# Way to set an example for the kids, assholes **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 25, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691 "2011-04-25T18:51:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/21 "2011-04-25T22:48:33Z")
Almost a year later, with $1.2 million, and the playground isn’t done yet? I vote for government inefficiency. If it was in private hands, they would have made damn sure that it was done in time for Easter Sunday when the facility was in high demand. Since it’s government, we’ll be done by the 4th of July, maybe, if we feel like it. Seriously, though, did they break the padlocks on the fences with rocks or otherwise destroy it? If the construction company was serious about it not being open, they should have built a better fence. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/22 "2011-04-25T22:59:11Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Seriously, though, did they break the padlocks on the fences with rocks or otherwise destroy it? If the construction company was serious about it not being open, they should have built a better fence. It was most likely fencing [like this](http://www.3tproducts.com/shop/pc/catalog/ezfencewithpocketview.jpg). However, the meaning is pretty clear. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/23 "2011-04-25T23:23:11Z")
> [@MissTake](#): > > And you know if little Kadenn or Bhrittaniey gets hurt, their parents will sue the bejeebers out of the city, claiming they didn’t know what the orange fence meant. Actually, for the duration of the construction, the contractor carries the insurance. The City doesn’t assume liability until they’ve accepted the project and issued a Notice of Completion. The last thing that happens in most projects is an arguement over the final change orders and over the punch list of things that have to be fixed on the contractor’s dime before the project is accepted. > [@flickster](#): > > $1.2 M for a play area??? I’m guessing that includes the purchase of the land, but if it’s big enough, and if there are buildings and/or new landscape and irrigation, maybe not. A million doesn’t go as far as you’d think. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/24 "2011-04-25T23:39:31Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Well, it might lack an appropriate level of vitriol, but other than that I think this is an excellent pitting. How can we expect children to grow up following the rules if they see their parents so willing to break them. So, to all the aforementioned adults, you’re a bunch of shitheads. Yeah - there was a major park renovation here a few years back - redid the play area, poured a lot new sidewalk. Parents actually took their kids to the park to write their names in the fresh cement. And were shocked when the city billed them for tearing out and repouring (I didn’t see it, but apparently we weren’t talking initials discretely in a corner). ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/25 "2011-04-25T23:44:31Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > It was most likely fencing [like this](http://www.3tproducts.com/shop/pc/catalog/ezfencewithpocketview.jpg). > > However, the meaning is pretty clear. Or perhaps it was fencing more like this (shoddy and haphazard!): [Orange Netting | Orange netting at Dahl Playfield in Seattle… | Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjl20/5142903/#/photos/rjl20/5142903/lightbox/) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/26 "2011-04-25T23:45:54Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > What’s left to be done? Are there just teeters and no totters? I seesaw what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/27 "2011-04-26T00:18:13Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > I’m guessing that includes the purchase of the land, but if it’s big enough, and if there are buildings and/or new landscape and irrigation, maybe not. A million doesn’t go as far as you’d think. From the OP’s description, it sounded like existing park land. Just hard to justify $1.2 million for a play area, at least in my book. I’ll file this in the same place at the Detroit Library spending $1,100 per chair for their renovation (of course nothing short of [European Lounge Chairs](http://cmsimg.detnews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C3&Date=20110422&Category=METRO&ArtNo=104220381&Ref=V4)would do) ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/28 "2011-04-26T00:38:46Z")
Just tell your son that all the kids playing on the unfinished, unsafe playground equipment probably all had horrible accidents and broke their skulls after you’d left. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/29 "2011-04-26T00:55:03Z")
**Hampshire** , I have a problem with your OP. It’s not a substance problem, it’s format. You typed the damn thing on a Blackberry or a smartphone, didn’t you? It’s not your writing style, because I can see where the paragraph breaks are _supposed_ to be, but they aren’t there. It’s a wall of unbroken text. It’s easy to forget the format, so I’m not trying to insult you, but … ugghhh. Text wall. On the substance of the OP, yep. I agree. People need to respect the construction signs. Not only because it might not be safe yet, but it could be finished and therefore need to be delayed further after people tromp around on it. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/30 "2011-04-26T01:04:18Z")
That was supposed to be "but it could be **un** finished and therefore need to be delayed… I guess we both we need to preview more. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/31 "2011-04-26T03:03:29Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Let me guess: when you were a kid, the “play area” was an exposed landfill where you’d all gather and play “Syringe Collector” and “King of the Scrap Metal Hill”? We played “vandalize the construction site”. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/32 "2011-04-26T03:21:08Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > We played “vandalize the construction site”. So today’s kids, apparently. At least in the OP’s town. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/33 "2011-04-26T14:18:51Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Just hard to justify $1.2 million for a play area, at least in my book. I’ll file this in the same place at the Detroit Library spending $1,100 per chair for their renovation (of course nothing short of [European Lounge Chairs](http://cmsimg.detnews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C3&Date=20110422&Category=METRO&ArtNo=104220381&Ref=V4)would do) I wouldn’t judge that too harshly. I know from personal office experience that I have two choices when picking chairs that people are going to use every day: I can buy $100 chairs like a “frugal person” and replace 'em every year or two, or I can buy $900 chairs like the big-shots at the fancy startups and have them not even showing noticeable wear (let alone being mechanically worn out) after eight years. Sometimes paying more means more value for your money, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/34 "2011-04-26T14:32:58Z")
Here’s an article about the new play area [here](http://www.startribune.com/local/west/90796914.html). It’s replacing [this thing](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1369/687289315_aafb83384e.jpg) which was a really cool massive wood structure with hidden tunnels & slides and even had a couple of zip lines. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/35 "2011-04-26T16:01:27Z")
Some people make obviously poor parenting decisions. I have noticed this more and more since I’ve been pregnant. The other day as I was crossing the street a group of kids (approx. ages 8-12) bumped into me on accident and their mother screamed, “You just fucking ran into that lady! Dumbasses!” I was dumbfounded that she felt like this was an appropriate response to what happened. Then I started thinking about the fact that other people are going to judge me on my parenting abilities here in a few months and they are going to have different standards than I do about what is appropriate and what isn’t when it comes to raising kids. :eek::smack: I guess we all just do the best we can. Personally I wouldn’t have let my kid play on the unfinished playground either and would have explained that the orange fence was a warning because the playground may not be safe yet, but I suppose if someone else felt like more than a million dollars of their tax money was being spent on something that was taking more than a year to build and at this point it is, by all appearances, finished and ready to be used that is their prerogative. I’d just think they were dumb parents and they would think I was a lame parent and we would go about our business and someday our kids will probably end up dating or something. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/36 "2011-04-26T17:12:12Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Here’s an article about the new play area [here](http://www.startribune.com/local/west/90796914.html). Aww, I wish I would’ve seen it. Oddly enough, I was up at that park on Sunday as well. We took the dogs for a walk along the Coon Rapids dam and then tried to find the off leash dog park at Elm Creek. I had no idea that complex had gotten so…complex. After pulling into the main entrance off of 81, I had to turn around and drive a couple miles away to get to where the dog park was. That whole place is insanely huge. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/37 "2011-04-26T18:16:48Z")
There was another [great example](http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/04/easter_marshmallow_drop_draws.html) set by adults down here for Easter festivities. Imagine a marshmallow drop from a helicopter. Turn in your marshmallows for bags of candy. A Free for all, and they all came, by the hundreds. When word got out about free candy:rolleyes: combined with helicopter antics, you can imagine the excitement. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/38 "2011-04-26T18:21:09Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > It’s replacing [this thing](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1369/687289315_aafb83384e.jpg) which was a really cool massive wood structure with hidden tunnels & slides and even had a couple of zip lines. _gasp_ Why! That’s a child molester warren! And a veritable mine for splinters! And a guaranteed closed head injury just waiting to happen! And just think how many trees perished to provide the wood! ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/39 "2011-04-26T18:26:55Z")
> [@chela](#): > > … Imagine a marshmallow drop from a helicopter. … “As God is my witness, I thought marshmallows could fly.” CMC fnord! Next year we drop Peeps! ---
**Author:** ![dawson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@dawson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dawson)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691/40 "2011-04-26T18:36:14Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > “As God is my witness, I thought marshmallows could fly.” > > CMC fnord! > Next year we drop Peeps! I know you did Les, I know you did. Flaming marshmallows falling from the sky, now **that** would be cool. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-set-an-example-for-the-kids-assholes/579691.md?page=3)