this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2024
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Summary

Brittany Patterson, 41, was shocked to face a criminal charge for alleged reckless conduct when her unsupervised 10-year-old son walked less than a mile from their home.

Although authorities offered to drop the charge if she agreed to always supervise her children, Patterson refuses to sign, insisting she did nothing wrong and will fight the charge, which could lead to up to a year in jail.

Her lawyer argues that parents should have discretion over their children’s whereabouts, questioning if constant GPS tracking is now expected. Patterson was released on $500 bail.

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[–] magnolia_mayhem@lemmy.world 18 points 5 days ago

I hope she wins. This is pathetic

[–] Melody@lemmy.one 28 points 6 days ago

Yikes.

In 1997; I was walking about 2 miles to and from school. Unsupervised. I had a house key on my neck and was a latchkey kid in third grade. I obediently walked to and from school directly from home; meeting the crossing guard a half mile from school twice a day; as I had to cross a major 4 lane divided highway.

[–] FinishingDutch@lemmy.world 25 points 6 days ago (2 children)

This really feels insane, even for this day and age. Which makes me think we’re probably not getting the entire story.

If true, it’s downright silly. Back in the 80’s, we were out of the house unsupervised for hours. Parents just about encouraged you take candy from friendly strangers or to hitch a ride in their cool white van with ‘Free Puppies’ written on it. As long as you made it home without broken bones, they didn’t care. Ask anyone from my generation.

[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

80s were the best. Too bad the consequences of the 80s are so horrendous.

[–] cheeseandrice@lemm.ee -1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Things about the 80s were pretty great, but the widespread parental neglect is probably why following generations are having this reaction.

[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 days ago

But that was us, and we KNOW it was ok!

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I think it’s all on the parent saying they didn’t know where the kid was, the kid saying his parents didn’t know where he was.

I wonder how my parents would have responded when I was little, “in the woods”? “Up the street at one of the neighbors”? Or “I don’t know”?

[–] rozodru@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I mean when I was a kid in the late 80s/early 90s on weekends my parents generally had no clue where I was as long as I was home by dinner. and if I wasn't going to be home by dinner then to call and say so. payphones were everywhere, just call and let them know.

I mean hell I remember one time my friends and I were in some store a good 5 miles away from home and my parents happened to be shopping there at the same time. my mom comes up to me and says "I saw a tshirt you might like, do you want it?" and showed me the shirt and I said sure and that was it "see you later tonight".

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago

That’s great. We weren’t near civilization so on a bike somewhere in the neighborhood or somewhere back in the woods.

My parents put a huge bell on the side of the house and basically said be home for dinner, make sure you hear the bell.

[–] CompassRed@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 5 days ago

When I was a kid, I literally walked 43 miles from my home one day. Took 15 hours. I just had my parents pick me up when I got to the pizza place - no big deal.

[–] raptore39@lemm.ee 7 points 5 days ago

When the authorities make a misstep, they often keep going for fear of looking weak and leaving space for future exploitation

[–] Mr_Dr_Oink@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I uaed to walk 4 miles to school and even further back (because i walked with a friend to their house and then to kine on the way home) instead of taking the bus. I would keep my bus money and use it to buy drinks and stuff. This was only 20 years ago. Much has changed.

[–] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

When I was a kid in ft worth I used to ride my bike across town and all over downtown and nobody batted an eye

[–] Kcs8v6@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Same experience and same metro-area.. It was the 90s, but still, I'd be gone on my bike across town for hours. I lived in Grapevine.

[–] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

My time was early/mid 70s

[–] zod000@lemmy.ml 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

The initial reports of this made it sound much worse, now it seems so tame this charge borders on ludicrous. I walked about 2 miles to my bus stop as a kid with no side walk and it was ABSOLUTELY unsafe, but we didn't have a choice as the roads were no outlet and too narrow for a bus to get into my neighborhood. I never saw a kid get hit, but I knew of multiple adults that were hit by a car with a few fatalities. I still think this Georgia story sounds dumb, so either we're being deprived of details or the police are being ridiculous.

[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

Why is it so hard for you to stand behind your own words? If you can't do it, then stop replying?

And American police being ridiculous is just so off-character to them that that option seems just impossible, doesn't it?

[–] Thteven@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

I used to have to walk a mile to the friggin school bus stop, shit is ridiculous nowadays.

[–] dugmeup@lemmy.world 153 points 1 week ago (7 children)

A mile is nothing ... what the actual fuck? I used to be gone for hours god knows where.

[–] Stupidmanager@lemmy.world 16 points 6 days ago

I had a bike. I can assure you, I went MILES away. At 10, I was probably riding 1-5 miles to friends houses or to neighborhoods for selling whatever nonsense my scouts program was selling.

Just be home when the street lights come on!

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[–] dual_sport_dork@lemmy.world 135 points 1 week ago (2 children)

How we have lost perspective. When I was that age I was forced to walk to school, a distance of about 1.5 miles.

Forced, mind you, because if you were considered "too close" to the school you were not eligible to ride the bus. Other than the land directly adjoining the school grounds, the roads I had to use also did not have sidewalks. The number of children killed, maimed, or injured by this during the years I attended that school were, to my knowledge... zero.

[–] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 22 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

Shit dude I remember walking further than that, at that age...crossing a busy 4-lane (state) highway (without a crosswalk or a sidewalk)...to buy pogs and rent video games.

That was only...30 years ago. Holy shit that was 30 years ago.

[–] Big_Boss_77@lemmynsfw.com 13 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

Can I offer you a cane in these trying times?

laughs in lower back pain

[–] JasonDJ@lemmy.zip 6 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Nah man, I'm good, I can walk just as far now to the nearest dispensary. And there's sidewalks and crosswalks. And some cars that'll stop themselves if they're about to hit a pedestrian.

[–] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I too had to walk to school, but with sidewalks! I do feel if there's a house, it should have a sidewalk.

Love sidewalks.

[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

My kids not only had sidewalks but after enough complaints we got the city to clear the snow when needed!

[–] Lojcs@lemm.ee 102 points 1 week ago (6 children)

They asked me to put my hands behind my back and all that stuff, and I realized what was going on.

Because she was too dangerous to be cuffed normally, or not cuffed at all?

Als I hate this doubly for the kid. Your mom getting arrested for your slightest sign of independence will fuck you up.

[–] killingspark@feddit.org 10 points 6 days ago

Als I hate this doubly for the kid. Your mom getting arrested for your slightest sign of independence will fuck you up.

This so much. So much bullshit is being done to "protect children" and it actually hurts them.

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[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 87 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The elementary school closest to us is about a mile away. Kids in my neighborhood walk to school.

What the hell is wrong with letting a kid walk a mile away??

[–] Etterra@lemmy.world 14 points 6 days ago

Probably somebody got elected on a "protect the children" and did this to prove it. It's not like it effects the jackass responsible for it. It's performance child protection and it's pretty common.

[–] ThePyroPython@lemmy.world 79 points 1 week ago (2 children)

America: where young people are coddled until they're 18 then it's either sell your body, sell your soul, or both multiple times over just to survive.

[–] spyd3r@sh.itjust.works 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

The coddling is a fairly recent thing. People born in the late 90s is who it started with, about the time that 24hr ~~propaganda~~ news channels became a thing.

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[–] tipicaldik@lemmy.world 68 points 1 week ago

I'm confused... shouldn't this be happening in one of those liberal nanny states where big government is supposed to be all up in your business?

Oh, right... those people need to tell you how to raise YOUR kids, but don't you dare tell them how to raise theirs...

[–] TheMightyCanuck@sh.itjust.works 68 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (10 children)

Happened in the woke liberal capital of.. * checks notes *

... Georgia?

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