I’ve seen a number of threads wherein Dopers discuss hijinks they got up to as children or teens. I’ve also seen a number of threads where Dopers tell of unruly children or teens they’ve encountered, and debate possible means of intervention.
I’m wondering if the two experiences ever combined for any Dopers. Were any of you, as minors, confronted by an adult about because of something you’d done/were doing, or because of your behavior in general? If so, what did they say/do? How did you react? Were they in a position of authority, like a security guard, or just a random adult, and did their status influence your reaction? Did you ever promise to change your ways and then really change them?
Once when I was about 8 or 9 and my brother about 10 or 11 we were hanging our near some softball diamonds near our house. Anyway they had recently installed some of those huge nets at the top of the chainlink backstop. We dared each other to climb up to the top and touch the net. (I’d say it was about 25 feet to the top) So when we get to the top we notice this station wagon tearing down the dirt road towards us. We knew whoever was in that car was pissed off at us. But it’s too high to just jump down and hit our bikes.
This guy and his wife pulls and basically treats us like he caught us gang raping a six-year old. He grabs our bikes and throws them in the back of his car and demands that we get in with him and have him take us to our parents. His wife seemed to think he was over reacting and I was terrified. My brother the guilt monger, gave in to the child snatcher and got in his car. I had to be put in by force but the woman tried to clam me down. We got to our house and no one was home. I started saying ‘takes us to the police and tell them how you snatched us’. Apparently the guy thought we were going to cut down the net as it had happened befor and starts accusing us of doing that. I pointed out that we only wanted to touch it and we didn’t have a knife to cut anything with, this ‘converstion’ was very spirited to say the least.
So he put us out on our front lawn and left. I’m sure his wife kept bitching at him for a while.
The elementary school I went to had a flat roof. When I was in 2nd grade a friend and I climbed up by means of a trellis and started running around.
It was not as fun as running on our own roofs because it was just flat, but the different viewing perspective entertained us. Anyhow, a teacher who was working late came out and yelled at us to “Get down from there this instant!” So I jumped off. Scared the piss out of her. I’m sure she thought I was going to break my neck or something but I came to no harm.
I think it may have taught her a lesson also. I didn’t go up on that roof for another 10 years. Then I went up to make-out with a guy
Some friends and I recorded “inappropriate” sound files in tech class last year. We didn’t care if we were caught, and were actually proud of what we did. When we got caught, we were completely indifferent, and blatantly honest to the teacher (instead of lying and saying we were sorry and that we would never do it again), and that really pissed him off.
MaxTheVool, we’re neighbors! I’m also in Shallow - errr - Palo Alto, CA. Just thought I’d say something b/c this lil town isn’t that big and I don’t bump into many net folks on the peninsula. Just wanted to say hi. Hi! Oh, and umm… I suppose I should add something (relevant) to this board now. Hmm, I’ve never changed my behaviors. If I have, I suppose it’s only been for a second or two to get 'em to stop nagging. “I guess some people never change. Or they quickly change and then quickly change back.” - Homer Simpson
