Thoughts?
-
Wtf?
-
Agree with PP, haha. That's weird.
-
I understand the police probably had to follow protocol, but who calls the police because a toddler is outside naked?? Once? Nice neighbors.
-
Nanny state/police state issues. I appreciate that neighbors are watching out for kids, but I think calling police over a one time incident of a 4 year old taking off his clothes (pretty normal!) is insane. And then the fact that the police said there would be punishment of the boy ever went outside naked again is ridiculous.
-
Waste of time and resources IMO. Not the cops' fault though. They might have been short handed before, they're just responding to calls and advising accordingly. It's like when someone steals a Chapstick and the cops have to arrest them too if the manager wants to at least in the U.S. Who on earth calls the cops over this?
-
Oh FFS
-
This is was in Canada, don't know if that makes a difference.
Wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy for thinking this was weird! I stripped my toddler down to his diaper at the park because he was sopping wet after playing in the water.
-
Wow.
A friend of mine had the police show up at her house because her toddler (less than 2 years old at the time) was naked in their yard after playing in the water.
-
that's absurd. and the part about police NOT being sent previously when there was a break in with the family home?!
@lilteacherbee: what is the charge? i seriously don't understand.
-
@lilteacherbee: that's crazy! I mean, I could be naked in my front yard if i wanted to be, right? It's my property. Did they say it was child endangerment or something?
-
I'm curious if any Canadian bees know what charge this could be? I could see indecent exposure for an adult here in the States, but a child? Mine runs around naked all the time.
-
@birdofafeather: @jedeve: They just told her that neighbors had called, gave her a "warning" and said that it was "inappropriate" given that there could be sexual predators. I'm not sure what the charge would be, seems crazy to me too. She was PISSED and they moved out to the country not long afterwards (they were in the suburbs).
-
When I was a child my dad walked outside in his underwear to break up a cat fight at 2am (we had a couple cats, wanted to make sure they were ok!). A cop just happened to drive by, stopped and gave him a warning for indecent exposure. My dad didn't even leave our yard but we lived on a very busy street.
So for an adult, I would get it. But a child? My sister used to run around naked all the time as a toddler because she didn't like the feel of some clothes.
-
@Tanjowen: Child neglect? I imagine something similar to when parents get in trouble for letting their kids walk home alone. These stories are getting ridiculous. People need to calm down and get some common sense.
-
This crap makes me so mad. Whatever happened to talking to the family first instead of going to the police? FFS indeed.
It reminds me of this article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2015/03/03/would-you-call-911-on-another-parent/
-
Good Lord! This is so dumb. Our neighbor's 3 year-old twins jump naked on their outdoor trampoline all the time!! ... I think it's hilarious, but for anyone who in uncomfortable? Well, they can look away!!!
I look at this kind of like I would if someone approached me about nursing in public. Not a good move, bro!
-
People are really weird. Maybe the ratting neighbor didn't want some weirdo seeing the child and taking pics, or worse? I have no idea, just trying to speculate as to the law enforcement... or the neighbor's intentions.
-
Whaaaat? DH and I were taking a walk recently when we came upon a kid about three who was totally naked, scraping at his driveway with a toy garden hoe. We thought it was hilarious -- never ever would have imagined calling the cops! That's absurd.
-
Awe man, I'm going to be the bad guy on this. I probably would not have called the police on my neighbor. A 4 year old needs to have his genitals covered when outside of his home even if its his own front yard. Me, the neighbor, should not have to be subjected to your naked child when I enter and exit my home/ driveway.
-
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: you know, I would not let my child, and I wouldn't love it either, but like you I wouldn't call the police. I don't think that makes you the bad guy on this!
-
This updated article says the issue was child safety and the child playing alone in the street, rather than for being naked.
-
@Charm54: I was just going to post that.
-
@Freckles: yeah, I think the only instance I'd ever call the cops on another parent is if the child was in immediate danger - such as evident abuse. However, because of my career, I'm also a mandated reporter (but I think that's only on the job).
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: you're not the bad guy. While I think it's absurd that the neighbor called 911 - I personally wouldn't appreciate seeing a 4 year old naked near my house either. I remember once how much it bugged me when moms would bring their boys into the women's locker rooms at the gym - and they were typically 4-5 (and there's a family locker room). I also get that sometimes kids are kids and take off their clothes and run outside (my brothers def did that as kids) so I have a little understanding. But I agree I wouldn't be comfortable with it.
-
@Charm54: the weird thing though is the neighbor called three days later. So maybe just have to chalk it up to people being weird.
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I kinda get that, but complaining about it is weird to me, I guess. I mean, my neighbor illegally parks his RV and boat on the street and I don't love looking at that either, but it seems like, hey that's life.
-
I think that second story is just written to take the heat off of the police. The first story stated the officer specifically mentioned being naked. It's a damn shame all around.
-
There isn't really a charitable way to spin what the neighbor did in this situation. If the child's temporary (as I understand it) nakedness bothered them (and I'll admit, I would be uncomfortable with a 4 year-old being more than temporarily--a few minutes at most--naked in a relatively public space), they should have spoken to the parents. I can sort of understand not wanting to actively help a child get dressed, but unless there is something unusual about this particular 4 year-old, a simple friendly "Hi, Tyler! Go put on your pants, buddy!" should do the trick. If the child was playing in the street and in danger, the neighbor should have gotten off his or her duff and helped the child back into the yard. Either way, when the neighbor did nothing and then went home to stew for three days, the neighbor was the one who was in the wrong here.
-
My thoughts are: this is exactly why we bought a house with a big private backyard and are in the process of installing a fence. People can be so strange and you just never know how crazy yourneighbors are until something like this happens.
I also played outside in various states of undress in the summer as a child and no one batted an eye! Not sure what all the fuss is about.
-
If it was about safety why would you call three days later?! How's that keeping him safe?
-
I think calling the police for a child playing in the street is also bizarre. I don't know how busy this street is, but if it's a regular neighborhood street--everyone I know grew up playing on the street with neighbors and just moving when a car came! My niece and nephew (4 and 7 years old) play in their street with about 7 neighbor kids. They play cricket (with a tennis ball), play basketball with no hoop, play tag. This is in a tight suburban area where the houses are mostly attached and back yards are tiny (In Canada suburbs of Toronto).
The speed limit on that street is something like 15 mph for that reason and there are "children playing" signs.
Anyway, gosh...if my child ever went outside and went in the street, I'd like to think if a neighbor were concerned they'd go outside and talk to my child--or me!--but calling the police is bizarre, which is why I think the neighbor didn't like the nakedness and decided to meddle.
-
I don't think it's that weird at all that a neighbor called the cops, people don't want to get involved. We're not living in the days where people know each other well anymore, people come and go and you never really know what goes on behind closed doors. Is it worth risking your family or your life?
Having said that, it takes a lot for me to intervene in someone else's business.
-
@SugarplumsMom: he could have mentioned being naked and also the safety issue. The media often comes out with the sensational part first and that would definitely not be surprising to learn they did that with a police related story.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
31 comments