Is “ding dong ditching” a rite of passage? And would you be mad?
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Anonymous
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This past weekend a small group of three sets of parents and a five co-ed 13yos got together for a bonfire. At one point just after dusk, the kids asked to go for a walk. About a half-hour later they returned and the evening progressed normally.
Last night my DD confessed that the boys had initiated DDDing, and she had participated. They rang and ran from a few houses a couple blocks over, but only one man confronted them and told them to “f’ing get lost”. DD was worried what we would have done if the police had showed up. I think she was worried they still might, as I was discussing with DH about how someone had posted to our local FB group about her bowl being stolen by trick or treaters, and how it included a picture of the kids with pumpkin emojis covering their faces. I thought long and hard about it, but told her I wasn’t sure. She asked if I ever did it and I said yes, though we did it in the middle of the night, which was much more rude than 7pm. I also explained that it is dangerous in general, because you never know who might be behind the door or how mad they might become, or if they might use weapons. In all honesty, I think it’s a fairly benign rite of passage, but that you can’t trust anyone anymore. I’m curious what you all think? |
Anonymous
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I would tell my kids it’s really stupid. So many people have ring doorbells and other outside cameras so it’s not anonymous like when we were growing up. And depending where you live, it could be risky. I’d also tell them it’s annoying and they should be more considerate.
But it’s pretty benign. I mean Amazon rings your doorbell every time you get a package. And the police don’t have time to chase down some kids for a harmless prank. I wouldn’t be mad. |
Anonymous
| Wow, sure not a huge deal but definitely a jerk thing to do and reflects poorly on you as the family. |
Anonymous
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Yes and yes.
God knows I did it with friends back in the day. And we were being jerks and eventually got in trouble for it.  But nowadays with all the wackos with guns, it’s not safe.
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Anonymous
| I never did it, I wouldn't be mad if someone did it to me, it DS and his friends did it to each other's houses .... fine, I'd be less than thrilled if they did it to friends who weren't in the group and even less happy if they did it to strangers. |
Anonymous
A neighbor girl tried that with us. She had been acting mean and bullying my DD. We were keeping our distance and ignoring it. She had some mean girls having a sleepover at her home (who were strangers to us and our DD). and they decided that it would be funny if they would do that to my DD. My DH strode to her house after them, pushed open the door, walked in to these giggling girls and the startled parents and complained about what the girls did. The mother stuttered that it was just kids being naughty. My DH replied if tomorrow they burn a cross in our yard do you think it will just be a prank? And then he strode right back. Parents came and apologized. And all of them remain straightened out for the rest of their time on Earth. For reference - all the girls were White. We are POC and immigrants. And not Christians. |
Anonymous
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I never did it because it's not funny. I mean, what is the joke? You made the dog bark haha? Pitiful.
I think it's fairly benign in that you aren't hurting anyone. Most people don't answer their doors now anyway. But it's dumb, plus you should assume you'll be caught on camera. |
Anonymous
k that's an unhinged escalation |
Anonymous
| My doorbell doesn't work so its fine by me |
Anonymous
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The 7th and 8th graders in my neighborhood absolutely love to do this to each other. I don’t get it, but they think it’s hilarious and very fun.
I know they will grow out of it because their older siblings did it before them and moved on to greater and more mature things. |
Anonymous
| On an unrelated note, why isn't TPing someone's house a thing anymore? |
Anonymous
| Who answers the doorbell in 2024? |
Anonymous
+1 pretty much everything he did was a crazy escalation including barging into a neighbors house. Some might even call that breaking and entering. |
Anonymous
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No, this is irresponsible, dangerous, and sign of poor upbringing.
They can end up on ring cameras. I’d assume they are selling something, but if saw a group of kids doing this in my neighborhood - I’d call the police. Those under 65 don’t answer the door anymore, true, but think of that old 83 yo who struggles to get to the door and falls. |
Anonymous
Bc it’s trespassing and illegal and people have cameras to ID the idiots |