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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think that someone else should have intervened too?

14 replies

guiltymcdonaldsuser · 09/11/2008 17:48

Took my dc for tea in McDonalds today .

Heard loud shouting and looked up in time to see a large man grab hold of a young boy (probably around 9 or 10, pick him up by the front of his clothes, throw him back down in his seat and then throw the childs food over him . I think instinct took over because I shouted "Hey, what are you doing and ran over to try to get between the man and the child. The man shouted that the child had thrown something at his daughter and hurt her - she was small about 4, she wasnt crying or anything. Now this may have been true but is there any excuse or reason to physically attack a small boy when you are a massive man over it? I told him he couldn't do that, that the child was just a little boy and he had assaulted him. If the police were called then he would be arrested. He started yelling at me and told me he would call the police himself. He didnt. The kids left and the man sat glaring at me and my dc until he and his daughter finished and left.

I am glad I got involved but aibu to think that seeing as the place was absolutely full to the seams with loads of staff knocking about and it all went deadly quiet when the incident took place, that perhaps, someone else, perhaps a member of staff or some of the "men" eating there should have intervened or helped me out? I suppose these kids maybe were being obnoxious as kids can be, personally I didn't see anything but what he did was awful.

Please no posts telling me this is what I get for eating in McDonalds, I already know that .

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LynetteScavo · 09/11/2008 17:51

I suspect nobody else saw exactly what had happened - & weren't sure whether the man was the boys father - not that it makes it acceptable.

I saw a TV program that showed the more people that are around, the less likely someone is to step into intervene in such a situation.

wehaveallbeenthere · 09/11/2008 17:54

No good deed goes unpunished.

HRHSaintMamazon · 09/11/2008 17:58

was the boy alone?
It's quite possible my Ds would throw a chip or something a he has Sn. he is 8 but looks a little older.
if someone had grabbed him like thati would have knocked them sparko.

YNBu to expect taht someone else would have intervened. the manager should have thrown him out for starters. he certainly shouldn't have been allowed to finish his meal.

I hope the boys parents ask Macdonalds for the CCtv and go to the police about it.

lazyhen · 09/11/2008 18:00

There have been a number of threads about this kind of thing recently. I just think people are too nervous of getting involved in something that could potentially endager themselves. If that guy is violent to a young boy - who knows what he might do to an adult.

Well done for stepping in, at least your concience is clear.

guiltymcdonaldsuser · 09/11/2008 18:01

He was with some friends. They were all the same age, around 9 or 10. Certainly no older. It was awful. I kept thinking that could be my ds in a couple of years messing about with his mates like kids do and being attacked by some massive man.

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AstroPup · 09/11/2008 18:04

That poor boy
Well done you, but seriously...you've namechanged becuase you went to Mcdonalds??

PeaMcLean · 09/11/2008 18:04

Maybe they were thinking you looked like you were handling it? sounds like you did a fab job. Maybe if it had got out of hand, people would have stepped into defend you?

LynetteScavo · 09/11/2008 18:05

Mamazon - NT boys will happily go chucking chips (and worse) around McDonals if they are left alone for 5 mins.

Maybe he was making his happy meal toy fly?

AstroPup · 09/11/2008 18:06

Dont let the fascits beat you down sister
(I'm talking about the food fascists btw, not big scary mean who pick on children)

guiltymcdonaldsuser · 09/11/2008 18:07

No in case a Mumsnetter was in McDonalds, doubtful I know, but I wanted want them to see me and put a face to any embarassing threads I may have posted on here and there have been a few .

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guiltymcdonaldsuser · 09/11/2008 18:08

didnt want them to see me that should be.

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AstroPup · 09/11/2008 18:08

Oh I see!
Also would second what someone else said - hopefully no one else stod up because you were dealing with it? Hopefully thats the case.

catweazle · 09/11/2008 18:16

If you turn this situation around, there have been loads of threads about yobbish louty kids who think they can do what they like.

How do you know that this kid and his mates hadn't been a total PITA and their behaviour had culminated in some really dangerous actions towards a very small child? It may be that what a lot of kids need is someone to come along and stop their bad behaviour before they get old enough to be carrying knives?

Just a thought

(BTW my DSs work in McDs and would have been there like a shot if it happened on their shift...)

guiltymcdonaldsuser · 09/11/2008 18:23

You have a point catweazle. But physical violence from adults to 10 year olds not really the way to put a stop to future bad behaviour imo. More likely to encourage it I would have thought.

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