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Original poster

I'm so upset - I've been Facebook shamed!

240 replies

Whatsthis1515 · 21/04/2020 19:31

We don't have much outside space, so I took my 3 youngest (8, 6 and 5) to the park to ride their bikes. The park is about a 10 minute walk away but we had to drive because my 8 year old has a broken leg (in a cast). We parked in the park's car park. There was no one there apart from us. The kids started biking on the grass but then they decided to bike round the carpark - smooth tarmac, so great to get their confidence up.

Anyway, after 30 mins we put the bikes back in the car and drove home.

I have just seen on our local Facebook group that someone has posted a short video clip of us (filmed from a distance, assuming from someone's bedroom window) and said 'Due to covidiots like his continuing to drive to our village to use our park, we are locking the gates to discourage it. If anyone knows these people please let them know we've got them on film!'.

I am mortified. The post has had about 20 likes, but a few people are saying that parks are open so they don't see the problem and that the government have specifically told councils to leave parks open.

Did I do anything wrong? I'm really shy so don't plan on responding to the post but I only drove there due to my daughter's broken leg, and secondly, we didn't see anyone and thirdly, now the park is not accessable to us because there is nowhere safe to park near it. We have now lost the use of our local park Sad I just don't understand

OP posts:
CallMeRachel · 21/04/2020 20:27

How dare they film your kids and publish it online without knowing the facts!

I'd go nuclear at the admin of that community page for posting that.

This lockdown has brought out all the wannabe police. Sad bastards with zero common sense.

Marpan · 21/04/2020 20:27

On the basis that it Has (Your) minors in the video I would be replying and advising them to take it down.

Babyroobs · 21/04/2020 20:28

Some people are so pathetic, this virus is really bringing out the worst in some people.

SociallyDistant · 21/04/2020 20:28

I'm starting to despair at how ridiculous, hysterical and authoritarian people are becoming during this crisis. What is wrong with people!!

Rubyroost · 21/04/2020 20:28

Excellent, glad you posted on there.

Autumnsloth · 21/04/2020 20:31

That's terrible OP, good on you for standing up for yourself. As if lockdown isn't difficult enough with children, there's people like that trying to make it impossible!

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 21/04/2020 20:31

Filming kids and uploading to social media is such a stupid thing to do, for various reasons. I would be furious, too.

Well done, OP, for sticking up for yourself. I hope they apologise, properly! And I hope your daughter's leg gets better soon.

loobyloo1234 · 21/04/2020 20:31

If it weren’t so private I’d say post the link on here OP so we can all pile in on them Grin

I do find it strange how pathetic these people are though. Surely they must have better things to do than curtain twitch all day?

HuckfromScandal · 21/04/2020 20:32

Good for you.
Bloody bullies!

YouokHun · 21/04/2020 20:33

Covert filming of children in a public place and sharing it on social media versus exercising within the lockdown guidelines. I know which I find more concerning ...

Gazelda · 21/04/2020 20:33

I'm getting bloody sick of Facebook vigilantes. I hope you get an apology and access to the car park is reinstated.

LonelyInLockdown · 21/04/2020 20:33

You need to respond to this vile post OP. Sadly because so few respond to bullies it gives them carte Blanche to continue with their awful behaviour.

Stellaris22 · 21/04/2020 20:34

Filming you is bad enough, but under no circumstances do you ever film someone's kids. I'd be tempted to report this to the police because they've filmed your children and posted it online for anyone to view.

Also you did t do anything wrong. We are now allowed to drive for exercise and children need outdoor time. So sorry this happened to you.

ilovecakeandwine · 21/04/2020 20:35

I think that's shocking , this has got to stop people photographing or videoing people.
I'm glad you said something but report it to fb too .

lanthanum · 21/04/2020 20:35

"Advice welcome on how to enable my younger children to exercise without leaving their sister (with broken leg) alone. She's too heavy to piggy-back."
or
"Does anyone have a wheelchair I can borrow? One of the children has a broken leg, so walks from home aren't an exercise option."

saraclara · 21/04/2020 20:36

Does your community FB page have a moderator? On mine, that post would have been deleted within minutes. It's been made very clear that naming and shaming is not allowed.

Maybe check and see if there's an administrator or moderator that you can message.

DarkDarkNight · 21/04/2020 20:36

This whole lockdown has really exposed so much pettiness and nastiness, people who need to be seen to be doing the right thing, telling on others, it’s pathetic.

I know you said you didn’t want to start WW3 but I would reply that it was you, You are local but you live nearby and drove because of your daughter’s leg. I would advise them to take the video down as it has recorded your children without permission and if not you will report the post.

Gwynfluff · 21/04/2020 20:36

Our local Facebook page is just removing such posts now and have been for a while. Objections to pictures of kids being taken and put up (ours were all groups of teens) and also the discord it creates on the site! Ditto garden fires.

You are allowed to make a short drive to exercise. We’ve made a few, especially at weekend when we know we can get to a more spacious area to walk our dog and the local park paths will be too narrow. It’s fine. The lockdown will have to lift and people will still get ill - but not at the rate that will immediately plummet the NHS into an overloaded crisis. We have managed to meet capacity in this country.

Rainycloudyday · 21/04/2020 20:37

You should definitely have shamed them for filming a strangers children and posting it online. YA most definitely NBU to be upset about a violation of your privacy and a public attack.

HedgehogHotel · 21/04/2020 20:37

Idiots. Your other children can only bike safely under your supervision, so you found the perfect way to do it while accommodating the child with a broken leg.

I hope people stand up for you against the real idiot.

maddy68 · 21/04/2020 20:38

You are allowed now to drive to exercise in fact you can have a picnic as long as you social distance. So. I would just send them the latest police advice and report them for harassment

NotStayingIn · 21/04/2020 20:38

You didn’t do anything wrong. Whoever posted that really is an utter arse.

NurseP · 21/04/2020 20:38

Good on you for replying OP. People need to think before posting stuff about others on fb!

Louise91417 · 21/04/2020 20:40

Sod explaining yourself to the dickhead, and be sending him a message asking does he get his kicks out of film kids and tell him your reporting him for inappropriate behaviour...bet he'l remove the post as quick as he put it up!

Patch23042 · 21/04/2020 20:40

I think that people who film unknown under 16s and post pics on socials without their parents’ consent, are on pretty thin ice. I don’t know whether it’s unlawful but it’s definitely immoral.

It could have serious consequences too, if the child has been removed from one or both parents. Unlikely I know, but not impossible. There is a reason why schools are very strict about this sort of thing.