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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu thinking teens should not do this

235 replies

Tiredmumno1 · 17/02/2010 17:15

Out with my two youngsters today and we were walking home from town down some back paths when i come across a massive group of teens, one says to me have you got 50p, i said no, as they walked off all i could hear was yeah i bet you havent. Why the hell cant they ask the parents i dont even know them. Its so intimidating.

OP posts:
PixieOnaLeaf · 17/02/2010 17:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Tiredmumno1 · 17/02/2010 18:40

I find it strange. No one has asked me for money before,

OP posts:
GhoulsAreLoud · 17/02/2010 18:43

A few years ago a friend and I were on our lunch break and my friend was eating a sandwich while I got some money out of the cash point.

A bloke walked past my friend and said in all seriousness "can I have one of your sandwiches?"

I don't know if he was homeless, he looked fairly well dressed and wasn't begging at the cash point, just walking past her, saw an opportunity and just asked away.

cheesesarnie · 17/02/2010 18:46

agree its not limited to teens.

tis bit rude and annoying but wouldnt think much of it after a 'sorry no i havent'.

GypsyMoth · 17/02/2010 18:48

Why are you demonising teens??

Plenty of people approach asking for things.....

rainbowinthesky · 17/02/2010 18:51

Were you never a teenager yourself? What did you think they would do? Stab you?

scanty · 17/02/2010 18:53

it's downright intimidating to the person approached. They might think they are just being funny but the person they are asking doesn't know if a 'no' will result in a kicking or whatever. When I was young we used to do stupid stuff like dare each other to go to someones door for a jam sandwich, a biscuit etc. We were harmeless and gormless but never thought that our actions could be seen as worrying or frightening. Maybe these teens don't realise how scary their packs can be.

ImSoNotTelling · 17/02/2010 18:55

When I was a teenager I went to ask someone the time and they shouted "I haven't got any money!" and legged it

Then the next week it happened again!!

I was quite scruffy i suppose, but, bloody hell...

I decided to buy a watch

GypsyMoth · 17/02/2010 18:56

Large group of teens...... You asked their ages then?

rainbowinthesky · 17/02/2010 18:56

Commensense says that most teenagers don't go round giving people a kicking even when in large groups. Maybe it helps that I remember being a teenager and have one, as well as beign a teacher.

2shoes · 17/02/2010 18:58

yabu
and you should remember your little ones will one day be teens

ImSoNotTelling · 17/02/2010 19:06

I can see why the OP found it intimidating.

I feel intimidated with large groups of people in certain situations.

Quiet back path, no-one around, with your kids, being approached by one of a large "gang" of people. It is intimidating, isn't it.

onlyjoinedforoffers · 17/02/2010 19:09

sorry i would feel intimidated too and i have teens there are a huge difference between teens yes most of them are lovely a gang is frightening they always show off to each other

AnyFucker · 17/02/2010 19:10

nothing new here though is there ?

teens have hung around in groups for time immemoriam

they tend to show off to each other

asking for 50p is not actually being abusive...I can think of much worse things they could do, tbh

they didn't swear, didn't jostle, didn't actually threaten so unless you are a very timid person, I don't see the problem

just say "no" and carry on with your business

supersalstrawberry · 17/02/2010 19:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ImSoNotTelling · 17/02/2010 19:15

Even when I was a teenager I found some other groups of teenagers intimidating...

scanty · 17/02/2010 19:31

maybe it depends where you live, the town where I grew up then you would be silly not to be wary. I'm not a sensitive type but I'm surprised that people don't seem to be intimidated by groups of teens (obviously they aren't all up to no good) though to TBH I'd rather walk past a group of boys rather than girls these days.

scaryhairycat · 17/02/2010 20:05

Going by the way you were asked/location I would be wary myself, as I know this can be a way for someone to easily snatch your purse out of your hand - I know that sounds horrible, and the thought probably hadn't even crossed their minds, but it does happen, so no, I don't think you're BU at all.
I know teens (unfairly) get a bad press, and I know there are things I did as a teenager that doesn't exactly fill me with pride thinking back,(!) but anyone would feel intimidated being approached by a large group of people asking for money, teens or not.

Original poster
Tiredmumno1 · 17/02/2010 20:14

Dont be daft ilovetiffany, they were quite clearly aged between 13 and 15, i do have eyes. And why exactly do you think i am demonising teens, that i dont understand as it was a group of teens, and yes i was scared for our safety, as i hear alot of stories of the teens doing that round here, you give them 50p the next minute they are mugging you. And dont you feel that they should ask their bloody parents, they are not my responsbility. My kids are.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 17/02/2010 20:18

A group of children asked me for money (probably about the same age group) and I said "Gosh are you lost, do you need to me to call your mum for you"? in a very nice, sympathetic voice.

They looked a bit shocked and cleared off sharpish

laydeestardust · 17/02/2010 20:20

"as they walked off all i could hear was yeah i bet you havent"

they were hard weren't they

Yes of course they were silly to ask you for 50p,I was silly when I was a teen weren't you? They're just kids ( albeit big ones), still learning and I don't imagine they feel as terrifying as you seem to think they are!

You'll probably see teens differently when you have some-I have 2, as well as some younger ones,and I find it infuriating when idiots tut and roll their eyes at them in playgrounds when they're helping their younger siblings on slides etc-ridiculous.

I think some people are stupidly prejudiced against teens ( not you in particular OP)

OrmRenewed · 17/02/2010 20:22

You could have given them 50p.

I was asked for 70p for a bus far by a lad a few months back. Didn't have any change so I gave him a tenner. Turns out he lived round the corner and a tenner appeared through our letter box a week later.

Original poster
Tiredmumno1 · 17/02/2010 20:27

Yes i was a teen once and believe it or not i was one of the good ones, you know the one that tells others to stop if they are doing something wrong. Maybe i am abnormal. We were actually near no shops or buses, just a long pathway with nothing but trees and a tiny park, where they all went in about 15 - 20 of them, yes including about 4 girls, in case anyone wondered.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tiredmumno1 · 17/02/2010 20:27

Yes i was a teen once and believe it or not i was one of the good ones, you know the one that tells others to stop if they are doing something wrong. Maybe i am abnormal. We were actually near no shops or buses, just a long pathway with nothing but trees and a tiny park, where they all went in about 15 - 20 of them, yes including about 4 girls, in case anyone wondered.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tiredmumno1 · 17/02/2010 20:29

Yes i was a teen once and believe it or not i was one of the good ones, you know the one that tells others to stop if they are doing something wrong. Maybe i am abnormal. We were actually near no shops or buses, just a long pathway with nothing but trees and a tiny park, where they all went in about 15 - 20 of them, yes including about 4 girls, in case anyone wondered.

OP posts:
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