[MountainWoman]

YES - how about this story. Went to the beach this weekend. Was sitting on under the umbrella when this little boy runs by and then stops a few paces away, turns around and starts crying “Mommy!” Got up and rushed over and asked him if he was OK and confirmed he was lost. I took his hand and we started walking through the crowds of people and asking him if he saw her anywhere. He told me they were staying in a blue tent so I started searching for those. After about 10 minutes and probably a football field away, here comes this man who says “He’s mine...” I knelt down and asked the boy if that was his dad? the man said “No, I’m his uncle...” He said thanks and took his hand and started leading him away. I wasn’t satisfied with this because the boy had asked for his mom and he still looked confused. So I followed them back up to their tent and a lady came out. She casually asked, “Where was he?” The man replied “Some lady found him.” So I walked up to her and asked, “Are you his mom?” She replied “Oh yeah. I was in the ocean with him one minute and then next he was gone.” I was shocked. I asked how old he was? She said he was 3 1/2. WTH!!??? This stupid woman is hanging out in here freaking tent while her toddler is missing on a HUGE beach rather than running up and down the dunes screaming his name, asking people to help or getting the lifeguards to help. I couldn’t believe it. I think I must have given her a death look or something because she started making up more excuses about having to watch her OTHER kid blah blah blah. THEN as I was walking back completely floored by this, several people stopped me and said, “Oh we saw him walk by too, that was nice of you to find his mom.” WHAT THE HELL!!??? These people saw this poor kid walking by looking lost and they didn’t help!? Yes...people suck.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

It is the curse of a wealthy society that people are allowed to become lazy. In the old days, there wasn't enough money to support the lazy so they either worked or starved to death. Now we have enough money to be “compassionate.”

I know one guy in his late 50s who got laid off 10 years ago and sat on his butt without a job for the past decade living off his retirement savings. Now that it is gone, he has “anxiety” disability and gets Welfare. I hate to say this as a Christian but he is a waste of life. And this is a person I used to be friends with.

I have a family member—in his late 30s—who was laid off two years ago and is living with his retired parents. He gets in fights with his retired father about whether he can find a job (his view is there is no work—surprise). He is on Medicaid now. I used to be on good terms with him but now am so disgusted I can't talk to him at family parties.

I know a man who lost a job about six years ago and decided to become a “house husband” while his wife (who makes good money) works. He still has a lawn service cut his lawn. He goes on trips to Europe to watch soccer. His wife is fed up yet she doesn't divorce him (they have small kids). I used to be friends with him but am so disgusted I can't talk to him anymore. I used to listen to his wife bitch about him when we were at the gym together but after a certain point, I realized she wasn't going to change and stopped listening.

These are all sad commentaries on society and sadly, we all know similar stories.

[freedumb2003]

d. I asked how old he was? She said he was 3 1/2. WTH!!??? This stupid woman is hanging out in here freaking tent while her toddler is missing on a HUGE beach rather than running up and down the dunes screaming his name, asking people to help or getting the lifeguards to help.

This may be an extreme answer, but it is an indicator of the true answer:

[Excellence]

Same thing happened to me at the county fair. I was pushing my daughter around in a twin cart while carrying this two-year old, trying to find the parents. When I finally found them they were so casual, “Oh, there he is.” No thanks, naturally.

[wac3rd]

That story breaks my heart. It used to be that people helped each other instinctively, like you did.

Now, with weird child molesters, tight government control, lawsuits and the general cesspool that eminates from Hollywood, people seem to care less about their fellow man than when I was a kid.

I have a 4-year old son and I could’t find him at a party across the street yesterday, he was around the back playing with Honey, their pet rabbit. I was sick inside and this wasn’t even 50 yards from my house.

I wish the 1950’s were here again.

[mad_as_he$$]

For about 20 seconds I misplaced one of my offspring at Disneyland. She was literally four feet from me. She had turned to look at some ride and took three steps to the railing. The crowd closed in and and she was gone. Her mother and I both freaked. Luckily that was first direction I took to find her. But losing a 3 yo old that far from you at the beach is inexcusable.