I met a totally creepy family today.

[CanuckAmok]

Went four-wheeling today, and up here, it's not quite the same redneck/mullet culture you get in the US. It's still pretty blue-collar/military, but most of the people I know are good eggs. Particularly this group, who sponsor trail clean-ups, do search and rescue operations, take handicapped kids camping, etc.

There was this guy today, though, who was military, and about 25 or so. I'd never seen him before. He brought his family along; wife/girlfriend (about 25 or so), and two young children (a boy around 6, and a female under 18 months or so).

My first exposure to this guy was when his son came up behind him and got some mud on his dad's pants. We were in the deep woods, helping someone right an overturned Jeep, so everybody was dirty, anyway. In any event, this dad turned around and screamed at this little kid: "You fucking bastard! Look at my fucking pants, you shithead!"

I'm like, :wtf: ? But what do you say? This behaviour didn't seem to phase the little kid, or the mom, or many of the other people in our group. Still I found a few people shooting this guy a sidelong glance, or looking for other people with a supportive, :WTF: face.

Later, this guy was yelling at wife/girlfriend for not leaving the toddler in the car-seat, and not bringing enough juice, or any sort of niggling little issue that bothered him. I don't think they exchanged a word between them that was complimentary, or even civil...it was just a long stream of acrimony and resentment.

And, throughout the day, she was continually letting the boy get in the way of really dangerous activities; standing too close to spinning tire-spray, picking unidentified berries, letting the kid wander-off, etc.

Nothing they were doing was actually unlawful, per se, as there wasn't any indication of violence, but it was really, really uncomfortable.

Once the kid walked past me, just talking to himself the way little kids do, but he was mumbling "shit. motherfuck. bastard...".

I just looked at this family, and was completely overwhelmed with despair... I just don't believe these kids have a chance.

[ailsagirl]

1. This is in Canada?? I'm shocked

What a terrible thing to say to a little kid. Jeeez... some
people shouldn't have kids of they're going to treat them
like crap.

Very sad

[NMMNG]

2. Gah!

These kids are being raised in an abusive environment. Even if there is no physical abuse going on there is obvious verbal abuse and neglect. The boy is already picking up his father's crude language and temper. The girl will probably follow suit once she begins talking.

Those kids deserve better.

[RPM]

3. you mean these folks?

[enigmatic]

4. Ugh

Sounds like one of those families where you can see their future just by looking into their eyes; I would have been bummed, too.

[Floogeldy]

5. "It's not quite the same redneck/mullet culture you get in the US."

Hey, man, you're munchin' for a punchin'!

:o

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

6. Uh....

Sounds a lot like Nashville. :(

[Floogeldy]

7. Nashville?

Only two things come from Nashville. Mullets and Rednecks.

So, what is your point?

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

15. That IS my point....

:)

[CanuckAmok]

8. Ooop, poor phrasing.

What I meant was, that about 90% of the 4-wheelers I meet in the US are Republicans. Lots of W stickers on full-size "Big Three" pickups. It seems in Canada, the off-roading community is more culturally diverse.

I also meant, that you specifically, Floogeldy, are a big, fat, bush-loving, mullet-headed, hollow-point protecting redneck.

[Maddy McCall]

9. Hey! I have an 83 Jeep Renegade.

I used to love to go 4-wheeling. Much fun...especially when I had to pull the Fords out of the mud. :D

[CanuckAmok]

10. hee hee.

I was the one getting pulled-out most of the day. I'm used to my old '92 4Runner with electric lockers, two winches and lots of lift... Sold it in April.

I took my stock 4-cyl YJ out today for rhe first time... my eyes are bigger than my tires.

[leftofthedial]

11. Canadian freepers?

Who knew?

[enigmatic]

12. There's a few...

Alberta's got a few of them, though it's w/o the Fundie slant to them. There's the Ted Byfield Cultists, too..

[leftofthedial]

13. What is a Ted Byfield Cultist?

[enigmatic]

14. Ted Byfield

http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0011899

Think Pat Buchanon, crossed w/ Pat Robertson..

[Shell Beau]

16. Yikes! Poor kids. That is scary.

[graywarrior]

17. I grew up in a neighborhood of those people.

Everyone walked around saying "What the fuck you lookin at?"

[newportdadde]

18. Had a similar experience the other day at the gas station.

I was walking in to pay when a mom around early 30s and a daughter ow 8 to 10 come walking out. As they walk to their care another car pulls in very quickly beside their car as the daughter was getting ready to walk into the empty parking space to get into the passenger side.

Now this freaks out the daughter who was walking in front of mom and she jumps back into the mom. This mom who looks like just jane average screams. “If you slam into me again I will beat the shit out of you!!!!”. Daughter of course replied back that she didn’t mean to etc..

I was just like :wtf: I couldn’t believe it.

[caty]

19. Isn't that kind of family where

serial killers come from?