Dealing with moron neighbors
 

tl;dr cliffs at bottom...

We live in a great neighborhood. Our particular house is about three off the cul de sac ("cds"), but the cds is all good friends or at least friendly with each other. You come into the neighborhood on one road, and you make a right into the cds or left somewhere else. Diagram below, my house the X, other houses the O's (house in question an "E")...

. .. E . O
. .O . . ..O
. .O ..cds
. .. O .. O___________
. .. O ... (street in)
. .. X . O
. .. O . O

Hopefully that gives a good enough impression of how it's laid out. Anyway, the houses around the cds are filled with kids. The houses on the corner of "street in" and in the upper left corner (marked "e" instead of "o") are houses with teenagers, but the rest of the houses around the cds have 9 kids total between the ages of newborn and 5, and then there's our newborn and our 4 year old. The kids naturally are all friends and congregate in the cds and play constantly...pretty much 28 nights per month in the summer, kids are out playing in the cds.

Now, the house marked with an E has one teen who's just starting his senior year in HS, so naturally he and all his friends are drivers. He's great about stopping at the stop sign on the "street in" and haven't had issue with him, but his friends typically roll through it. Naturally this is extremely concerning when you've got tons of kids congregating in the street and playing.

Parents are all responsible, there's always parents watching the kids and getting them to the side of the road whenever a car is coming. One of the parents in the cds have good friends who lost a child to a back-over incident, so everyone is keenly aware of the dangers involved and acts responsibly. We've seen the HS kid's g/f run the stop sign, and after the second time it happened my wife went up and had a chat with her. End of problem.

So tonight Melanie (dw) and I are out with another couple (Frank and Tracy) and their 3 year old boy, who with Ainsley (our 4yo) are biking around the cds. It was getting dark and so we're paying more attention. So HS kid starts getting buddies congregating at his house. No problem. ...

Until one of them blows the stop sign and comes tearing around the corner at about 25 mph. Melanie and Tracy get this horrified look and start grabbing the kids while Frank and I scream at this kid (who had his windows open) to slow down. The kid comes to a dead halt and Frank goes over and yells at him that there's a stop sign, which the kid tells him he didn't see (first off, yeah right; secondly, not an excuse). Frank makes sure he will never forget there's a stop sign there.

So the kid goes in the house, and after about a minute the HS kid's mother comes out and starts standing around the yard looking like she's pissed off. We're getting the kids ready to go in at that point cause it's late and dark, but Frank goes over to talk to her to see what's up. Minute later, we hear Frank saying "Oh come on" (as we're walking away) and Janice (HS kid's mom) yelling at him "You don't have a leg to stand on!"

Um, excuse me???

I went back and reiterated what I heard Frank telling her, that she doesn't get to say that when a kid blows a stop sign around the corner. She's yelling at us that we shouldn't be out here when it's dark and "these kids are good kids!" (the ones in her house) To which Frank responds again that we're not the ones breaking a law, it's the kid that blew the stop sign that's breaking the law. Then she starts rambling on about how she doesn't care if it's their kids we're pointing fingers at, but that it's everyone in the cds who will be pointing fingers back at us.

???

Cause the other families who have small kids will jump to the defense of a HS kid who blows a stop sign coming around the curve at 25 mph??? When they all have little kids that play out in that same cds??? We just walked away at that point.

WTF goes through people's heads? Seriously, this is a woman who we've all gotten along with well and seems very nice and very intelligent. I'm really baffled at what she's thinking. How do you deal with something like this / reason with someone like this?

--------------------------------------------------------

tl;dr cliffs:
Kids playing in cul de sac in evening as it's getting dark. HS senior's friend runs stop sign at 25 mph around corner. We parents yell at him for this. Mother of HS senior's friend comes out and rambles on about how "we don't have a leg to stand on" and we shouldn't be out and have no right yelling at driver. WTF how do you deal with moron?

- C -

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

Shes on the rag, Senior comes in and tells a completely different side of the story, Hilarity ensues..

This is the only solution:

http://www.unconventional-airsoft.co.../tkwc-de-h.jpg

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

I'm not seeing the image that sonneti posted.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

I'd say at the very least you should try to get the homeowners' association and/or county to build aggresive speed bumps in your neighborhood.

It always pisses me off when people drive really fast through neighborhoods.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
Shes on the rag, Senior comes in and tells a completely different side of the story, Hilarity ensues..

This is the only solution:

http://www.unconventional-airsoft.co.../tkwc-de-h.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

Fix link pls...

We were wondering if he told her a different story, but she didn't even argue that he stopped at the stop sign or even flinch when we told her that. Serioulsy...
Being out in the street at 2 AM - legal if we want to.
Running a stop sign ever - illegal always.
We're not the ones going to federal-pound-you-in-the-ass-prison if HS dude runs over one of our kids cause he blew a stop sign. WTF is she on our ass about?

More particularly, how do you handle someone so clearly delusional? Particularly when the neighborhood has typically gotten along so well? Hey, this only isolates them, but still it sucks that it comes to that...

- C -

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'd say at the very least you should try to get the homeowners' association and/or county to build aggresive speed bumps in your neighborhood.

It always pisses me off when people drive really fast through neighborhoods.

[/ QUOTE ]

We're on vacation next week so we won't be here for a fast follow-up. But we'll definitely be approaching the HOA and will likely talk to the police about getting them out to catch drifters through that sign.

It pisses us off cause there are parents who live down the other side of the neighborhood that roll that sign. Most are good about it and we talk to anyone we see roll it, but still...there's no excuse. Everyone knows there's a dozen kids playing in that cul de sac regularly.

- C -

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

Yeah, I'm guessing the kid lied to her. Whatever, parents defend their kids beyond all boundaries of reason or logic. Videotape it and call the cops if you see him doing it again.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

I only read the cliff notes; Was mom or HS senior hot?

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

i have always been of the opinion that roads are for cars. people live in the suburbs and have yards for a reason. but it sounds like you guys are pretty responsible about moving the kids out of the street.

if it was me i would just blow it off and not talk to the woman anymore. if there was someone who was a repeat offender and was really being dangerous (i.e. you're not just being a nit, i have no reason to believe you are but that disclaimer is necessary) then i would consider complaining to the cops and having them nail somebody next time they blow through the sign.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

Not her kid, it was her kid's friend. I get the point, but want to clarify that in case it wasn't clear.

- C -

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

Instead of:

[ QUOTE ]
Frank and I scream at this kid

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
Frank makes sure he will never forget there's a stop sign there.

[/ QUOTE ]

Frank could be nice to the kid and probably get his point across better. Then that's the end of it.

Also, don't have your kids play in the street. Maybe when your kids are like 10 they can ride their bikes when it is dark in the street.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

also i should add that someone rolling a sign a hundred yards away is not cause to get upset. rolling = slowing down under 10 but not stopping. if they just blow through it and are going too fast that's one thing, which is what you described.

but keep in mind, 25 is probably the lawful speed in your neighborhood. so if he wants to accelerate back up to 25 after he goes through the sign, that's his right, and you need to have your kids out of the way.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

I don't understand exactly.

Your friend talked to the kid about running the stop sign, and then a few minutes later the adult in the house said kid went into comes out? Wouldn't this imply that the kid who ran the stop sign, for some odd reason, would mention this story to his friends mother? Why would someone tell the adult that they just ran a stop sign and got yelled at?

If its me being yelled at, I apologize and move along...I don't tell an adult what an idiot I am.

Err, the point of this post: Why did the mom come out? It makes no sense.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

Call the cops.

Embellish the story a little (It happens all the time, They gotta be doing 40, had to pull the kids out of way by the hair so they wouldnt get runned over)

Ask the cops if they wouldnt mind parking at the stop sign for the next few weeks.

The cops are usally understanding about this stuff and wont mind hanging out.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
i have always been of the opinion that roads are for cars. people live in the suburbs and have yards for a reason.

[/ QUOTE ]

I grew up on a court (cul de sac) in a suburb. I'm pretty sure most people actually living in that environment would disagree with you. All of the way through childhood, from whipping around on our Big Wheels to wiffleball games and tag football, playing in the street were common place. Of course, we were doing it in the fat end all of the way down the court and not on the corner, but I don't think play should be limited into only the yards of these residences.

[ QUOTE ]
if it was me i would just blow it off and not talk to the woman anymore. if there was someone who was a repeat offender and was really being dangerous (i.e. you're not just being a nit, i have no reason to believe you are but that disclaimer is necessary) then i would consider complaining to the cops and having them nail somebody next time they blow through the sign.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with everything here.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]


I grew up on a court (cul de sac) in a suburb. I'm pretty sure most people actually living in that environment would disagree with you. All of the way through childhood, from whipping around on our Big Wheels to wiffleball games and tag football, playing in the street were common place. Of course, we were doing it in the fat end all of the way down the court and not on the corner, but I don't think play should be limited into only the yards of these residences.

[/ QUOTE ]

oh i used to play in the street all the time when i was a kid too. but it was always with the understanding that it was primarily for cars, and i had to get the [censored] out of the way as soon as one was coming.

some people these days will scream at you for going the speed limit down the street when their kid is playing anywhere NEAR the street. when i was a kid, my mom would have yelled at ME to get the [censored] away from the road.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

My moron neighbours' kids play in our car parking area and make a boatload of noise in the early (7am-9am) morning and evening (4pm-8pm). Two of them are unable to speak below shouting volume, and often just bark like dogs. The other day I came round the corner and the dad gave one of them a slap round the ear for something and I was like BOOO YA in my head, he saw me and looked sheepish and I just thought "Give the little runt another one".

I am hardly the model neighbour so w/e. I still like to moan about it as much as possible. I'm not a dick to them or anything about it though.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

Ok lets see if I have this right, a kid that just learned to drive runs a stop sign and you get all over him because your pissed at your niehbor. The kid probibly felt pretty bad and but he honestly didn't see the sign so wtf??? The answer to your problem is simple:

1. Be a parent. Stop letting your kids play in the street. The street is for cars. Play on your lawn or go to a park.
2. Stop being a shity nitty neihbor or expect to get your house egged when you go away on vacation or worse broken into.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

http://ssgraphicsinc.typepad.com/pho...quick_sign.gif

Buy one of these, put it at the head of your cds when the kids are playing, problem solved.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
Ok lets see if I have this right, a kid that just learned to drive runs a stop sign and you get all over him because your pissed at your niehbor. The kid probibly felt pretty bad and but he honestly didn't see the sign so wtf??? The answer to your problem is simple:

1. Be a parent. Stop letting your kids play in the street. The street is for cars. Play on your lawn or go to a park.
2. Stop being a shity nitty neihbor or expect to get your house egged when you go away on vacation or worse broken into.

[/ QUOTE ]

god this post is [censored]

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
also i should add that someone rolling a sign a hundred yards away is not cause to get upset. rolling = slowing down under 10 but not stopping. if they just blow through it and are going too fast that's one thing, which is what you described.

but keep in mind, 25 is probably the lawful speed in your neighborhood. so if he wants to accelerate back up to 25 after he goes through the sign, that's his right, and you need to have your kids out of the way.

[/ QUOTE ]

1) We're irritated by rollers cause there are kids in the streets a lot. We live right across the street from that stop sign...someone rolling through there is still a hazard. That said, we're not all that concerned with them. We mention it to them but don't make a big deal of it.

2) The big deal is made about people that blow this sign at a speed high enough that they're putting people at significant risk. We don't let our kids play close to that intersection specifically cause we know people don't come to full stops. Still, someone coming around that corner as fast as he did? No joke, if my kid happened to be in the middle of the cul de sac when he took that corner, there's about a 95% chance that she'd be dead.

3) Checking on the speed limit in the cul de sac. That cds and road in general is short enough though that if you come to a complete stop, then speed up to 25, you're leaving tire marks on the road trying to stop in front of someone's house.

[ QUOTE ]
Call the cops.

[/ QUOTE ]

We are. Just found out tonight they have a hotline. We're encouraging the neighborhood to call it once a week till cops are out here ticketing on that corner.

We've also got a letter to the HOA ready for delivery tomorrow morning.

[ QUOTE ]
oh i used to play in the street all the time when i was a kid too. but it was always with the understanding that it was primarily for cars, and i had to get the [censored] out of the way as soon as one was coming.

[/ QUOTE ]

I absolutely agree with this and we always do. The issue here is that in the cds, there's a house on the corner so you cannot see when a car is coming up to the corner. When it gets there and stops we immediately get everyone out of the street. But someone tearing around that corner at full speed...there's no hope to get the kids out of the way in time.

[ QUOTE ]
Ok lets see if I have this right, a kid that just learned to drive runs a stop sign and you get all over him because your pissed at your niehbor. The kid probibly felt pretty bad and but he honestly didn't see the sign so wtf??? The answer to your problem is simple:

1. Be a parent. Stop letting your kids play in the street. The street is for cars. Play on your lawn or go to a park.
2. Stop being a shity nitty neihbor or expect to get your house egged when you go away on vacation or worse broken into.

[/ QUOTE ]

You don't have it right.

1) We were never pissed at her until she got huffy with us trying to defend a kid blowing a stop sign.

2) I don't care if you just got your driver's permit that day, it doesn't excuse you blowing a stop sign and taking a turn in a suburban neighborhood at full speed. There's NO excuse for that EVER.

3) We have as much right to the street as anyone else. This "streets are for cars" stuff is nonsense. Seriously, nonsense. I know cars are on the road. But rule #1 of the road is that pedestrians have the right of way. It isn't illegal for us to be out there playing, it isn't immoral, it isn't wrong in any way.

You sound like you're one of these kids blowing stop signs and fish-tailing suburban corners and thinking there's nothing wrong with it. Seriously dude, get a clue.

[ QUOTE ]
http://ssgraphicsinc.typepad.com/pho...quick_sign.gif

Buy one of these, put it at the head of your cds when the kids are playing, problem solved.

[/ QUOTE ]

We had an inflatable one. It popped recently. I'm pretty confident we'll be buying another - plastic - one soon. They'll probably get it before we get back from vacation.

- C -

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]

1) We were never pissed at her until she got huffy with us trying to defend a kid blowing a stop sign.


[/ QUOTE ]
You were annoyed enough to talk to her the first time about the friends running through the stop sign, so there was a history there as you said in OP. Your words not mine. "We've seen the HS kid's g/f run the stop sign, and after the second time it happened my wife went up and had a chat with her. End of problem."

[ QUOTE ]

3) We have as much right to the street as anyone else. This "streets are for cars" stuff is nonsense. Seriously, nonsense. I know cars are on the road. But rule #1 of the road is that pedestrians have the right of way. It isn't illegal for us to be out there playing, it isn't immoral, it isn't wrong in any way.


[/ QUOTE ]
Yes YOU as an adult has rights to the street but as a adult and a parent your kids at such a young age you should not be putting your kids in danger. The first time you saw someone run that stop sign shame on them, the second time shame on you. Does it take one of your kids getting hit by a car to get them in the yard where they belong????

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
3) We have as much right to the street as anyone else. This "streets are for cars" stuff is nonsense. Seriously, nonsense. I know cars are on the road. But rule #1 of the road is that pedestrians have the right of way.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is just plain wrong. Cars have the right of way in the street. Depending on state laws, pedestrians have the right of way in a crosswalk some of the time, and that's about it. That doesn't mean that a driver isn't often at fault if they hit a pedestrian, but as a person on foot, it is your duty to GET OUT OF THE WAY. That does not constitute the right of way.

You people think that because you can afford a house in the suburbs that normal traffic isn't going to pass through the street or something. If someone driving down your street at the legal speed limit creates danger for your children (which is what you just said), then YOUR KIDS SHOULD NOT BE IN THE STREET.

You have a driveway and a yard and lots of other places you can go. Sounds like you need to use them until your kids are nimble enough not to get splattered.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

This is a tough one. When you were the age or the kid driving the car, what would have made you do the responsible thing here? I'm guessing that your friend berating them is possibly not the best strategy.

I don't think your issue is really with the mother, is it, because you have no idea what the kid said to her.



[ QUOTE ]
No joke, if my kid happened to be in the middle of the cul de sac when he took that corner, there's about a 95% chance that she'd be dead.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not making a joke here, but at 25 mph it's more like 20%.



Source: U.K. Department of Transportation, Killing Speed and Saving Lives, London, 1987.

Speeding

Speeding is a major contributing factor in crashes of all types. In 2003, speeding was a contributing factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes. Speeding has serious consequences when a pedestrian is involved. A pedestrian hit at 64.4 km/h (40 mi/h) has an 85 percent chance of being killed; at 48.3 km/h (30 mi/h), the likelihood goes down to 45 percent, while at 32.2 km/h (20 mi/h), the fatality rate is only 5 percent. Faster speeds increase the likelihood of a pedestrian being hit. At higher speeds, motorists are less likely to see a pedestrian, and are even less likely to be able to stop in time to avoid hitting one.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

and by the tone of your OP i would bet pretty heavily that you guys were screaming at some 16 year old kid like vigilantes and you act like total dicks about this in person.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

Pedestrians only have the right of way to cross at corner, with or without crosswalks, and otherwise painted or marked crossings, not anywhere that they want. Also, right of way refers to crossing the street, not playing in it.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
2) The big deal is made about people that blow this sign at a speed high enough that they're putting people at significant risk. We don't let our kids play close to that intersection specifically cause we know people don't come to full stops.

[/ QUOTE ]

How bout not letting them play in the street period?

I won't drive in your yard, you don't play where I drive. Pretty easy.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
3) We have as much right to the street as anyone else. This "streets are for cars" stuff is nonsense. Seriously, nonsense. I know cars are on the road. But rule #1 of the road is that pedestrians have the right of way.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is just plain wrong. Cars have the right of way in the street. Depending on state laws, pedestrians have the right of way in a crosswalk some of the time, and that's about it. That doesn't mean that a driver isn't often at fault if they hit a pedestrian, but as a person on foot, it is your duty to GET OUT OF THE WAY. That does not constitute the right of way.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've never really understood all this "but pedestrians have the right of way" nonsense (even if they do have it). It's kind of like playing rock-paper-scissors, only the game is toddler-car. Car beats toddler every time.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

1) We were never pissed at her until she got huffy with us trying to defend a kid blowing a stop sign.


[/ QUOTE ]
You were annoyed enough to talk to her the first time about the friends running through the stop sign, so there was a history there as you said in OP. Your words not mine. "We've seen the HS kid's g/f run the stop sign, and after the second time it happened my wife went up and had a chat with her. End of problem."

[/ QUOTE ]

My wife talked to the HS kid's g/f, not the mother. And there was no disagreement there. My wife told her there's a stop sign and kids constantly playing, and the g/f apologized and it hasn't been an issue since. Where do you get that there's tension between us and the HS kid's mom in that? Especially since I started the post saying everyone in the cds gets along?

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
3) We have as much right to the street as anyone else. This "streets are for cars" stuff is nonsense. Seriously, nonsense. I know cars are on the road. But rule #1 of the road is that pedestrians have the right of way.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is just plain wrong. Cars have the right of way in the street. Depending on state laws, pedestrians have the right of way in a crosswalk some of the time, and that's about it. That doesn't mean that a driver isn't often at fault if they hit a pedestrian, but as a person on foot, it is your duty to GET OUT OF THE WAY. That does not constitute the right of way.

You people think that because you can afford a house in the suburbs that normal traffic isn't going to pass through the street or something. If someone driving down your street at the legal speed limit creates danger for your children (which is what you just said), then YOUR KIDS SHOULD NOT BE IN THE STREET.

You have a driveway and a yard and lots of other places you can go. Sounds like you need to use them until your kids are nimble enough not to get splattered.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're wrong NT (at least about VA), and you should check the laws in your state to make sure you know them.
http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/c...dm/vadm2-3.asp
Pedestrians: Generally, there are three types of pedestrians most often involved in accidents: children, the elderly and adults under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.


Be careful around schools, playgrounds and in residential areas where small children may be playing or crossing the street.

Look out for the elderly, who may have poor vision and hearing. Remember that they and people with disabilities will move slowly. Be aware of blind pedestrians crossing the street. Blind pedestrians usually carry a white cane or use a guide dog.

Be especially aware of pedestrians when making a right or left turn on red. They have the right-of-way. Allow pedestrians to completely cross the street before beginning your turn.

Be alert for pedestrians at all times. Slow down and be prepared to stop. Always yield the right-of-way.


This ignores the fact that the driver in question disregarded a stop sign which is illegal.

Again, we get out of the way when someone's coming. We don't expect that traffic should cease to exist in our streets, and we have no problem with people driving through that cds.

But they DO NOT have the right of way, and we have every right to get po'd at anyone disregarding stop signs and taking turns at full speed which puts people in danger.

[ QUOTE ]
and by the tone of your OP i would bet pretty heavily that you guys were screaming at some 16 year old kid like vigilantes and you act like total dicks about this in person.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not being a smart-ass here, I want to know cause I don't know you that well. Do you have kids? Off-the-cuff guess based on your response to this is that you don't.

You'd better believe I'm gonna get way far up someone's ass for doing what he did. That guy coulda put a 3/4 year old in the hospital tonight because of his being irresponsible. There is NO excuse for it. NONE.

My concern is not treating someone like that kindly and respectfully. I was a kid once, I used to drive like a moron too while I was trying to figure it out.

But I never, not once, did what he did; and he most definitely got the tone he deserved for it. If my kid was in the middle of the street when he did it, that kid's sitting in jail right now. He's lucky all he got was yelled at.

[ QUOTE ]
I've never really understood all this "but pedestrians have the right of way" nonsense (even if they do have it). It's kind of like playing rock-paper-scissors, only the game is toddler-car. Car beats toddler every time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Again, in case anyone missed the underlying point of this whole rant...

There is NOTHING dangerous about what we were allowing our kids to do if the driver obeys the law and stops at the stop sign. Hell, there's nothing dangerous about what we were allowing them to do if he rolls that stop at 5-10 mph. Him taking that turn at full speed makes it a terrible hazard.

- C -

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
and by the tone of your OP i would bet pretty heavily that you guys were screaming at some 16 year old kid like vigilantes and you act like total dicks about this in person.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the root of the entire fiasco.

OP: Your goal is to prevent risky driving by this kid?

Do you think screaming at him will solve your problem? You immediately put the kid in the defensive so he'll shut down and immediately think of ways to defend his position. He never gets a chance to see he was wrong because he wants to defend himself from being yelled at.

When the kid stops you go over and talk to him like an adult:

"Hey. I know you're a good kid and might have missed that stop sign on accident, but you really need to think about little kids that might be playing in the neighborhood. Just think if you had a little brother who was hit by a car or how devastating it would be to your life if you hit a 5 year old kid. I imagine you don't want a lecture from some old guy, so have a good time tonight but just be more aware in the neighborhoods. Thanks."

Then some other day you see the mom out in the neighborhood you have a nice chat and explain the situation to her.

How hard is this? Do you guys get enjoyment out of treating this kid like he came straight from hell?

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

Again the the main issue here that you're forgeting is that you're putting YOUR kids in danger by allowing them to play in the street given the history of drivers not stopping at the stop sign. Who gives a [censored] about the law???? The first time you saw someone run that stop sign shame on them, the second time shame on you. Does it take one of your kids getting hit by a car to get them in the yard where they belong????

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
But I never, not once, did what he did; and he most definitely got the tone he deserved for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

He might have deserved the tone, but it is not the best way to solve the problem. If he drives safer next time, it's not because he's worried about hitting a kid. He just doesn't want some old dude up his ass.

I would recommend:

http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friend.../dp/0671723650

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
You sound like you're one of these kids blowing stop signs and fish-tailing suburban corners and thinking there's nothing wrong with it. Seriously dude, get a clue.

[/ QUOTE ]

This happened in front of my house once. I live on a corner near the beginning of my neighborhood. I was standing outside the front door one day with my baby and someone in an old, blue sports car came barreling around the corner. Had to be going at least 50 MPH. He fish tailed and almost careened right onto my front yard. I walk my dog every day, and usually with the baby strapped to me. If I was walking there at that moment, all three of us would be dead.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

Some of you guys I guess think we're robots that don't have emotions and won't react in pretty human ways to something. I will be pretty calm and collected when people drive like normal people even if they don't stop at a stop sign. I'm not an idiot and contrary to some belief I'm not a life nit.

But this kid didn't even slow down to take that turn. It's not a matter of "just missing a stop sign" regardless of whether it's an accident or blatant disregard. I couldn't care less which of the two it was, no one should EVER be taking a turn at full speed, particularly in a residential neighborhood.

If you don't have kids, you have no hope of understanding the emotional reaction that takes place here, but try to put yourself in a parent's shoes for one second here. Your kids are out playing. Some kid rockets around a corner at a speed fast enough that if your kids are out in front of him, he has no hope of stopping in time. You have less than one second to get him slowed down to make sure he doesn't continue driving wrecklessly and hurt someone if your kids happen to be in his path (cause you can't see it's a kid when he comes tearing around that corner, you have no idea which house he's going to, so who knows what his path is).

You think you're gonna react calmly to something like that?

I don't think so. Every parent I know blows their lid, screams at them to get them slowed or stopped, and will not be calm when speaking to them. Human nature, and I'm not apologetic for it.

- C -

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

who the hell says "on accident".. is it a regional thing? i must know. i think i made a poll once...

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

Can you actually fishtail on a normal, non wet, road going 25. Also, am I the only one reading that website you linked as saying 'be careful at intersections, because peds have the right of way there to cross'? I don't thik its saying 'hey, let peds do what ever they want in the street, because hey, they have the right of way'.

I also think that letting 4 year olds play in the street, even when you're around is a supremely bad idea. Seems like it would reinforce their idea that they can play out there, whether or not you tell them not to without you watching them. It also seems like you're putting them in undue danger when you have a safe place, ie. sidewalk and driveway, for them to ride their bikes, especially when you're thinking young HS kids in the area are having a hard time stopping at the signs.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
Again the the main issue here that you're forgeting is that you're putting YOUR kids in danger by allowing them to play in the street given the history of drivers not stopping at the stop sign. Who gives a [censored] about the law???? The first time you saw someone run that stop sign shame on them, the second time shame on you. Does it take one of your kids getting hit by a car to get them in the yard where they belong????

[/ QUOTE ]

You're the kinda guy that tells a chick wearing a revealing outfit that it's her fault she got raped, right?

Do you think before you type/talk? Cause this is some pretty [censored] up logic.

- C -

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
But I never, not once, did what he did; and he most definitely got the tone he deserved for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

He might have deserved the tone, but it is not the best way to solve the problem. If he drives safer next time, it's not because he's worried about hitting a kid. He just doesn't want some old dude up his ass.

I would recommend:

http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friend.../dp/0671723650

[/ QUOTE ]


I disagree - I'm around this age and I drive like a maniac on big roads, but when I come to small residential areas, and I see kids playing even in their yards, I drive like the worlds biggest pussy (think cat, if the censored takes it out). Why? I don't know, I think its because of the cops that have come to our school to lecture us, and I'm just scared like hell of hitting a kid, and imagining what that would do to the child's life, the families life, and my life.

I think having some adult yelling at me that I could have just killed a small child would have the same effect on me.

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
But I never, not once, did what he did; and he most definitely got the tone he deserved for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

He might have deserved the tone, but it is not the best way to solve the problem. If he drives safer next time, it's not because he's worried about hitting a kid. He just doesn't want some old dude up his ass.

I would recommend:

http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friend.../dp/0671723650

[/ QUOTE ]

I've read the book...I don't need a lecture on that.

Honestly I couldn't care less why the kid drives like a normal, safe human being next time, as long as he's driving like a normal, safe human being. And I hope he tells the story to all his friends, cause as much as they might talk about us being dicks, they'll all want to avoid the same tongue-lashing when they come visit HS kid.

- C -

Re: Dealing with moron neighbors
 

I understand it's easy to get emotional. I would probably initially scream at the kid. If I had a chance to go talk to him face to face, I can't imagine I would keep screaming in his face because that doesn't make sense to me. I know what it accomplishes.... him telling an exaggerated story about you being an [censored]. I don't have kids so maybe I can't relate. I do have a brother who is 10 years younger than me so have some perspective of looking after a kid when I take him to a baseball game, movie, etc.

It's very true it's easy for me to say this sitting here. It takes some repetition in dealing with people in a calm rational manner all the time to be able to do so when your emotions are through the roof. You are worried about your kids safety and treating the kid like scum isn't the best way to make the situation better in the future.