Don 't Take $$ From Strangers ??

If the guy left... it seems like calling 911 might be a bit excessive.

Was the child properly armed?

Fascinating.

This is a crazy world we live in.

I might be wrong, but I think David may have finally gone over the edge.

The edge of the bus ?

He did not have a reasonable opportunity to get his gun out.

Yeah, my first reaction was that he should have shot the guy.

Well, getting your gun out
in such dense crowds can be challenging.

The kid should have just taken the money and bought something pretty.

I'm confused.

What's the problems with a guy dropping $5 in a kid's lap?

Maybe the kid was his own kid or nephew or someone he knew and he was giving him lunch money?

Thay were not travelling together.
Thay were separate on the bus.

The lady sitting next to him ( his mother ?? ) looked perplexed.

I would be very very concerned If a stranger gave my child money.

This is not usually socially accepted behavior.

I would be thinking the person has an ulterior motive of some kind.

What shud the boy have DONE ?

I feel the same way.

A while back, there was a thread going on that spoke of a kindly elderly woman who walked up to a table where there was a child WITH his parents.
She gave the child a small amount of money, without consulting with the parents, and left the restaurant.

I felt this was setting a very bad precident.

In no way should a child directly be given money by a stranger....ever.

Some posters had used the argument that "it was just a kindly old woman"....really?

Or that if one of the parents had followed her and discussed why they didn't appreciate what she had done, her feelings might have been hurt. Well, God forbide they insult a complete stanger over the protection of our child.

How much easier, if we let children accept money from kindly old women, would it be for them to accept money from someone else with less noble intents.
The arguement came up that they would discuss with the child and teach him the difference....yes, children always pay attention to lessons, don't they?

Even in the case of family friends and relatives, where they wish to give the child some birthday money, christmas money, etc. I feel the parents should be made aware beforehand by the gift giver how much and when the child will be receiving the money.

I don't have enough detail on Davids story to give an opinion.
How old was the child?
Was the person next to him his mother or other known person who was caring for the child.

Like a gun. Well, for 5 bucks, a toy gun, but you gotta start somewhere

I get it now.

The only thing the child could have done under those circumstances--that is, the stranger continued to walk away, etc.--is to push the money away and let it land where it wanted to.

If the child is in the company of an adult give the money to the adult.

If not in company of an adult I would not be concerned if the child phoned 911/emergency assistance if only for guidance.

The person making the donation should ask the accompanying adult if making a gift is suitable.

If I was an accompanying adult my gut reaction would be to say no. If pressed I might suggest making a donation to a group or charity nominated by the child, however pressing me (as the adult) without an acceptable reason would make me even more suspicious of motive.

The basis of my negative reaction is that accepting a gift from a stranger provides an excuse for further interaction. people tend to be creatures of habit and the stranger may wait for the child at the same time or place and attempt to interact.

Let me also say that most harm is dealt to children by people they know rather than strangers.

We're on the same page dadpad.

I remember watching some childrens show awhile back. It was a combination of live actors and animation....kind of like a Sesame Street thing, maybe it even was Sesame Street, don't remember.

The lesson taught in a little animated segment was the importance of NOT keeping quiet when confronted with a bad, or potentially bad situation.

The cartoon segment was something about a man talking to or trying to walk with a little girl. The little girl loudly screamed out in front of him and all the other people around "YOU'RE NOT MY DADDY!! I DON'T KNOW YOU!!!!" The stranger ran away while everyone stared at him.

Molesters rely on quiet, and secrets, and people/children being "nice" and "not wanting to make a scene"

Bullshit.

Children AND adults need to say LOUD and CLEAR to a stranger making them uncomfortable "I DON'T KNOW YOU!!!"

Or to someone they know "DON'T DO THAT" and, if they are a child "I'M GOING TO TELL SOMEONE!!!"
The parents should teach the child not to listen to that person who says they will hurt them if they tell, because they are being bullies....and most importantly, that the parent tell them they WILL NOT let that person hurt them.

You guys are absolutely right.

I really like the "Your not my daddy!" because children "make scenes" all the time. How's anybody watching to know the difference between an abductor and a kid having a bad day just throwing a temper tantrum?