Went to the pool today. While there a young man either late teens or early 20's was picking up little boys in the pool and throwing them . Normally this is normal in a public pool. But in this case the man was alone and he was going over to children that had no supervision. ME and my sister stayed close to him to keep an eye on him. My Sister asked a young boy if he knew the man and the boy said no. When I went to talk to the Security Guard about him, he slipped away. But was able to give her a good enough discript. She remembered seeing him and she said she would keep him out if he ever came back . I told her that if someone ever touched my child they would have one heck of a mess to clean up and a body bag would be in order. So please never leave your child unattended !
Watch your kids
- Thread starter kinggabby
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jimm1
Member
David, thanks you for this post and thank you & your sister for being great concerned citizens.
Over Reaction
Sounds more like over reaction than good citizen to me....you didn't say that he ever said or did anything inappropriate...and I'm not sure how he (or you for that matter) would know that the children were unattended.
I take my grandkids to a public pool but usually don't get in the water with them but that doesn't mean they are unattended - both myself and my wife are watching them all the time, but unless you know us you might never know that.
Sounds more like over reaction than good citizen to me....you didn't say that he ever said or did anything inappropriate...and I'm not sure how he (or you for that matter) would know that the children were unattended.
I take my grandkids to a public pool but usually don't get in the water with them but that doesn't mean they are unattended - both myself and my wife are watching them all the time, but unless you know us you might never know that.
Dudley Young
Member
Sounds to me like if there was anything inappropriate going on the security guard should have noted it and acted accordingly. JMO
bitshird
Member
I think it would be fun to have some guy throw me up and into a swimming pool, but I'm pretty weird any way, did you notice him touching the children inappropriately?
As a Grandparent I can understand your concern, there are a lot of child abductions so this comes down to one of two things, either you ruined a bunch of fun for some kids, OR you may have saved a kids life! Any Idea which one???
As a Grandparent I can understand your concern, there are a lot of child abductions so this comes down to one of two things, either you ruined a bunch of fun for some kids, OR you may have saved a kids life! Any Idea which one???
beck3906
Member
Another concern should be that the young man, if truly a stranger to those children, would not have known anything about their medical conditions, fears etc. Having him throw the kids into the pool, while harmless sounding, could have triggered a severe reaction he may not have been aware of.
Parents
That's true...but if so why would their parents leave them in a position where something like that could happen....kids (and adults) tend to play around in swimming pools, it is part of swimming. If your child has some medical condition or fear that might cause a problem there...don't take the there.
That's true...but if so why would their parents leave them in a position where something like that could happen....kids (and adults) tend to play around in swimming pools, it is part of swimming. If your child has some medical condition or fear that might cause a problem there...don't take the there.
mbroberg
IAP Activities Manager, Emeritus
They didn't beat him to a pulp, they reported suspicious activity to the on -duty security guard. That is NOT an over reaction. That is exactly what any good citizen should do.
rjwolfe3
Member
Around here a lot of kids go to the pool without an adult. I won't let my kids but that doesn't seem to stop other parents. I don't even like my kids playing in the front yard without one of us checking on them. Things have changed since I was a kid. Some might think this is overreaction but I am a corrections officer at a state prison that has many, many sexual offenders in it who think they have done nothing wrong at all and given a chance will do it again.
Pool manners
I'm a little sensitive about this because a couple of years ago I was at a pool with my grandkids and playing around with them in the water....letting them stand on my knees and dive into the water...several other kids wanted to join in so I let them get in line and take their turn. One of the mothers approached and chastised me for "bothering" her child and I told her the child had approached me and if she didn't want the kid to dive off my knees tell the kid to stay out of the line. When she did that the kid got upset and left the pool crying...of course the woman now said to me "look at what YOU mad me do,,,why can't you grow up" she then complained to the life guard who told us we had to stop playing because it was "bothering" some of the other swimmers.
Now, I had not approached her child...I wasn't touching the child other than to let them hold my hands until they got stood up on my knees and were ready to dive (or jump) off. And, she was right there where she could see exactly what was going on. So she spoiled, her kids fun, my grand kids fun, several other kids fun and my fun so her kid wouldn't be associating with "a stranger"....there is such a thing as being too cautious.
I'm a little sensitive about this because a couple of years ago I was at a pool with my grandkids and playing around with them in the water....letting them stand on my knees and dive into the water...several other kids wanted to join in so I let them get in line and take their turn. One of the mothers approached and chastised me for "bothering" her child and I told her the child had approached me and if she didn't want the kid to dive off my knees tell the kid to stay out of the line. When she did that the kid got upset and left the pool crying...of course the woman now said to me "look at what YOU mad me do,,,why can't you grow up" she then complained to the life guard who told us we had to stop playing because it was "bothering" some of the other swimmers.
Now, I had not approached her child...I wasn't touching the child other than to let them hold my hands until they got stood up on my knees and were ready to dive (or jump) off. And, she was right there where she could see exactly what was going on. So she spoiled, her kids fun, my grand kids fun, several other kids fun and my fun so her kid wouldn't be associating with "a stranger"....there is such a thing as being too cautious.
No to sound bad but these children really had no parents with them at the pool. Which I see a lot . the come by themselves and leave by themselves. Not to say I know everything ( I don't ) but after a few hours at the pool you can tell who has supervision and who does not. The Guard did tell me she had concerns about the guy. She did tell me she should have kept a better eye on him. And yes he did go to the kids and was picking them up with out their permission . One child said I know you did not touch me ( don't think it was a sexual touch ) but it was unwelcomed. I think I would rather err in caution than to have something happen to a innocent child. MAybe I am wrong.
mbroberg
IAP Activities Manager, Emeritus
You are absolutely NOT wrong. God bless you and others who will get involved rather than just sit there and allow something tragic to happen. To much, "Not my problem, don't want to get involved" attitude in the world today.
bitshird
Member
The simple fact is it's a sad mixed up pathetic world which we inhabit today! 60 years ago I used to walk about 10 or 12 blocks to kindergarten, Now you can't let a child safely walk to the corner store. 55 years ago I used to go to the swimming pool in Las Vegas and stay until dark, then walk home about a mile and a half, 50 years ago I used to bring my shotgun to school, leave it in the cab of my pickup or the trunk of my car and go hunting after school, Now we see these shows on TV like Criminal Minds, Law and Order and the rest of this genera and wonder where they get the ideas for them. I think most of the ideas come from actual events that have happened, the more young people are seeing this some with a warped sense of accomplishment thinks I can do more heinous acts than those and I'm smart enough to not get caught. Yup we live in a sick world.
GaryMGg
Member
Absolutely.
I disagree
They did not describe any activity that looked suspicious to me...they described a late teen or early 20's kid playing in full view of everyone in the pool with some children...they did not describe inappropriate behavior or touching or attempting to lure the children away from the pool. That might sound like suspicious activity to you but it doesn't to me. It still seems like overreaction.
They did not describe any activity that looked suspicious to me...they described a late teen or early 20's kid playing in full view of everyone in the pool with some children...they did not describe inappropriate behavior or touching or attempting to lure the children away from the pool. That might sound like suspicious activity to you but it doesn't to me. It still seems like overreaction.
Me too
I started school in 1943...walked 2 miles to/from school (the first mile in the morning and the last mile after school alone) every day until I was in 4th grade when we moved and I only walked about 3/4 of a mile.
I also took my gun to school (on the bus in highschool) so I could go hunting after school and from age 10 or so I always had a pocket knife on me.
I started school in 1943...walked 2 miles to/from school (the first mile in the morning and the last mile after school alone) every day until I was in 4th grade when we moved and I only walked about 3/4 of a mile.
I also took my gun to school (on the bus in highschool) so I could go hunting after school and from age 10 or so I always had a pocket knife on me.
Involved
The other night on TV they had a perfect illustration of what this kind of thing does. A dog and a little girl were both set up to appear lost at a mall...the dog was resqued in about 3 minutes. The little girl was left looking sad and lost for over an hour although many people seemed to notice her plight. Why? because people were afraid that if they approached her they would be accused of being some sort of a pervert trying to get to a child. The sort of thing described here proves the folks who ignored her were right.
The other night on TV they had a perfect illustration of what this kind of thing does. A dog and a little girl were both set up to appear lost at a mall...the dog was resqued in about 3 minutes. The little girl was left looking sad and lost for over an hour although many people seemed to notice her plight. Why? because people were afraid that if they approached her they would be accused of being some sort of a pervert trying to get to a child. The sort of thing described here proves the folks who ignored her were right.