# Parents, please teach your children not to do this... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 9, 2002, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069 "2002-11-09T21:53:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/21 "2002-11-10T13:51:05Z")
My brother and his friend did something similar. They stuffed a dummy, got a long rope and tied one end around the dummy’s neck. Then they climbed into a tree with the dummy and threw it over a tall branch which overhung into the street below. They kept the rope taut so that the dummy was suspended high in the tree and then climbed down and waited until they saw an unsuspecting car approach. As the car approached, they would let the rope go. The dummy would fall out of the tree and crash onto the unsuspecting car below, looking amazingly like a person when it landed on the windshield. Hysterical, no? After several botched attempts, they finally perfected the timing and the dummy landed square on a woman’s windshield as she drove by. Hahahahahahhaha. After nearly killing herself swerving to avoid the dummy and screeching to a halt, they discovered (much to their amazement) that the victim did not find the incident the least bit amusing. She kept calling for them to come out, which they declined to do. Finally, pissed beyond words, she threw the dummy in her car and drove off. My brother remembers being mad about this because although they had used dad’s old work clothes to make the dummy, they had used his good belt. And he knew that come Sunday, he’d have to lie about seeing dad’s belt and he’d feel bad about lying. Anyway, seeing the woman load the dummy into her car, my brother and his friend figured the night’s entertainment was over and mosied on home. Little did he know that the victim would be so highly disturbed and pissed about the incident that she would return to the scene of the crime and proceed to go door to door, dummy in hand, to find the teenage boys. It didn’t take long for one of our neighbors to recognize my dad’s work shirt…in part perhaps because his name was embroidered on the pocket… That particular week Dad didn’t wait til Sunday to use his good belt. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/22 "2002-11-10T15:57:56Z")
Out of idle curiosity, what would the criminal charge against those morons be if someone crashes and dies when they swerve to avoid the morons? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/23 "2002-11-10T16:40:16Z")
**jjtm** : > [@](#): > > If this were true, then women would vastly outnumber men. Nope. Doesn’t follow. People swerve. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/24 "2002-11-10T17:02:09Z")
When teenage boys do this, they are idiots. Teenage boys are idiots, quite frequently. Howeve, I think an incident I witnessed was maybe even worse, because it involved COLLEGE STUDENTS! And a FREAKIN VIDEO CAMERA!! I was working a fund-raising concession stand in front of Wal-Mart, when 3 FSU students started, not only dodging in front of rather fast-moving cars, but video taping the whole fucking thing!! Now, I realize this may have been some kind of initiation stunt or maybe even a class project (EMT’s in training, perhaps, looking for “real” people to practice CPR on?). But still, you would hope by the time a kid is college-age they would know better! ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/25 "2002-11-10T18:28:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by norinew \* > \*\*When teenage boys do this, they are idiots. Teenage boys are idiots, quite frequently. Howeve, I think an incident I witnessed was maybe even worse, because it involved COLLEGE STUDENTS! And a FREAKIN VIDEO CAMERA!! I was working a fund-raising concession stand in front of Wal-Mart, when 3 FSU students started, not only dodging in front of rather fast-moving cars, but video taping the whole fucking thing!! Now, I realize this may have been some kind of initiation stunt or maybe even a class project (EMT’s in training, perhaps, looking for “real” people to practice CPR on?). But still, you would hope by the time a kid is college-age they would know better! \*\* * * * There was just a show on about this phenomenon the other night–Dateline or 20/20 or something. Videotaping one’s idiotic and often criminal exploits is the in-thing now, apparently. People are videotaping each other punching, hitting, and throwing things at innocent bystanders, motorists, and cyclists; setting cars on fire, and so forth. It certainly does make strong evidence when the buggers are finally caught, but it doesn’t begin to make up for all the lunacy and mayhem. ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/26 "2002-11-10T19:51:40Z")
I know that behaviour like this is typical of young, hyperactive teenage boys (read, “fucking morons.”), and there’s really not much we can do about it. Even so, [some things](http://www.jackassthemovie.com/updatewithtickets4.html) just don’t help. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/27 "2002-11-10T22:39:54Z")
Just for the record, the kids that did this to me were definitely pre-pubescent, and obviously too young to ever have driven. I’m pretty sure they have no idea why scaring a driver into thinking they were going to a kid was a bad idea. That’s why my OP was a plea to parents of kids in this age group; sit them down and tell them why scaring drivers is a bad idea, cause they really don’t get it. You wouldn’t think this would be one of the things you have to teach your kids, but apparently, it is. ---
**Author:** ![DasUnterMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DasUnterMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DasUnterMensch)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/28 "2002-11-10T23:14:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > **They’re _supposed_ to be idiots at that age. And sadly, some of them are not gonna get much older.** Sad 😕 Why? ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/29 "2002-11-10T23:40:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by \*\*blessedwolf \*\*\* > Even so, [some things](http://www.jackassthemovie.com/updatewithtickets4.html) just don’t help. I knew it wouldn’t be long before someone came along with this axe to grind. None of the Jackass stunts endanger anyone but the idiots performing them. They also make a point to encourage kids not to try to imitate them (disclaimers before and after the feature). Dumb kids have been doing dumb things since long before Jackass appeared (where do you think _they_ came up with the idea?). If the Jackass influence has had any effect at all, it’s merely to increase the proportion of dumb kids out there that are tape-recording their damnfool stunts. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/30 "2002-11-11T00:07:48Z")
Yes, it’s all the fault of TV. Oh, and don’t forget video games and violent cartoons! It certainly isn’t because they’re just dumbassed kids or have shitty home training. Can’t be that. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/31 "2002-11-11T00:57:51Z")
Oh, christ. All **blessedwolf** said was that _Jackass_ doesn’t help any. And it doesn’t, does it? What say y’all get off your high horses and stop putting words in people’s mouths, huh? “Axe to grind” my pink ass. ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/32 "2002-11-11T01:10:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by White Lightning \* > \*\* Dumb kids have been doing dumb things since long before Jackass appeared (where do you think _they_ came up with the idea?). \*\* I’m not denying thaat kids have been idiots since before _Jackass._ Criminy! They’ve been idiots since before TV! When I was that age, I was an idiot, you betcha. And I am most emphatically **not** in the “media influences our children, so let’s replace all programming with _Little House on the Prairie_ reruns” camp. My personal views on what is responsible for irresponsible acts notwithstanding, despite all of the disclaimers (which work, by the way, about as well as the warnings on cigarette packs), _Jackass_ has brought idiotic behaviour to the forefront, and makes it look cooler. And profitable. "Hey! You mean I can run across a busy street at rush hour completely naked and **make money doing it?** Wicked! (yes, that was hyperbole. but only just) Personally, I’m all for culling the herd. If kids want to imitate this show/movie, I’m all for it. As long as they don’t dent my fenders, that is. That’s why I make a point to slow down and keep an eye on the sidewalks when there are kids around. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/33 "2002-11-11T11:12:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjtm \* > \*\*If this were true, then women would vastly outnumber men. \*\* No. If this were NOT true, men would vastly outnumber the _women_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/34 "2002-11-11T11:45:27Z")
I have yet to see a Jackass stunt that puts innocent lives at risk. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/35 "2002-11-11T14:00:24Z")
Actually, I was one of these stupid kids. I used to to _pretend_ to cross just when a car was coming, but to run right away in front of the car across the road. I assume that if I’m still alive and in one piece, it’s because most people have good reflexes. Actually, it wasn’t to make fun of the driver but a kind of bravado. Of course that was strategically a major error…contrarily to you, I was brought up in a very small village where everybody knew everybody, so I couldn’t rely on anonymity. Still, I went on doing that… (Ironically, I was actually hit by a car as a child while crossing a road when I wasn’t paying attention, not when I was deliberatly trying to cross in front of it…) What can I say? Kids act stupidely, and there’s not much parents can actually do. Most wouldn’t even suspect what stupid and dangerous things they children are doing, so how could they warn them against that? I tend to think that passer-by noticing this sort of things should react and at least scold the kids, but that also is the result of my upbringing in a little place where adults were expected to keep an eye on any child, and wouldn’t hesitate to react even when they didn’t know the kid. But of course, most of us now live in a different and urban word where even looking at a strange kid or talking to him/her is considered suspect, so it seems there’s no much room left for adults to react to idiotic/dangerous behaviors… ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2002, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/36 "2002-11-11T16:02:56Z")
The solution is to swerve towards the idiot and accelerate. Lay on the horn too. Pull away laughing maniacally. Makes the little tweeps soil their pants. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/37 "2002-11-12T03:33:25Z")
That is the stupidest thing a child could ever do. If I ever have kids and they do this I would seriously “remind” them not to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/38 "2002-11-12T05:11:23Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Legomancer_ > > > [@](#): > > > > _Originally posted by featherlou_ > > I came up to another red light just past them, with a parking lot off to the side. I was extremely tempted to pull into the parking lot and go back and “explain” to these boys why that was not funny. > > But honestly, do you really think that’s going to matter? How many teenagers that would do this in the first place are going to stop because they get a stern talking-to by an adult? Well, I used to do this as a kid. Until one day, a random, stearn-talking adult pulled over and gave me fifteen different kinds of hell for it. Never did it again. I don’t know if these kids would have been impressed, but it couldn’t have hurt to try. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/39 "2002-11-12T09:00:25Z")
1. Drive around the block 2. Stop in front of the kids 3. Pull a gun from the glove box. 4. Look REALLY pissed off shouting and yelling at them “YOU WANTA DIE?!?! YOU WANTS DIE!?!?” 5. Pull the trigger soaking them with your squirtgun. 6. Drive away laughing. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2002, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069/40 "2002-11-12T09:17:53Z")
See, I hear stories of kids pulling stupid shit like this, and I think back on all the stupid shit my friends and I used to do, and I’m amazed any of us lived past the age of 16. Call the superintendent of schools for your area. Give him/her the location of the incident, the approximate age of the kids involved, and explain exactly what happened. If he’s/she’s worth his/her salt, he/she will have the teachers in his/her district give extremely stern lectures to their little darlings, possibly arrange for law enforcement to give an assembly on road safety, and send some notes home advising parents of this little “game” before someone gets hurt. _sigh_ You work and work to keep them safe and whole and as soon as they’re out of your sight they do their damndest to mangle themselves… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-please-teach-your-children-not-to-do-this/136069.md?page=3)