Man with no kids at playground

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are truly delusional. I will continue to trust my gut and teach my kids to watch for suspicious behavior as well. People do not have the right to act however they want in a society and expect others to adjust to them. Sorry, that is just not how it works. No one lives in a vacuum or total freedom. There are expected social norms and behaviors and if you deviate, know that you will be looked at suspiciously. Still your right to choose to behave oddly but it is also others right to be wary of you.

OP is welcome to be wary. She is welcome to watch her kids and the park. She is welcome to pick a different playground. She is welcome to remind her kids that she doesn’t want them to talk to strangers. She is welcome to pick a different activity.

But if she is asking whether her wary feelings justify putting someone at risk by calling police on them, or advocating for the individual to be excluded, that’s the line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This poor man, whose only crime is exercising his right to sit on a public park bench, has become public enemy # one by a crazy woman who thinks every male is a pedophile.

Personally, I cannot imagine why anyone would want to spend even one minute with the cacophony of American brats and their Karen mothers. It's a tossup as to which is more objectionable.

He’s not sitting on a park bench. learn to read.

Then blow him boo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are truly delusional. I will continue to trust my gut and teach my kids to watch for suspicious behavior as well. People do not have the right to act however they want in a society and expect others to adjust to them. Sorry, that is just not how it works. No one lives in a vacuum or total freedom. There are expected social norms and behaviors and if you deviate, know that you will be looked at suspiciously. Still your right to choose to behave oddly but it is also others right to be wary of you.

OP is welcome to be wary. She is welcome to watch her kids and the park. She is welcome to pick a different playground. She is welcome to remind her kids that she doesn’t want them to talk to strangers. She is welcome to pick a different activity.

But if she is asking whether her wary feelings justify putting someone at risk by calling police on them, or advocating for the individual to be excluded, that’s the line.

At risk? LOL

Who cares about the risk to the kids! Let's just worry about the man.

Men above women and their kids. amiright?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are truly delusional. I will continue to trust my gut and teach my kids to watch for suspicious behavior as well. People do not have the right to act however they want in a society and expect others to adjust to them. Sorry, that is just not how it works. No one lives in a vacuum or total freedom. There are expected social norms and behaviors and if you deviate, know that you will be looked at suspiciously. Still your right to choose to behave oddly but it is also others right to be wary of you.

OP is welcome to be wary. She is welcome to watch her kids and the park. She is welcome to pick a different playground. She is welcome to remind her kids that she doesn’t want them to talk to strangers. She is welcome to pick a different activity.

But if she is asking whether her wary feelings justify putting someone at risk by calling police on them, or advocating for the individual to be excluded, that’s the line.

At risk? LOL

Who cares about the risk to the kids! Let's just worry about the man.

Men above women and their kids. amiright?

Seriously…I can’t believe how many people on this thread are so focused on this man’s well being and willing to totally disregard the little children that may be in danger. It’s disgusting. If he isn’t doing anything wrong and has a good reason then what’s the problem? Why are you all so fixated on this man’s protection but not the kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are truly delusional. I will continue to trust my gut and teach my kids to watch for suspicious behavior as well. People do not have the right to act however they want in a society and expect others to adjust to them. Sorry, that is just not how it works. No one lives in a vacuum or total freedom. There are expected social norms and behaviors and if you deviate, know that you will be looked at suspiciously. Still your right to choose to behave oddly but it is also others right to be wary of you.

OP is welcome to be wary. She is welcome to watch her kids and the park. She is welcome to pick a different playground. She is welcome to remind her kids that she doesn’t want them to talk to strangers. She is welcome to pick a different activity.

But if she is asking whether her wary feelings justify putting someone at risk by calling police on them, or advocating for the individual to be excluded, that’s the line.

At risk? LOL

Who cares about the risk to the kids! Let's just worry about the man.

Men above women and their kids. amiright?

OP describes behavior that is common in people with IDD. People with IDD are 7 times as likely to experience sexual abuse as people without. They are highest risk in segregated settings and lowest risk in the community.

In addition, they have lower life expectancies in part because they are at risk for lifestyle related illness. So, finding ways to exercise safely and consistently is critical.

Finally, they are the group at highest risk of death in encounters with police.

Do men have privilege in our society? Yes, but the difference in privilege between a woman and a man is far less than the difference between someone with IDD and someone who is neurotypical.

So yes, at risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are truly delusional. I will continue to trust my gut and teach my kids to watch for suspicious behavior as well. People do not have the right to act however they want in a society and expect others to adjust to them. Sorry, that is just not how it works. No one lives in a vacuum or total freedom. There are expected social norms and behaviors and if you deviate, know that you will be looked at suspiciously. Still your right to choose to behave oddly but it is also others right to be wary of you.

OP is welcome to be wary. She is welcome to watch her kids and the park. She is welcome to pick a different playground. She is welcome to remind her kids that she doesn’t want them to talk to strangers. She is welcome to pick a different activity.

But if she is asking whether her wary feelings justify putting someone at risk by calling police on them, or advocating for the individual to be excluded, that’s the line.

At risk? LOL

Who cares about the risk to the kids! Let's just worry about the man.

Men above women and their kids. amiright?

Seriously…I can’t believe how many people on this thread are so focused on this man’s well being and willing to totally disregard the little children that may be in danger. It’s disgusting. If he isn’t doing anything wrong and has a good reason then what’s the problem? Why are you all so fixated on this man’s protection but not the kids?

Because some of us know, perhaps because of experience with our loved ones, that adults with IDD are as valued and loved and worthy of protection as small children. So prioritizing protecting the children, when there isn’t any risk to them, by putting a vulnerable adult in danger makes no sense.

My guess is that OP has the ability to just go to a different playground. It’s likely this man doesn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are truly delusional. I will continue to trust my gut and teach my kids to watch for suspicious behavior as well. People do not have the right to act however they want in a society and expect others to adjust to them. Sorry, that is just not how it works. No one lives in a vacuum or total freedom. There are expected social norms and behaviors and if you deviate, know that you will be looked at suspiciously. Still your right to choose to behave oddly but it is also others right to be wary of you.

OP is welcome to be wary. She is welcome to watch her kids and the park. She is welcome to pick a different playground. She is welcome to remind her kids that she doesn’t want them to talk to strangers. She is welcome to pick a different activity.

But if she is asking whether her wary feelings justify putting someone at risk by calling police on them, or advocating for the individual to be excluded, that’s the line.

PREACH

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some of you may be confused by “park” versus “playground” some parks also have playgrounds. And yes parks have all sorts of people doing all sorts of things (eating lunch, reading a book, taking a walk, exercising etc…) but to not acknowledge the strangeness of a grown man hanging around a play structure specifically for children is…questionable. I agree that maybe the situation is totally benign but it is strange if he does have a diagnosis like Autism or cognitive impairment and doesn’t have an obvious extra person with him. As though i’ve seen adults that meet this description at playgrounds before…i’ve never seen them without another person who was very obviously there with them.

As with anything that sets off alarms, I always like to err on the side of caution. It’s better to report it and have it turn into a completely innocent situation versus not reporting it and something terrible happens. Imagine something happens and being someone on this thread attacking OP for being concerned and urging them not to tell anyone.

It doesn’t matter. It’s public property. Anyone can be there.

Doesn’t make it normal behavior. And let’s consider for a second that he does in fact have a record. Some charges require you to be a certain distance from areas with children. So no, “everyone” cannot be there. Also people call about random parked cars on a street that look suspicious all the time. They are also not doing anything wrong and are on public property. Doesn’t mean it shouldn’t set off alarm bells when you see behavior that doesn’t fit the norm.

How do you know that this person has a record? OP never mentioned that.

And sorry, but "abnormal behavior" is not against the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are truly delusional. I will continue to trust my gut and teach my kids to watch for suspicious behavior as well. People do not have the right to act however they want in a society and expect others to adjust to them. Sorry, that is just not how it works. No one lives in a vacuum or total freedom. There are expected social norms and behaviors and if you deviate, know that you will be looked at suspiciously. Still your right to choose to behave oddly but it is also others right to be wary of you.

OP is welcome to be wary. She is welcome to watch her kids and the park. She is welcome to pick a different playground. She is welcome to remind her kids that she doesn’t want them to talk to strangers. She is welcome to pick a different activity.

But if she is asking whether her wary feelings justify putting someone at risk by calling police on them, or advocating for the individual to be excluded, that’s the line.

At risk? LOL

Who cares about the risk to the kids! Let's just worry about the man.

Men above women and their kids. amiright?

Seriously…I can’t believe how many people on this thread are so focused on this man’s well being and willing to totally disregard the little children that may be in danger. It’s disgusting. If he isn’t doing anything wrong and has a good reason then what’s the problem? Why are you all so fixated on this man’s protection but not the kids?

Because some of us know, perhaps because of experience with our loved ones, that adults with IDD are as valued and loved and worthy of protection as small children. So prioritizing protecting the children, when there isn’t any risk to them, by putting a vulnerable adult in danger makes no sense.

My guess is that OP has the ability to just go to a different playground. It’s likely this man doesn’t.

Why is no one protecting this man, then? Protection, in this case, means he is supervised and/or guided to walk in appropriate places. Round and round the equipment isn't appropriate. Small children dart out, run and jump around unpredictably at the playground...which they should be able to do safely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are truly delusional. I will continue to trust my gut and teach my kids to watch for suspicious behavior as well. People do not have the right to act however they want in a society and expect others to adjust to them. Sorry, that is just not how it works. No one lives in a vacuum or total freedom. There are expected social norms and behaviors and if you deviate, know that you will be looked at suspiciously. Still your right to choose to behave oddly but it is also others right to be wary of you.

OP is welcome to be wary. She is welcome to watch her kids and the park. She is welcome to pick a different playground. She is welcome to remind her kids that she doesn’t want them to talk to strangers. She is welcome to pick a different activity.

But if she is asking whether her wary feelings justify putting someone at risk by calling police on them, or advocating for the individual to be excluded, that’s the line.

At risk? LOL

Who cares about the risk to the kids! Let's just worry about the man.

Men above women and their kids. amiright?

OP describes behavior that is common in people with IDD. People with IDD are 7 times as likely to experience sexual abuse as people without. They are highest risk in segregated settings and lowest risk in the community.

In addition, they have lower life expectancies in part because they are at risk for lifestyle related illness. So, finding ways to exercise safely and consistently is critical.

Finally, they are the group at highest risk of death in encounters with police.

Do men have privilege in our society? Yes, but the difference in privilege between a woman and a man is far less than the difference between someone with IDD and someone who is neurotypical.

So yes, at risk.

She also described behavior common in predators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are truly delusional. I will continue to trust my gut and teach my kids to watch for suspicious behavior as well. People do not have the right to act however they want in a society and expect others to adjust to them. Sorry, that is just not how it works. No one lives in a vacuum or total freedom. There are expected social norms and behaviors and if you deviate, know that you will be looked at suspiciously. Still your right to choose to behave oddly but it is also others right to be wary of you.

OP is welcome to be wary. She is welcome to watch her kids and the park. She is welcome to pick a different playground. She is welcome to remind her kids that she doesn’t want them to talk to strangers. She is welcome to pick a different activity.

But if she is asking whether her wary feelings justify putting someone at risk by calling police on them, or advocating for the individual to be excluded, that’s the line.

At risk? LOL

Who cares about the risk to the kids! Let's just worry about the man.

Men above women and their kids. amiright?

Seriously…I can’t believe how many people on this thread are so focused on this man’s well being and willing to totally disregard the little children that may be in danger. It’s disgusting. If he isn’t doing anything wrong and has a good reason then what’s the problem? Why are you all so fixated on this man’s protection but not the kids?

Because some of us know, perhaps because of experience with our loved ones, that adults with IDD are as valued and loved and worthy of protection as small children. So prioritizing protecting the children, when there isn’t any risk to them, by putting a vulnerable adult in danger makes no sense.

My guess is that OP has the ability to just go to a different playground. It’s likely this man doesn’t.

We have absolutely no idea if this man has IDD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our society is so “tolerant” now that we have abandoned common sense and identifying abnormal behavior.

What happened to believing women and trusting your gut? Something about the situation feels off to OP. It does not have to be illegal to be wrong. OP is not trained to identify whether this is a threat or not so that is why you call the nonemergency police just to come check it out. It could be anything from an avid walker, a clueless man, a neurodivergent person or, it could be something worse. The police will figure it out.

The park is for everybody but people need to use common sense. The other day I was at the park and los of kids were playing when a gym bro set up his stretch bands and started stretching and exercising on the monkey bars. Was it illegal? No. But it was inappropriate and he was clueless. He moved when it appeared to click that kids were trying to play around him.

How in the hell is this "inappropriate" behavior by the gym bro? He is not "clueless." He is using equipment that is put there as a public service and open to the general public.

You sanctimommies need to build playgrounds in your own backyards if you are so afraid of everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are truly delusional. I will continue to trust my gut and teach my kids to watch for suspicious behavior as well. People do not have the right to act however they want in a society and expect others to adjust to them. Sorry, that is just not how it works. No one lives in a vacuum or total freedom. There are expected social norms and behaviors and if you deviate, know that you will be looked at suspiciously. Still your right to choose to behave oddly but it is also others right to be wary of you.

OP is welcome to be wary. She is welcome to watch her kids and the park. She is welcome to pick a different playground. She is welcome to remind her kids that she doesn’t want them to talk to strangers. She is welcome to pick a different activity.

But if she is asking whether her wary feelings justify putting someone at risk by calling police on them, or advocating for the individual to be excluded, that’s the line.

At risk? LOL

Who cares about the risk to the kids! Let's just worry about the man.

Men above women and their kids. amiright?

Seriously…I can’t believe how many people on this thread are so focused on this man’s well being and willing to totally disregard the little children that may be in danger. It’s disgusting. If he isn’t doing anything wrong and has a good reason then what’s the problem? Why are you all so fixated on this man’s protection but not the kids?

Because some of us know, perhaps because of experience with our loved ones, that adults with IDD are as valued and loved and worthy of protection as small children. So prioritizing protecting the children, when there isn’t any risk to them, by putting a vulnerable adult in danger makes no sense.

My guess is that OP has the ability to just go to a different playground. It’s likely this man doesn’t.

Why is no one protecting this man, then? Protection, in this case, means he is supervised and/or guided to walk in appropriate places. Round and round the equipment isn't appropriate. Small children dart out, run and jump around unpredictably at the playground...which they should be able to do safely.

Exactly. if he truly has IDD as some of you are assuming he shouldn’t be alone like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are truly delusional. I will continue to trust my gut and teach my kids to watch for suspicious behavior as well. People do not have the right to act however they want in a society and expect others to adjust to them. Sorry, that is just not how it works. No one lives in a vacuum or total freedom. There are expected social norms and behaviors and if you deviate, know that you will be looked at suspiciously. Still your right to choose to behave oddly but it is also others right to be wary of you.

OP is welcome to be wary. She is welcome to watch her kids and the park. She is welcome to pick a different playground. She is welcome to remind her kids that she doesn’t want them to talk to strangers. She is welcome to pick a different activity.

But if she is asking whether her wary feelings justify putting someone at risk by calling police on them, or advocating for the individual to be excluded, that’s the line.

At risk? LOL

Who cares about the risk to the kids! Let's just worry about the man.

Men above women and their kids. amiright?

OP describes behavior that is common in people with IDD. People with IDD are 7 times as likely to experience sexual abuse as people without. They are highest risk in segregated settings and lowest risk in the community.

In addition, they have lower life expectancies in part because they are at risk for lifestyle related illness. So, finding ways to exercise safely and consistently is critical.

Finally, they are the group at highest risk of death in encounters with police.

Do men have privilege in our society? Yes, but the difference in privilege between a woman and a man is far less than the difference between someone with IDD and someone who is neurotypical.

So yes, at risk.

She also described behavior common in predators.

No it’s not idiot

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are truly delusional. I will continue to trust my gut and teach my kids to watch for suspicious behavior as well. People do not have the right to act however they want in a society and expect others to adjust to them. Sorry, that is just not how it works. No one lives in a vacuum or total freedom. There are expected social norms and behaviors and if you deviate, know that you will be looked at suspiciously. Still your right to choose to behave oddly but it is also others right to be wary of you.

OP is welcome to be wary. She is welcome to watch her kids and the park. She is welcome to pick a different playground. She is welcome to remind her kids that she doesn’t want them to talk to strangers. She is welcome to pick a different activity.

But if she is asking whether her wary feelings justify putting someone at risk by calling police on them, or advocating for the individual to be excluded, that’s the line.

At risk? LOL

Who cares about the risk to the kids! Let's just worry about the man.

Men above women and their kids. amiright?

Seriously…I can’t believe how many people on this thread are so focused on this man’s well being and willing to totally disregard the little children that may be in danger. It’s disgusting. If he isn’t doing anything wrong and has a good reason then what’s the problem? Why are you all so fixated on this man’s protection but not the kids?

Because some of us know, perhaps because of experience with our loved ones, that adults with IDD are as valued and loved and worthy of protection as small children. So prioritizing protecting the children, when there isn’t any risk to them, by putting a vulnerable adult in danger makes no sense.

My guess is that OP has the ability to just go to a different playground. It’s likely this man doesn’t.

Why is no one protecting this man, then? Protection, in this case, means he is supervised and/or guided to walk in appropriate places. Round and round the equipment isn't appropriate. Small children dart out, run and jump around unpredictably at the playground...which they should be able to do safely.

Exactly. if he truly has IDD as some of you are assuming he shouldn’t be alone like that.

People with IDD are most at risk from "supervisors". If someone is capable of doing things safely in public, then that's the safest option for them. Often that ability is built in small incremental steps, just like it is for children. Perhaps this person walks at the playground because it's within view of where he lives. Perhaps he walks at the playground because he isn't consistently able to cross driveways and streets, so walking around the block isn't safe for him.

People with IDD travel alone in their communities, work in their communities, and participate in things like exercise in their community alone all the time. As is their right.