rules"?

Never heard of this or even seen painted stones randomly left around

It's pretty big down here in Torbay.

but most people don't take them all home and keep them !

so she needs to be painting lots of her own and replacing those she has taken with the ones she paints.

"Annoyed" & "aghast" are strong reactions to some painted stones on a step.

Do you dislike her more generally?

Then how is she meant to know you’re not supposed to keep them? You can’t expect people to know the rules of some game they don’t even know exists. Most people who stumble across a painted stone are not going to have the faintest idea why it’s there. I wouldn’t have a clue! I’d probably just think it was a shame someone had painted it, because I generally think things like stones pine cones, leaves etc are nicer and more interesting in their natural state.

I'm quite surprised how many of you are unaware this is a thing.

My kids were really excited whenever they found one and loved hiding it again for others to find, like paying it forward.

Maybe there are lots of unwritten rules as I didn't know about the "keep or rehide" one.

And here's me thinking my SM was living up to the wicked stereotype.

quick search on Facebook gives:

Groups

Hand painted stones
Public · 579 members
Join

I Found A Painted Stone
Public · 89 members · 7 posts a year
Join

Painted Stones
Private · 430 members
This is a history of all the stones I have painted. I do paint a lot of duplicates since I put these all over my local neighborhoods, parks and shopping centers.

Facebook Devon rocks and stones:
About
This group has been set up for the people of Devon to have great fun with or without the kids, fun activity, decorating, hiding and hunting rocks, to let you bring out your artistic side as well as getting out in the fresh air, so go ahead decorate some rocks or stones with what ever design you want, also write on the back (post a picture on devon rocks and stones) then hide them somewhere for people to find, also post a picture of the rocks your hiding and the area you are hiding them, so people know where to look i.e. Paignton, feel free to add as many people as you like, the more people that join in the more fun it will be, also if you find some rocks post a picture on here so we can see who's rocks have been found, happy decorating ,happy hiding and happy hunting
make sure you don't take any pebbles off a beach that don't allow it, I don't want anyone to get into trouble.
personally I want people to take one of my rocks, if you don't want people to take them or you want them to be re hidden please write it on the back of the stone, I just think it's nice for people to keep one and leave or hide the rest or maybe you could take some that you have decorated out with you and replace them with yours, it’s nice to keep them rotating so people are not always finding the same ones thank you 😊
it’s best not to hide your rocks in the living coast and occombe farm, they have asked us not to, we have to respect their decision, there is still lots of places to hide them, please don’t leave rocks on any grass areas think about the danger to mowing equipment and those who operate it 😊
You can use anything to decorate them but most people recommend acrylic paint from hobby craft and yacht varnish from Poundland, sharpies are good and others have used clear nail varnish to, posca pens are highly recommended, if you think you can not draw or paint why not try decoupage its very effective.
If anyone wants to know where to get pebbles from, the range, B&Q, Trago, fermoys and otters nursery are recommended
We love seeing all the pictures but advise parents not to post pictures of the children in their school uniforms x
We also have a dog,cat and horse members albums so if your pet helps you find the rocks, take a picture of them with the rock and either post it in the dog album or post on the page with their name and I will put it in the album x

Me either!

All seems childish

Our local rock group subscribes to the 'keep or rehide' philosophy. My son hates rehiding them so we keep what we find but then paint our own to hide. That way we feel like there are still the same amount around to find. I have a really nice collection of rocks from a few places in the UK and USA