CHILDREN are a Noise violation?

Published on June 22, 2007 By Gideon MacLeish In Current Events

Link This is the kind of thing that really annoys me. For years, I have heard the assertion that we are a nation that hates children, but it is only within the last year or so that I am becoming more certain that is true.

William and Rachel Poczatek's young girls played regularly in the backyard pool, laughing and squealing as children do. Their neighbours had them charged with violating a noise ordinance as a result.

Although a judge dismissed the complaint, this, in my opinion, shows how far off the deep end we have gone. No longer are children cherished and valued, now they are a nuisance and a liability, and in this case, even a criminal inconvenience.

We live in a nation in which it is becoming more and more unusual for our kids to be born. In 30 some odd years, we went from back alley abortions, to drive through, zero consequence abortions. If a family has more than two kids, they are suspect; if they have more than four they are widely despised. Even in churches that claim to HATE abortion, and that carry leaflets on the back tables from Focus on the Family.

I can't imagine life without the laughter and squeal of children. And I truly PITY anyone who believes it is a "noise" to be shushed.

Comments (Page 2)

CharlesCS

on Jun 22, 2007

Greywar

I agree that there should be limits. I do my best to keep my kids from being too noisy. They can be pretty loud, but I expect them to be somewhat noisy when it comes to things like pools. When was the last time you saw kids quiet in a pool? If people don't really like the noises kids make they should move to places where children are not allowed. This complain did not seem like something that warranted police or a judge. They are kids for Christ sake. This is American, now kids can't even be kids anymore. If the do drugs, it's bad, if they join gangs, it's bad, if they listend to loud music, it's bad, if they have fun in a pool, it's bad? What is wrong with us people?

Texas Wahine

on Jun 22, 2007

lived on an Army post where children are allowed to roam neighborhoods like feral beasts

Ain't that the frickin' truth.

I have known kids who would just scream at the top of their lungs all day. And then there are my boys, one of whom is known for his ability to "hulk out" when angry. LOL.

I agree with what you've said here, Gid. But I also think greywar may be on to something. There seriously may have been more to the story.

greywar

on Jun 22, 2007

They are kids for Christ sake.

And they have parents for Christs's sake!

If people don't really like the noises kids make they should move to places where children are not allowed.

Really? You buy a house in a neighborhood, a neighbor moves in who refuses to actually discipline their kids within societal norms and it is somehow *your* responsibility to move away?

Do you actually think that is even remotely sensible? If so just let me know so I can stop bothering to reply.

SanChonino

on Jun 22, 2007

I'm gonna have to side with Greywar, here. In our old neighborhood, we had some backyard neighbors who never did a thing to discipline their children - who ran amok and caused nothing but grief for the entire neighborhood.

So what were we supposed to do? Was the whole street to move because of one discipline-free family?

There is a huge difference between kids playing and kids with no boundaries, limits, or rules. I'd need to hear more of the story - both sides of the story - before I made my final decision that this was irrational.

Texas Wahine

on Jun 22, 2007

Hey Gid, did you know Willie?

greywar

on Jun 22, 2007

There is a huge difference between kids playing and kids with no boundaries, limits, or rules. I'd need to hear more of the story - both sides of the story - before I made my final decision that this was irrational.

Here, here! Well spoken Bruce.

It is telling that the neighbors in this case took to makig audio tapes of the kids and this was what finally got the cops to do something about it but without being there it will be pretty hard to say if this complaint in particular is justified or not.

Even if this one isn't though it certaily doesn't mean that NO noise complaints could be valid against kids simply because they are kids. Youth is not carte blanche to be an anti-social beast.

Jythier

on Jun 22, 2007

My wife only works as a nanny a couple days a week, and she takes our kids with her. So that seems to be working out pretty well for us as a balance. A little extra money, without the lack on knowing who is raising our kids. It's only a couple days a week because the parents work from home the other days because they want to know who's rasing their kids too. Luckily, they and my wife have the same basic views towards child-rearing. Also, she trusts my wife because my wife used to work at a daycare where her oldest used to attend. So it's better for everyone this way.

Children can definitely be a noise violation, but more often they are just kids.

foreverserenity

on Jun 22, 2007

I would think there has to be more to the story too because kids playing and having fun could not be the reason why that neighbor would do what they did...and that's so ridiculous no comment is fitting enough!

However, I've seen the side of kids that Greywar mentioned, where kids are allowed to run free like beasts in the wilderness ALL DAY and there are no parents checking on them! Absolutely madness and heaven knows the trouble they get into!

Dr Guy

on Jun 22, 2007

There appears to be a schism. But perhaps not.

One side is saying that kids are noisy, because they are kids, but it is not a nuisance.

The other is saying that kids can very well be nuisances, and loud.

The article linked and quoted is short on details (it is a news story after all - and does not mention a person who was named after a city). However, some facts were mentioned. And that was the "perpetrators" are 2 girls, ages 5 and 11, and the noise was coming from their back yard while they were playing in the swimming pool.

Now what is not mentioned is the times the parents allowed them to swim. But if they are responsible parents, it would be during the day, and early evening. Not all night long. But we do not know that for sure.

What we do know is that it is 2 small girls (the story on CNN showed a picture of them), in their own backyard. With only that information to go on, I can see the camp that is saying "kids can be very noisy", and they can be, but I don't believe that is the case here, nor do I see muzzling them in their own backyard - unless the said noise also entailed a boom box going at 120 decibels.

If our children cannot play and have fun - in their own backyard, during daylight, then we are a sad society that has become too self centered to even dream of procreating.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jun 22, 2007

TW (quote's not working)

I didn't know Willie, but I do know David and Vickie. I just heard today.

I'll probably do something personally for them rather than the community thing.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jun 22, 2007

These children were in their backyard, laughing and squealing in their pool. My three year old plays his drums every day for several minutes. Should WE be sent to jail for that?

Jythier

on Jun 22, 2007

That depends if you're living next to a Southern Baptist.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jun 22, 2007

For the record, I've heard a tape of the children. There are no swear words, there is no loud music, just children laughing and playing loudly (in a swimming pool, imagine THAT!) These children were in their own yard, the parents stated they never let their children play in the pool after 9 pm (and the neighbors did not contest this statement), and the sounds were sounds that are normal for children. Is it reasonable to expect children to be silent little stepford children? I don't think so, I believe they should have some freedom to be themselves.

I'm sorry, I'm not of the camp that says children must be silent 24/7. I believe play is an essential part of a child's development, and noise is often part of that play.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jun 22, 2007

That depends if you're living next to a Southern Baptist.

LOL...well, actually, technically, we are, but he's not one of the ones that ran us out of the church. In fact, he's the one who went to the pastor and chewed him out for the whole ordeal.

Tova7

on Jun 24, 2007

My youngest son is a walking noise violation.

He only has one tone of voice...full blast. No matter how many lessons I give in using an inside voice...he just doesn't seem to "get" it. I am having his hearing checked as soon as they can fit us in.

What makes it so bad is he feels the need to comment on everyone he sees, IN STEREO.

"Mommy. That man is fat."

"Mama. I don't want that stranger looking at me!"

"Mom. Look! That girl has sparkly snot!" (nose ring)

"Mom, that man's breath stinks!"

"She doesn't have any teeth!"

"She has big boobies. Why don't I have big boobies?"

And that was all just today.

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