Topic: Child abuse?

[Jamie1]

The other day I walked through our showroom and saw this grossly overweight woman with her child that looked to be about 4 years old. Mom had a giant slurpee. The child also had a giant slurpee and a giant bag of chips. This was a 8 o'clock in the AM. I wish I would have said something. Makes me sick to think what this woman is setting up this kid for later in life.

[RunsinLight]

Did you direct them to the full size SUVs?

[Mitlov]

Just because she's being a bad parent doesn't mean it's your job to throw that in her face.

[CyberNick]

So he held his tounge... Just because it's not his job to do or say something, does not meen he can't be outraged about it. I would be too...

[johngenx]

Children are far from responsible enough to make wise nutrition choices, and it's up to us parents to do that for them.  So, yes, I think that feeding your child junk food in excessive amounts is child abuse.  It really uspets me to see the growing number of obese children in the primary school age, and I'm downright shocked to see the number of obese middle school children.

[RunsinLight]

I always find it rather amusing that they have a whole isle of chips at the grocery stores. I might buy one bag a year. I've never understood where somewhere people get the desire to eat these things so much.

[initial_D]

8:00 Am? That is early.

[safristi]

...8a.m  Ding Dongs it's breakfast time..........................

[Brig]

8:00 Am? That is early.

Yeah, I always wait until at least 9:00 a.m. to have my first Dorito.   

I'm not sure what's worse here:  the time of day this child was eating junk, or the fact that he/she was allowed to eat junk at all, at such a young age.

When I was a younger kid, chips and soft drinks were around only when there were parties or family gatherings, and only rarely allowed as a snack.  If we were hungry, there were always apples, oranges, peaches and pears (when in season), grapes, you name it.  We drank mostly water, milk, juice or Kool-Aid (not much better than pop, mind you).  Ice cream and homemade juice popsicles were a summer favourite (remember those Tupperware popsicle kits?)

As we got older, my parents were more permissive, but they still didn't buy soft drinks.  To this day, I still favour fruit and vegetables as a snack, and rarely drink carbonated beverages.

I'm not sure I would have said anything to that mother - I don't think it would have made a difference, anyway.  Sometimes you just have to pick your battles and move on. 

[Trainman]

8:00 Am? That is early.

...


When I was a younger kid, chips and soft drinks were around only when there were parties or family gatherings, and only rarely allowed as a snack.  If we were hungry, there were always apples, oranges, peaches and pears (when in season), grapes, you name it.  We drank mostly water, milk, juice or Kool-Aid (not much better than pop, mind you).  Ice cream and homemade juice popsicles were a summer favourite (remember those Tupperware popsicle kits?)

As we got older, my parents were more permissive, but they still didn't buy soft drinks.  To this day, I still favour fruit and vegetables as a snack, and rarely drink carbonated beverages.

I'm not sure I would have said anything to that mother - I don't think it would have made a difference, anyway.  Sometimes you just have to pick your battles and move on. 

Thats what we try to do with our kids as well.  We go through about 2 dozen pops per year in a family of 4, and most of that is ginger ale for upset tummies.

And I agree with Ms. B, got to pick your battles.  For this issue, a better way is to approach the school board and get some education on nutrition into the class rooms.  My son just went through the DARE program and he can tell me more about the ill-effects of drugs, tobacco and alcohol than l thought possible.

How about all the adults who do not wear bike helmets when out with their kids, who are wearing theirs?  Or small kids in the front seats of airbag equipped cars? Or no seat belts for kids?  Or....  Where do you draw the line?  What do you define as "abuse"?

[Ex-airbalancer]

I see more kids without helmets these days 
That just drives me crazy

[Brig]

How about all the adults who do not wear bike helmets when out with their kids, who are wearing theirs?  Or small kids in the front seats of airbag equipped cars? Or no seat belts for kids?  Or....  Where do you draw the line?  What do you define as "abuse"?

I think it's okay to speak up when something illegal (rather than a judgement call) is occurring.  If you're putting a child in harm's way without actually hurting him, I think it would be more a case of negligence rather than abuse.  To me, abuse is either physical or emotional and involves an actual voluntary action with the intent to harm or kill.  Neglect is to withhold something with the intent to harm.  Negligence falls under the header of stupidity or laziness, for me. 

I'm sure we could argue semantics until we're blue in the face, though.  I'm sure the lawyers in the room can look up the criminal code and clear it all up for us.

[Mitlov]

Just because she's being a bad parent doesn't mean it's your job to throw that in her face.

So he held his tounge... Just because it's not his job to do or say something, does not meen he can't be outraged about it. I would be too...

I was responding to the comment "I wish I would have said something."

[dorin]

I see more kids without helmets these days 
That just drives me crazy

Good!  Helmets stigmatize bicycles as dangerous and promote car culture.

[Mitlov]

Good!  Helmets stigmatize bicycles as dangerous and promote car culture.

Okay, I'm 99% sure you're joking, but could you please just confirm for me that this post wasn't serious?

[dr_spock]

How do you know it was not just a treat for going car shopping? 

[tpl]

I see more kids without helmets these days 
That just drives me crazy

Good!  Helmets stigmatize bicycles as dangerous and promote car culture.

Yes.  Kids are indestructible.  Or at least they were when I was one. Noone ever considered that one would need a helmet while cycling back then.   
 Maybe its just me but as an ex-kid ex-cyclist I feel that it is my duty to not run into  kids on bikes and other cyclists while driving a car.

[safristi]

...... so OLDE Fashioned of ME & U tpl...........reductio ad absurdum IMHO...when are we gettin' side air bags on TRIKES kinda thing.........."If we could just save ONE LIFE kinda stuff" while we fack up everyone elses freedom crapolla...................DO all U want Leave the REST to chose.................(comfort yerself ye RULES & LAW types with the thought that Darwins LAW will expunge the Evil Kneivel types...and let the rest of us sensible ,thinking types get on with LIFE...which still ends in DEATH by the way...no ABS there
 Anti Burial System..

[dorin]

Good!  Helmets stigmatize bicycles as dangerous and promote car culture.

Okay, I'm 99% sure you're joking, but could you please just confirm for me that this post wasn't serious?

We've been through this before.  I am not joking in the least.  Helmets = message that biking is dangerous -> over-use of cars.

[tpl]

People are produced in large numbers by unskilled labour.... doesn't matter if we lose a few in the process.