4 ms·

A few here are giving examples of how this kind of thing wasn't a problem when they were a kid. I had similar experiences. But, I want to say that I actively d

by talmand 12y ago

A few here are giving examples of how this kind of thing wasn't a problem when they were a kid. I had similar experiences. But, I want to say that I actively do not allow my children to play in our front yard. Not because I'm afraid a stranger will take them, not because I'm afraid they'll wander into the street to get hit by a car, not because I'm afraid they'll get hurt without an adult present, not because I'm afraid they'll wonder off to get lost. The reason I don't let them play in the front yard? I'm afraid a neighbor will report me and the government will come take my kids away. This is the true tragedy of these stories, society has only traded one type of fear for another that is potentially far worse in nature.

lucisferre 12y ago
I wonder how many of your neighbours feel the same as you. I wonder, if after seeing your kids play in the front yard, how many would respond in kind, letting their kids outside to play with yours, assuming that if one parent was willing then they wouldn't feel so guilty about it. I suppose we just don't live in that kind of world anymore. I used to play the suburbs with other kids, we were rarely in the backyard, going around on the cul-de-sac and the windy roads of suburbia. By the time I was about 10 or 11 I had biked across the entire city. My daughter is 3, we live in the city, but there are kids. The roads are busier and the neighbourhood more crowded with more cars now. I'm not sure if I'll have the same attitude. Funnily as grandparents even my parents seem much more reluctant, and worried about my daughter than they were about us.
jrs235 12y ago
So true. If anyone other than an officer or CPS agent takes your children, they will face consequences and justice has an opportunity to prevail. If an officer or CPS agent takes your children justice never enters the equation and consequences don't exist for them. ADD: What can you do? "You might be able to beat the rap but you can't beat the ride. Now comply." In such situations you really are powerless. The worst kind of fear and situation, one where you are powerless.
deleted 12y ago
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- mordocai 12y ago
  No they are not delusional. I know of many cases (from my sister who worked in child protective services) where spiteful(or even sometimes well-meaning) neighbors report people to CPS for the dumbest things. CPS is required to investigate every one of them, and it is quite a hassle. I'd say most of the time if you are actually doing nothing wrong the chance of them actually taking your kids is pretty low, but the chance of them making your life miserable for a while is pretty high.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
    - graeme 12y ago
      You make a reasonable point, but you say it very unreasonably, with unnecessary insults. This is why you're being downvoted.
    - jgoewert 12y ago
      I am definitely not anti-vax. Having been on the receiving end of this BS, if there was a way I could sue my neighbor for defamation over their false complaint to win something back, I would. But since restitution is not part of the law, this is a wonderful tool to bully your neighbors with.
    - lsaferite 12y ago
      The OP never said "The government is going to take my children for playing in the front yard," so I'm at a loss where you got that quote. Maybe you inferred that's what he meant when he said "I'm afraid a neighbor will report me and the government will come take my kids away." That is a very real concern. When a CPS agent comes calling, any righteous indignation on your part can easily result in your children being taken into custody. If you don't bend over and take it with a smile, they'll make it 1000x worse. EDIT: I really wish I could down-vote things.

by talmand 12y ago

lucisferre 12y ago

I wonder how many of your neighbours feel the same as you. I wonder, if after seeing your kids play in the front yard, how many would respond in kind, letting their kids outside to play with yours, assuming that if one parent was willing then they wouldn't feel so guilty about it. I suppose we just don't live in that kind of world anymore. I used to play the suburbs with other kids, we were rarely in the backyard, going around on the cul-de-sac and the windy roads of suburbia. By the time I was about 10 or 11 I had biked across the entire city. My daughter is 3, we live in the city, but there are kids. The roads are busier and the neighbourhood more crowded with more cars now. I'm not sure if I'll have the same attitude. Funnily as grandparents even my parents seem much more reluctant, and worried about my daughter than they were about us.

jrs235 12y ago

So true. If anyone other than an officer or CPS agent takes your children, they will face consequences and justice has an opportunity to prevail. If an officer or CPS agent takes your children justice never enters the equation and consequences don't exist for them. ADD: What can you do? "You might be able to beat the rap but you can't beat the ride. Now comply." In such situations you really are powerless. The worst kind of fear and situation, one where you are powerless.

deleted 12y ago

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mordocai 12y ago
No they are not delusional. I know of many cases (from my sister who worked in child protective services) where spiteful(or even sometimes well-meaning) neighbors report people to CPS for the dumbest things. CPS is required to investigate every one of them, and it is quite a hassle. I'd say most of the time if you are actually doing nothing wrong the chance of them actually taking your kids is pretty low, but the chance of them making your life miserable for a while is pretty high.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
  - graeme 12y ago
    You make a reasonable point, but you say it very unreasonably, with unnecessary insults. This is why you're being downvoted.
  - jgoewert 12y ago
    I am definitely not anti-vax. Having been on the receiving end of this BS, if there was a way I could sue my neighbor for defamation over their false complaint to win something back, I would. But since restitution is not part of the law, this is a wonderful tool to bully your neighbors with.
  - lsaferite 12y ago
    The OP never said "The government is going to take my children for playing in the front yard," so I'm at a loss where you got that quote. Maybe you inferred that's what he meant when he said "I'm afraid a neighbor will report me and the government will come take my kids away." That is a very real concern. When a CPS agent comes calling, any righteous indignation on your part can easily result in your children being taken into custody. If you don't bend over and take it with a smile, they'll make it 1000x worse. EDIT: I really wish I could down-vote things.