General Discussion

meadowlander

(5,130 posts)

30. No, but you don't need to give personal information to complete strangers either.

Thu Mar 26, 2026, 11:37 PM

Thursday

Lots of predators try to establish trust with victims by pretending they are friends of the family and prove it by demonstrating that they know things about the kids like their age or name that a stranger wouldn't otherwise know.

I remember this being a big thing back in the day when people used to put stickers on the back of their cars with all their kids names on it. I think police asked people to stop doing this because of the risk of someone pretending he was a family friend because he knew their names, the name of their family dog and where they went to school because of those "My kid is an honor student at X school" bumper stickers.

https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-07-22-if-you-have-stickers-on-your-car-police-warn-you-should-remove-them-now/

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I don't have kids, is this normal now? [View all] Brenda Monday OP

this is 98% about the parent(s) - Every. Single. Time. stopdiggin Monday #1

In my suburb the outdoor birthday "cards" are ordered from specialty companies TBF Monday #2

Right? Brenda Monday #6

Yep, I'm in Texas TBF Monday #20

In my neighborhood it's usually HS and college graduations. yardwork 18 hrs ago #35

They sometimes do that here TBF 17 hrs ago #36

Sounds like a waste of money. roamer65 Monday #3

And wth would anyone want to advertise that a child lives at that address? SheltieLover Monday #4

It's beyond my comprehension. roamer65 Monday #7

Same here, Roamer! SheltieLover Monday #8

Hey there. roamer65 Thursday #25

Hiya! SheltieLover Thursday #26

Hope u are well. roamer65 Thursday #27

Not sure I understand what you are saying Brenda Monday #10

Advertising that a child lives there can make them a target for predators... Jack Valentino Monday #23

So...what...keep the kid a secret prisoner inside? GenThePerservering Tuesday #24

No, but you don't need to give personal information to complete strangers either. meadowlander Thursday #30

Some folks are totally consumed by fear of the world around them. BannonsLiver 14 hrs ago #39

Predators love it Deuxcents Thursday #28

I'm sure they do! SheltieLover Yesterday #33

no kids, and I have never had a birthday party Skittles Monday #5

I was happy if I just got a birthday cake and some ice cream. roamer65 Monday #9

I'll top that! I never had a birthday! I was orphaned before I was conceived. Wonder Why Monday #17

When I was in 1st grade one of my classmates mom invited the WHOLE CLASS Maru Kitteh Monday #21

Invite the whole class is pretty common K and 1st Johonny 17 hrs ago #37

Around my neighborhood those are mostly put up for high school granduations senseandsensibility Monday #11

I've also seen those types of signs around, too. Brenda Monday #12

Yes, it's done for social media JI7 Monday #13

In my neighborhood, this seems like it started during the pandemic ... surrealAmerican Monday #14

aha! Brenda Monday #16

It absolutely started during the pandemic Niagara Monday #19

Maybe it's because I have boys, but all my kids ever wanted Bettie Monday #15

They started this trend during the pandemic because we were on lockdown Niagara Monday #18

My brother and sister did a drive by 70th birthday party for my mom helpisontheway Yesterday #32

I'm glad that your siblings got to celebrate your mom's special 70th milestone birthday Niagara 20 hrs ago #34

I have celebrated with my mom many time since then. We went to NYC for her 75th birthday helpisontheway 12 hrs ago #40

Girls under around 15 are very tuned into cosmetics videos/content Renew Deal Monday #22

"People Are Strange"--Jim Morrison RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Thursday #29

hasn't caught on in my area ecstatic Thursday #31

Strong "get off my lawn" vibes up and down this one. BannonsLiver 16 hrs ago #38