Bullied and Harassed by a group of teens girls at my pool today

[Anonymous]

I am an old woman and am so sad that this is what our society has come to.

Not really looking forward to the decades that lie ahead.

[Anonymous]

What happened, OP?

[Anonymous]

Different race? where did it happen?

[Anonymous]

There have always been mean teenage girls.

[Anonymous]

I don't want to go into too much detail.

They were making fun of me. Acting out right next to my lounge chair to intimidate me. I tried to just ignore them but it was very stressful and sad.

I finally said, "It is a shame you don't have anything better to do on a Sunday afternoon than bully an old woman who is probably the same age as your grandmother."

One later, when she was away from the others, apologized to me.

[Anonymous]

This has happened to me at the pool, too. It's hard because the kids are likely not so ill behaved on their own, but they get into packs and without any real adult supervision, they just do whatever they want and they don't care what a lifeguard or some stranger at the pool has to say. They do. not. care.

I try to just steer clear whenever possible but it does make me sad because I think it reflects one of the ways our society is just broken. You can't really expect, much less demand, basic courtesy from other people. If you do, you're the one who is entitled I guess? I don't understand. It makes me want to move to the wilderness and learn to hunt and grow all my own vegetables and invest in a generator.

[Anonymous]

I’ve noticed the teenagers this year at our pool seem especially ill behaved. At least they usually get tired of it a few weeks after opening and stop coming. I hope that is the case for you too OP and sorry you had to deal with that.

[Anonymous]

Why are you mocking this woman? She didn’t say a word about ethnicity or race. Are you one of the teenage girls? Sheesh.

[Anonymous]

Just for strategy if not to be a good influence, you want to confront them but also offer an off ramp of some kind. They’re just kids, learning the boundaries of what happens if they “break the rules.”

Try something like “hey, I feel think you’re making fun of me and it’s making me feel very uncomfortable.” That gives them a chance to deny it and stop or apologize and stop. What you said is a farther distance to an apology.

Of course, they’re in the wrong anywayand you don’t owe them any help. And of course, they might just double down. Just offering some language as a former teacher.

[Anonymous]

You should report it to the board of the pool (assuming it's a community pool) so they can tell the members in the newsletter. If I knew my kid was acting like that I'd do something about it.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for being kind.

I need that today.

[Anonymous]

I am sorry that happened to you. I teach middle school. Kids have gotten so much worse. Their parents will actually defend this behavior. It is a sad teflection if what our society has become.

[Anonymous]

I think your answer is very good. It is a shame that they can’t think of anything more positive e to do with their time. It really says something about someone’s personality when the only think they can think of to do is to tear someone else down. It’s sad for them and when you pointed it out, I wonder if any of them later thought to themselves that maybe it was a little sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry that happened to you. I teach middle school. Kids have gotten so much worse. Their parents will actually defend this behavior. It is a sad teflection if what our society has become.

What excuse would they use to defend this type of behavior? It's straight up rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should report it to the board of the pool (assuming it's a community pool) so they can tell the members in the newsletter. If I knew my kid was acting like that I'd do something about it.

+1

I’m sorry that happened, OP. I saw teens at the pool and one politely asked if they could have our table since we were leaving. All polite. But they wanted something from us.

Those who are teens now were stuck inside for 1.5-2 years during COVID and didn’t mature normally. They are immature and sometimes rude and bratty.

My older kid has noticed this immaturity in an inability of the younger kids to handle and resolve issues. Ninth graders were acting like sixth graders a few years ago and some probably still have growing up to do.