Comments on: Story Comments Never Cease to Amaze Me

By: Joanne Haffly

Joanne Haffly — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:21:18 +0000

I too get frustrated at the blog-and-run mentality of some readers. God forbid, I actually let my boys up on the roof to do chores, have them machete the blackberries, and run power tools. They don the safety googles and cut wood for the deck without supervision after being properly trained when they are 13 and up. It’s because they understand and respect what can happen when they screw up. We have known grown men who have cut off their fingers with a power saw. We had a friend die after falling off a roof in his late 40s. It is tragic. But the jobs need to be done so we don’t shelter them, just teach them responsibility and consequences of being stupid or inattentive.

It was a good article, perhaps people will be injected with common sense and goodwill after reading it. Don’t give up hope, I am sure you reached most of your audience. And some people are just idiots. It’s politically incorrect but unfortunately, true.

By: Sharon O'Hara

Sharon O'Hara — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:17:58 +0000

P>S> When I was ten or so I used to tie a rope around the second floor bedpost, back out the window and slide down the rope just to see if I could do it. Never did figure out how to climb back up.

By: Sharon O'Hara

Sharon O'Hara — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:12:02 +0000

Well, I did have a ‘feel good’ experience reading your story and seeing the pictures. I didn’t read the comments until now.

The story and pictures showed a family working together with their church and friends for a common cause. You did a good job telling their story.

The little girl on the roof pulling a roofing tab reminded me of a story my dad loved to tell about a family he thought the world of-parents and kids.

He was over there helping with an addition to the house…when he spotted one of the kids – two or so – walking across an open stringer – guessing here, about two or three feet off the ground. He mentioned it to his friend, the father of the child.

“Oh, she’ll be fine. If she falls, she’ll be more careful next time.”

All the kids in that wonderful big family grew up independent, healthy and self-sufficient, all -or most- college graduates.

Sometimes comments are made that, really, have nothing to do with the story.. ‘something’ grabbed the reader to react without thinking – the open mouth, insert foot syndrome.

The Tibbett kids are learning the best lessons life has to offer in terms of family, friends and church…self-reliance too. They are fortunate and you told their story well.
Sharon O’Hara

By: Cheryl Jordan

Cheryl Jordan — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:13:13 +0000

Thank you for the positive and uplifting story. I was shocked to see the criticisms that people posted. It would be one thing if the children were up on the roof without adult supervision (though Lord knows most of us did that a time or two in our day!), but it is clear from this story that there were many adults on hand to supervise and assist the children. I think it’s fabulous these kids were outside working on their home, rather sitting inside glued to a television or video game. Nice story!!

By: Bob Meadows

Bob Meadows — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:20:47 +0000

People do seem excessively inclined to offer their safety tips, as though they believe no one else has a lick of common sense. I hadn’t paid much attention to the article, but your blog entry caused me to go take a look. It didn’t change my opinion about their excessive inclination. I wonder what they would have thought of the kids in my neighborhood climbing up on “Paw” Faris’s garage just to jump off its roof. We even tried it with an umbrella to see if we could tell the difference. (It didn’t help.)