Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

would you go to the house or just call the police.

I probably would have gone to the house, cell phone in hand, and knocked on the door.

If nothing else, I should stop the beating and give the police a chance to arrive before anything further happens.

It could also give me a chance to see if what I heard did not match what was going on.

I just wouldn't be able to sit and home, if I really thought that was going on. I'd have to intervene in a more direct way...even if that meant that they'd want to "pick on someone there own size"

for a kid, I'd take the hit.

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

While I admire your bravery... my chickensh*t *** would be on the phone with 911.

I don't want to leave my kids motherless if one of the people involved was a psycho.

If they are crazy enough to beat their child in such an obvious way... they may be nuts enough to have a gun and not afraid to use it.

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Message edited 8/1/2007 3:33:54 PM.

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Why would you knocking on the door stop a child from being beaten? If a child is in the midst of a 'beat down' chances are a little knock at the door wouldn't deter an abusive parent. Nor would they probably leave the door open or invite you in while the child is bruised or bloody.....

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

I, absolutely, would intervene. Whether I am in a public place or I'm sitting in my home and hear it from another residence doesn't matter. Someone has to stand up for the child and, if that means the person doing the abusing may turn on me, so be it. At the very least, it would take the attention off the child until the police arrived.

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

I would not go to the house... who knows what a person is capable of. I would just call 911 and leave it at that.

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Hell No...it is not up to me to be the one to get punched in the face...thats why we have an emergency system so the proper authorities can handle such things

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

I would NEVER EVER take it upon myself to investigate the situation!! that's what the police are for. and yes, I would call them. too many people have this "not my problem" attitude. then you hear horrible reports on the 10pm news and wonder why no one got involved.

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Posted by Bowzie214

Why would you knocking on the door stop a child from being beaten? If a child is in the midst of a 'beat down' chances are a little knock at the door wouldn't deter an abusive parent. Nor would they probably leave the door open or invite you in while the child is bruised or bloody.....

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Posted by Bowzie214

Why would you knocking on the door stop a child from being beaten? If a child is in the midst of a 'beat down' chances are a little knock at the door wouldn't deter an abusive parent. Nor would they probably leave the door open or invite you in while the child is bruised or bloody.....

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

It really depends on the situation. In public, I always intervene. Stupid, I suppose, and I've risked my own safety too many times to count, but I tend to act before I think.

If it's in the privacy of one's home, and I don't know the family all that well, I don't think I would walk up to the door, ring the bell and see for myself. I don't know why exactly.

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

I would immediately call the police and have them investigate the issue. I'd be too scared to intervene myself - you never know how crazy someone is and what they'll do.

Message edited 7/6/2007 11:32:34 AM.

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by Bowzie214

Why would you knocking on the door stop a child from being beaten? If a child is in the midst of a 'beat down' chances are a little knock at the door wouldn't deter an abusive parent. Nor would they probably leave the door open or invite you in while the child is bruised or bloody.....

I'm sorry. I'd pound on the door. throw a rock through the window.

the point is, I'd DO something, anything, to get the parent away from the child.

from some of the answers, it seems many of you don't know/understand the psychology of a child abuser. for the most part, they are not going to engage and adult into a fight.

You can never be sure of what a person is capable of

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Posted by Moehick

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by Bowzie214

Why would you knocking on the door stop a child from being beaten? If a child is in the midst of a 'beat down' chances are a little knock at the door wouldn't deter an abusive parent. Nor would they probably leave the door open or invite you in while the child is bruised or bloody.....

I'm sorry. I'd pound on the door. throw a rock through the window.

the point is, I'd DO something, anything, to get the parent away from the child.

from some of the answers, it seems many of you don't know/understand the psychology of a child abuser. for the most part, they are not going to engage and adult into a fight.

You can never be sure of what a person is capable of

I am sure enough to know that I can take more than a child can. that is all I need to know.

and I wouldn't go inside. I'd stand outside, in full view of all the other neighbors undoubtably listening.

ETA: I don't argue that it is the SMARTEST thing to do...of course not. there are many risks, but I know myself well enough to know that I would.

Message edited 7/6/2007 11:31:30 AM.

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Posted by eroxgirl

Posted by Bowzie214

Why would you knocking on the door stop a child from being beaten? If a child is in the midst of a 'beat down' chances are a little knock at the door wouldn't deter an abusive parent. Nor would they probably leave the door open or invite you in while the child is bruised or bloody.....

I've prayed for the phone to ring, for someone to knock on the door -anything - to make what was happening at that moment stop. Because when you are that person who is lost in a rage and beating your child you lose yourself in the violence and believe it or not, someone coming to the door or calling the house is actually enough sometimes (or at least in my experience) to bring a person back to themselves.

I'd be more inclined to knock on the door first and then call the police.

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Posted by eroxgirl

Posted by Bowzie214

Why would you knocking on the door stop a child from being beaten? If a child is in the midst of a 'beat down' chances are a little knock at the door wouldn't deter an abusive parent. Nor would they probably leave the door open or invite you in while the child is bruised or bloody.....

I've prayed for the phone to ring, for someone to knock on the door -anything - to make what was happening at that moment stop. Because when you are that person who is lost in a rage and beating your child you lose yourself in the violence and believe it or not, someone coming to the door or calling the house is actually enough sometimes (or at least in my experience) to bring a person back to themselves.

I'd be more inclined to knock on the door first and then call the police.

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

I have never been in that position, thankfully.

I would like to say I would have DH go over while I called the police. I'm not much of a fighter, DH has the martial arts thing behind him at least.

It would upset me to do nothing.

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

Posted by Bxgell2

Posted by eroxgirl

Posted by Bowzie214

Why would you knocking on the door stop a child from being beaten? If a child is in the midst of a 'beat down' chances are a little knock at the door wouldn't deter an abusive parent. Nor would they probably leave the door open or invite you in while the child is bruised or bloody.....

I've prayed for the phone to ring, for someone to knock on the door -anything - to make what was happening at that moment stop. Because when you are that person who is lost in a rage and beating your child you lose yourself in the violence and believe it or not, someone coming to the door or calling the house is actually enough sometimes (or at least in my experience) to bring a person back to themselves.

I'd be more inclined to knock on the door first and then call the police.

Message edited 7/6/2007 11:37:33 AM.

Re: Another question: if you suspected a child was in the midst of getting beat down

I would probably call the police. I would be too scared to be knocking at the door.