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?

Right, I am orf.

This has been an interesting debate.

Too right Jamie.

I hope I don't bump into any of you lot in the park tomorrow cos I'll be the one like this at your children.

you can get shampoo that's been rubbed in rabbits eyes! ........ >

"A sheepdog does not rule the flock by some kind of reign of terror"

Err... I think it sort of does, actually.

Correction - at you - it's not the children's fault if they have not been taught properly.

Is this a serious thread? lol lol lol lol lol.

Kids chase pigeons pigeons fly away

twas ever thus

It's only very mildly cruel - but to me it's part of a mind set. If you teach them that it's OK to chase pigeons because they enjoy it and they are only pigeons, how do you explain that, for example, ducks and ducklings are different? Or sheep? Presumably no one would thing it's OK for a child to scatter a flock of sheep for fun?

Explaining why chasing pigeons is not kind is a useful learning tool, IMHO.

I stop my children stamping on ants, too.

MissAnnesley judge away at me & i will be the one with a face like fuck off & stop judging me

This thread is absolutely ridiculous,they are bloody pigeons,how on earth can you compare pigeons being shooed away to rabbits having shampoo rubbed in their eyes?

oh it's totally the same thing c'maaaaan

next you'll be telling me it's not ok to let my toddler play with fire or sharp knives! tut

In fact next time we are in the park & ds is running at the pigeons i will look out for you & give you a little wave shall i?

I'm so going to the park tomorrow

Pigeons brians are very, very small.

Look out for the PPP Pigeon Protection Police,in fact they may don cunning disguises such as a pigeon & when children run at them they will arrest them for crimes against flying rats pigeons

I think it isn't wise because it is important to be consistent when teaching your children that all creatures should be treated with respect and not hurt or frightened. Otherwise you get into it's ok to scare birds but not to chase a cat round a garden (unless you think it is ok to chase a cat round a garden ) and all that sort of thing.

Far better, and simpler to teach them not to hurt or frighten any living creature and teach them that animals aren't toys, than to draw up a big list of which animals you can do what to.

I think it is harmless fun
Pigeons are used to this in the wild and not particularly disturbed by it

So when you're all in the park letting your kids chase pigeons. I'll be there and scream and run at your kids (as someone else said they can run away and need the exercise anyway)- will that be ok? Or is that somehow wrong? If it's wrong, why?

FFS My dog is better trained than your kids - he knows it's wrong to chase things because he has been taught properly.

ROFL

they're pigeons

pigeons are vermin

and flight is a natural response to a perceived threat

"Balloon Don't get me started on putting budgies in cages ........."

Jamie, tell me about it!

You get lumbered with a pair of budgies, and think, well how horrible is it to keep birds in cages? When they die, I will never replace them.

Then one dies. The other one looks so devastated you go belting out to the pet shop and buy it a new companion. It cheers up immediately.

A year later that one dies. The newer one looks in the pits of despair, silent and alone. So again, the screech of tyres as you speed to the pet shop. Chirrup, chirp, chirrup, all is happy again...

At some point you scratch your head and wonder why you've owned two budgies for 20 years, a total of about 8 different birds, when you totally disapprove of keeping birds in cages.

lady I'm a vegetarian
nelly aaahhh the famous pizza thread

I'm personally very careful when walking near pigeons, because I've had a couple of instances where they've flown off and TOUCHED MY FACE!!!!! I hate birds!

I've actually seen a fair few pigeons at my local bus station, standing at the bus stands, waiting for a bus almost...very weird and none have ever got on.

Tabithacat you run & scream at my son & i will knock your block off,seriously.

There is absolutely no comparison to the feelings of a fucking pigeon to that of a child!

How on earth can you compare running at pigeons & them being traumatised by it to running at children?

Seriously,i think you need to take a step back from all the pigeon loving & really think about what you are typing.

Pigeons can & do fly away,then they come straight back so they cant be that scared can they?