Boy Skateboarding on moving train

[ThoroughlyDisgusted]

I was on a train yesterday and something flashed past me as I read my book. It then flashed by again. It was a child of about 8 years old on a skateboard going up and down the carriage of the moving train. He did this a few times and people started to comment about why he was allowed to do this and why his parents didn't stop him. One woman put her bag down in his path and explained that it wasn't a good idea for him to be skateboarding on a moving train. He asked her if she was the boss of the train and she replied something to the effect that he was disturbing passengers and that it was a health and safety issue. He then told her to "Shut the Fuck up" and started to walk away. His mum then appeared and said his name and walked away with him. She didn't make him apologise to the woman and I am not sure what happened next. They possibly just went a few carriages up and continued with the skateboarding.

Aibu or should his mother have made him apologise to the woman for swearing at her?

It was actually really annoying. And a bit scary.

Of course it is the business of the people being disturbed by a foul mouthed little bastard engaging in a behaviour totally inappropriate for public transport.

😁

I totally get why the 8 year old thought it was a good idea.

As a bad tempered older person the second time he skated past me he'd have ended up headbutting the floor.

Text the BTP is what you should have done. The mother (and indeed father) should be held responsible for their son's behaviour.

Got you. DH is from South Lanarkshire!

And even if they were, it wouldn’t have been their job would it. My friend is a guard on a train and his way of dealing with it is just to outbrazen those behaving badly. He has a very loud voice with a strong Wigan accent and to date people just generally choose to pipe down rather than deal with him bellowing: “I am sure you weren’t ACTUALLY bought up in a barn…”

He’s under the age of criminal responsibility and also while his behaviour was vile is it illegal…..at the cusp of the police doing anything about it? Even adults who swear in front of an officer usually get warned by the police to stop before being arrested if they continue.

I agree his mother was never going to make him apologise, she would have been more likely to join in abusing the OP.

I wouldn’t be cross about the skateboarding. I don’t think it’s more dangerous on a train than on a pavement. If the train stops suddenly or crashes that’s different. But if he was standing up and if stopped suddenly or crashed he’d have the same problem.

swearing is not okay though. He sounds as if he has not been taught any manners.

And he was only about 8 years old. His language and attitude towards an adult woman was shocking.

The skateboarding is ridiculous, the bad language is shocking and the parent divorcing themselves any responsibility is indicative of one of society's ills🙄

His mother has raised him, so she’s not going to make him apologise, is she? She will be the same.

We learn from example

I heard one of the women in the carriage tell her friend that she comes up against this all the time as a teacher and that, in her experience, this year has been the worst for badly behaved children.

My then young son once wiped spit all over the big glass windows opposite the checkout at Waitrose. Bloody disgusting. He was about 8 and did it while I was distracted packing my shopping. I went to customer services and got him to ask for some cleaning materials to clean it up. Poor choice by me, as they said that due to health and safety that would not be possible and that they were duty bound to ask a

I wouldn't have been bothered by the child (probably would have been secretly quite impressed if he managed not to bump anyone), and I wouldn't have tried to stop him unless I thought he was about to injure himself. But I would have been shocked at the language and frankly the nerve of answering back to an adult. An 8yo! I have been known to let out an involuntary "Oi! Language!" to ill-spoken children, but I look "cool" and younger than my age so when they do stop I think it's more out of shock than remorse. Still works, though.

Lots of people on Facebook are saying the child was probably ND. Ds is ND and loves to follow rules. Perhaps they need a sign saying no skateboarding and then he wouldn't have! I would never have allowed my dc to do that as besides risking injury to themselves they also risk injuring an innocent passenger. ND or not they have to be brought up to live amongst others. As for swearing the mother should definitely have made him apologise. She was probably at the end of her tether!

@Ahardyfool that sounds like when my toddler ate pick n mix! & I went mad at him for steeling! Asked the security guard to tell him off … he told me not to worry about it … security guard got a lesson on parenting & eventually told toddler what he’d done was naughty and he wouldn’t call the police this time, but he must not do it again!
… toddler, now young adult mentions it every time we see pick & mix!
he either learnt his lesson or has ptsd! (Though it maybe the security guard with ptsd!)

Seen kids do this on the bus sometimes, one on a bike another on a scooter. So dangerous and irresponsible. Certainly wouldn't get sympathy from me if they hurt themselves!!!!!!

Sadly a case of passed down family entitlement and bad attitude.

Exhibit 1. Many parents are terrible parents.