AIBU to think this was rather cruel?

[Thunderduck]

This might not seem like much but I thought that it was a pretty mean thing to do to a child.

While walking along the canal the other day I saw a couple with a small boy who was about three.

They kept dragging him to the edge of the bank and saying we're going to throw you in, and then you'll drown.
The poor kid was terrified, he was screaming his head off and pleading inbetween screams. He most certainly was not having fun.

They did this repeatedly, at one point dangling him over the water, again repeating 'We're going to throw you in'

I had to say something to them. They just thought it was funny though the child was extremely distressed.

AIBU to fail to understand why anyone would find this amusing?

He was three at most.

Oh, that's terrible.

Sorry - you did say that in your OP. God - brain like porridge today.

Poeple often do this sort of thing don't they, on stairwells or rivers or whatever. There was a chap throwing a terrified older baby in the air really high at a theme aprk recently, I couldnt get to him to yell but he'd stopped by the time I got dh's attention close by- people were terrified he'd drop her, was throwing at elast 6 feet.

Always reminds me of of MJ and that windiow- I think peoplejust can't see the dangers sometimes

Scares the life outta me

That's horrible!

You did the right thing Thunderduck. I hate to see children being teased by adults in the name of a joke, but using their physical littleness to frighten them is particularly small-minded IMO.

OMG

why would anyone do that to a 3 year old?
what vile people