Ok, this one is weird. Mostly because I manage to keep a pretty long and detailed list of all the annoying kiddie bullshit that goes on around here, but even I had never heard of this before. An anon FIPS reader wrote in to share her frustration with the rogue balloon gangs invading Prospect Park. Behold:
Whenever I go to Prospect Park, and I mean virtually every single time I go to Prospect Park, there is always a group of young kids (under the age of 7 mostly) accompanied by nannies, parents etc. The member of the group will change, different kids and parents each time, but regardless, they've got a pack of those long balloons that are typically used to make balloon animals, and a little specialized pump for pumping them up. A parent pumps the balloon up to its full capacity and then hands it over to the little kid who lets it go so that it rockets up into the air, and subsequently makes that shrill horrible noise that balloons make when released, something like a cat being run over by a steam roller in slow motion. And they do it over-and over-and over-and over again until I have to leave because I'm so annoyed by the noise.
This is a phenomenon I wittnes, I kid you not, every time I go to Prospect Park, and I'm always driven off because the sound is so fucking annoying. And how can so many parents have THIS particular idea for an obnoxious outdoor activity to do with their children?? Was it published in fuckingannoyingparents.com?? It's so inconsiderate and, of course, the parents are completely oblivous to the fact that their fucking kids are shattering the sanity of everyone else who came to the park for a little peace and quiet. It's like they think that just because they're outdoors they can make whatever kind of noise they want because it's a 'public' space.
Anyway, if this is something that you've wittnessed too, I would LOVE to see you call attention to it, because it's right up there on my list of most obnoxious Park Slope Parents/Children's behavior. You never really can blame the kid, can you. The kids are just kids. It's the fucking parents who stand their sipping their tea and talking to one another while their kids are irritatating the living fuck out of everyone around them. Uhhhhhg. I'm sick of having my outings to the park ruined.
I asked anon for some further clarification as to where this rogue activity usually takes place, and she let me know that it's usually right around the Garfield St. entrance.
Has anyone else seen this shit? And do I officially need to add "rogue balloon animal gangs" to our list (in between bebes in bars and strollers blocking the street)? Do tell.
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