[mango23]

This kind of stuff creeps me out a little. It sounds like it is quant living in a small town but then you read stuff like this and you have to wonder. I am not a fan for people screwing with my rights. It is one of the things that attracts me to rural living.

Curfew ordinance passes first reading | reading, bonifay, curfew - Local News - ChipleyPaper.com (http://www.chipleypaper.com/news/reading-3813-bonifay-curfew.html - broken link)

[daytonadewd]

Everything is relative!

If you live in a larger city, you've got stores open 24 hours and sporting/ events for kids can last until 10pm or in some cases even later (if they want pizza, etc.) Most larger cities have curfews too (did you check if yours does?)

If you live in a small town like this one, I'm sure the sidewalks roll up VERY early, like by 8 or 9pm. So what would a child (especially during the school year) be doing out after 11pm? It would be the same as 2-3am in a larger city. This is not normal.

Curfews are meant to target "bad" parents -- not punish kids. If a child is left to wander the streets at night without parental knowledge, how can the community help the child?

If you also read, there were "exceptions" to not single out regular activities. If a child is brought in, it's the parents who are responsible and have to answer to authorities (because they are minors). If the parents are neglecting their responsibilities to the child, a child can then get help and support to cope, if it doesn't exist for them at home.

To me, this is what "communities" are supposed to do in advocating for those vulnerable who are unble to, i.e. "it takes a village." It is not about violating rights at all.

In a larger town, you get used to noise, traffic, people passing by, etc. It becomes "normal" -- but in a smaller town, these things cause alarm because they are not routine. It gets in their space because it's not familiar.

The answer is how they cope with it when it happens. Certainly the city is full of nut jobs too!

[RVlover]

Theres alot of advantages to living in a small town . Heres a few : Lyrics: John Mellencamp - Small Town

[mango23]

Originally Posted by daytonadewd

Everything is relative!

If you live in a larger city, you've got stores open 24 hours and sporting/ events for kids can last until 10pm or in some cases even later (if they want pizza, etc.) Most larger cities have curfews too (did you check if yours does?)

If you live in a small town like this one, I'm sure the sidewalks roll up VERY early, like by 8 or 9pm. So what would a child (especially during the school year) be doing out after 11pm? It would be the same as 2-3am in a larger city. This is not normal.

Curfews are meant to target "bad" parents -- not punish kids. If a child is left to wander the streets at night without parental knowledge, how can the community help the child?

If you also read, there were "exceptions" to not single out regular activities. If a child is brought in, it's the parents who are responsible and have to answer to authorities (because they are minors). If the parents are neglecting their responsibilities to the child, a child can then get help and support to cope, if it doesn't exist for them at home.

To me, this is what "communities" are supposed to do in advocating for those vulnerable who are unble to, i.e. "it takes a village." It is not about violating rights at all.

In a larger town, you get used to noise, traffic, people passing by, etc. It becomes "normal" -- but in a smaller town, these things cause alarm because they are not routine. It gets in their space because it's not familiar.

The answer is how they cope with it when it happens. Certainly the city is full of nut jobs too!

I have no doubt they didn't just come up with this off the top of their heads for something to do. It was probably proposed to address a problem. It just bothers me that a small few like a city commission can pass judgment on so many at their whim. I owned a bar once in a somewhat small to medium town with a 24 hour license. there were only a few such license in the whole town. I lost my license as did others just because they decided they didn't like the late night activity. No real complaints the licenses had been around since 1935 and they on a whim just decide, "Lets not do that anymore". I tried to plead my case to the commission and hired attorney Ellis Ruben to argue for me. It cost me $10,000 for two days. I wanted to at the very least hear what the problems were, if any. They would not even listen. The loss of my late night 24 hour license cost me around $50,000 a year in revenue. I have to admit though, Ruben was a mistake. He was a divisive guy and didn't treat the commissioners very well. I might have done a better job myself. Back to my original point though. People $crewing with you for not good reason other then they have the power to do so, be it police whatever. That is not what this country is supposed to be. The people in power are supposed to be there to help you not feel like they are dictators. I understand overlapping rights, It just has to be done fairly.

[mango23]

Originally Posted by RVlover

Theres alot of advantages to living in a small town . Heres a few : Lyrics: John Mellencamp - Small Town

It is hard when you grew up in a small town that became a big town. You are being chased out of what you feel is your home. But as you look around it isn't anymore. As you look around you don't even know anyone anymore. As you drive around your thoughts always go to what used to be here or used to be there. Things change and thats OK and as it should be, but it is still sad when you see everything you knew gone or worst destroyed. A street you used to ride your bike on as a kid now a dangerous place to even go.

[RVlover]

Originally Posted by mango23

It is hard when you grew up in a small town that became a big town. You are being chased out of what you feel is your home. But as you look around it isn't anymore. As you look around you don't even know anyone anymore. As you drive around your thoughts always go to what used to be here or used to be there. Things change and thats OK and as it should be, but it is still sad when you see everything you knew gone or worst destroyed. A street you used to ride your bike on as a kid now a dangerous place to even go.

Im sure it is a disappointment, but, there are TONS of small towns in this country that dont grow much or change for the worse. I live in a small town (pop. 2500) in the FLorida Panhandle with a 'larger' town just 10 miles away (pop. 12,000) for shopping, eating out, Parks, etc... When you are ready to look for a small town, examine an area of a 15 mile radius to make sure its all desirable. I moved from an urban area of concentrated people to this tiny town .... and i just love it.

[beachmouse]

Bored unsupervised teenagers are prone to causing trouble and doing stupid things, whether it's in big cities or small towns. I wouldn't read too much into a youth curfew in any location.

[mango23]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

Bored unsupervised teenagers are prone to causing trouble and doing stupid things, whether it's in big cities or small towns. I wouldn't read too much into a youth curfew in any location.

I guess I just picture some fat little "Boss Hog" type when I think of small town politics.