Did I do the right thing?

[airborne_angler]

Ok let me set the situation:

Im at the only local pond and am by myself fishing when a car pulls up and a young couple and thier child get out of the car. They find a spot in the shade and unpack thier items. Then another car pulls up. A young lady gets out of the car with her child. Keep in mind these children cant be any older than 3 or 4 years old. They all commence to fishing and I hear the dad say"Lets go try the dam". Well a fence has been put on both ends of the pond with a "Keep out notice by order of commanding general of Fort Huachuca" sign(this pond is on a military post.) The guy blatantely disregards the sign and goes on the dam anyways with the 2 small children and a dog in tow. The dam cant be any wider than 3 feet on the top surface where they were walking.

The keep out sign and fences were posted years ago when a youngster was fishing and fell backwards off the dam,about a 25 foot drop,and sadly died.

I know all about the reasoning behind the off limits,and just cringed as him and his toddlers went on that dam. It was so disturbing I just packed up and left.

Then as I was driving home I got a guilty feeling. Should I have butted my nose in and said something? Could I possibly have averted someone from danger to himself and those children? The sign did say KEEP OUT. So really if something happens its on him right? Or should I have gone up to the 2 women and said something like I was a busy body and have the guy potentially get all huffy and macho and tell me to butt out and that its none of my business? I sure hope I did the right thing cause Id hate to hear about something in the paper.

[KYbass1276]

If it was on a military post I would have found someone there and let them know about it,  They would have been the proper authority to deal with the problem  People are ignorant you see it everyday but when someones ignorance involves an child who dosen't know any different thats when something needs to be done. So I would have to say yes you did right by leaving but did wrong by not letting authorites know about the situation This guy got away with it this time because he wasn't caught so what's to stop from endangering himself and more importantly the kids agin  

[Guest avid]

You did the right thing by not confronting the guy. When it comes to a man and his kids, there is no telling what kind of a reaction you might get.

As far as reporting him. To tell you the truth, when I see violations that bother me, I sometimes report them, but then again, sometimes I don't.

When things hit you in the emotions it's hard to be consistant. Hell, sometimes it's hard to even know whats the best thing to do.

I support your actions completely. Don't be so hard on yourself.

[SuthernProg]

  Quote

You did the right thing by not confronting the guy. When it comes to a man and his kids, there is no telling what kind of a reaction you might get.

As far as reporting him. To tell you the truth, when I see violations that bother me, I sometimes report them, but then again, sometimes I don't.

When things hit you in the emotions it's hard to be consistant. Hell, sometimes it's hard to even know whats the best thing to do.

I support your actions completely. Don't be so hard on yourself.

Exactly. People are insane these days.

Marion

[RLinNH]

Guess I am the odd ball here. I would have said something to the guy prior to him walking out on a 3 foot ledge, 25 ft. in the air, with 2 little kids in tow. I am a parent myself, and I sure as hell would not think about putting my children in that situation. And if I did, I hope that someone would call me on it. Just my .02 cents...

      Also, the 2 females that accompanied the guy are just as much to blame.

[airborne_angler]

I am a parent as well and understand the thoughts behind all this and guess your right,If I were to do something stupid like that I would want to perhaps have someone call me on it too. But I am not that risky to put my children in that situation. Its way to easy to get Vertigo at such a height. I know it all to well. I used to jump from perfectly good airplanes when I was in the service. Guess I didnt want to have a confrontation at that moment.

[VekolBass]

You probably did the right thing by not confronting the guy. As regards informing the post authorities, I think that could go either way really.

A funny story about the ponds on Ft. Huachuca. I was doing training there back in the mid eighties, and the Army had developed a new PFD that they wanted to test. They requested volunteers from the students to put on the PFD, get in a helicopter, and jump into one of the ponds (I think it is one by the golf course) to test the device. After getting a raft from my buddies, I decided to volunteer for the test. My wife, girlfriend at the time, thought the idea was stupid.

At the last minute they canceled the demonstration. Seems that someone discovered that there are a bunch of dead mesquite trees just beneath the surface. I still have visions of ten or so second lieutenants impaled like coctail olives floating in the golf course pond with a grandstand on VIPs and probably media looking on. Kind of funny--kind of not.

[Other.]

If it was me i wouldent do anything exept tell some one and have them do it. If they ignore the rules and get hurt its there fult. I know that some of you might think that sick but i have a diffrent look twords life then many other of you people.

[FlyRod]

You indeed SHOULD have called the authorities immediately and remained available to give a statement. Gut up, dude, those kids were in danger.

Besides, it's fun to watch the MPs engage in creative headbeating.

"God forgive me, but I love it so!"-George Patton

[Lunkers0]

If the guy was dumb enough to take his kids out there, he is probably too dumb to realize it even if he was told to keep off.  I think you did the right thing by walking away and staying out of it.  You are not his daddy.  I'm sure he's a big boy.  

[Rattletrap]

You should have reported it to the MP's.

[rodpilot]

If I knew what unit the guy was attached too I think notifying the first shirt would be more productive.

Its bad enough when you can't 'call out' someones kids when they are unsupervised without getting a load of grief from the parents. I know mine would have been appreciative for it and I came out all the better.

When the parents are the ones making the bad decisions... sheesh.

[George Welcome]

A funny thing about bad decisions: they are in the eye of the beholder. I've see toddlers riding motorbikes - to me, bad decision: to the parent normalcy of life.

The violation of tresspass law: tough call -

[roadwarrior]

I think you did the right thing.