Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 15:30     Subject: Middle schooler ragging on neighbor on bus
Teach your own DC to be aware of this kid's behavior. I teach my kids that if they see someone being mean to someone else, to take that info and keep it in their back pocket for future references. These are not nice people. Plenty of mean gossips around here, and they are the ones I want my own children to steer clear of.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 14:41     Subject: Middle schooler ragging on neighbor on bus
Anonymous wrote:Middle schoolers say thoughtless things to get laughs from peers. All the time. Even the nice ones. There's no reason for this kid to think it would ever get back to the person (the kid would probably be mortified if it did). If it's not something damaging or malicious, it's usually not intentionally hurtful.

I do think it's important to signal that it's not cool to talk about people like that, especially when you don't know them, just for attention. Depending on my relationship with the kids that told me about it, I might have casually said something like, "Oh, Ms. So-and-So? She's really nice. That's kind of obnoxious of that girl to say that." And then subject change.


I think that's a good approach.

Sorry, OP for all the other obnoxious responses. I think you had a fair question. Some of the PPs sound like they're still in MS. WTF?
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 14:31     Subject: Middle schooler ragging on neighbor on bus
Middle schoolers say thoughtless things to get laughs from peers. All the time. Even the nice ones. There's no reason for this kid to think it would ever get back to the person (the kid would probably be mortified if it did). If it's not something damaging or malicious, it's usually not intentionally hurtful.

I do think it's important to signal that it's not cool to talk about people like that, especially when you don't know them, just for attention. Depending on my relationship with the kids that told me about it, I might have casually said something like, "Oh, Ms. So-and-So? She's really nice. That's kind of obnoxious of that girl to say that." And then subject change.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 11:02     Subject: Middle schooler ragging on neighbor on bus
Anonymous wrote:Does the woman in question have a child on the bus? If so they may be bullying the kid. If not I would MYOB.


But if you have kids talk to them about being kind.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 11:01     Subject: Middle schooler ragging on neighbor on bus
Does the woman in question have a child on the bus? If so they may be bullying the kid. If not I would MYOB.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 10:49     Subject: Re:Middle schooler ragging on neighbor on bus
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why are you inserting yourself into middle school bus banter? Let them be. Middle schoolers make fun of everyone - who cares? They will grow out of it soon enough. Also, you are not this kid's mother, correct? So MYOB


I'm not "inserting" myself. Am I calling the principal? Am I talking to the middle schooler? Boy, the unemployed are sure not worth my time on this forum. Goodbye!

If I'm understanding, this is not your middle-schooler, you don't ride the bus (!), your neighbor is unaware -- this is NOTHING to do with you.

When the 2 middle schoolers came to you to say that this riveting information was shared on the bus, you should have said. "Huh. You know, it's not nice to talk about people when they aren't around. So, how's school going?"
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 10:43     Subject: Re:Middle schooler ragging on neighbor on bus
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why are you inserting yourself into middle school bus banter? Let them be. Middle schoolers make fun of everyone - who cares? They will grow out of it soon enough. Also, you are not this kid's mother, correct? So MYOB


I'm not "inserting" myself. Am I calling the principal? Am I talking to the middle schooler? Boy, the unemployed are sure not worth my time on this forum. Goodbye!


Bye!
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 10:43     Subject: Re:Middle schooler ragging on neighbor on bus
Anonymous wrote:Why are you inserting yourself into middle school bus banter? Let them be. Middle schoolers make fun of everyone - who cares? They will grow out of it soon enough. Also, you are not this kid's mother, correct? So MYOB


I'm not "inserting" myself. Am I calling the principal? Am I talking to the middle schooler? Boy, the unemployed are sure not worth my time on this forum. Goodbye!
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 10:42     Subject: Middle schooler ragging on neighbor on bus
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Give us the quirk or a good analogy.


She sometimes makes an unusual sound when out in her yard. Guessing she's using it to call in a pet or chase off an animal. Nothing loud. This is a suburban neighborhood so its not like people are living on top of each other. Point being, kid does not need to share this with the entire bus.


That is way to boring for it to be interesting to middle schoolers. The sharer of the information will quickly move on to another topic to keep her audience better entertained.


Agreed but she sure did get a reaction from my two middle schoolers who thought it was "hilarious". She'll just move on to the next thing to embarrass someone, whether it's a student or a neighbor, because she's finding that she's getting lots of laughs out of gossipping and ragging on people. Like I said, I do believe what goes around, comes around.


Well, you're the adult on here hoping for something bad to happen to a middle schooler so it sounds like you've got some karma coming your way.


You're just an idiot.


That may be but I'm not over here wishing bad upon others and getting all bothered over normal, albeit crappy, middle school behavior. I'll take idiot over nasty.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 10:40     Subject: Re:Middle schooler ragging on neighbor on bus
Why are you inserting yourself into middle school bus banter? Let them be. Middle schoolers make fun of everyone - who cares? They will grow out of it soon enough. Also, you are not this kid's mother, correct? So MYOB
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 10:39     Subject: Middle schooler ragging on neighbor on bus
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Give us the quirk or a good analogy.


She sometimes makes an unusual sound when out in her yard. Guessing she's using it to call in a pet or chase off an animal. Nothing loud. This is a suburban neighborhood so its not like people are living on top of each other. Point being, kid does not need to share this with the entire bus.


That is way to boring for it to be interesting to middle schoolers. The sharer of the information will quickly move on to another topic to keep her audience better entertained.


Agreed but she sure did get a reaction from my two middle schoolers who thought it was "hilarious". She'll just move on to the next thing to embarrass someone, whether it's a student or a neighbor, because she's finding that she's getting lots of laughs out of gossipping and ragging on people. Like I said, I do believe what goes around, comes around.


Well, you're the adult on here hoping for something bad to happen to a middle schooler so it sounds like you've got some karma coming your way.


You're just an idiot.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 10:30     Subject: Middle schooler ragging on neighbor on bus
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Give us the quirk or a good analogy.


She sometimes makes an unusual sound when out in her yard. Guessing she's using it to call in a pet or chase off an animal. Nothing loud. This is a suburban neighborhood so its not like people are living on top of each other. Point being, kid does not need to share this with the entire bus.


That is way to boring for it to be interesting to middle schoolers. The sharer of the information will quickly move on to another topic to keep her audience better entertained.


Agreed but she sure did get a reaction from my two middle schoolers who thought it was "hilarious". She'll just move on to the next thing to embarrass someone, whether it's a student or a neighbor, because she's finding that she's getting lots of laughs out of gossipping and ragging on people. Like I said, I do believe what goes around, comes around.


Well, you're the adult on here hoping for something bad to happen to a middle schooler so it sounds like you've got some karma coming your way.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 10:28     Subject: Middle schooler ragging on neighbor on bus
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Totally myob. How does it affect this woman at all if a bunch of middle-schoolers know that she makes sounds in her backyard. Don't go turning nothing into something.


Bingo. The only way this will stay of interest to the middle schoolers (because this is a seriously boring topic) is if an adult makes an issue of it.


Agreed but it makes it hard to hear when the person is your friend. She is a quirky lady but brilliant and kind and I really hate it when people rag on someone who I like. You would need to put yourself in my shoes.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2016 10:26     Subject: Middle schooler ragging on neighbor on bus
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Give us the quirk or a good analogy.


She sometimes makes an unusual sound when out in her yard. Guessing she's using it to call in a pet or chase off an animal. Nothing loud. This is a suburban neighborhood so its not like people are living on top of each other. Point being, kid does not need to share this with the entire bus.


That is way to boring for it to be interesting to middle schoolers. The sharer of the information will quickly move on to another topic to keep her audience better entertained.


Agreed but she sure did get a reaction from my two middle schoolers who thought it was "hilarious". She'll just move on to the next thing to embarrass someone, whether it's a student or a neighbor, because she's finding that she's getting lots of laughs out of gossipping and ragging on people. Like I said, I do believe what goes around, comes around.