4 ms·

The objection here isn't "I don't have neighbours that would do that", it's "even if they do, CPS would laugh in their face because this is a normal thing for a

by franga2000 4y ago

The objection here isn't "I don't have neighbours that would do that", it's "even if they do, CPS would laugh in their face because this is a normal thing for a child to be doing". At worst, they might come by to ask some questions the first time. It would seem there are in fact a handful of crazy CPS workers out there that think this is truly unacceptable, but there's a ridiculously tiny chance of you getting one of those and it is my understanding you can still fight them in court if the case ever gets that far.

sidlls 4y ago
It likely varies by region and social standards within different communities. I personally know people who have had CPS called on them because they let their kids (young teens, around 13 or so) walk to the store (~0.5 miles) alone. It's not a "ridiculously tiny chance", where I live. And nobody should have to fight them in court: that's the whole point--the fact that it can get that far, or even as far as a single CPS visit for "some questions", is beyond absurd. It's a ridiculous stripping of autonomy and growth for children, and an humiliating and infuriating experience for parents.
- franga2000 4y ago
  My whole point was that while CPS might get called by some idiot neighbour, the chance of them doing anything is basically nonexistent, especially not something as drastic as taking away custody. It reduces down to: "I'm not going to do [perfectly legal and normal thing] because [person who doesn't like me] might report me to [authority figure]". By that logic, I shouldn't eat meat because my vegan neighbour might report me to the police for murder. When I was a teen, me and my friends had the cops called on us me multiple times for things as absurd as sitting on the stairs in the building I lived in or rollerblading up and down the street, but every time, the cops kindly explained to the grumpy old pensioner that called them that this was perfectly legal, nobody was being harmed and to not call about nonsense like that again. People always have and always will try to report others for things they don't like. But that's like half of the cops' or CPS's job - to take those reports, figure out what actually counts as a crime, investigate whether it actually happened and only then charge the suspect.

sidlls 4y ago

It likely varies by region and social standards within different communities. I personally know people who have had CPS called on them because they let their kids (young teens, around 13 or so) walk to the store (~0.5 miles) alone. It's not a "ridiculously tiny chance", where I live. And nobody should have to fight them in court: that's the whole point--the fact that it can get that far, or even as far as a single CPS visit for "some questions", is beyond absurd. It's a ridiculous stripping of autonomy and growth for children, and an humiliating and infuriating experience for parents.

franga2000 4y ago
My whole point was that while CPS might get called by some idiot neighbour, the chance of them doing anything is basically nonexistent, especially not something as drastic as taking away custody. It reduces down to: "I'm not going to do [perfectly legal and normal thing] because [person who doesn't like me] might report me to [authority figure]". By that logic, I shouldn't eat meat because my vegan neighbour might report me to the police for murder. When I was a teen, me and my friends had the cops called on us me multiple times for things as absurd as sitting on the stairs in the building I lived in or rollerblading up and down the street, but every time, the cops kindly explained to the grumpy old pensioner that called them that this was perfectly legal, nobody was being harmed and to not call about nonsense like that again. People always have and always will try to report others for things they don't like. But that's like half of the cops' or CPS's job - to take those reports, figure out what actually counts as a crime, investigate whether it actually happened and only then charge the suspect.