Quote:
Originally Posted by Beso
(Post 11667072)
You wouldn't understand cause you don't have a kid that has died from legal highs. So you wouldn't understand the emotions of watching a video where police officers are idly standing by doing nothing, yards from a group of 15-16 year olds gambling with their lives.
I'm not saying that to garner sympathy either, it happened in 2012 and I'm well used to dealing with my own ****.
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Sorry to hear that, Beso. I understand your reaction to the video a bit better now.
I know you said I wasn't looking at the scenario objectively, but I would suggest nor were you, which is fair enough, but may be worth considering when discussing the subject with others and your reaction to their reaction.
I based my opinion off what I saw rather what I didn't see. I don't believe the guy showed any genuine concern about the lad when discussing it with the officer - he was sometimes passive aggressive, he hung around the police van for almost 10 minutes before saying anything - his whole demeanour wasn't one of a member of the public seeking help, but rather finding ways to embarrass authority, whether it was questioning what she should or shouldn't do, or criticising her diet. For that reason, she probably thought he was a busy-body time waster. It probably happens all the time.
Aside from that, we don't know what came after or before. They could have been waiting on a tip off for a larger situation, they could have called it in afterwards, these kids could be in regular trouble and they're aware of the situation. We just don't know.
I don't really know what the mother has said, but it would be super interesting to know her view of the police if they'd gone and investigated, because the kid would have probably been sent to hospital, and the social services would then been involved and the parents would now be facing questions of why their 15 year old was taking drugs in a park. At that point, guess who would have been involved? The school.
I'm not sure if you have any teacher friends, but teachers are absolutely expected to parent nowadays. It's completely unreasonable, but it's true. The level of expectation and responsibility that is expected of them- often from the parents themselves - is ridiculous.. Did you know that
one in four kids who start school nowadays aren't even potty trained?
I would concede that on an emotive level, those without kids don't understand fully, but that doesn't mean they're not capable of assessing situations involving kids and know what's right or wrong. I am not a pilot but if I see a helicopter in a tree I know someone ****ed up.
By the very definition of the world, having a child is the most average thing humans do - it's literally just reproduction and the entire animal kingdom do it, it takes no skill. Raising children is a different thing, and I would consider the idea that those who have actively chosen not to have children have thought about it more than those who have chosen to have kids: they have considered every specific element of what parenting entails and decided to go against the grain of society - often to the judgement of those around them. They know exactly what it is like to be a parent because it's what has informed their decision not to have them. These people might have nieces or nephews, may have seen their friends raise their kids, or are often older siblings who had to raise their younger siblings because their own parents didn't.
The amount of people I know who said they had kids "because it's what you do". They just did it because it was 'the next step' without ever really thinking of what it entails. I've been called selfish for choosing not to have kids and then in the next breath they asked me who would look after me when I was old, like having kids is some retirement plan.
Reproducing doesn't open up a gate of divine wisdom and clearer judgement, and it's been proven time and time again, and so dismissing the opinions of those who haven't really doesn't stand up.