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Good samaritan helping lost toddler gets punched by father, labeled predator online
- Thread starter AuthenticM
- Start date
DiipuSurotu
Banned
It's not random people, it's literally the father and his friends.
The right thing to do (especially with a kid as young as 2) is to literally stay where you found the kid and call the police, explaining that you found a kid.
Chances are the parents would call the police and report the kid missing so you can have the local authorities then working together.
Mammoth Jones
Member
Yup. That's how people are. I'll dial 911 from a distance and yell out "Hey kid don't go over there it's dangerous" while I wait for the cops but I'm not getting anywhere near someone's white kid. They'll lynch my ass. Nope. Not risking it.
Did you just call a little boy beautiful
I dont feel comfortable with this man posting in this thread mods
this scene always gets me because it is true
link1201
Member
Yeah, I actively walk as far away as I can from young children unless I'm with my wife. I've had a couple women on two different occasions look like they're having a heart attack because I've walked too close to their children in a store and they didn't see me at first :/
DiipuSurotu
Banned
The lack of apologizing isn't because the father simply doesn't feel regrets, it's because he still literally thinks that the guy is a child predator and that the police didn't do their job correctly.
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
Let me stop you right there, that's probably why they were assholes to you.
Was? Still is.
I've said repeatedly that this man didn't deserve to be attacked. My only point is that the safest and best way to help a lost child, is to stay put with them. If it looks like you're trying to leave with the child, it's more likely to cause confusion. I'm offering advice, in the hopes that the multiple people who have posted, stating they'd simply let the child wander away into more danger, reconsider.
If you find a lost child, the best thing to do is to hold their hand and stay where you found them. Then scan the area for a frantic and panicked adult. If you see one, wave them over and then immediately let go of the child's hand, so their parent can collect them. If you don't see anyone like that, after waiting a reasonable amount of time, then call the police. I think doing these things minimizes the chance that an emotional parent will confuse you for a predator and it saves a child from stumbling into traffic or actually being kidnapped.
A couple of weeks ago I was at the playground with my daughter, and a kid came running in. This playground is back of the road a fair distance, and there were no other cars in the parking lot, and no other parents I could see. I waited a bit, but when no one showed up for a few minutes I went over to the kid and just asked if he was doing okay, where his parents were, etc.
At this point, I'm talking to him, my daughter is over on another part of the playground, and this kid's panicked mom comes running in screaming "get away from him!" So I start to back away because she's clearly upset, and it's starting to freak out the kid a bit, and frankly I've always been wary about being around stranger's kids as an adult (something that's changed since I've had my own kids, but it never really goes away completely). The woman rushes up, grabs the kid and gives me a death stare. Fortunately, at that point my daughter runs over wondering what's going on, and when the mother's attitude changes noticeably when she sees my daughter.
Anyway, we were leaving soon anyway, so I just took off with my daughter rather than be around that, and nothing really came of it, but when that woman was running up, there was just this fear in the pit of my stomach, even though I knew I wasn't doing anything wrong. It sucks because I try to make sure my daughter isn't overly afraid of strangers, but of course she's asking all these questions about why the woman was yelling, and I don't want to get into "stranger danger," so I'm kind of avoiding the issue. It also sucks because parents like that are why people are wary sometimes to help kids, and I'd much rather have someone try to help my kids if they're in trouble than ignoring them because they're worried about my response.
At this point, I'm talking to him, my daughter is over on another part of the playground, and this kid's panicked mom comes running in screaming "get away from him!" So I start to back away because she's clearly upset, and it's starting to freak out the kid a bit, and frankly I've always been wary about being around stranger's kids as an adult (something that's changed since I've had my own kids, but it never really goes away completely). The woman rushes up, grabs the kid and gives me a death stare. Fortunately, at that point my daughter runs over wondering what's going on, and when the mother's attitude changes noticeably when she sees my daughter.
Anyway, we were leaving soon anyway, so I just took off with my daughter rather than be around that, and nothing really came of it, but when that woman was running up, there was just this fear in the pit of my stomach, even though I knew I wasn't doing anything wrong. It sucks because I try to make sure my daughter isn't overly afraid of strangers, but of course she's asking all these questions about why the woman was yelling, and I don't want to get into "stranger danger," so I'm kind of avoiding the issue. It also sucks because parents like that are why people are wary sometimes to help kids, and I'd much rather have someone try to help my kids if they're in trouble than ignoring them because they're worried about my response.
Moose Biscuits
It would be extreamly painful...
I've never encountered a kid in distress but if I did I'm staying away from them for this reason. Call me a coward, whatever. Better to be thought a coward than a kiddy fiddler.
Well if I wasn't going to press charges for assault I would definitely sue him for slander.
nkarafo
Member
Yeah, the story would be completely different if the person helping was a woman.
yup me too. Profuse apology or i press charges.
This is exactly why. Best you can do is call the cops or someone in charge and hope for the best. Tried to do something nice and look what that got him.
How the hell do you know every single person in Florida?
It's odd that he left town instead of pressing charges.
Gravy Boat
Member
I would happily take a few punches if it meant saving a child from a predator.
Pretty much. If you go under the clarifying Facebook post by the Police department. Everybody seems to be in agreement that the family was wrong. Except for friends of the family. Like they can't let it go and keep bringing up the fact that he was "holding her" even though the cops said he was innocent. That's what's so crazy to me. The friends and family are the ones who are perpetuating this nonsense in the guise of not blaming the actual parents. Dude really needs to sue all of them
Sunster
Member
reminds me of that cop who says she let herself get beat up because she knew if she shot and killed her attacker she'd get in trouble.
Not sure why people are having so much trouble understanding why the guy would leave town with his family and not press charges. The father who beat him up still believes he is a child predator. He was said to be increasingly agitated at the result of the investigation. The report says friends and family have joined in defaming the Good Samaritan online. Why shouldn't he assume someone might try to hurt him or his family even if the father eventually went to jail? People choose not to press charges all the time. It doesn't mean there is some sinister ulterior motive.
DiipuSurotu
Banned
IMO, despite the assault and slander, this good samaritan still did the right thing.
Excuse me?
LegendofDragoonLives
Member
Father = a cunt.
What about getting accused of being the predator, and having your entire life destroyed? I ain't taking that risk.
Sunster
Member
is his life destroyed?
Gravy Boat
Member
I would take that risk. Fuck letting some child get kidnapped, raped or worse.
I couldn't live with myself if I found out a child ended up in a situation like that and I could have prevented it.
Yeah, I'm with you.
Also, this guys literally has national newspapers and a police force behind him. His life is not ruined (it's just fucked up for a while)
It's because he's suspicious. Not say he did it, but
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
Considering the result, he absolutely did not.
SliceSabre
Banned
If you are a man, don't help lost kids. Sounds cruel but if you look wrong while doing it you'll be in deep shit like that guy.
I have no problem admitting I've ignored clearly lost kids because of the stigma. I'm already black, I got enough troubles.
I have no problem admitting I've ignored clearly lost kids because of the stigma. I'm already black, I got enough troubles.
What?
The father is a piece of shit. Leaving his daughter alone, punching an innocent person and then defaming him everywhere. The fucker didn't even apologize in the end. I think the victim should have pressed charges, but I'll respect his decision not to and to move away instead.
Scofield94941
Member
I work at a grocery store and a little girl was lost, asked her if she was lost. I proceeded to walk towards customer service with her when her mom came up behind. Wasnt mad at me but again I was a worker so she probably felt more at ease. If I wasnt a worker it probably would have looked very badly. In hindsight, I should have paged that "name of girl" was in produce looking for mother" Instead of trying to page at customer service.
eyeball_kid
Member
I understand what you're saying, but the advice you're giving is a reinforcement of the idea that all men should be viewed as dangerous and potentially a child predator. "Keep your hands up at all times, do not make a move that seems like a threat" I guarantee if it had been a woman in this scenario doing the same thing, none of this would have happened.
Also, calling the police is only a safe strategy if you're a white guy.
DiipuSurotu
Banned
What the fuck?
Just to clarify, you know that you can die from getting punched. Who's to say your head bounces off the concrete the wrong way or other things. Getting punched isn't likenin the movies