If someone screams at your child in public

[Anonymous]

1. Your child should have been standing on the right on the escalator. If they stand single-file on the right, there is no way they can step on someone’s foot.

2. If your child was “intimidated by crowd rushing fast,” you need to choose a different time to travel, teach them about being aware of their surroundings and keeping up with the flow of traffic, AND board the escalator with your entire family group, rather than let older kid forge ahead while you trail several people behind with your younger kid.

Welcome to DC in the summer. We don’t give a flying Ford Festiva where you’re from or what you look like, as long as you stand right-walk left.

[Anonymous]

DCUM has a lot of crazy too.

[Anonymous]

Your kid got on the escalator alone because you couldn’t keep up? Was the child standing on the correct side?


OP do better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are people who teach children manners and both you and your child should enroll in these classes.

Kid's mother was a bit behind with a toddler and shouting guy didn't give anyone chance to say anything let alone apologize.

OK, so it was not you and your kid.

MYOB. You are not the main character here. I also like how you added the immigrant part to drum up who knows what kind of comments.

Metro escalators can be dangerous. No one wants to be stepped on. By anyone.
It is also very hot and folks are cranky.

Mother should not be a bit behind. She should be with kid, holding kid's hand.
If you bring your kids on the metro, keep them at close hold and be responsible.

[Anonymous]

How would angry foot man know that the kid is an immigrant?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kid steps on my foot? I’m going to react! I don’t care if it’s blue Cookie Monster. For all you know the person has nerve pain, a bruise, a broken toe. And with no injury it’s still rude AF to step on a foot.

This. You may have rebroken a healing broken bone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The general public is crazy. There are three places the general public will be encountered: the dmv, metro and highway rest stops. Teach your child that when they encounter crazy, they should move on. A single apology should suffice, but if your child doesn’t get a chance, it shouldn’t make a dent in their day. Just be grateful that your child isn’t the crazy.

This. Maybe it was discrimination. Maybe this person would have reacted this way to a child of any ethnicity. Either way, most people don't scream in response to something so minor. If you encounter someone who does, it's safest to not engage beyond an apology. Since there was no opportunity for an apology, moving on is a good response.

It sounds like that family and you reacted appropriately by moving on.

[Anonymous]

The reaction sounds inappropriate and not how I would react, especially if the kid is pretty young and it was accidental, but people are crazy out there. ESP in situations with crowds and stress. Some people are looking for a reason to “crash out,” as the kids say. So just explain to the kid to try to be careful but accidents happen- adults bump into each other all the time, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If during rush hour on metro escalators, an elementary age kid accidentally puts foot over someone else's foot, is it normal for the other person to rudely scold them or is it discrimination because kid is a minority immigrant?

It’s not normal.

Not sure how it’s discrimination, though. Discrimination involves making a choice. When you choose French fries as your side dish you have discriminated against onion rings or salad, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCUM has a lot of crazy too.

lol yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid steps on my foot? I’m going to react! I don’t care if it’s blue Cookie Monster. For all you know the person has nerve pain, a bruise, a broken toe. And with no injury it’s still rude AF to step on a foot.

This. You may have rebroken a healing broken bone.

+1. My toes are extremely painful right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If during rush hour on metro escalators, an elementary age kid accidentally puts foot over someone else's foot, is it normal for the other person to rudely scold them or is it discrimination because kid is a minority immigrant?

It’s not normal.

Not sure how it’s discrimination, though. Discrimination involves making a choice. When you choose French fries as your side dish you have discriminated against onion rings or salad, for example.

Seems like it was anything but discrimination. Your kid stepped on his foot.

[Anonymous]

Look, I take the metro daily and have been screamed at (truly screamed at) when the other person is in the wrong. Or if they’re frustrated that there are a lot of people and I just happen to be the person in front of them. (Same goes for drivers who just honk and honk during slow downs— why?!) Sometimes it’s because I was unlucky to be in the vicinity of a mentally unstable person and I caught their eye. Some folks are truly looking for a fight and if you give them any reason, like accidentally stepping on a foot, they will freak out.

It happens. Tell the kid they’re safe and MOVE ON.

[Anonymous]

I suspect the man loudly reprimanded the child, and everyone nearby heard.

Screaming, I would project my voice loudly, inhaling deeply to make my voice louder. Everyone near (on the escalator) and far (on the train platform) could hear, and everyone would turn towards the screaming voice to see what was going on.

I highly doubt this person was screaming. I don't see anything wrong with loudly reprimanding the kid. It's OK for a kid to get scared sometimes. Next time, they will probably stay close to their mother and pay more attention. And mother should learn, oh, I need to keep my kid closer to me next time. Mother should have her child apologize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid steps on my foot? I’m going to react! I don’t care if it’s blue Cookie Monster. For all you know the person has nerve pain, a bruise, a broken toe. And with no injury it’s still rude AF to step on a foot.

This. You may have rebroken a healing broken bone.

If you’re so fragile a child accidentally stepping on your foot could break you, you don’t belong on public transportation.