T o let my son chase pigeons

[mrsruffallo]

DS loves chasing flocks of pigeons. Every time we go to the park he and his friends scream with delight as they fly away.
Woman in the park today got very angry and told me that 'pigeons have feelings too' and that IT WAS CRUEL.
Funnily enough there was something along similar lines on CBeebies the other day.
AIBU to think it's just a bit of fun?

corriefan exactly! Kids and dogs etc love to be chased they see it as a game. Who's to know whether the pigeons see it like this and actually take bets on who can stay on the ground longest as in 'who is the hardest pigeon'

@ corriefan

It makes me uncomfortable. TBH, my own DC's used to do this when they were toddlers, and I did used to tell them 'no'.

Well I disagree mrsruffallo I think it's wrong on many levels. Evidently you don't, or you wouldn't encourage him to do it, but you asked WYBU and my answer remains YABU.

I don't like pigeons but have never let my kids chase them and frown on those who do. I agree, it's about respecting animals.

I keep chickens, and yes, they flap away when they hear gunshot, or if they go on the road and a car comes along - these are survival instincts, just the same as pigeons use. I'm sure my children could have hours of fun chasing them all, but as their parent, I will not allow such disrespect to any animal.
Pigeons only inhabit cities so much, as it is easy pickings - if less people fed them (deliberately or otherwise) they would soon move away

My DD went up to a seagull at the seaside, it flapped away.

Was this cruel to the seagull?

Parks are full of small children, dogs, people running round with footballs/frisbees. I can't see that the deliberate actions of one small child are going to cause the pigeons any more "fear" than their normal background level.

That has no connection to anyone capturing and tormenting an animal.

YANBU. Birds are very wary and take to the air at the least hint of danger or even when they just get to the next place.They can easily go and land somewhere out of reach of yiour DC.

The only time it would be ok for someone to chase pigeons is if the pigeons suddenly turned and started chasing the children. Now that would be a bit of fun - and only fair.

I fucking hate birds, it is DS's job to chase the bloody things away from me when we are at the park.

The vile things can fly, they can just go somewhere else.

It might in someway help these pigeons evolve slightly. These urban pigeons really are a waste of space, and in Darwinian terms in line with dodo's. A bit of chasing might help them become less pointless and aware of their surroundings. Don't you think A LOT of them get run over?? Get my point?

YADNBU As far as i understand you op your ds just likes to run at them,you make no mention that he actually catches one & pulls his wings off & stamps on it so i personally dont see the harm in running at a flock of pigeons.

If they were that traumatised about being chased surely they would stay in the trees & not immeadiately land on the floor about 2 foot away from where they started?

YABU. I know little kids love to chase pigeons, but to me you are causing an animal unnecessary deliberate distress, and that's not the kind of behaviour I allow my sons.

Funny you should mention evolution SquirrelTrap. I once watched a pair of pigeons fly onto the train at Hammersmith, stick their nose out the door at Fulham Broadway (looking all the world like they were checking where they were) and then get off at Earl's Court.

I still hate them, but I have to admit I was impressed.

Sorry, by you , I meant one, not you mrsruffalo

I am sure it was by accident Morloth

They probably got mowed down by the Northern line a few hours later

omg Jamieandhismagictorch do you have any idea how ridiculously smug and hilariously sanctimonious you sound?

thanks for the best laugh i've had all day!

How was jamieandhismagictorch 'ridiculously smug and hilariously sanctimonious'?

Wouldn't that require the trains on the Northern Line to actually be moving?

Tolala

Oh, I specialise in smug and sanctimonious .....

OK I acknowledge how it sounded. I still don't like the idea of chasing pigeons (I don't even like them very much, with their missing feet and manky feathers)

Thankyou Morloth

Maybe the parks could become designated pigeon recreational areas & also we could ban all people from the above areas in case the poor pigeons are traumatised by someone walking, sneezing or farting too neat them.

Maybe we should lobby the Govt to open a Priory just for all the traumatised pigeons.

In fact i will email my local MP right now.

So if pigeons are fair game, are you going to let your kids chase dogs, cats, tigers, peacocks and any other living things you can think of?

If not, why not?

It is cruel. YABU.

I agree with jamieandhismagictorch, don't think there was anything smug or sanctimonious about the post.

YANBU - ds does this too.

LMFAO about respecting pigeons