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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:
laidbacklife · 21/04/2020 20:41

The park is a 10-min walk from your house. Then it's YOUR local park and you have every right to use it. Ignore the poster - they have no idea and sound like they are probably handling the confinement period very badly.

JediJim · 21/04/2020 20:42

I’d be inclined to see who filmed me then knock on their door whilst shoving a camera in their face! How dare they film you and children! It’s not against the law to film people BUT you need their permission to upload the footage. Isn’t that what the law says? Under the Human rights law aren’t you entitled to a private life. Meaning Facebook should take it down.
By the way, people are complaining about people going to a park, yet we let planes of people arrive in the UK unchecked.

puffinandkoala · 21/04/2020 20:42

Sadly I think they were probably angling for an excuse to close the car park to save money. It will be interesting to see if they have the decency to apologise and reopen the car park. Is there a street nearby you can park instead and really get them het up?

StayinginSummer · 21/04/2020 20:42

I’d ask Facebook to have it removed especially as it has your kids in it.

puffinandkoala · 21/04/2020 20:43

yet we let planes of people arrive in the UK unchecked we're not. People are coming from lockdown areas into a lockdown area here.

Lianepl · 21/04/2020 20:44

Covert filming of children in a public space, then posting the film on social media is a safeguarding issue. Not only would I press Facebook to take it down, I would phone the police and report it.

Firecarrier · 21/04/2020 20:45

Haven't RTT

Can't imagine how horrible this would feel Flowers

Please, please don't think that everyone would think badly of you (only the self-important Covid police), it is this vile, snitching behaviour I can't abide.

You shouldn't have to explain yourself, there are some right weirdos online, including here, I am just glad I live in a relatively normal place where people are still being pleasant.

JediJim · 21/04/2020 20:46

The point is someone filmed children then put it on Facebook without permission. Legally I’d like to think that this is against the law.
Morally, the video should be removed.

winterchills · 21/04/2020 20:49

Bullies who clearly think they own the park!

Blondeshavemorefun · 21/04/2020 20:50

You are allowed to drive to exercise as long as the exercise is longer then the drive to get there

What was the reply of the fb poster

eveoha · 21/04/2020 20:50

Lockdown in migrant camps? I think not - and yes there are unchecked ‘workers’ arriving - who may have taken anti pyretics - it makes a complete mockery of the strictures and constraints people here are enduring 😡

JaniceBattersby · 21/04/2020 20:50

While what has happened to the OP is awful, there is no law at all to stop the filming of children in a public place and the uploading of that footage to Facebook. Filming in a public place cannot be, by definition, covert.

(Unles there is an obvious sexual motive, which there isn’t here.)

MogeatDog · 21/04/2020 20:51

Some people are being judgy twats atm, sorry you have encountered this crap. Our local facebook group was full of it too - the admins now have to approve every post.

macaroniandpizza · 21/04/2020 20:51

What utter twatmonkeys for filming you and your dc without your permission and plastering it online thats bang out of order as is berating you for getting some exercise, so you had to take the car because your dd is in a cast its none of the person filming business at all. You did nothing wrong

JediJim · 21/04/2020 20:52

Safeguarding issue exactly! Some people are not allowed to be filmed for other reason too such as witness protection or social services.

JediJim · 21/04/2020 20:55

Sorry forgot to add, maybe a police report to your local station expressing your discomfort at having your children being filmed at a park by an adult then put onto social media. Could result in a chat to the offender...

Sarahandco · 21/04/2020 20:55

Definitely, report them for posting this video. How have "they" closed the park - surely only the council can close a park.

MrsWhites · 21/04/2020 20:55

People like this wind me up, they have decided government guidelines aren’t good enough for them so they’ve created their own! Along with their own powers to close council car park gates apparently! Who do they think they are?

Someone pulled a face at me looking at books in Tesco last week, apparently they aren’t essential (heard mumbling under breath), people need to get a grip, stop being so bloody judgmental and get down from their high horse!

chunkyrun · 21/04/2020 20:55

Some people are just loving this. You've done nothing wrong op. How horrible of them

MrsWhites · 21/04/2020 20:56

And if they close the gates without council involvement I’d go back, open the gates and park my car....let the nosy bastards film that!!

Sarahandco · 21/04/2020 20:56

I would also make a comment on facebook about how disturbing it is for someone to filming your children - see how clever they feel then.

Freddiemercurysjeans · 21/04/2020 20:57

Well done for standing up for yourself. You did nothing wrong.

Chattycatty · 21/04/2020 20:58

My next door neighbour complained on Facebook the other day about 3 teens in our local park seemingly forgetting that the day before she'd had 4 people over in the garden and one a small child.

Bluntness100 · 21/04/2020 20:59

This virus has brought the worst out in some people. That’s nothing short of bullying. And the only way to deal with bullying is to stand up to them op. I’m glad you responded on Facebook. Not doing so would be letting this arsehole free to bully someone else.

Maryann1975 · 21/04/2020 21:00

Something similar happened on one of our local groups. The mum of the children (Teen and preteen) calmly explained why her dc had been playing on their bikes and that yes, they were from the same household and because of the very clever way she did it, she made the person ‘reporting the offence’ on social media seem really petty. She was polite the whole time with her comeback though and I thought she was fantastic. I am yet to see any more ‘naming and shaming’ of children and their parents on this particular group, which is good.