I live in a poor neighborhood. I left my home today to go to work and there were at least a dozen kids playing basketball in the middle of the street (they had set up one of those portable basketball hoops on the curb). As I moved slowly towards them, trying to get around them, very few of them made any effort to get out of my way, and one of then stood there with his hands on his hips in a defiant gesture.
I know there is no park nearby, but when I was a kid, my mother made it quite clear to me that streets were for cars, and for safety reasons and to be considerate of others, I was to get off the street when a car was coming, whether I was walking or riding my bike. I have to wonder, why do their parents allow them to play in a public street? I saw kids as young as 5 and as old as 13.
Am I wrong about this?
2007-05-11 17:15:50 · 12 answers · asked by opjames 4 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Not at all, you are abosuletely right, 100 %.
I was taught the same way as you have. It´s just ridicolous.
=)
Bye!.
2007-05-11 17:29:39 · answer #1 · answered by Julia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let's consider the kids for a moment. They have no park where they can play hoops. They only have a little bit of asphalt to claim as their own for a short time to relieve their stress and enjoy camaraderie instead of just hanging out or getting into serious trouble.
I lived in such a neighborhood as a kid. While we did have a small lot for playing softball, we played kick-the-can and hide-and-seek in the street. That was what we did just to be with each other and pass the time. Most important, it kept us out of trouble.
As for the hands-on-his-hips kid, you only mention him giving you a look. He didn't actually attack you or confront you. There is usually one defiant kid in every group. We had one in our group too. He never did anything. He just acted tough.
Perhaps this is an opportunity for you to help those kids by trying to get local government to give them someplace to play. Maybe there is a nearby community center or church gymnasium you can solicit on their behalf?
You never know. You just might be the one adult they can trust. You just might change their lives for the better.
Jim DeSantis
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Visit Jim's blog about family life at http://on-line-tribune-family-life.blogspot.com
2007-05-11 18:33:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a sad thing to say but with the Mothers of America all most all having to work...children are let loose to tend for themselves. When Mom gets home from her job she doesn't have time to even talk with her children let alone instruct them in proper ettiquete...she is cooking supper, washing clothes, paying the bills -- I am refering to the middle income brackett. Dad? Well, he is relaxing in a lot of cases after coming home from his job. Mom doesn't have time to relax...besided her job at work she has another full time job at home. Now, some Dad's are helping out and I applaud them.
So, what is to happen now? The children don't learn respect or anything...It is no ones' fault..just the economy and the new world.
That defiant kid? I would have turned my car off and gotten out of it and walked over to that kid and had me a little word with that disrespectful lad. For all the good it will do I still think someone has to them the diff between rude and respect.
2007-05-11 17:41:34 · answer #3 · answered by missellie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
NO your not wrong but they should move if they play on the streets punks think they no everything and show off but they don't no from there head to there butt. seciaty today is alot to do with the parents and how they raise there kids.
2007-05-11 17:27:57 · answer #4 · answered by jpaone1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No not at all. Matter of fact if mine is out there in the street tell them to get they a$$es out the street. but I make sure mine dont go near the street.
2007-05-11 17:24:57 · answer #5 · answered by Afrolicious35 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is worrysome, and can be dangerous. Not only basketball hoops, but in the winter there's hockey nets, kids on skates. Soccer nets, etc.
Even little kids sitting on the road drawing things with chalk.
2007-05-11 17:19:47 · answer #6 · answered by kiwi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no streets r 4 cars!
2007-05-11 17:19:03 · answer #7 · answered by merman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They had a poor upbringing and no manners. Kids in groups can be obnoxious. Avoid confronting them because they could get nasty.
2007-05-11 17:20:13 · answer #8 · answered by notyou311 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you are not wrong....streets are still for cars! *sm*
2007-05-11 18:26:25 · answer #9 · answered by LadyZania 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're right.
2007-05-11 17:23:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋