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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To take a picture of a young sh*t throwing a snowball at my car ...

55 replies

Bumblelion · 03/02/2009 15:33

To get things straight first, yesterday, I went to the park with my children and their friends (ranging from 16 to 7) and had a great time sledging down the hill on a sledge and rubble bags (they are fantastic, especially if coated with cooking oil - super speedy).

One thing I do not like is young children (well, boys of about 13-16) throwing snow balls at my car. We all know that tightly compacted snowballs can feel like hard ice and can hurt as much.

Today when driving some young lads threw a snowball at my car. Luckily my window was shut (about two years ago I had my window open and the snowball came in and it bloody hurt when it hit the side of my face). I drove round the green where the boys were (not on purpose, I had to drive that way to get back on my normal road), I then pulled over, put on my hazard lights, got out of my car and started taking photos (zoomed in) on my camera. I felt a bit like a teenager taking those horrible pictures when something bad happens (a child gets beaten up by another child, say) but I wanted to 'scare' these kids (and, yes, they were kids - although my younger two are younger than they were).

I hope I scared them (not because I am bully) because they turned their backs and then started running across the other side of the green.

I feel a bit of a bully but they need to realise that snow balls can cause serious damage.

It put a bit of a downer on yesterday when we were at the park and, yes, sometimes it got a bit lairy with everyone going down the hill at the same time from opposite sides but everyone was in good spirits and were all friendly to each other.

OP posts:

StayFrosty · 03/02/2009 15:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cheerycherry · 03/02/2009 15:37

YANBU, good idea, bet I wouldn't have thought of doing it, but if it made them think it can only be a good thing. Made you feel better too I guess? Presume you will delete the photos?

puddinghead · 03/02/2009 15:38

A bit excessive maybe - is a snowball thrown at your car such a big deal?

HecateQueenOfGhosts · 03/02/2009 15:39

Not unreasonable but you would be the one in trouble for taking their photos, if the police came. They'd not be interested in what they did, just in prosecuting you for taking pics of them.

I'd bet my last rolo on it. [cynical]

wingandprayer · 03/02/2009 15:40

kids chucking snowballs at cars happens all the time round here as we're on a school route. It is so dangerous - they jump out from behind trees and give drivers a real shock. Funniest thing I saw was a couple of years back when they picked on the wrong bloke and he did what you did only with a bit more swearing involved.

I'm sure someone will be along in a minute to say how you scared these "poor" kids and what you did was wrong but I think if they were so convinced what they were doing was right they wouldn't have legged it. It is stupid and dangerous to throw snowballs at cars and may injure someone or cause an accident. Hopefully in future the kids you saw will think twice.

Original poster

Bumblelion · 03/02/2009 15:41

puddinhead - obviously you have not had a snow ball (ice ball?) thrown at you or your car, otherwise you would not be asking this question.

I am not going to forward the pictures to anyone but I will use them as a 'tool' against my 16 year old daughter (and her friends) that it is not a good idea to throw snow balls - we have all heard of road rage, well, earlier today, I felt 'snow ball' rage.

Snow balls (ice balls) thrown at a car (especially if a window is even slightly open) can hurt a lot.

OP posts:

Tamarto · 03/02/2009 15:42

Puddinghead - Yes it is. When i was at school i traveled by bus, a boy threw a snowball at the bus, unknown to him there was a stone included in the snow. It smashed the windscreen of the bus and the driver had to be rushed to hospital with a bit of glass in his eye.

So no OP you are NBU!

Original poster

Bumblelion · 03/02/2009 15:45

The reason I did this was because they were teenagers (and, yes, I was one a long time ago) and yes, I have one now (and one turning a teenage in a week's time) but they need to understand the consequences of their actions. A snow ball fight is fun, throwing snow (ice) balls at a car is not good fun. It can hurt. I know, because I have been there.

I had my 7 year old in the car and she will not grow up thinking it is funny/lairy/hard, etc. to throw a snow ball at a car window.

OP posts:

DumbledoresGirl · 03/02/2009 15:47

Is it a criminal offence to take photos of people?

I think throwing snowballs at cars is a big deal, though not necessarily one that thoughtless teenagers would appreciate. It is a hazard to the one driving the car, and could be a hazard to other road users too, if the driver of the car is distracted and/or lost control of the car.

YANBU.

Original poster

Bumblelion · 03/02/2009 15:47

At the park yesterday, we had snow ball fights (fresly fallen snow, very soft) and everyone enjoyed themselves. There was no aggression involved.

These boys today were being aggressive towards me, my car (and my child in the car) and it was an 'ice' ball because the snow had started defrosting and then turned to ice over night.

It can be very dangerous. They think they were having a 'laugh' but it is not a laugh to get in the side of the face (as I was a couple of years) through my slightly opened window. I got hit in the cheek and it bloody hurt.

Not funny at all.

OP posts:

HecateQueenOfGhosts · 03/02/2009 15:48

I bet it is to take pics of minors.

Esp if the police can fine you for it.

[VERY cynical]

puddinghead · 03/02/2009 15:48

You're right, I haven't (not since I was a kid). So maybe I am not being sufficiently sympathetic.

Can understand that it upset you - however still think better to ignore. You could have ended up getting more thrown at you? or worse?

hercules1 · 03/02/2009 15:48

bloody dangerous to do this - amazed anyone would think differently. Sadly you're probably wrong to take photographs but at least it worked!

southeastastra · 03/02/2009 15:50

i got some snowballs lobbed at me (wish it had been my car). wish i'd been quick thinking and taken a photo.

christywhisty · 03/02/2009 15:52

There was a crowd of kids yesterday hanging round the entrance of the park. Should have been inside having fun having a snowball fight amongst themselves, building snowmen etc, but a small minority of them thought it was funny to attack passers by including old people who may have been unsteady on their feet etc and also were throwing snowballs straight into the windscreens of cars.Its dangerous YANBU

Original poster

Bumblelion · 03/02/2009 15:56

I will not use the photos (not that good graphics anyway) but obviously they knew wrong because they turned their backs and run away.

I felt it was better for me to take photographs (to let them know they did wrong) than it would have been for me to get out of my car (leaving my younger one in the car), strolled over to them and given them a 'telling off' or using physical violence. Hopefully the next 10/20/100 cars that drive down that road will not be snow-balled.

OP posts:

paolosgirl · 03/02/2009 15:58

I had snowballs thrown at my car once by a group of lads when my kids were much younger - it was pretty scary, but I absolutely lost it and got out and chased them (and caught them). Gave them an absolute bollocking and told them how dangerous it was, that the snow could have stones in it and that the kids were only little and got a big fright. They did end up apologising - I don't think kids always realise how stupide or dangerous they can be.

So - in answer to your OP, YANBU at all.

Original poster

Bumblelion · 03/02/2009 15:58

Snow ball fights/snowman building, etc. is all good fun. Intentionally wishing to hurt someone (ice balls at cars, snowballs at elderly people) is not fun.

OP posts:

paolosgirl · 03/02/2009 15:59

Should have added I did not leave the car or the children in a dangerous position, before anyone thinks to lecture!

psychomum5 · 03/02/2009 16:04

YES you are being unreasonable.

they are teens, and yes they have no idea what it is like behind the wheel having snowballs thrown, but what is taking their pics gonna do??

I really don;t think they will care, nor that it will stop them. In fact, being teens, they will probably get the next car worse, as some type of teen-sense-of-revenge!

BCNS · 03/02/2009 16:12

annoying tho it is for you op.. I agree with pshcho on this one.. plus if the teens complain about you taking their photo.. you might jolly well have issues yourself.. as you neither have their or their parents permission to do so.

If you were that worried you could have called you local police station and see if the couls send some beat bobbies or CO,s in that direction..

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 03/02/2009 16:16

I don't think the police would mind about you taking photos at all. Infact I woudl hope they would want to see the photos to see if they could ID the boys and have a quiet word with them about how dageros it is.

I know someone who had a snowball thrown at hher car unexpectedly one night (very dark road) and she crashed into a wall as it made her jumps so much and was badly hurt.

Katiestar · 03/02/2009 16:17

It is not illegal to take pictures of minors ...only to publish them without their parents consent
Lots of kidsand /teenagers yesteday were playing on the village green and every time a snow plough/gritter came past ,everybody pelted it with snowballs.
The drivers were taking it in good part and egging the kids on .I really don't think in the grand scheme of things snowballing a car is a big deal.

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 03/02/2009 16:17

You do not need permission of people to take their photo in a public place - and certainly not when they're partaking in antisocial behaviour like this.

mysterymoniker · 03/02/2009 16:22

I think you do if it's not somewhere you'd expect to have your privacy invaded?

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