theherd123 Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 As a dog owner this makes me crazy Not as crazy as us partially sighted folk who accidentally step in it True! I just dont get owners who refuse to pick up after their pet, it really isnt a hard thing to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 EEUUUwww! My sister once stood in a cow pat whilst wearing flip flops - it squelched over the top and between her toes As you tell, I found it VERY amusing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 As a dog owner this makes me crazy Not as crazy as us partially sighted folk who accidentally step in it oooh, this is another thing that makes me Why do I have to spend my time walking staring at the pavement to avoid treading in the next doggy walnut whip rather than being able to hold my head high and enjoy the scenery grrrrrr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Oooh poo and gum on pavements (or anywhere) I'm another dog ower who it annoys. As for drivers on the phone grrrrrrrrrr. My mil was rammed by a lorry driver last year when I was in hosptial. The lorry drove straight into the back of them and didn't even seem to make any attempt to stop. The car then went into the car in front, all in 5 cars were shunted, mils car having been pushed 17 feet with the brake on. The lorry driver was on the phone. Luckily everyone was ok though mil was very sore and has a neckbrace on and DHs Gran has a huge bruise from the seatbelt. My eldest son was in the car and luckily was fine though remembers every second and had nightmares for a while. So glad it was an estate. (my waters broke less than 24 hours after so stressful).The car was a write off. Mil is a JP so was in court the day he got the book thrown at him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Bronze Hope MIL et al are all recovered fully but Yay - Justice, I know it was a really bad experience and I would hate it to happen to anyone, but yay - justice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Ooo, I do so love a good rant Me next.... me next! Louise, shall I loosen the arm-straps on that lovely white jacket? It'll help you to rock easier and bang your head on the wall. You're getting a rant here from Captain Zero Tolerance I like to think that I have a sunny disposition and a long fuse, but Idon't believe in lettting people think that they can get away with anti-social/illegal behaviour. I hate people without children who use 'parent only spaces'. They introduced these spaces just as I had Rosie,and as a lone parent shopping with a newborn, they were a god-send. If I see someone without a child parking in one, I go over and politely ask them to move as they aren't entitled to use the space, I then wait there for them to move their vehicle. Phil is worried that I'll get my nose bopped, but it does so make my blood boil. The supermarkets gave parents badge to display in their cars, entitling them to use these spaces, but I never see them checking. I currently hate people who use the phone (without a car-kit) while driving; If I am walking and see them in a stationary queue of traffic, I will stop and stare at them until they realise that what they are doing is illegal. My cousin was killed by a hit and run driver when he was just 16 (that driver was drunk) but any careless driving makes me angry. I've also followed a woman up the M1 (60mph in the middle lane) - I wondered when she was going to get outo of the middle lane and keep left. I ended up overtaking her.... she had the newspaper propped up on the steering wheel!!!!!!! I took her reg no., pulled over at the next services and called the police to report her..... what joy And last, but by no means least (call me Victor if you like...) Children I like to think that Rosie has been brought up to be polite and considerate and that I can take her anywhere. People who allow their children to mis-behave in public really make me mad I can understan completely that parents don't have any control over kiddies trowing tantrums, but I would prefer it if they removed the child until it coudl behave. I had a very restrained conversation, on the plane when we came back from hols, with the parent of the child in the seat behind me...not only did it kick my back to pieces, even after I'd asked it to stop, but the parent was allowing it to stand up in the seat, throw things over at me and stick sweets in my hair!!!!! I took the parent quietly away from their seat and explained that if they din't make their child behave properly, then I would personally tie it down. I felt so much better after that. PS, the child behaved impeccably for the rest of the flight. I really feel for the parents of little Maddy - my blood ran cold when I read the article. But when you have children (like many others here have pointed out) you have to act responsibly and that includes forfeiting any claims to a social life unless you have a responsible babysitter. I am lucky in that my parents kindly offer to take Rosie and I on hols each year, but I go to bed when she does; I wouldn't expect them to babysit and I certainly wouldn't leave her alone in a room. I feel so sorry for Maddy's parents,a nd hope that the little one is found safe and unharmed. Sorry, rant over.... I feel so much better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 7, 2007 Share Posted May 7, 2007 Good rant Clare Back to dog poo - my friend is a farmers wife. Regularly wealks her own dogs around the fields. Can't believe the number of people who pick up the dog mess in a little plastic bag - THEN THROW IT INTO THE HEDGE!! Didn't believe it myself until I saw the evidence with my own eyes - hedges with little poop bags dangling in them. WHY???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Good rant Clare Back to dog poo - my friend is a farmers wife. Regularly wealks her own dogs around the fields. Can't believe the number of people who pick up the dog mess in a little plastic bag - THEN THROW IT INTO THE HEDGE!! Didn't believe it myself until I saw the evidence with my own eyes - hedges with little poop bags dangling in them. WHY???? Admonished a chap for doing this.....allowing his dog to relieve itself all over the grass verge outside my house, (which I mow) and carefully scooping it up and throwing it into my hedge. I told him that knew where he lived ( came over all Hollywood) and that in future I would be returning his property to him, through his letter box...He had the grace to apologise and as far as I know it hasn't happened since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 My only gripe is singling out parents for special services whilst ignoring the needs of other not insignificant groups - like Lesley and her dodgy knee and Louise's mum with her current difficulties and hundreds of others who have a justifiable need for a wide space or a space close to the shop. Fortunately, I don't have any difficulties myself, so we park as far from the shop as we can - however my husband has relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Most of the time he's fit enough to do a few miles down the coastal path and long bike ride and you wouldn't think there was a thing wrong to look at him but every now and then he has a relapse - sometimes it affects his vision or gives him a numb hand but sometimes it affects the nerves to his legs and makes them go all wobbly. He doesn't qualify for a blue badge because - thank god - it doesn't affect him permenantly. I have been tempted to park in the mother and baby spaces when his legs have been bad but am too scared in case I get my car keyed by some angry lazy parent . I have lurked on a couple of parenting forums in the past and was suprised how many of them proudly confessed to accidentally on purpose scratching the cars of people without Mother & Baby badges or donking their wing mirrors Red - I resorted to making a notice to go on the windscreen - just text stating Temporarily Disabled and a line underneath about leg being in plaster/just out of plaster. Carl hated it as it wasn't 'legal' but I just did my Grumpy Old Woman bit and told him that at that particular moment in time, I was more 'disabled' than most of the people displaying a Blue Badge and it was very obvious. We only parked in disability spaces where there were plenty of spaces.We didn't have any problems at all. At the small Safeway store we had, it was possible to tell Customer Services, who in turn, told the Car Park security man. I made an appointment with our MP about this and he agreed that there should be a system for temporary disability - the badges are dated so it shouldn't be impossible to administer - and the fee you have to pay would cover any admin. anyway. I had letters from the Minister for Disability as they were looking at this problem and were tightening the existing law to make it more difficult for people to abuse the system ( - really??!! ) but then we had an election and change of cabinet positions and I heard no more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 It was sooooooo slow getting into the car park not because there was no space but because there were all these morons determined to park next to the door driving round and round slowly blocking the entrance What is wrong exactly with their legs they can't all be mobility impaired and if they were why not use the disabled parking area I know exacly what you mean it's so annoying when people do that! how lazy can you get!!? Some people even start parking on yellow lines! So other people can't get through! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 The dog poo issue gets me too; we have a lovely park at the bottom of our road - it's used a lot by families to play games, or just sit and enjoy the weather. I walk through it 4 times a day on my way to and from work and often see people not clearing up after their dogs. I used to stop and watch them until they were humiliated into collecting it. But I now carry a couple of polybags in my bag and offer it to them. I have to say that there is a lot less dog mess in the park than when I moved there 13 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I believe there's a new series of Grumpy Old Women in the pipeline!!! with respect to Maddy going missing in Portugal - I may be in a very small minority, but I do have three kids, and i have thought about this a lot... I am very saddened by the number of people queuing up to have a go at Maddy's parents. I don't know if I would have made the choice they did or not, maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't, but I have made similar choices before. parents take a whole succession of calculated risks when they bring up children - here are a few common ones... 1. Taking your child out in the car - the biggest cause of death in young children by a long straw - and not all car journeys that parents make with their children are "necessary" - is that irresponsible?? 2. sitting in garden - or being in the garden with your chickens while kids are in house - surely pretty much same risk as the parents in portugal took - given that this abductor had allegedly staked them out - that is just as easy - if not more so - in a residential house. 3. sleeping at night while your kids do. Children have been snatched from houses while parents sleep - burglars do enter houses while parents sleep. 4. letting them climb on a climbing frame - could fall off and break neck - statistically HUGELY more risky than being abducted from apartment. parenthood is a succession of calculated risks - and parents calculate differently the risks they are prepared to take - and not take. the four i have listed above are much bigger risks than being abducted - and yet, my guess is that all the parents currently criticising Maddy's parents do these things - cos they have calculated the likely risk - and feel it is worth it in the circumstances. you cannot legislate for a determined child abductor - unless your child is chained to your leg 24 hrs a day... they will already feel guilty for the rest of their lives, I (for one) do not believe they should be locked up for neglect. "Ooops, word censored!"ody can ever be the perfect parent - we can only struggle and strive to be good-enough parents. send social services round to get me if you like.... Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Tried to avoid this thread but just had to read it. I think the family spaces have to be near to the supermarket because the car parks are so badly planned that it would be a nightmare trying to negotiate the obstacle course to get there. At our local Tesco there are lampposts and other stuff in the way on the 'footways' so you have to go out into the traffic with trolley and/or buggy/toddler. And have you seen the way people drive round the car parks? Never bothered with those spaces myself - I always head for the perimeter (or top) of any car park as you can always get a space quickly. But I only have 1 child so it was easier than for me to negotiate obstacle courses and manic drivers trying to be first to that space next to the shop.... On the Madeleine story - I put my hand up (ooh I am going to be in trouble now) there have been at least 2 occasions where Layla has been left in a situation where if someone had been determined to snatch her they would have been able to. I was quick to judge when I first heard the story but on reflection it could have happened to us if there had been someone with evil intent around. We were lucky, they were unlucky. Is there really no-one else on this forum who will admit being an 'irresponsible' parent on at least one occasion? I feel so sad for her parents. They must be feeling wretched and they don't need people telling them how stupid they were. They know. And dog poo - yeauch, drivers using mobile phones etc - horrific, screaming children and parents in shops etc - lock em up! And what about the parent who says - if you don't stop that I am going to take you home. And does not follow it up. No wonder they misbehave. Enough - I must do some work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Looks like we are on the same wavelength then Revnev. Phew - I thought I might get kicked off the forum for being a bad parent.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Just a couple of points I am glad these idiots who love to park in the door way of the supermarket do this because it gives me plenty of room to park my car safely Secondly, If I ever catch the person who walks their dog past my house during the day and then lets it poo on my driveway, I will not be responsible for my actions Thirdly, my thoughts are with the parents of little Madelaine, I do not agree with them leaving their children alone, but they could never forsee the consequences of what they did. Hindsight is a wonderful thing I was listening to an interview on our local radio the other day. They were talking to a child protection officer who deals with these people after they are jailed and he asked one of them what would stop him abducting a child and he said the only way to stop him would be to tie the child permanently to its mother, he then paused and said that wouldn't stop him and he would just take both of them. Fortunately this is a rare occurence and I don't know how you will stop it, I used to think if girls were in pairs they would be safe out together but how wrong was that when you think of Jessica and Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Rosie's not going out anywhere without me until she's at least 36! It's hard, isn't it? Rosie is at that age (like Jules), where they want a little bit more independance. I try to judge each situation as to how safe I feel it is. Otherwise our children are going to grow up without any sense of responsibility or common sense. Hard call really, and it worries me every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I just caught up with this thread, you lot are funny. I hate it when people are waiting at a bus stop, spread out over the whole pavement so you can't get through. Every afternoon on the way home from school, me and mini welly have to pass a bus stop crowded with teenagers who are spitting, swearing, pushing about, so that we have to shout EXCUSE ME to try and get through. I know not all teenagers are the same but these are all like it. One thing that struck me from this thread is that only a couple of you said that you tackle the people who are being inconsiderate. I ALWAYS tell people off for dropping litter, swearing in front of my daughter, fighting in the street, cycling dangerously on pavements or anything else. When i was a child i would never dare drop litter as i knew there was always someone around to tell me off and embarass me. I never worry about the size of the person i'm telling off as i'm usually to cross at their actions. Everyone needs to take responsibilty and tell off these annoying people so that they learn and then teach their children. It won't work overnight but it WILL work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I hope today brongs some happy news re. Maddy. Recently OH and Joe went to a hotel ... Ben and I joined them the following night, due to football comittment . However OH was under strict instructions NOT to leave Joe asleep alone in the room, while he snuck off to the bar, for all the reasons previously mentioned (fire/wandering/waking up alone). Joe stayed up till about 9pm .. then they both went to bed. When I was a baby, my parents would go to RAF officers mess balls .... all the babies were in carrycots, ontop of the snooker table, and mum's would check ... BUT .. there was also staff watching, and parents were literally across the corridor. Security to get in was also tight, so I suppose in that situation I was pretty safe . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I agree with Phil - I feel dreadful for little Maddy's parents, the emotional trauma and guilt they must be feeling. When I think back to occasions on holiday when one of the children has gone back to the apartment themselves for forgotten swimming goggles, sun hat etc. or gone to play in someone else's caravan - all potentially dangerous situations but probably the 'risk factor' is less than taking them out in the car every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 One thing that struck me from this thread is that only a couple of you said that you tackle the people who are being inconsiderate. I ALWAYS tell people off for dropping litter, swearing in front of my daughter, fighting in the street, cycling dangerously on pavements or anything else. When i was a child i would never dare drop litter as i knew there was always someone around to tell me off and embarass me. I never worry about the size of the person i'm telling off as i'm usually to cross at their actions. Everyone needs to take responsibilty and tell off these annoying people so that they learn and then teach their children.It won't work overnight but it WILL work. Thanks Helly, glad to hear that I'm not the only one. Shall we have zero tolerance day - where we all let people know that their anti-social behaviour is not acceptable? I told two blokes off for swearing on front of Rosie the other day (every other word of their conversation began with F); I am glad to hear that they were suitably contrite about their behaviour and aoplogised. There was an article recently in The Mail about a columnist who spent some time (a month I think) doing exectly that) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Years ago I was walking along with son (in pushchair) and my toddler daughter by my side when a car pulled up at the traffic lights. The bottle blonde early chavette front seat passenger wound down the window and tossed a lighted cigarette end out and it bizzarely landed in the pushchair (no harm done thank heaven.) I picked it up an threw it back in the car....it landed on her lap and there was much squawking and jumping about. I calmly crossed the road with the green man and walked away. Not a word was said. I hope she learned a lesson. I would do the same again...no matter how big and ugly the perpetrator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Phil you are so right. I am torn between being appalled at what they 'allowed' to happen, and distress at what they must be going through. I hold my hand up that I also do take calculated risks, as you rightly pointed out. I think it is easy to partially blame them purely through my own distress and fear that the same could happen to mine. It's such an awful thing to happen, I immediately want to try to rationalise it and apportioning blame (rightly or wrongly) is part of that process. I feel so sorry for them and cannot even begin to imagine what they must be feeling. Just pray that little Madelaine is found safe and well very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I think you may be spot on snowy.. when these things happen, it is an instinctive reaction to blame the parents - reason being that we cannot contemplate the same happening to us - and so we reassure ourselves by convincing ourselves that it is not a random act of unavoidable tragedy - but a perfectly preventable eventuality - and it makes us feel better because then we can rest easy that it is all somehow still in our control if we don't make the same mistakes they did. in short - it is easier (and more reassuring) to blame the parents than it is face up to the fact that world has random, malicious and unstoppable acts of cruelty and tragedy in it... cos if we think about that too long - we'd never let our children out of our sight. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolinep Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 MR BMW/MERC SALESREP...couldnt give a monkey's about anyone else and just stays in the 3rd lane the whole time And on the phone slightly drifting across lanes... and picking his nose and flicking fag ash out the window at the same time grrrrrrrrrrrrrr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 I am torn between being appalled at what they 'allowed' to happen, and distress at what they must be going through. I hold my hand up that I also do take calculated risks, as you rightly pointed out. I think it is easy to partially blame them purely through my own distress and fear that the same could happen to mine. It's such an awful thing to happen, I immediately want to try to rationalise it and apportioning blame (rightly or wrongly) is part of that process. I feel so sorry for them and cannot even begin to imagine what they must be feeling. Just pray that little Madelaine is found safe and well very soon. I agree Snowy...... We met up socially with friends over the weekend and Madeleine's disappearance was a major topic of discussion as you might imagine. These points of view were put forward, and have some merit I think: 1. Calculated risks....yes we all take them from time to time, based on what seems to be the best thing to do all round. 2. If Madeleine's parents had been from a different ( lower) socio economic group, would society be so sympathetic, or would we be baying for their blood. Hard to answer that one. 3. One friend put this point forward and I agree with him....how many of us would tuck our 3 tiny children in to bed and then leave them completely alone and go to dinner with people 4 or 5 doors away? Hands up all forum members who would do that. Apart from anything else....it would be against the law to do so and social services would have plenty to say. Most calculated risks, ie allowing a 9 year old child to go to a shop 300 yards away are not illegal, and can be seen as a preparation for life. The whole situation is absolutely hideous and we can only pray for a happy outcome. No punishment meted out to her parents can come close to what they are enduring now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
