Man with no kids at playground

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See something, say something

Except there’s nothing to see. Is it a public playground? Is he doing anything illegal?

A man pacing around a playground? That is something to see. Whether he is "doing anything illegal" or not. Report it, OP. Let the police decide how to handle it.

Men without kids should never be allowed at a kids playground.

keep digging.

[Anonymous]

Exactly what law gives this man any right to just wander around a children’s playground without kids??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need more information. How old is he? Does he just walk or does he do anything else (look at a phone, listen to music, etc.)? Is he dressed appropriately for the weather/activity? Do you get the impression that he's mentally disabled or on the spectrum?

I'm a prosecutor and my initial thought is that he is cognitively disabled or on the spectrum and that he enjoys the playground, but doesn't appreciate that his behavior is alarming to others. Walking around in a small area draws attention to him, which is something that you wouldn't expect an actual child predator to do.

That's a lot of assumptions there. Your law school should have taught you better.

Um, the weird assumption is that he's a predator. Like WTAF, jump to conclusions, why don't you.

[Anonymous]

[img]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need more information. How old is he? Does he just walk or does he do anything else (look at a phone, listen to music, etc.)? Is he dressed appropriately for the weather/activity? Do you get the impression that he's mentally disabled or on the spectrum?

I'm a prosecutor and my initial thought is that he is cognitively disabled or on the spectrum and that he enjoys the playground, but doesn't appreciate that his behavior is alarming to others. Walking around in a small area draws attention to him, which is something that you wouldn't expect an actual child predator to do.

That's a lot of assumptions there. Your law school should have taught you better.

Um, the weird assumption is that he's a predator. Like WTAF, jump to conclusions, why don't you.

NP. Same. It was also refreshing to see a prosecutor assume that the behavior was benign, not criminal.

[Anonymous]

what if its a woman who circles the playground?

[Anonymous]

It's a public place and he has as much right to be there as you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See something, say something

Except there’s nothing to see. Is it a public playground? Is he doing anything illegal?

A man pacing around a playground? That is something to see. Whether he is "doing anything illegal" or not. Report it, OP. Let the police decide how to handle it.

Men without kids should never be allowed at a kids playground.

His tax dollars are paying for this PUBLIC SPACE.

[Anonymous]

The worst part as a dad WITH kids at playgrounds are people in this thread.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I believe I have seen signs at playgrounds that indicate that the playground area is for children and their caregivers/parents. Other adults without children are not allowed. This seems appropriate to me and should be the rule at all playgrounds. I see no reason for a childless adult to be at a playground.

[Anonymous]

This man hasn't done anything wrong.

Don't look for trouble.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Is this like the Black birder in Central Park?

[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.

People who call about "suspicious" park cars are people the world would be better off without.