The Observation Deck

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I will have to say that when I drop my daughter off at Horace Mann I have never had a problem.

First, I drive very slowly around and on the school property because you never know what just might happen.

When I come up Webb there is a good amount of bike riders in the street, but as I drive down the street slow and patiently they see me and then move. Never have a problem.

I will have to agree with Jim.

It's not something to get upset about. Just drive carefully. Relax, and if they still don't move...

Then lay on the horn for a second. I'm sure they will move.

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Charyn,

I agree with you. There are also many problems around Harding. Even with two cross guards there the kids still walk right into oncoming traffic. I worry every time I see them that someones going to get injured or killed, but still I don't know what can be done except to ticket them.

This thread has kind of lost the meaning of why I posted.
Of course anyone with children would understand the importance of being a cautious driver especially while passing children. You never know what might happen as you drive pass them.

My initial post was not to talk about little children not understanding that you need to look left and right when crossing a street. Or senior citizens using the part of the street because the sidewalk is filled with potholes or low branches.

My main concern was high school age/college age students who completely disrespect traffic and walk directly in the middle of the street. I am not talking about cutting cross a street (jaywalking).

Growing up, playing football or catch in the middle of the street was something that everyone always did. The minute you saw a car coming, you would yell "CAR" and let the car pass. To read stories of kids on Beach Ave, not moving at all and leaving their basketball hoop up is just a lack of disrespect. This is the same type of behavior I was talking about in the middle of the street.

Obviously, this topic has got some feedback and I think a few of you here know exactly what I am talking about. Come visit any side street near Lakewood High after school and you will get a good picture.

Jim OB wrote: "I grew up playing baseball, football, stone the christian in the streets, as did many who are writing to this now. "

I get the sarcasm this time, so, as long as we're talkin' juvenile, "Sticks and stones may break my bones..."

No, we're not saying "The End Is Near!" But when the guy wearing this placard is walking down the middle of the street - we're DOOMED!!!

Charyn,

Maybe I should of wrote what I had posted a little better.

Yes it is a concern to me. I have 5 children and am very aware of kids in the street. And yes you are right not everybody does.

But what can we do? They are kids and aren't always aware of whats going on around them. That's why we as adults need to pay attention, and yes, not everybody does. Are we going to put a safety patrol guard at every side street around a school? We all know that's not going to happen.

Just as the accident that took place in Akron I believe...It took someone getting killed and getting seriously injured for them to put up an additional traffic light.

I guess what I am saying is... They are kids. No matter what we do or what we say they are still going to do it. It might stop a few but there will always be that one that drops something and had to run back into the street, or a child that feels they own the street.

I think the concern should be layed on the adults and making them more aware of the safety of our kids.

Ellen Malonis wrote:

Jim OB wrote: "I grew up playing baseball, football, stone the christian in the streets, as did many who are writing to this now. "

I get the sarcasm this time, so, as long as we're talkin' juvenile, "Sticks and stones may break my bones..."

No, we're not saying "The End Is Near!" But when the guy wearing this placard is walking down the middle of the street - we're DOOMED!!!

Charyn

The sign guy walking down the street takes away from the very businesses that you seem to fight for in other threads. On top of that as of late the guys with the signs have taken to destroying public property, that makes Lakewood look better. Finally they are breaking laws that are on the city's book.

But I am sure those little things mean nothing to you.

Meanwhile the kids walking down the streets will grow up to become the mayor, some of council, pay taxes, and own newspapers, and break no laws on the city's books.

Suzie Dean nails it. Let's make the parents aware, and maybe they can explain what happens when a human body meets a car doing 25 mph.

Charyn you are a fascinating person, you fought for Moes' illegal sign that could have killed a kid walking in to buy the very clothes, you fight to outlaw in school. You fight for the outside sign guy who stands in front of legal businesses blocking their windows and their right legally to get their messages out. You argue for a cleaner nicer Lakewood, then defend the very people destroying planters put in by hard working Lakewood groups. You want a cleaner better Lakewood, than support a business that moves into Lakewood with a seven year lease immediately start placing signs in public parks that they are going out of business, yet has no real intent in going out of business? How does that add park beautification? (Secret question - how many of those sign carriers are sexual offenders that couldn't get jobs anywhere else?)

As for the sticks and stones, talk of juvenile! No sarcasm, I was merely pointing out the one thing that always amazes me about today's parents. It was OK for us, but... I realize that many think this is a problem and it very well may be, but let he who has never done it cast the first stone.





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First of all get your responses right.

Second of all, dont paraphrase me - you do it incorrectly and with a spin that makes professional dancers dizzy.

I did not fight FOR Moe's sign - I fought against your stereotypical blasting of him and against your spin on the name of the business.

I NEVER fought for people walking around with placard - NEVER.

I have no idea who you are referring to in regards to the planters.

As far as 'it was OK for us but not them' - again WRONG.. it was never OK in my day to walk randomly, or bike randomly in the street. The police or a parent would have been on it in a heartbeat.

Yes, educate the parents; HOWEVER, it is our job (parents and community) to educate and teach children. What do we teach them when we let them roam randomly? Eh? What? That they dont need to respect the laws? That they need not take responsibility for their actions? That if something were to happen to them it would be someone else's fault?

What about personal responsibility? Oh that's right, it went out of vogue in the 90's....

But I am sure those little things mean nothing to you.

That is presumptuous, rude, and completely uncalled for.


Disgusted,
Charyn

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Charyn

I apoligize.

But do take some license. There was no sterotypin with Moe's. The sign was illegal and dangerous, and the merchandise in the store was 90% less than anywhere else. As far as the meaning of Hook You Up I used Moe's own music video to underline that it was 80% sexual in nature.

In regards to the planters, the sign carriers as of late have been sitting, lieing and having their kids play in them, leaving flowrs crushed and dead. To fight for the right of the sign guys is also supporting their efforts to turn the city into a revolving sign of beauty killers that have no respect for the city. I had the displeaure of speaking with one of the sign holders the other day who shoved legal citizens, and swore at them and others walking by. Yes the police were called, and the sign carrier was told the law and he moved on. The citizen could have pressed charges for assualt but decided not to. The next day another was in his place, doing the same thing.

OK you tell me, kids walking in the street being kids, or vulgar, possibly violent, criminal illegal sign walkers, destroying a city. Which is worse?

So it is OK to paraphrase me, but...

I know you are a good person, and a great mother. You just sometimes get my head spinning when you fight for things you previously thought were wrong, or vice a versa.

Responsibility! You forget, my entire bottom line is responsbility for MY actions and my thoughts. Both here on earth and where ever I land in the after life. No one is going to be asked to pay my tab. You will never see me argue for letting people not accept responsibility. One of the reasons for real names here on the deck.

But again I ask, is the street walking thing a slight nusaince? A problem? or as Chris Trapp describes "this is the type of nuisance that detracts from the livability of the city."

From my eyes as a street walker of the past with the infamous Webb Gang, I look back and think we did it but not in a rebilious manner, and the ones that didn't die are doing pretty damn well in life today.


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Yes, I agree with Charyn that it is our job as parents and as a community, to teach the children from right and wrong. We do this and can only hope that they listen and obey. I tell my children whats right and wrong... but I have also witnessed or was told of one of them not exactly doing what was right. I'm not saying my children are bad kids, or are unruly kids, but things do happen, and if I'm aware of it, I will say something to my kids.

But tell me... are you a little mouse in their pocket seeing what they are doing 24 hours a day making sure that they obey every rule or law that's out there?

I think not. Again it falls to the drivers of our city to pay attention and be aware of whats going on.

Maybe Middle Schoolers and some High Schoolers should re-attend Safety Town.

I have to explain to my 5 year old why the kids from HM are walking down they middle of the street. I just say they're retarded. No...I'm not kidding..

I have to explain to my 5 year old why the kids from HM are walking down they middle of the street. I just say they're retarded. No...I'm not kidding..

.....and some day, when they meet up with an inattentive driver who does permanent injury to their brain, they will be, as if they were.....

Jeff

As for the sticks and stones, talk of juvenile! No sarcasm, I was merely pointing out the one thing that always amazes me about today's parents. It was OK for us, but... I realize that many think this is a problem and it very well may be, but let he who has never done it cast the first stone

Jim...umm...I was trying to make a joke - one of those "just between you and me" kind of things we once talked about, that tends to fall flat because of the shortcomings of this forum. Yes, I was being juvenile on purpose, (I was trying to make a pun)...I was referring to your reference to "stoning christians in the streets", ya' know sticks and "stones" and I'm a Christian, ha, ha - I guess it didn't work. The reference to the guy with the placard had to do with the old popular comic of the guy wearing the sign "The End Is Near" because Jim said:

I am still amazed it is now not only a problem, but the tip of the iceberg that will sink civilization as we know it!

It was not a reference to the guys with the "going out of business signs" - I completely missed that reference previously in the thread, which just made matters worse for my reply.

So none of it came across as I had anticpated - so much for my attempts at humor.

I was not trying to be dismissive of the issue at hand. My DARE post included a tongue in cheek song parody based on the DARE song sung at every 5th grade DARE graduation I've attended for each of my kids. (Yes, there is a DARE song)

I think rudeness, testiness, and general lack of mutual respect is and always has been a big problem in every human community - but, IMHO, I do believe it has become worse in recent years, in the street, and on the net.