This was a real post on my neighborhood listserv

[Anonymous]

I don't see many pinecones around this time of year. Do they normally fall from trees in the summer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kid SHOULD feel awful. That's how you learn not to do stupid stuff like throw things out of car windows. He could have hurt someone.

Oh dear lord. This really is Portlandia.

"Don't you know you could kill someone by thoughtlessly tossing a pinecone out the window?!? Or at least piss off some anger-management freak who happens to be driving past!!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, this is in Bethesda,

What is the listserve for Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see many pinecones around this time of year. Do they normally fall from trees in the summer?

They are everywhere, like germs and unvaccinated children. It's a jungle out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, this is in Bethesda,

What is the listserve for Bethesda?

I don't know why I'm commenting on the old, old, epic pinecone post, but you can't just snoop around listservs because you want to. You usually have to sign up because you live in the 'hood and then be approved by the administrator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, this is in Bethesda,

What is the listserve for Bethesda?

I don't know why I'm commenting on the old, old, epic pinecone post, but you can't just snoop around listservs because you want to. You usually have to sign up because you live in the 'hood and then be approved by the administrator.

I live in Bethesda. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, this is in Bethesda,

What is the listserve for Bethesda?

I don't know why I'm commenting on the old, old, epic pinecone post, but you can't just snoop around listservs because you want to. You usually have to sign up because you live in the 'hood and then be approved by the administrator.

I live in Bethesda. Thanks.

You know that there are lots of neighborhoods in Bethesda, right? Why don't you ask a neighbor what your listserv is?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PCL would feel humiliated reading all of these posts. But I guess that doesn't matter to you, OP. After all, it's only one person and it's her fault for posting in the first place, right?

Well, I'd say being personally humiliated and hopefully realizing your ill behavior, is better than going on with the same placating behavior concerning her son and pinecone throwing. Obviously it would be better that she realized her errors in the first place, but sometimes it takes a little humiliation to make us wiser. I don't necessarily think humiliation is a good thing, but sometimes it's necessary to wake us up.

+1000 - I've re-read the OP several times. Each time I notice something else that irks me about the entitled attitude of the mother. I live in Bethesda, God help me, and see this 'tude all the time. I hate it. But please, not all of us are like this.

Given the number of views on this post, I bet it ends up in major media where the experts and Middle America can weigh in.
This post gives a lot of insight into why our teachers hate dealing with the parents in Bethesda. Everyone has a precious snowflake who, to take the PCL's words in quotes, "accidentally" hits things from time to time. Everyone's child cries. Often "hysterically." Not many of us have 6-year-olds who are "careful" and "thoughtful." They are works in progress. They are that way SOMETIMES.

This TUDE is the problem -
"Unfortunately, my son was also left hysterically crying. He is six, he is careful, he is thoughtful. And while this man had his say, I just have to say, it would be appropriate at that point to allow the child to apologize. Which he wanted to do. It would have given him closure, and helped him to understand that he is not in trouble forever for a mistake.

If you feel the need to criticize a child's actions or mistakes, of course that is appropriate. I did not see him throw the pinecone, and I would not have known otherwise.

But to leave without allowing a response is, I believe, as inappropriate or more so than the original action.

Sorry to vent, but my son is STILL crying and I'm pretty annoyed right now.

We are all a neighborhood, and a conversation is always better than a one-sided venting, isn't it?"

NO, an ADULT who is not a parent does not need to have a CONVERSATION with a SIX-YEAR-OLD about throwing items at cars!

To be fair to the kid, I picture him digging, squirrel like, in the car, throwing things out between his legs, when the pine cone hit the car.

The entitlement in Bethesda and upper NW drives me crazy.

OMG this post captures everything that bothers me about Bethesda parents perfectly.

[Anonymous]

Pinecone thrower should be about 9 now. I wonder if his mom has any embarresmennt over her original post to the listsev?

[Anonymous]

holy dead post revival

[Anonymous]

Ah, still a great read in 2020 as it was the day out was written (chefs kiss).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ah, still a great read in 2020 as it was the day out was written (chefs kiss).

The pine cone thrower is now 13! I wonder if he still remembers and how he turned out.

[Anonymous]

Missed this thread the first time around. I wonder what type of things the mom is making excuses about these days. Probably throwing boulders from an overpass. "While my son was carefully removing some small stones from the pathway so people would not trip on them..."

[Anonymous]

None of this was a big deal. The pinecone, the need to apologize/agonize. The need to post on a list serve.

It was an accident. The "victim" was a dick. If he saw no damage, move the eff on. I'm not sure why everyone has to have a "say" about everything. The mom is a drama queen and whiner.

You are all annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Imagined response:

Dear Annie,

I was devastated to hear about the incident this morning. Poor Julian! I'm so glad you alerted the neighborhood so that we can be on the lookout for this man. Did you get his license plate number? What has the world become that our children can't even be in public places, without people saying hateful things. Actually, I just feel sorry for that man, can you imagine going through life filled with that much hate? You and Julian should take the time you need to grieve before you begin healing.

I was planning to email you this week to warn you about a troubling incident at the Gentle Friends Coop. You know I've always been a big supporter of Gentle Friends, and Maisie has blossomed there. But last week, I was sitting on a bench watching her play, and a little boy came up to her and said "YOU'RE NOT SPECIAL!" Can you imagine? I spoke to the director immediately, and she said it was "developmentally normal"! Well, we walked out the door and we're never going back. Maisie hasn't been sleeping well for the past few weeks. I thought she had been exposed to gluten, but now I know it was the trauma of being bullied. I'm trying to forgive myself for not attending all the Coop sessions. Now I know!

This parenting thing can be so hard sometimes! Hope I see you at yoga, it's a great stress reliever!

Kate

Never gets old!