What would you do?
Last weekend I took my family camping at Totagatic campground in Minong, WI. It is a county owned park. Nice place, good views. Popular but not overcrowded. At about 0230 on Friday night I had someone...
Forum Discussion
BurbMan wrote:Terryallan wrote:
Because, IF you had read the entire post. You would know that the poor little delinquent teenage TRIED to do bodily harm to the OP, By setting a trap to trip him, which could have caused him to fall into the fire ring, a awning stake, a folded chair, a table, or a thousand other things sitting around, that can seriously hurt or kill a person. That lowlife teenager needs punishment.
That his parents didn't teach him better. Is one of the biggest problems today. And of course the people that think he was just having innocent fun, and deserves no punishment
I don't think that teen was out to hurt/maim/kill the OP. I think he was out for a laugh as the OP tumbled down the steps. Like most kid pranksters, and teenagers in general, they don't think through and fully understand all the possible consequences of stuff like this.
When the OP discovered the problem and saw the kid come by a second time, I would have went outside instead of shouting through the window. Ask him directly, "Did you see who did this?" Of course he will deny, but gives you a chance to explain the difference between pranking somebody out of bed at 02:30 and rigging the steps so they trip. The first part is harmless, second part not so harmless.
Agree 100% his parents didn't teach him better, but that doesn't make him a lowlife....we can choose our friends, we can't choose our parents. What the kid needs is somebody to tell him what his parents didn't or wouldn't. Beating a kid doesn't make him any smarter, only more determined.
You would be surprised at the home environments of some kids. Meet the parents and wonder why the kid isn't worse than he is. Be a grown up and take the opportunity to help a kid go on the right path.
Adults should know better, teenagers only think they know it all....they still need somebody to explain it to them.
Nope. His actions make him the low life. Punishment is usually the best teacher. Just talking to him. Is a waste of time. Tell him what was wrong, and then punish. that's the best way. And you may save him some jail time, and us some tax money.