Comments on: Unhand Him, You Fiend http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend Life consists of what a man is thinking of all day. - Emerson Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:31:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Alvis http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend#comment-534 Alvis Wed, 05 Apr 2006 01:31:15 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend/#comment-534 And that last comment is from me, not Susan. I didn't pay attention to the auto-fill. And that last comment is from me, not Susan. I didn’t pay attention to the auto-fill.

]]> By: Susan http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend#comment-533 Susan Wed, 05 Apr 2006 01:30:16 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend/#comment-533 Allen and I ran/walked a couple blocks tonight. We ran into (not literally) 3 different groups of people out walking, doing yardwork, playing, etc. Allen wanted to talk to all of them, so we did. The kid has not met a stranger. On the one hand, I'm proud of him for being so outgoing, on the other hand it can be kind of scarry. So in other words, Allen would have probably buddied up with this guy. :) Don't wear yourself out over it. Allen and I ran/walked a couple blocks tonight. We ran into (not literally) 3 different groups of people out walking, doing yardwork, playing, etc. Allen wanted to talk to all of them, so we did. The kid has not met a stranger. On the one hand, I’m proud of him for being so outgoing, on the other hand it can be kind of scarry.

So in other words, Allen would have probably buddied up with this guy. :)

Don’t wear yourself out over it.

]]> By: Dave http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend#comment-532 Dave Tue, 04 Apr 2006 15:23:11 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend/#comment-532 Yeah, I'd have probably said to Ben "Ben, lets get down off the man and not bother him"... and if the man protested, I would have mentioned that we've taught Ben not to be so open with people, for his own safety. Yeah, I’d have probably said to Ben “Ben, lets get down off the man and not bother him”… and if the man protested, I would have mentioned that we’ve taught Ben not to be so open with people, for his own safety.

]]> By: Hazel Hazel http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend#comment-531 Hazel Hazel Tue, 04 Apr 2006 14:52:51 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend/#comment-531 Very interesting post and replies. 20 years ago I would have been wary, but not freaked out had a stranger picked up my child. These days however I'd be a bit leary. However, I am very trusting generally with people when I am in their presence. I am the opposite when I cannot see them or their actions. Very interesting post and replies. 20 years ago I would have been wary, but not freaked out had a stranger picked up my child. These days however I’d be a bit leary. However, I am very trusting generally with people when I am in their presence. I am the opposite when I cannot see them or their actions.

]]> By: Erica http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend#comment-530 Erica Tue, 04 Apr 2006 12:45:23 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend/#comment-530 I'm probably a "...less self-contained Mommy-bear," however, in this day and age, you can never be to cautious when a stranger picks up your child, cultural difference or not. With that said, I probably would have done the same thing as you, Mark. Just given the location and circumstances, the chances of this guy being harmful were slim. In situations like these, my personal feeling is that you should listen more to your gut instinct than your inner pc voice. I’m probably a “…less self-contained Mommy-bear,” however, in this day and age, you can never be to cautious when a stranger picks up your child, cultural difference or not. With that said, I probably would have done the same thing as you, Mark. Just given the location and circumstances, the chances of this guy being harmful were slim. In situations like these, my personal feeling is that you should listen more to your gut instinct than your inner pc voice.

]]> By: Mark http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend#comment-529 Mark Tue, 04 Apr 2006 12:16:41 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend/#comment-529 Jim - I suspected as much. Thanks for the perspective. If there's one thing big cities everywhere have, it's "furriners" with a wide variety of social mores. I would expect that those cultures that permit child-holding also accept a certain level of responsibility for making sure that child does not misbehave or get into trouble in some other way. Your catwalk story will (or should) live in infamy. I would like that here, but I can't find a search feature on your Blogger blog. Sorry. Go ahead and plug it, if you want. Folks should read it. Hilarious. Simon - I still lean your way. He's the best thing (my wife and) I have ever done/been around/held in our arms. When you're trying so hard not to screw something up, you get a little stressed sometimes. Jim - I suspected as much. Thanks for the perspective. If there’s one thing big cities everywhere have, it’s “furriners” with a wide variety of social mores. I would expect that those cultures that permit child-holding also accept a certain level of responsibility for making sure that child does not misbehave or get into trouble in some other way.

Your catwalk story will (or should) live in infamy. I would like that here, but I can’t find a search feature on your Blogger blog. Sorry. Go ahead and plug it, if you want. Folks should read it. Hilarious.

Simon - I still lean your way. He’s the best thing (my wife and) I have ever done/been around/held in our arms. When you’re trying so hard not to screw something up, you get a little stressed sometimes.

]]> By: Jim http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend#comment-528 Jim Tue, 04 Apr 2006 11:04:50 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend/#comment-528 Mark, This is an interesting point you've hit on. In many (most?) non-anglo cultures the event you describe is PERFECTLY NORMAL. Many brazilians I know who have spent any time in the US can recall at least one incident in which they discovered (the hard way) that we Americans are, in general, really uptight about strangers picking up our kids. It's something I still haven't got completely used to ... although even down here it is not that common for a MAN to pick up a stranger's child... and it doesn't usually seem to bother me as much when it is a woman that picks up my kid. (I wonder if you would have had the same feelings had "Teddy" been a woman?) I'm not saying the "furriners" are right and we are wrong ... but it really is just a cultural thing. I don't think you should have been harder on the guy, but you could have maybe subtly, respectfully requested the return of your offspring. Some day, this Teddy will end up picking up a kid of some less self-contained Mommy-bear, and he's going to learn about this aspect of American culture the hard way. I probably would have done just what you did though. I will say this, however: if some guy with a beer picks up your kid and tries to carry him across a suspended catwalk in the rain ... call the police!! Mark,

This is an interesting point you’ve hit on. In many (most?) non-anglo cultures the event you describe is PERFECTLY NORMAL. Many brazilians I know who have spent any time in the US can recall at least one incident in which they discovered (the hard way) that we Americans are, in general, really uptight about strangers picking up our kids.

It’s something I still haven’t got completely used to … although even down here it is not that common for a MAN to pick up a stranger’s child… and it doesn’t usually seem to bother me as much when it is a woman that picks up my kid. (I wonder if you would have had the same feelings had “Teddy” been a woman?)

I’m not saying the “furriners” are right and we are wrong … but it really is just a cultural thing. I don’t think you should have been harder on the guy, but you could have maybe subtly, respectfully requested the return of your offspring. Some day, this Teddy will end up picking up a kid of some less self-contained Mommy-bear, and he’s going to learn about this aspect of American culture the hard way. I probably would have done just what you did though.

I will say this, however: if some guy with a beer picks up your kid and tries to carry him across a suspended catwalk in the rain … call the police!!

]]> By: Simon http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend#comment-527 Simon Tue, 04 Apr 2006 06:13:49 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/2006/04/03/unhand-him-you-fiend/#comment-527 Yeah, not cool. Don't be grabbing the progeny without written consent. Yeah, not cool. Don’t be grabbing the progeny without written consent.

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