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

[Whatsthis1515]

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 I just don't understand

There's always twats in life.... don't let it get you down...

Cant wait to see if they're brave enough to leave that up or if it will disappear quickly

I always drove to my local park when the DC were learning to ride bikes anyway! Bikes are a bit heavy and ungainly to carry!

I would also respond and just say you've done nothing wrong as you're allowed to drive a short distance for exercise and you took the car as one child has a broken leg and that if he doesn't "take it down you'll be phoning the police (111 before you spontaneously combust with self-righteousness) and perhaps in future get your facts straight before being a covidiot yourself". That would be my immediate reaction.

Can I also just add to this I liked the use of covidgilante

@Maryann1975 - ah good for her! Would love to know how she put it!

So sorry you've encountered a curtain twitcher OP. I've really noticed a change in attitudes on Facebook and other Social Media in the past 48 hours - mostly a more relaxed, common sense version. Hugging friends and family you haven't seen for ages = still very very bad. Having long conversation from garden gate - along garden path - front door, absolutely fine. And make a mug of tea, place half way down path, retreat, guest comes and gets it, also fine. Mug will get washed up and so will hands.

This is what happens when people make up their own rules regarding exercise! Ignore you have done nothing wrong .

Jesus there are some nasty twats about. Ignore them op. You did nothing wrong. Facebook local groups are full of absolute jockeys.

I’m all for everyone staying at home as much as possible and agree some people are taking the piss but it doesn’t sound like you were. I would comment and tell them to remove the video immediately or you will be contacting the police especially if your kids are in the video.

Report to Facebook and get it taken down?

Well, given they've posted on fb, presumably they're identifiable? I'd also be mentioning safeguarding, malicious communications and the police if they don't remove it.

I'm fuming on your behalf, OP. What you did was permitted within the restrictions. Some people are just fucking idiots and this situation has given them licence to be dicks. Oh, and you're not one of them!

That is awful. What a horrible person. You did nothing wrong regardless of the broken leg and this person will have no authority to close the park. Rise above it with a polite explanation and also message the admin and ask them to delete it. Facebook could certainly delete it too but IME this could take a while. Easier to ask the admin to.

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.

This with bells on. There’s a reason why schools advise against this. I’d be reporting them too. After I’d torn a strip off them, the judgemental vindictive twats.

Op, of course it was fine for you to be doing that and they are ignorant arseholes. You know what, if you could just be brave & respond with a post which includes something like. "What a shame you are making completely wrong assumptions, and you are ignorant of the facts". I too am generally a very shy person, but am now older, and what I've learned through life's experience is that many people are under confident, and that I didn't realise that - I thought it was mainly me. That actually helped me to become bit more confident. Hopefully the support you are getting from posters here will reassure you that you can challenge it. Then go about finding out how to get those car park gates opened again - you'll feel so proud of yourself for doing that & your confidence will soar. Good luck!

Let us know what they replied. You did nothing wrong!

If like to know their response. I’d also demand that they unlock the gates.

People who do stuff like that are the dregs of society. Anxiety riddled trouble makers. Just go to sleep tonight knowing you’re not a knob like them and no doubt have a much better life.

Good on you for sticking up for yourself

It's horrible.
It's happening lots on our local FB page if anyone goes to the park. But the same people shaming others are posting photos from their 3-4 hr hikes (because the rules don't apply to them. 🙄)

Don't get upset about it. You know the facts. Whereas they made up their own context.

This is one of the major downsides of lockdown, too many people with too much time on their hands. They need to take up knitting or something.

Stalking creeps with nothing better to do.

What a disgusting person filming you and your children like that. Definitely report it. You did absolutely nothing wrong.

I drove to the park yesterday for the first time since lock down. My kids are too small to walk there. I half expected to be shamed on Facebook. You did nothing wrong..

Legally they haven’t done anything wrong. You have no right to privacy in a public space. However go ahead and defend your right to visit your local park you are allowed too.