Would you help a hurt child out?
Discussion
Possibly a bit of a silly query here.
I live in a big residential neighbourhood, next to a play park, was parking outside my house this evening when a kid, looked 8 or 9 was limping down the street in tears & seemed in a lot of pain, I asked them if they where OK, they said they had fallen off the monkey bars & had really hurt their leg, their friend had ran to get their mum. Knowing they where likely local I offered to run them home, they accepted, I ran them around the corner & watched them go in their front door.
Thought nothing of it, told my missus who seems to think it's something you just shouldn't do, stranger danger & all, at most you should offer to call their parents. Is she over thinking things, or was trying to help out really the wrong thing to do?
I live in a big residential neighbourhood, next to a play park, was parking outside my house this evening when a kid, looked 8 or 9 was limping down the street in tears & seemed in a lot of pain, I asked them if they where OK, they said they had fallen off the monkey bars & had really hurt their leg, their friend had ran to get their mum. Knowing they where likely local I offered to run them home, they accepted, I ran them around the corner & watched them go in their front door.
Thought nothing of it, told my missus who seems to think it's something you just shouldn't do, stranger danger & all, at most you should offer to call their parents. Is she over thinking things, or was trying to help out really the wrong thing to do?
valiant said:
I was in my work Transit Custom, my livery is slightly different though. I'm now being called a kiddy fiddler by my missus & her sister, this is what I get for trying to be helpful and community spirited. I'll splash them with puddle & drive on next time.
Petrol Only said:
I know they are “joking”. But that’s exactly why a lot of men wouldn’t help!
This. There is no way in hell I would even contemplate putting a child I didn't know in my car and driving them anywhere. All it takes is one finger to be pointed or a passer by misinterpreting and you are in for a world of st. I do think what OP did should be the right thing to do, it's a sad sign of the world we live in that we should question it.
It's an indictment on the times that you have to think this way!
We've been on the prom when a young girl cycled past us, she was within eyesight of her dad when she went over in front of us and became tangled up in the bike, I gestured to the OH to help her up despite her father being 40ft away it just felt like that would be the least chance of causing offence, little girl was fine, said thanks and cycled back to dad.
I think if it's a more serious situation then instincts kick in - hopefully rare and hopefully no one will be punished for genuine help
We've been on the prom when a young girl cycled past us, she was within eyesight of her dad when she went over in front of us and became tangled up in the bike, I gestured to the OH to help her up despite her father being 40ft away it just felt like that would be the least chance of causing offence, little girl was fine, said thanks and cycled back to dad.
I think if it's a more serious situation then instincts kick in - hopefully rare and hopefully no one will be punished for genuine help
SD_1 said:
This. There is no way in hell I would even contemplate putting a child I didn't know in my car and driving them anywhere. All it takes is one finger to be pointed or a passer by misinterpreting and you are in for a world of st.
I do think what OP did should be the right thing to do, it's a sad sign of the world we live in that we should question it.
It is the right thing to do and you questioning it compounds the “non issue” Not sure why this is being questioned??I do think what OP did should be the right thing to do, it's a sad sign of the world we live in that we should question it.
It’s a question of minimising risk whilst providing help/support.
In OP’s situation I’d have done the same as him, but spoken to the parents after to advise the help I offered and why - I’m then not the ‘weirdo’ who’s van their child got into. A car would’ve eliminated the risk by having the kid in the back. Worst case, walking with the kid if you didn’t feel confident or offering to call parents to collect/check they’re okay with them being dropped off.
Leaving a hurt kid because you’re scared of being accused of something isn’t okay.
In OP’s situation I’d have done the same as him, but spoken to the parents after to advise the help I offered and why - I’m then not the ‘weirdo’ who’s van their child got into. A car would’ve eliminated the risk by having the kid in the back. Worst case, walking with the kid if you didn’t feel confident or offering to call parents to collect/check they’re okay with them being dropped off.
Leaving a hurt kid because you’re scared of being accused of something isn’t okay.
bristolbaron said:
It’s a question of minimising risk whilst providing help/support.
In OP’s situation I’d have done the same as him, but spoken to the parents after to advise the help I offered and why - I’m then not the ‘weirdo’ who’s van their child got into. A car would’ve eliminated the risk by having the kid in the back. Worst case, walking with the kid if you didn’t feel confident or offering to call parents to collect/check they’re okay with them being dropped off.
Leaving a hurt kid because you’re scared of being accused of something isn’t okay.
Yeah that's fair, I do actually agree with my missus to a point actually, should've offered to phone their parents before running them around the corner, and yeah grabbing my car would've been wise in hindsight, I mean it is a liveried work van for a small local company, I don't know if that could be considered a positive or a negative but to me doesn't have the same connotations as a plain white Transit. I didn't actually have my phone on me at that point.In OP’s situation I’d have done the same as him, but spoken to the parents after to advise the help I offered and why - I’m then not the ‘weirdo’ who’s van their child got into. A car would’ve eliminated the risk by having the kid in the back. Worst case, walking with the kid if you didn’t feel confident or offering to call parents to collect/check they’re okay with them being dropped off.
Leaving a hurt kid because you’re scared of being accused of something isn’t okay.
I do kind of worry they will phone my work actually, I am not a parent myself so I really don't know if the reaction would likely to be 'thanks for helping our son out' or 'how dare you put our child in your vehicle!'. You're right I probably should've walked him up the path & let them know
Edited by caelite on Sunday 25th August 00:17
Help a hurt child, why wouldn't you? But than I am a parent and couldn't watch an I injured child struggle simply because some random stranger might think I am a pedo.
As for the police being involved, are you lot serious. What exactly are they going to charge you with....being a decent human being!
As for the police being involved, are you lot serious. What exactly are they going to charge you with....being a decent human being!
During the child protection parts of my cycling coaching and cubs training, we’re explicitly told never get yourself in a position where allegations could be made, in a car alone with a child for example. Undoubtedly you did the right thing, it takes a really callous individual not to assist in some form but I would have walked with the kid to their home not driven them.
It’s sad that you have to think like this because kids really like adult company. When we were rock pooling last week I was telling my daughter what things in her net were, other kids heard and then kept bringing me things to identity.
It’s sad that you have to think like this because kids really like adult company. When we were rock pooling last week I was telling my daughter what things in her net were, other kids heard and then kept bringing me things to identity.
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