Man with no kids at playground

[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.

You know he has a record? I am so confused.

Yes, if he is a convicted child abuser who has an order to stay away from playgrounds of course that changes everything. But where did you learn this “fact”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sums up what is so frustrating with our society. There used to be some semblance of a common good where one individual didn’t get to take over a space that was intended for another group.

A public playground is for kids plain and simple. There are plenty of places a grown man can circle around without making parents nervous. By being there he is sucking out the pleasurable enjoyment of the playground for many parents and kids because everyone is on edge. Same for people with big dogs who think it is cute to bring the dog in and use the playground equipment and drug addicts using be playgrounds.

This really affects poor and middle class families who can’t afford to pay for indoor play experiences and /or who don’t have backyards.

THIS. Take your dog to the dog park and go walk yourself on a walking path, not creepily in circles around a playground

Op I would be upset too. Call the police non emergency number.

If, as people seem to surmise, the man (who has done nothing wrong) has intellectual or developmental disabiliies, the playground is a safe place for him too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You know he has a record? I am so confused.

Yes, if he is a convicted child abuser who has an order to stay away from playgrounds of course that changes everything. But where did you learn this “fact”?

dude, I said “consider” like it was a possibility. Where the hell did I say I knew he had a record? I said consider if he does. Don’t be obtuse. And I was also talking to the point of you saying it’s public so anyone can be there which is not true. wow.

[Anonymous]

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

Dear, the question is, what law prohibits it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You know he has a record? I am so confused.

Yes, if he is a convicted child abuser who has an order to stay away from playgrounds of course that changes everything. But where did you learn this “fact”?

dude, I said “consider” like it was a possibility. Where the hell did I say I knew he had a record? I said consider if he does. Don’t be obtuse. And I was also talking to the point of you saying it’s public so anyone can be there which is not true. wow.

That’s not how that grammatical construction works. When you say “consider the fact . . .” It means “think about this thing that is established as true.” For example, if I say “consider the fact that a person with IDD is 7 times more likely than you are to experience sexual assault. . . “ that would be the correct use.

It’s not normal to use grammar that badly. Maybe someone should lock you up, because people who don’t behave normally shouldn’t be allowed around children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You know he has a record? I am so confused.

Yes, if he is a convicted child abuser who has an order to stay away from playgrounds of course that changes everything. But where did you learn this “fact”?

dude, I said “consider” like it was a possibility. Where the hell did I say I knew he had a record? I said consider if he does. Don’t be obtuse. And I was also talking to the point of you saying it’s public so anyone can be there which is not true. wow.

That’s not how that grammatical construction works. When you say “consider the fact . . .” It means “think about this thing that is established as true.” For example, if I say “consider the fact that a person with IDD is 7 times more likely than you are to experience sexual assault. . . “ that would be the correct use.

It’s not normal to use grammar that badly. Maybe someone should lock you up, because people who don’t behave normally shouldn’t be allowed around children.

You are an actual idiot. You knew exactly what I meant.

[Anonymous]

“You are an actual idiot. You knew exactly what I meant.”

I must be an actual idiot as well, because I’ve never heard the usage you suggest.
“Consider the fact” doesn’t sound like someone discussing possibilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“You are an actual idiot. You knew exactly what I meant.”

I must be an actual idiot as well, because I’ve never heard the usage you suggest.
“Consider the fact” doesn’t sound like someone discussing possibilities.

NP. It was obvious in context that PP was not asserting that he had a criminal record, but was asking the reader to entertain that possibility.

[Anonymous]

“NP. It was obvious in context that PP was not asserting that he had a criminal record, but was asking the reader to entertain that possibility.”

I’m not trying to be argumentative or pedantic, but I have literally never heard anyone say “consider the fact” unless the fact was established.
So, “consider the fact” in this situation just struck me as unusual.

[Anonymous]

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

I am not a fan of random men in playground areas. That said, public playgrounds are usually part of public parks and open to the public. Suspicious behavior can be reported, but simply being an adult in a public space isn't a crime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

I am not a fan of random men in playground areas. That said, public playgrounds are usually part of public parks and open to the public. Suspicious behavior can be reported, but simply being an adult in a public space isn't a crime.

This is the best take I’ve seen on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

I am not a fan of random men in playground areas. That said, public playgrounds are usually part of public parks and open to the public. Suspicious behavior can be reported, but simply being an adult in a public space isn't a crime.

While public parks are certainly open to the public, courts have found that it is in fact legal to pass ordinances that restrict a tiny bit of the park, such playgrounds to kids 12 and under and their caretakers. Many jurisdictions do just that because of situations like the OP describes. It sets parents on edge to have a grown man circling the playground equipment repetitively. The adult can circle the outside of the playground all they want and walk all over the park. It doesn't matter if there adult male has a disability or not. OP never stated if he did or not.

The other factor is that play equipment is safety designed at most city parks for ages 5-12 (with separate equipment for younger kids). Adults using standard ages 5-12 playground equipment like swings and slides can often cause the chain or plastic to prematurely wear and break.

If cities want playgrounds for all ages then they should be specifically built with specialized equipment for larger weight loads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

I am not a fan of random men in playground areas. That said, public playgrounds are usually part of public parks and open to the public. Suspicious behavior can be reported, but simply being an adult in a public space isn't a crime.

While public parks are certainly open to the public, courts have found that it is in fact legal to pass ordinances that restrict a tiny bit of the park, such playgrounds to kids 12 and under and their caretakers. Many jurisdictions do just that because of situations like the OP describes. It sets parents on edge to have a grown man circling the playground equipment repetitively. The adult can circle the outside of the playground all they want and walk all over the park. It doesn't matter if there adult male has a disability or not. OP never stated if he did or not.

The other factor is that play equipment is safety designed at most city parks for ages 5-12 (with separate equipment for younger kids). Adults using standard ages 5-12 playground equipment like swings and slides can often cause the chain or plastic to prematurely wear and break.

If cities want playgrounds for all ages then they should be specifically built with specialized equipment for larger weight loads.

Parents go on playground equipment all the time when they're there with their kids. If you stood at any playground near us for an hour you'd see an adult on the slides and swings at least a couple of times. You're vastly underestimate the strength and durability of playground equipment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

I am not a fan of random men in playground areas. That said, public playgrounds are usually part of public parks and open to the public. Suspicious behavior can be reported, but simply being an adult in a public space isn't a crime.

While public parks are certainly open to the public, courts have found that it is in fact legal to pass ordinances that restrict a tiny bit of the park, such playgrounds to kids 12 and under and their caretakers. Many jurisdictions do just that because of situations like the OP describes. It sets parents on edge to have a grown man circling the playground equipment repetitively. The adult can circle the outside of the playground all they want and walk all over the park. It doesn't matter if there adult male has a disability or not. OP never stated if he did or not.

The other factor is that play equipment is safety designed at most city parks for ages 5-12 (with separate equipment for younger kids). Adults using standard ages 5-12 playground equipment like swings and slides can often cause the chain or plastic to prematurely wear and break.

If cities want playgrounds for all ages then they should be specifically built with specialized equipment for larger weight loads.

Parents go on playground equipment all the time when they're there with their kids. If you stood at any playground near us for an hour you'd see an adult on the slides and swings at least a couple of times. You're vastly underestimate the strength and durability of playground equipment.

Doesn't mean they should though.

TBH, what OP describes would make me wary as well. Have none of you read The Gift of Fear? My 10yo is old enough to go to our neighborhood playground on thei own, but if I knew some random childless guy was always there lapping the playground then I probably wouldn't let them anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“NP. It was obvious in context that PP was not asserting that he had a criminal record, but was asking the reader to entertain that possibility.”

I’m not trying to be argumentative or pedantic, but I have literally never heard anyone say “consider the fact” unless the fact was established.
So, “consider the fact” in this situation just struck me as unusual.

I should have said “consider the possibility” But it’s a forum and not a paper I am being graded on like I’m a student so I really didn’t even think about it. But regardless, context would have made it clear that it was simply saying that it could be possible. But everyone knew what it meant-it’s DCUM and this reaction is just expected.