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Your child is your #1 priority sarisataka Jun 2012 #1
I agree with everything you've said Number23 Jun 2012 #69
It's not appropriate for him to give her gifts. Tell him and others that it's a rule: no presents! SharonAnn Jun 2012 #123
Sadly today one never knows. SoutherDem Jun 2012 #2
You need a woman to accompany to you to the bookstore - a reverse of that sharia stuff Liberal_in_LA Jun 2012 #3
Better yet I go to Barnes & Noble SoutherDem Jun 2012 #19
You can buy gifts for your nieces--this old guy is NO RELATION to the little girl. MADem Jun 2012 #7
The OP said a bookstore did not allow men to go to the children's area SoutherDem Jun 2012 #18
Here's what I think. MADem Jun 2012 #47
I would bet good money that's what was going on with the old guy kicked out Honeycombe8 Jun 2012 #72
Yes, you got it in one. That's it precisely. MADem Jun 2012 #74
The old guy in the bookstore was sitting on the floor in the children's area, talking on the phone. redqueen Jun 2012 #107
This thread reeks of paranoia... Cave_Johnson Jun 2012 #94
No, it reeks of naivete.. pipoman Jun 2012 #99
No--I think it reeks of reality. There are a lot of perverts out there. Twenty years ago it MADem Jun 2012 #104
+1 redqueen Jun 2012 #108
There have been a rash of stories in the past 10 years or more 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #111
Well, you go on ahead and put aside your instincts, now. MADem Jun 2012 #112
Ah the old "gut reaction" 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #113
Well, you're free to extrapolate your own experience, but that's not mine. MADem Jun 2012 #121
" If your gut feeds you racism and sexism, that's on you." That's an . . . interesting spn 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #131
Complete nonsense pipoman Jun 2012 #37
Well, yes it did happen when I was a kid SoutherDem Jun 2012 #50
It is different pipoman Jun 2012 #92
Yes the OP does not give a lot of detail SoutherDem Jun 2012 #109
Yes, there are more pervs today. If only because there are more people. Honeycombe8 Jun 2012 #82
Disagree--I think there were proportionally just as many pervs in the past, raccoon Jun 2012 #90
I don't use anecdotes as substitutes for facts. If you use anecdotes, Honeycombe8 Jun 2012 #93
There are many more REPORTED cases of child abuse and molestation than raccoon Jun 2012 #96
Fact: There are more people in the country now than 50 years ago. Honeycombe8 Jun 2012 #125
Fact: the terms "date rape" and "acquaintance rape" didn't exist about 40 years ago. raccoon Jun 2012 #141
No.. pipoman Jun 2012 #97
I didn't realize there were so many people in denial about this issue. Honeycombe8 Jun 2012 #128
And I didn't realize pipoman Jun 2012 #134
You are ridiculously oversimplifying things 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #135
Logical fallacy Dash87 Jun 2012 #115
You can "think" whatever you want are the reasons. That's not a fact. Honeycombe8 Jun 2012 #127
There are more cases of workplace discrimination based on race/gender today in the 50s. 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #116
I never said we should strive to go back in time. Reading skills are important. nt Honeycombe8 Jun 2012 #126
No, you just made the absurd claim that because there are more cases now that means 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #130
Great post, and that applies also to rape, incest, child beating, raccoon Jun 2012 #89
I remember back in the 1970's pipoman Jun 2012 #95
I would be very concerned and would be having conversation with your parents about this. Better teddy51 Jun 2012 #4
I think those parents should trust their gut. When I go with mine, I'm never wrong. When I ignore MADem Jun 2012 #5
your gif is awesome..by the way Liberal_in_LA Jun 2012 #6
Thanks--he looks like a cat we had for over two decades. MADem Jun 2012 #9
agreed. Go with your gut. magical thyme Jun 2012 #33
Bush went with his GUT FEELINGS also. n-t Logical Jun 2012 #44
His gut was raddled by alcohol, though! It's not the same! nt MADem Jun 2012 #45
Bush was a sociopath who didn't have feelings of concern. riderinthestorm Jun 2012 #59
I agree that the parents should trust their gut instincts. Gormy Cuss Jun 2012 #51
Once again, you and I are on the same page Number23 Jun 2012 #70
+1,000 nt MADem Jun 2012 #75
I think the reason ohheckyeah Jun 2012 #8
I wouldn't hesitate to say something! Mom-alarm-bells are a warning riderinthestorm Jun 2012 #10
that particular issue - this women has genuine reasons to restrict access to her daughter RainDog Jun 2012 #11
Warn your parents!!! Rosa Luxemburg Jun 2012 #12
It could be innocent - it could be something else aint_no_life_nowhere Jun 2012 #13
No harm in following your instincts on this sort of thing. JDPriestly Jun 2012 #14
I agree that this sounds like grooming XemaSab Jun 2012 #15
I agree. laundry_queen Jun 2012 #21
Ok fine but please don't generalize about grandparents. They are no more inattentive than parents yellowcanine Jun 2012 #42
Err on the side of caution. Zanzoobar Jun 2012 #16
She's hyperventilating over a seashell? pscot Jun 2012 #17
If Maurice Chevalier were singing this song today, Art_from_Ark Jun 2012 #31
Now what if one were to drive around town blasting this little diddy MattBaggins Jun 2012 #41
Just a couple of years ago, my granddaughters' ballet recital featured them dancing to CTyankee Jun 2012 #52
Gigi was about grooming a 15 year old girl for prostitution. aquart Jun 2012 #88
No, didn't sound that way to me.. pipoman Jun 2012 #38
Mass hysteria pscot Jun 2012 #55
I am an old fart..no ageism...talk about seeing things not there.. pipoman Jun 2012 #64
I find it odd that the gifts are not for both children. That also sends alarms for me. I disagree IndyJones Jun 2012 #20
You give a shell to a two-year-old, Art_from_Ark Jun 2012 #26
I have three kids and they didn't put shells in their mouths. IndyJones Jun 2012 #27
I've known 2-year-olds who would put anything and everything in their mouths Art_from_Ark Jun 2012 #32
Okay, and back to the OP... IndyJones Jun 2012 #63
better safe than sorry danadevin85 Jun 2012 #22
If the parents ever let the kid out of their sight, they are not doing their job. xfundy Jun 2012 #23
it simply is not appropriate, with or without your uneasy feelings Skittles Jun 2012 #24
You're absolutely correct. I wouldn't give a child a gift without first asking the parents. IndyJones Jun 2012 #28
A rock, a feather, a shell. enlightenment Jun 2012 #29
"Not precisely the crown jewels." No but gifts a 5 year old would appreciate more than jewels. yellowcanine Jun 2012 #43
A "public letter that tries and convicts?" It's an anonymous letter to an advice columnist. MADem Jun 2012 #54
Thank you. Some of the responses to this have been bizarre Number23 Jun 2012 #71
When both parents smell a rat, you gotta sit up and take notice. MADem Jun 2012 #76
the best comment in the whole thread Sea-Dog Jun 2012 #67
Prudie's an idiot. Prometheus Bound Jun 2012 #25
Agree completely.. pipoman Jun 2012 #101
This message was self-deleted by its author markpkessinger Jun 2012 #129
Is the reason she and her hubby are "totally creeped out" because of the gifts? Or is it Happyhippychick Jun 2012 #30
We have a pesky sixth sense, that tingle on our necks, for a reason justiceischeap Jun 2012 #34
I disagree with Prudence's response on this one. The parents should listen to their instincts. yardwork Jun 2012 #35
At a Loss and her husband are both lunatics alcibiades_mystery Jun 2012 #36
Only a lunitic would make such a statement pipoman Jun 2012 #40
I suspect her suspicion is less about the gifts pipoman Jun 2012 #39
Exactly. Read Protecting the Gift by Gavin De Becker. Butterbean Jun 2012 #46
I believe that is the key.. pipoman Jun 2012 #48
If it was me Aerows Jun 2012 #49
Talk to your parents about having a "Discovery Day" at their home... Tikki Jun 2012 #53
My gut feeling is that the parents are overreacting. Comrade Grumpy Jun 2012 #56
Maybe when pipoman Jun 2012 #66
It is simply not appropriate to give gifts to minor children in these cases. SharonAnn Jun 2012 #122
Flashing RED light Nancy Waterman Jun 2012 #57
Remind me to always yell at the kids... BiggJawn Jun 2012 #58
I wouldn't use the word "fuck" though 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #60
I had a discussion with an ex boyfriend about helping a child in distress, say a lost child. Quantess Jun 2012 #61
Men will always be a sexual suspect in such circumstances marshall Jun 2012 #68
Right, because we're MEN, y'know? And we always think with our dicks, y'know? BiggJawn Jun 2012 #73
Your church is full of morons. That school is full of idiots, too. MADem Jun 2012 #77
that show "what would you do" put a lost child on the street, crying to people "I'm lost" Liberal_in_LA Jun 2012 #78
He is a super nice guy, and very helpful in general. More considerate than most! Quantess Jun 2012 #80
Listen to your warning sirens. revolution breeze Jun 2012 #62
its a sad world when any and all acts of kindness is looked upon as sinister and insidious Sea-Dog Jun 2012 #65
agreed n/t Liberal_in_LA Jun 2012 #79
+1 sarcasmo Jun 2012 #81
It's not kindness to give a gift to one child & leave the other out. Honeycombe8 Jun 2012 #83
i wouldn't give a 2 year old a shell would you? Sea-Dog Jun 2012 #85
Why would you single out one of the many gifts the neighbor brought/bought the child? Honeycombe8 Jun 2012 #87
i wouldn't hand a feather or a rock to a 2 year old either would you? Sea-Dog Jun 2012 #98
This thread just shows how badly we've stereotyped men in this society.... eek MD Jun 2012 #84
Back when I was a kid XanaDUer Jun 2012 #91
What if this guy pipoman Jun 2012 #138
Like not accepting gifts from strangers? pipoman Jun 2012 #100
So I take it you won't let your kids eat candy on Halloween? eek MD Jun 2012 #133
We always took our kids to neighborhoods pipoman Jun 2012 #136
"gut instincts" eek MD Jun 2012 #137
Or it may save her child's life or innocence.. pipoman Jun 2012 #139
Your critique of my parenting abilities as detrimental is noted...and rejected... eek MD Jun 2012 #140
If this person were a woman it would be a story about the nice woman 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #110
We're a very stereotyped society Dash87 Jun 2012 #117
Isn't that called "grooming behavior"? aquart Jun 2012 #86
Not necessarily wrong. Especially since the gifts are things like feathers and rocks. alphafemale Jun 2012 #102
holy shit...one paragraph off a little known advice column and a mob jury gets formed tjwash Jun 2012 #103
Tell your parent under no circumstances are your girls allowed to be alone with the neighbors. That Pisces Jun 2012 #105
Well, this could be a cause for concern or just some nice old folks. MineralMan Jun 2012 #106
There's not enough context, but always trust your instincts. Dash87 Jun 2012 #114
I have subscribed to the theory that red flags go up for a reason HillWilliam Jun 2012 #118
Have a little more insight. Life Long Dem Jun 2012 #119
the fact something is given to on exclusively, alone, would have me saying, knock it the fuck off seabeyond Jun 2012 #120
Read this Book: Mira Jun 2012 #124
As for the bookstore thing . . . markpkessinger Jun 2012 #132
Amen, brother! SaB2012 Jun 2012 #145
Wow. It's a shame people treat men this way, especially on DU cbdo2007 Jun 2012 #142
He only gives balloons to one child in particular, at the expense of all others...? LanternWaste Jun 2012 #148
I wasn't making a direct comparison....you're missing the point. cbdo2007 Jun 2012 #149
Back in my hometown SaB2012 Jun 2012 #143
there's a big difference between a 5 year old and a 2 year old.... cbdo2007 Jun 2012 #147
To everyone calling this "grooming" SaB2012 Jun 2012 #144
More often than not, I'll give a mom any benefit of the doubt LanternWaste Jun 2012 #146
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