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An old guy starts playing with your kid at the park

Some old guy, say retired, grey hair, approaches the playground and starts playing with the kids there. Showing them things like putting sand on the slide and sliding down it, and then he sits on the teeter totter and asks a kid to ride with him.
Would you, as a parent, freak out and call the police?
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Miram · 31-35, F
There have to be more information than this for me to decide what to do. I might try to ID him to find out more.

And depending on what I find out from his behaviors, I might do nothing, might call the police or might scare him myself. It depends on my conclusions.

I have seen plenty of harmless people who can't have kids behave like that, also neurodivergent, and few harmful ones. It is generally indicative though of poor social familiarity and judgement.

I too sometimes play in the park but I have kids with me I am watching over. I don't do it with strangers. And not in a foreign country.
I'm the oldish guy (under 50) with kids still under 10. I generally don't go to the park without my kids. I do have random kids around when I ride my BMX whether mine are around or not. Very Small town, generally first question I get asked "you're so and so's dad?". Generally answer is yes, if parents are around I deliberately go interact with them.
calicuz · 56-60, M
I would judge how he interacts with them. If it's in a genuine "grandfather way," then I would think he just enjoys being around children that remind him of his own grandchildren.
If he's overly friendly, then it's probably best to leave.
senghenydd · M
As a child I was brought up never to talk with strangers that also applied to interacting with them, I would be more than suspicious and discourage making friends with strangers in parks.
eyeno · M
Nope..

@eyeno Watch out!
JamesBugman · 56-60, T
@eyeno That should teach your kids a few great things, and then she gets arrested and kids go to foster homes. lol.
@eyeno Roving bands of cute Japanese Hell's Angels, meting out punishments with their bats of justice!
daddybloke · 46-50, M
it depends maybe he just enjoys watching / helping kids have fun it could be that simple
If the "kids" are big enough to activate the teeter-totter leverage with the old guy, I think we're ok.
@JamesBugman I've never done it, so I was asking.
JamesBugman · 56-60, T
@SomeMichGuy Actually what it does is it makes you go down the slide way faster, as long as it is dry.
@JamesBugman Hmmm...ok...
Vin53 · M
Yeah I wouldn't make it past sand on the slide.
Adogslife · 61-69, M
I’d worry simply because he should know better. It’s not a good/safe look.
tobynshorty · 51-55, F
I would tell them that it’s time to go home!
JamesBugman · 56-60, T
@tobynshorty So better safe than sorry kind of thing.
tobynshorty · 51-55, F
@JamesBugman we never know 😬
JamesBugman · 56-60, T
@tobynshorty Very true. Even the nicest people can be monsters, or suddenly snap. It is kind of a sad thing that humans are this way. Freedom to be completely crazy. You just never know what is going on in that old man's head.
Vin53 · M
Who puts sand on a slide ffs??
JamesBugman · 56-60, T
@Vin53 Rocket man does.

 
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