Snitches get stitches?

77GreenMachine

77GreenMachine

Phillip Talton
Joined
Mar 30, 2010
Location
Trinity, NC
So me and my neighbor have a great relationship. I help fix things for him, he mows my yard sometimes just because, and if I’m out of town. We talk often, and have a great friendship.

He has a recently 16 year old boy, and a 5 year girl. The 16 year old boy recently got his license and they gave him their car to drive. Naturally as kids do when he pulls out (out of view from his parents) he drives super aggressive doing burnouts and stuff (best a Honda can)

I ignored that, I was a teen once too. But he comes back in the neighborhood about the same, and my kids ride their bikes in the driveway and in front of the house.

Then, the other day he was home when his dad wasn’t, and took the car in the back yard and ripped some donuts and dirt burn outs. I don’t care at all, but his dad will have to pay to fix that car. Again I was gonna let this go.

But then just a few minutes later, he hopped on his dads Harley and blasted down the road real quick for a short ride, not in the neighborhood, out on the main, very busy road.

I have warred with myself on if I should tell my neighbor or not. As a father, I would want someone to tell me about this. My wife says I should stay out of it and let it be. But at this point I’m concerned for the kids safety.

I don’t want to be a tattle tell. I also don’t want this kid to have it out for me if he knows I told on him. I doubt he’d do anything but kids will be kids.

What say y’all? Tell his dad, or stay out of it?
 
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1) as a father, I’d want to know
2) I grew up in an environment where my parents apparently had a crystal ball where they could see through my eyes any time they pleased, and I’d usually be facing an ass whooping before I even knew I did anything wrong. As time has gone on, and I realized my parents didn’t have super powers, I assume a lot of folks out there are snitches.

Edit 3) as a father with children I don’t want them to be collateral damage of a teenager’s dumb decision, I’d be snitching or scaring the shit out of the kid. Doughnuts in the yard with my kids playing outside isn’t something I’d take lightly.
 
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Let it go. Not worth the headache. Its commendable that you are worried about the kid's safety, but no good deed goes unpunished is what comes to mind in a situation like this.
 
unless it's a danger to you or your kids or irritating the shit out of you. stay out.
 
I'd have a two phase approach.
Id go speak to the kid first, just ask him to be careful in the neighborhood because you worry about kids playing.

See if he realizes hes being a jackass. If he doesnt change Id talk to the dad.

I mean what will make you feel worse. Telling on him and getting the stink eye everyday from a 16 year old, or seeing his head splattered on the road and seeing your friend balling his eyes out over his dead son.
 
He hasn’t been what I feel is a danger to the kids. My kids weren’t in the yard when he did donuts in HIS yard.

Really, it’s the riding his dads motorcycle that is the tipping point where I feel I should tell his dad.
 
The Libertarian in me says "Mind your own damn business"

The father in me says "I would want to know"

However...if dad see's the donuts in the back yard and you DON'T hear his voice thru his walls and yours, my guess is he doesn't GAF
 
UTfball68 said:
1) as a father, I’d want to know
2) I grew up in an environment where my parents apparently had a crystal ball where they could see through my eyes any time they pleased, and I’d usually be facing an ass whooping before I even knew I did anything wrong. As time has gone on, and I realized my parents didn’t have super powers, I assume a lot of folks out there are snitches.

Edit 3) as a father with children I don’t want them to be collateral damage of a teenager’s dumb decision, I’d be snitching or scaring the shit out of the kid. Doughnuts in the yard with my kids playing outside isn’t something I’d take lightly.
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Same boat here Ben. My mom knew shit that I never would've guessed she knew about.
 
CasterTroy said:
The Libertarian in me says "Mind your own damn business"

The father in me says "I would want to know"

However...if dad see's the donuts in the back yard and you DON'T hear his voice thru his walls and yours, my guess is he doesn't GAF
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It’s way in the back, not visible from the house and he’d probably think they were from me honestly cause our yards join and I’m known to rip some donuts back there and wind up in his yard too.
 
If it were my kid I'd want to know. But not in a like "your kid is an asshole and endangering my kids and my life and killing my property values" kind of way. Just in a "hey, just a heads up, your kid is kind of tearing stuff up around here" kind of way. If someone came in at me the first way I'd be eff you and then rip into my kid and you are now on my shit list. The other way I'd say damn, sorry man and then rip into my kid and give you a thanks for a heads up.

I have two boys and a lot of fast cars here. I'd want to know if they touch my stuff. Of course, I also have security cameras in my shop, so they aren't going to pull off any shit. :lol:
 
Oh I would totally tell him in a concerned, just so you know kind of way. I don’t care one bit of the kid abuses a car that costs me nothing and does donuts in his yard. It doesn’t bother me one bit. I do genuinely worry about him riding the motorcycle, and feel his dad should know.

When he peels out of it into the neighborhood, my kids haven’t been out there (yet) but it makes me go into alert instantly and check on what’s going on to see where they are and what it is. At this point I feel like the only danger has been to himself and his fathers wallet when he has to fix the car or replace the tires.
 
77GreenMachine said:
He hasn’t been what I feel is a danger to the kids. My kids weren’t in the yard when he did donuts in HIS yard.
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Understood, but I also remember what it was like being 16...cool, I got away with it, everyone else must be cool with it too. Next time, push it a little harder, show off for the people watching. Cool, got away with it again. Next time, the track gets a little bigger, I don't care who is around, got away with it again. Next time...oh shit, this is what understeer and brake fade are...right in to a tree/mailbox/car/person
 
Id probly ask your neighbor, in casual conversation, if he was going to get his son a bike so they could ride together. If he asks why, just mention you saw him riding the Harley, and figure it sounded like good father son activity.
 
We had a similar (yet very different) situation a couple years ago. We handled it well (at least I believe) but the parents didn’t want any of it. We learned some parents get embarrassed and then ugly toward the messenger. Other wise parents told us not to address it, as their experiences taught them some parents don’t want to know. Bizarre to us. How can you beat your children into productive members of society if you don’t know what is going on?
 
I'd burn his house down and then steal his land :shrug:
 
Sounds like he's "Doin' it for Dale" right now.....donuts in his backyard not your problem. Better for him to learn some car control away from everybody than the Roses parking lot. If he starts coming in hot, looking like he's gonna put it in the wall (moment of silence for Dale), you might wanna say something.
 
I'm like Ben ask when his kid is getting his bike so they can ride together. I'd also would wonder when he gets hit doing some thing stupid whats going happen. We all do stupid shit as kids. But some go past stupid. Hate to see him get hit on dads bike.
 
Monkeynono said:
I would ask the father how the ride was the other day.
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Definitely if the son could be "mistaken for the dad", I'd go that direction. Play dumb (in my case not a big leap). That way, you aren't "tattling", but just asking a question about how the ride was since you assumed it was the dad riding since the spawn of his loins would obviously never "do anything illegal"......

 
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I'd talk to the kid. Tell him what's up but be cool about it. He'll automatically assume you've told the dad unless you tell him otherwise. I think, if he's smart, he'll take it easy because he doesn't want you to tell the dad ultimately.
 
77GreenMachine said:
He hasn’t been what I feel is a danger to the kids. My kids weren’t in the yard when he did donuts in HIS yard.

Really, it’s the riding his dads motorcycle that is the tipping point where I feel I should tell his dad.
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I wouldn't approach the kid. He sounds like the kind of kid that will get head strung and just make it more of a headache for you.

I'd just ask his dad one of two things a) was he working up the Harley in the neighborhood to troubleshoot or test a repair, or b) "hey Bob, that's pretty cool that you let your kid ride your motorcycle."

Either question should leave him wondering what you are talking about. Then when you elaborate, he can react however he chooses.
 
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