AIBU to tell a parent not to let their child torment pigeons?

[aliceyyyy2654]

I was walking in my town today and saw a young child around 6/7 chasing pigeons. This isn’t an unusual occurrence and I know children often do this, it’s natural for them.
this child was trying to kick the pigeons and shouting ‘die’ at them.
the mum/grandma (unsure due to slightly older age) just sat doing nothing. I went to the lady ‘excuse me, please could you not let your child torture animals, it’s disgusting’.
I didn’t speak to the child because ultimately it’s not her fault it’s the adults.

a man (not sure if known to them) said ‘shut up bitch’ to me, which I probably stupidly replied ‘fuck off’ and walked away.

AIBU to have spoken to the woman?
I accept unreasonable to swear but I wasn’t expecting him to come at me from behind like that.

You weren't unreasonable to speak to the parent (or grandparent) but there was no need to be confrontational. That generally achieves nothing and just makes people react defensively, as they did. And then by swearing at them you probably made them feel justified in ignoring the message you wanted to send.

You think raising children to think scaring or hurting those smaller isn't a big deal, I think it is.

Honestly agree with you. The swearing was unnecessary and my phrasing was a result of emotion not rational thinking.

She will have heard it as a criticism of her parenting for sure.
Please can you not let your child …..being the critical words…

And they should be told that chasing pigeons is unacceptable.

Yes, they want to do it but that doesn't mean decent parents will stand by and allow it.

Kicking at. Trying to kick. . .. I don’t see what the distinction is. Kicking at pigeons is trying to kick pigeons
Really, you can't make the distinction? It needs to be spelled out? Kicking a pigeon? Likely to injure it. Trying to kick and failing to touch it? Pigeon doesn't care...hence will come right back!

The kids was not hurting them. Distressing them...again, pigeons are free to fly away. Annoying them...likely, but annoyance is a far cry from torture! Pigeons' lives are much more at risk from all the car fumes they absorb!

I'm sure OP felt great though acting all Holly than thou!

Disgusting is a very judgemental word. Upsetting or distressing would have got your point across in a way that invited the adult to do a kind thing, rather than criticising them, which invites defensiveness.

But honestly, I think mentioning it at all is a good thing, as it gets across that not everyone finds this normal or ok and other people do see them.

@Nofeckingway ""On a completely different strand of thought . Do pigeons really care about being chased ? Surely they could just fly off or move if they were frightened."

Of course they care about being chased and so does any other living creature. As for just moving if they were frightened - why should they experience fear just so that some kid can have five minutes unnecessary and senseless "fun". Animals aren't toys.

Very much so. Nobody wants to be told their child’s behaviour is disgusting. Or that their lack of action is. It doesn’t bring out the result wanted.

I hate seeing kids chasing birds. It says a lot about the parents allowing it when I see it, it’s one of my ‘barometers of parenting’. I remember my mum telling a little boy off for it when I was a kid!

Well done OP. We need more people like you 😍

I also find it odd an adult needs to be told that their child scaring away animals for fun isn’t really a wholesome activity. Really? How about teaching respect for the other creatures we share the planet with instead?

It’s depressing the kind of values (or lack of) people teach their kids. It’s not just about the pigeons; it’s about what you’re teaching them about interacting with creatures that are more vulnerable than them.

Unfortunately there’s some people on here who think that because a pigeon cannot speak English or doesn’t actually get kicked that it’s totally okay for a child to do it :/
i wonder if they’d say the same for a cat, dog or even another human who doesn’t speak English

Aim a leg at it fine but to actually do what did was awful.

I dont think that a kid chasing pigeons is wrong 🤷‍♀️. Its just what they do

Agree that saying 'i want to kill you' is a bit much, but is probably from playing angry birds 🙄

I just cant get worked up about a little kid chasing pigeons 😭

Well done OP. And thank you for speaking up for these beautiful, defenceless creatures. If more people did this then the world might just be a better place ❤️

Tbh I can't get stressed about children chasing pigeons, they fly off and come right back so I don't get the impression they care about it much. Of course the parents should stop them from doing it but you were wrong to interfere and describe it as "torture". Totally OTT.

I hate it too, and wouldn't have allowed my children to chase them. But given how pigeons play chicken with cars, I can't imagine they find a small child running at them too troubling.

YABU. I wouldn’t say die or encourage a child to do so but I chase pigeons away too. They don’t come to any harm. They just fly away. They are vermin and I don’t want them crapping on my garden or car.
Do you also tell dog and cat owners off who let their dogs and cats chase wildlife?
This is worse because sometimes the wildlife is caught.

A bit melodramatic, OP. Disgusting and torture? They are pigeons. They don't give a shit and they can fly.

If it bothers them, they vote with their wings. It doesn't. They moved briefly out of the way and go back again. Just like cyclists buzzing through and dicing with death in the road with vehicles. Pigeons don't care.

As for "trying to kick them" - again, who cares? She won't succeed because they can fly. She can run around like a loon and the birds will be perfectly safe because they'll fly off if they are disturbed.

Yes, shouting Die! is unpleasant. It's also fruitless.

Wholeheartedly agree with you. I love pigeons and make a point of telling feckless parents their little darlings chasing pigeons can give them heart attacks. Most look nonplussed. It’s disgusting that terrifying pigeons and similar wildlife is seemingly fine for most people.

No-one's asking you to.

If you don't think it's cruel to stand by and watch a child doing this, that's on you.

You could’ve left off the torture and disgusting part- that was bound to get her back up.

You catch more flies with honey.