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> it's a brain-stem level parental instinct

Yep. We live on a quiet, somewhat-narrow street. There are always quite a few young families living on the block. Occasionally, a car will go speeding through the block to avoid a nearby stoplight. When our kids were little, every now and then we'd be in the front yard, chatting with neighbors, with various kids playing here and there. When a speeder came roaring our way, I would sometimes literally step into the street, stop the speeder, and "counsel" him (it always was a him) about safe driving with little kids around. Twenty years later, with our kids grown and gone, I don't have nearly so intense a reaction.




We had a neighbor that did that; he'd hang out on the porch with a bullhorn and chase after cars. It always scared the crap out of me, because some of the people speeding down our street are probably not smart to mess with.


From 'Rayiner's comment:

> first eliminate threats to your kids, ask questions later

I just remembered another story on point from a few years back: A mother charged with her fists into a 700-pound polar bear that was stalking her 7-year old son. [1]

[1] http://www.questioningchristian.com/2006/03/good_news_bad_n....


> he'd hang out on the porch with a bullhorn and chase after cars

Oh, now that's downright odd; I was never anywhere close to that premeditated.


It's not odd; he was doing exactly what you and Rayiner was doing. He was just... less restrained.


When someone speeds down the street, then screeches to a halt because I'm already in the crosswalk, I just settle for taking extra long to cross and glaring at them the whole time.




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