78 replies to this topic

[john]

There is nothing wrong with telling kids to be alert and aware of such situations. The problem here is the MOM who sees a van that's not a Escalade or Yukon on their uber-snooty Parkway neighborhood and then the emails start flying to half the city with unsubstantiated reports and no facts. If that's fine with you great but how'd you feel if you were the guy trying to make a buck and the cops and every soccer mom in town hassle you because your car doesn't fit in?

And believe it or not kids can embellish stories and even make things up so to start this rampage of fear and alerts based on a kids story is really irresponsible.

I understand that yes, kids can embellish stories, and yes, it's quite possible that it can be simply a phone book guy. And yes, it's likely not a threat. However you have to err on the side of caution with kids. Teach them to be safe and on the lookout for suspicious activity. It probably means - hey, watch out for wierdos in vans.

Insulting parents by insinuating that they are sitting around all day eating bon bons and driving Escalades is not helping your argument. Until you have kids, you will never have the viewpoint of a parent.

The guy in the van? Poor him. People are suspicious. I think he'll get over it. If he wasn't doing anything bad, he has no worries, as he has the law on his side.

[bookwom]

People, people, let's look at the original post, shall we?

"When Nic went to leave at about 5pm the man was driving around the elementary in the bus loop slowly and watching him. There was a man in the passenger seat with a mask on. Nic described it as one of the rubber masks that looks like a president or regular person. He followed my son, and drove by him several times, the last time with the sliding door to the back of the van open. Nic went into a sales office for a new home community and stayed there.


The police did mention to us that Tuesday is the day most circulars are sent out and there is a possibility that this van may have been doing that but he also had no doubt that he could have been following my son a signifigant way.

Really, really, there's nothing suspicious here? Nothing to cause alarm? Just suburban mom paranoia? People drive around wearing masks all the time? Come on.

A few weeks ago, I drove into my driveway and saw three men in a beat up orange van in the cul-de-sac down the street. As soon as they saw me, they peeled out of there, jumping a curb and leaving skid marks. I didn't call the police, but I did let my neighbors know what I saw. It did take me away from my bon-bons and martinis, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. Now I see, I wasn't being a good neighbor, just a paranoid busy-body. The shame, the shame.

[Andrea V]

People, people, let's look at the original post, shall we?

"When Nic went to leave at about 5pm the man was driving around the elementary in the bus loop slowly and watching him. There was a man in the passenger seat with a mask on. Nic described it as one of the rubber masks that looks like a president or regular person. He followed my son, and drove by him several times, the last time with the sliding door to the back of the van open. Nic went into a sales office for a new home community and stayed there.


The police did mention to us that Tuesday is the day most circulars are sent out and there is a possibility that this van may have been doing that but he also had no doubt that he could have been following my son a signifigant way.

Really, really, there's nothing suspicious here? Nothing to cause alarm? Just suburban mom paranoia? People drive around wearing masks all the time? Come on.

A few weeks ago, I drove into my driveway and saw three men in a beat up orange van in the cul-de-sac down the street. As soon as they saw me, they peeled out of there, jumping a curb and leaving skid marks. I didn't call the police, but I did let my neighbors know what I saw. It did take me away from my bon-bons and martinis, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. Now I see, I wasn't being a good neighbor, just a paranoid busy-body. The shame, the shame.

THAT was a big part I read in your OP. And THAT is a big reason I told my son to be extra careful today when he left for school this morning. THANK YOU for posting about it, and letting us know!

I also read about the BARS on the back window.... Do the "Tuesday circulars" guys need BARS on their windows? Do they have them?

Maybe we could get the Tuesday circulars people to put a large magnet/sticker on their suspicious vans so us paranoid bon-bon eating, martini drinking PARENTS can be aware that they are just the "Tuesday circulars guys", and not stalking kids (while wearing masks!)

[rlsliger]

There is nothing wrong with telling kids to be alert and aware of such situations. The problem here is the MOM who sees a van that's not a Escalade or Yukon on their uber-snooty Parkway neighborhood and then the emails start flying to half the city with unsubstantiated reports and no facts. If that's fine with you great but how'd you feel if you were the guy trying to make a buck and the cops and every soccer mom in town hassle you because your car doesn't fit in?

What's your problem with the Parkway? This isn't the first time you've ragged on that area. For the record, we live in the Parkway but my wife drives a Camry.

[dori2u]

Do all these suspicious vehicles lately have license plates???

Am I missing something...???

Obama removed the plates!

[Darthvader]

THAT was a big part I read in your OP. And THAT is a big reason I told my son to be extra careful today when he left for school this morning. THANK YOU for posting about it, and letting us know!

I also read about the BARS on the back window.... Do the "Tuesday circulars" guys need BARS on their windows? Do they have them?

Maybe we could get the Tuesday circulars people to put a large magnet/sticker on their suspicious vans so us paranoid bon-bon eating, martini drinking PARENTS can be aware that they are just the "Tuesday circulars guys", and not stalking kids (while wearing masks!)

Perhaps the guy lives in an area where he needs bars on his vehicle to keep from being broken into? Or do you immeduiately assume this is Saw 4 and the bars are to keep kids inside? Once again if something is remotely out of place here people over-react then justify it by "erring on the side of caution" and tough luck for the guy who gets the brunt of it for no reason.

Paranoia breeds destroyer....

[Andrea V]

Perhaps the guy lives in an area where he needs bars on his vehicle to keep from being broken into? Or do you immeduiately assume this is Saw 4 and the bars are to keep kids inside? Once again if something is remotely out of place here people over-react then justify it by "erring on the side of caution" and tough luck for the guy who gets the brunt of it for no reason.

Paranoia breeds destroyer....

With kids, you ALWAYS err on the side of caution... but AGAIN the NON-parent in you shows.

[Darthvader]

What's your problem with the Parkway? This isn't the first time you've ragged on that area. For the record, we live in the Parkway but my wife drives a Camry.

Calling it like I see it. The Parkway really isn't bad as far as Condo living goes.

[Bill Z]

With kids, you ALWAYS err on the side of caution... but AGAIN the NON-parent in you shows.

I'm still waiting for Darthvader to reply to my Post.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

A few weeks ago, I drove into my driveway and saw three men in a beat up orange van in the cul-de-sac down the street. As soon as they saw me, they peeled out of there, jumping a curb and leaving skid marks. I didn't call the police, but I did let my neighbors know what I saw. It did take me away from my bon-bons and martinis, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make.

You should have reported it to the police (and still can). That's how they monitor patterns of suspicious activity in town.

And, yes, you're a good neighbor.

[Darthvader]

I'm still waiting for Darthvader to reply to my Post.

I saw your post, you're completely (anal) paranoid about every step of human evolution. All you ever look at is the bad side of things and that's something coming from ME. Nuf said.

Paranoia breeds destroyer.

[Bill Z]

I saw your post, you're completely (anal) paranoid about every step of human evolution. All you ever look at is the bad side of things and that's something coming from ME. Nuf said.

Paranoia breeds destroyer.

You know, you are so wrong about me. My wife thinks of me as the eternal optimist.
I'm probably more happy go lucky than you can imagine.

If I was paranoid, I never would have gone rock climbing, I never would have gone sky-diving, I never would have gone 150 mph in my car, I never would have ridden a motorcycle, especially canyon cruising as fast as I used to.

but I think of myself as a realist, I don't run around afraid of what bad might happen next, but I can realisitically look at what can happen and I'm not afraid to voice my fears, but my life is not run by my fears, my life is run by my philosophy that "Happiness is a choice and I choose to be Happy". That's why as soon as my son is tall enough to ride the best roller-coasters, we will be. I'm predicting that next summer, my wife won't be able to get me & my son off the Big Dipper at Santa Cruz.

But back to my question "How are you going to feel then?!"

[Darthvader]

You know, you are so wrong about me. My wife thinks of me as the eternal optimist.
I'm probably more happy go lucky than you can imagine.

If I was paranoid, I never would have gone rock climbing, I never would have gone sky-diving, I never would have gone 150 mph in my car, I never would have ridden a motorcycle, especially canyon cruising as fast as I used to.

but I think of myself as a realist, I don't run around afraid of what bad might happen next, but I can realisitically look at what can happen and I'm not afraid to voice my fears, but my life is not run by my fears, my life is run by my philosophy that "Happiness is a choice and I choose to be Happy". That's why as soon as my son is tall enough to ride the best roller-coasters, we will be. I'm predicting that next summer, my wife won't be able to get me & my son off the Big Dipper at Santa Cruz.

But back to my question "How are you going to feel then?!"

You are so quick to forget what you say:

With a new born, first waking thought is, "Is my son still breathing?", then you hear it on the baby monitor and you know it's OK.

You find yourself concerned with their bowel movements (sign of healthy eating and digestion). But two of my worst fears I never expected are:

"I hope I don't die before he has grown to adulthood"

"And God, please don't ever let me accidently cause serious harm to my child"

These aren't examples of being afraid of what might happen next? You're paraniod beyond belief of everyday things. And don't wrongly accuse me again of making your words up ok?

BTW, riding a rollercoaster doesn't make you a daredevil, millions of people do it every year.

[Andrea V]

But back to my question "How are you going to feel then?!"

he can not answer that question. He has never held his own child and thought and/or said "I would kill for you as easily as I would die for you" He doesn't know.

If this topic had been.... "my kid was kidnapped by a white van and guys wearing masks" and other people had said "oh yeah, I saw that van, oh me too... Oh yeah I saw it, but then I remembered darth and chip said not to be paranoid, so I just figured it was the Tuesday paper guys...."

They'd be singing a whole different tune. Blaming the parents, saying they did not watch their kid, and it was because of the SCUM VAN with punks inside that no one said anything about blah blah blah

People with no kids, judging people with kids, as if they had a clue.

[rlsliger]

Calling it like I see it. The Parkway really isn't bad as far as Condo living goes.

I admit I usually get a chuckle out of some of your posts. This one was pretty weak. I think there are plenty of homes compared to condos. Come on Darth, you can do better then that.