My neighbor just bought their kid a trampoline.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

The kid is six or seven. Right now she and a friend are bouncing on it together, doing "acrobatic" routines. Any guesses how long it will be before: (a) the novelty wears off, or (b) somebody gets hurt? Hope (a) happens before (b). And their homeowners' insurance is paid up. I'm not saying a word; it's their business. But the accident statistics for those things are horrendous.

[elleng]

1. We had one in our backyard for years,

neighborhood kids used it (with our and their parents' permission,) and never had an accident.

[edgineered]

2. As much as it hurts,

do try to look once in while. Like you said (a) is the best outcome. You have been put into a no win situation because you have sense. Seeing one of those kids get hurt, either before or as it happens, would make me cringe and not want to even look in that direction. Its a good thing you are there.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I would, but these neighbors have been nasty to me for years

because they don't like my landscaping - I grow a lot of native plants and flowers, and they prefer the "golf course" look. And they haven't hesitated to tell me that they think my garden is horrible and it attracts wild animals that scare their child (which is just ridiculous). Last fall they cut down a bunch of my trees and shrubs near the lot line and threw all the branches into my garden (ruining a nice shade garden I'd cultivated for several years), then the wife screamed at me and called me all sorts of names when I complained. I don't think they'd listen to a thing I said, and would probably have a fit if I tried to "supervise" their child.

[edgineered]

6. Look at it from their view -

those pesky birds and animals and wild things and plants are ruining their efforts to cut down a tree and put up a parking lot. Besides, what kind of terrible example are you setting for those kids, doing your own work and all?

Its a battle that cannot be won and a fight not worth fighting. Still I know you would not jump ship if there was an accident and help had to be called. Doing it might leave you feeling bad about yourself, but you would still do it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Of course I'd help if necessary, I have no grudge against the kid.

I just hope nobody breaks their neck on the damn thing. There are so many serious accidents that most insurance companies will either not cover accidents on the trampoline or will drop you altogether if they find out you have one.

[NJCher]

26. yes they will

My friend was "gifted" a trampoline.

The insurance company happened to be stopping by for a water damage claim. When they saw the trampoline, they told her she had to get rid of it.

My friend doesn't open her mail. One day, however, she somehow found out that because she did not get rid of the trampoline, she had lost her house insurance. She had been notified in the mail, but because she didn't read her mail, was unaware.

She tried to get another policy. No deal. These companies are all connected through some database.

After hours and hours of phone work, she finally found someone to carry her and of course, this was after she'd gotten rid of the trampoline.

All in all:

--she went nearly six months without house insurance
--the entire episode cost her days of phone time
--when she obtained new insurance it was about a third more expensive than what she'd had before


Cher

[Enthusiast]

13. Your story reminds me of a thread

in the Jo mamma section of the Adventure Riders Forum. I don't remember the name of the thread, Lousy Neighbors or something. Some of those stories were entertaining. You must register to access the Jo mamma section but there is often a thread worthy of your time if you don't mind blatant sexism and questionable language often found among motorcyclists.

http://advrider.com/forums/index.php

[Mopar151]

18. I heard a great story from a new (2nd gen) racer's Mom, about witless neighbors

They live in southeastern MA, but are very country at heart. "Mouse" (that's what she told me!) has some free-ranging chickens, which occasionally wander onto the neighbors manicured greensward.
The neighbor lady is all up in arms 'cuz the chickens crapped on the lawn, "And what if my kids eat it?" Mouse sez "Theyre'frickin' teenagers! WTF!"

[Brother Buzz]

3. Dad Sells Trampoline on Craigslist Because "His Kids Suck"

[A HERETIC I AM]

5. LOL....That dad rocks!

"or a stockade to house three grumpy teenagers."

[avebury]

7. One of my neighbors has one of those trampolines.

The kids used it all the time last year. I haven't seen it used once this year.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. It looks just like that one.

I'm guessing the novelty will wear off before the end of the summer because there's not much you can do on it but jump up and down, which is fun only for awhile. I took gymnastics in college and there was a really huge one on which we did flips and stuff but with spotters and safety equipment. That was pretty fun, but just bouncing up and down for hours on end?

[Brother Buzz]

12. Who needs spotters?

[antiquie]

15. Yes, used for gymnastics and diving practice

to learn new tricks. I don't see the fun, otherwise.

[GreenPartyVoter]

24. Kids do handsprings and tucks on them, usually without spotters, which is a bad idea. But

at least they don't get bounced off thanks to the walls, right?

[woodsprite]

10. Use pool noodles cut to cover the springs and have 911

on speed dial.

[jakeXT]

11. Make sure it's secure, during high winds they'll fly and destroy cars and windows easily

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-weather-twitter-pictures-flying-2892204

[Enthusiast]

14. Geez!

[Kali]

16. my kids used ours every day and camped on it at night

only one injury with 3 kids and any number of adults using it over the years - and this was with no safety net or spring covers, though it was a 14 footer.

we were on our second mat when this happened: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x6447725

[NightWatcher]

17. probably not as long as it takes until someone has sex on it

So make sure they are really gone for the night before attempting this with your partner (or partners).

It is highly recommended.

[riderinthestorm]

22. I didn't read your reply and just said the same thing downthread...

Great (purvy) minds think alike!

[Populist_Prole]

19. I can appreciate the irony

Of your neighbor's vanity of their property. Complains of your natural looking yard with ( gasp ) trees, keeps some golf course manicured lawn....only to clutter it up with an ugly trampoline?

Around here trampolines seem to be a hallmark of trashy redneck back ( and front ) yards. She may as well have a white-painted tractor tire with dead flowers growing out of it too.

[Baitball Blogger]

20. Very important that they get supervised.

What is important is that they learn early that the kids who sit on the edge will get bounced off if they do not have experience with trampolines.

[riderinthestorm]

21. Do they ever go out of town? Sex on a trampoline is fun fun fun!

(not that I'd know about sneaking over to the neighbor's house and uh, playing on their trampoline. No sirree... not us...)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

23. At my age, given my level of social invisibility, I don't expect that to happen.

And even if it did, with my luck the episode would somehow end up on Youtube.

[MrMickeysMom]

25. Well, I had a neighbor who was so tacky...

They kept it on the front lawn through a winter and a half. Finally, they removed it. It had no net around it, the novelty wore off fast, they never mowed the grass under it, and let's face it… front lawn?

Now they have a shitty little pool crumpled up that the cat drinks out of… Yeeechhh….

[SeattleVet]

27. Might want to give them a 'heads up' about the homeowners' insurance thing.

When we got our new insurance after our remodel, one of the things we were asked was if we had a trampoline. From talking to another friend, a trampoline can *easily* double their premiums. If they don't tell their insurance company, they may get canceled without much notice. They need to check their current policy very carefully for anything that may be construed as a trampoline.

[IrishAyes]

28. It helps if there's at least a barrier around the trampoline,

but too many don't even have that, and an adult should be present at all times - which they usually aren't.

People around here (and lots of other places) are woefully lacking in common sense. They amass huge piles of leaves at the curb, strike a match, and go back indoors to their ball games. Nobody in my area has a built-in pool, but there are several above ground pools. None are fenced. None have covers. Nobody even removes the ladder at night. If some child drowned, it wouldn't change a thing.

My family took reasonable precautions; we even told little kids that a crocodile lived in the plumbing and would come out and eat them unless there were big adults there to protect them. Some adults would even go out and perform an elaborate penning ceremony complete with yelling and slapping the water with an oar while the kids hung back. After the all clear call, kids would run jump in the pool. Little ones really looked up to their parents.

We all grew up okay, if a little strained by some measures.

[mackerel]

29. They sound like nasty know it all neighbors.

Thankfully it's not your headache and you don't have to get involved. Sorry to hear about what they did to your trees and shrubbery.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

39. That they are. Look up Entitled Yuppie in the dictionary

and you will find their photos. And I also find it odd that they'd buy their kid a trampoline, considering that the other place you will find their photos is under the definition of Helicopter Parent. The kid is kind of hyper and spoiled, though, so maybe they thought it would be a way to keep her busy.

[GReedDiamond]

30. Here's a song for this thread, "Trampoline"...

...by my band Green Sparkle Frog.

http://www.reverbnation.com/open_graph/song/11680652

[OriginalGeek]

31. When I was a kid I loved visiting my cousins

they had a trampoline built into the ground* and the edge was lined with bricks.

We bounced all over that thing but I have no idea how we lived.




*A big pit dug into the ground and the spring holders were mortared into the bricks. This was late 60s~early 70s. My oldest cousin still lives in the house but the pit is now empty.

[yellowdogintexas]

32. a friend of my sister's actually did break her neck on a trampoline

in the gym at school.

She hit the back of her neck on the rim and was paralyzed from the neck down. I hate the damn things and am quite terrified of them.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

33. There were three kids at a time on the thing last night.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children shouldn't be allowed to use trampolines at all, ever, and the surest way to get hurt on a trampoline is to let more than one kid jump on it at a time. They also say the safety netting doesn't make them any safer and just lulls people into a false sense of security. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/trampolines-are-no-place-kids-docs-warn-f1B6054327

Yikes. I know that if I say anything I'll be told to mind my own effing business, so I guess I'll mind my own business.

[geardaddy]

34. Sounds like a perfect setting for America's Funniest Videos

Just set up you video camera.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

35. Except for the fact that a kid breaking her neck wouldn't be very funny.

Otherwise it's just kids jumping up and down on a trampoline, which isn't interesting.

[geardaddy]

36. Yes, breaking a neck wouldn't be funny.

It just seems like AFV has all sorts of injury related videos.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

37. Yeah, and I've always thought AFV was a little sadistic for that reason.

There always seems to be a video of somebody rolling on the ground clutching his groin, not laughing.

[geardaddy]

38. Agreed.

I never really got into that show. It always seems like people are trying to make money on others' misery.

[irisblue]

40. trampolines keep ERs busy

The ER calls Xray to take images, then ER calls the Ortho resident, who calls the attending who schedules the OR the next day for the surgical repair. An employment cycle most never ever consider. Cynical observations over 25 years.