11/30 10:05am HF and others, How is peeing in a cup and then dumping it in the woods any different from peeing directly in the woods? Urine is urine...and JS had a point when she said that dogs pee in public places all the time. In fact, strange dogs pee and poop on my nicely landscaped yard multiple times each day as well as at the town playground. Places where my children spend many hours rolling around in the grass. Most people in town find this acceptable...why not a human? Maybe dog owners should be labeled sex offenders for allowing their dogs to run around naked without any proper coverings over their private parts while they are tinkling on public property? After all, a young child might see this! Do you see what I am getting at? It is all just so ridiculous? Where does it end? Did you know that urine has many uses? It is used in more than a few culture's holistic medicine and it is among other things, an excellent source of nitrogen for plants and soil. Haven't you ever notice how dark green and lovely the grass grows back in the spots where dogs have peed? OK... so how do you know that JS allowed her child to go in front of the building? How do you know that she didn't ask to use the facilities in the past or that the atmosphere in that post office is so hostile that she felt uncomfortable asking. I have been made to feel so uncomfortable in there that I do my business in another town! You accuse her of making assumptions, yet you are also guilty of the same. If you saw this event simply state that and I will agree with you that maybe the front of the post office was not the best place to do this. However, did you stop to think that maybe the child could not have waited long enough to run to the back of the building? Better he should just wet his pants and feel humiliated and be forced to sit in it on the ride home? Personally, I think that you should put the child's feelings and well being first. This has nothing to do with the parent. This is about a 4 yr old and his ability to "hold it". Please folks, give a 4 year old a break! We are all losing site of the real issue here. The townspeople can be charitable about a dog peeing in the middle of the sidewalk or playground but you can't do this for a precious little boy? JS stated that this was done "in the woods" and without another witness, I only have that to go on. The next thing you will be telling me is that there is more than one side to the story. True, but it sounds to me that JS asked to face her accuser and was not given the opportunity. So there is essentially no proof that JS is not telling the truth here unless the witness comes forward. Guilty or not guilty, I support JS's opinion that involving the police in this matter was a bit over the top. C'mon... A simple, friendly comment by the witness would have been much more effective and reasonable. I have been given the advice on this very board to approach dog owners on my street and ask them nicely to pick up after their dogs. The witness should have done the same with JS if they were offended. When I have wanted to complain about a dog owner letting their dog poop or pee on my lawn, I was told that I needed proof...my witness wasn't proof enough. How is this episode any different? I am not knocking the policeman at all. I know that they must answer all calls. But if they are going to answer this one, they better darn well knock on the door of every dog owner that I list as having seen defecate on my front property! Aren't you also guilty of making assumptions as you accuse JS of doing? That is called hypocrisy. Why not give JS the benefit of the doubt on Thanksgiving? Why not be positive as you would like her to be? Why are you judging her while you should be giving thanks instead of preaching to her about such a trivial matter? Holidays mean different things to different people. Some folks living and residing in this country don't celebrate Thanksgiving. Even if they did, who is to judge or dictate how someone spends their day? There have been countless posts in the past about limiting this board to a certain subject matter or "tone" during "the holiday season". Why? Why are some people more moral on a certain day of the year? Don't be a hypocrite. If you feel this way, practice what you preach all year round. Nobody is forced to read this board. You know what it is like here...don't venture on if you are afraid or offended by the subject matter. But please don't chastise others for their thoughts. If you are spiritual, why not let God be the judge? I must add, that in all the years I have been frequenting this site, I would never think to come to this forum seeking words of spiritual and inspirational enlightenment. Have you actually ever read the content? I love this site. But most peopleI know in town call it the B-tch board. (Pardon my language) I was under the impression that this board was a sounding board for issues that Norfolk residents deal with on a daily basis or a forum for anything Norfolk related. You have to take the good with the bad. Some people have crappy or uneventful holidays (not that JS did). Why must they pretend otherwise? To keep everyone else's day fabulous? That's not real life. Why do people think it is necessary to censor other's views? Don't you realize that there are people in the world who have fought hard for this right ??? Isn't that part of what Thanksgiving is? Appreciating and using a privilege that others have fought hard and given their lives to give you? There have been posters on this board who I have not agreed with, or by whom I have been deeply offended by. I argue my point , but I would never ask them to not post or to wait until a holiday is over. By trying to stifle someone's thoughts, you are guilty of inadvertently making the death of some poor soldier's life meaningless. I have had negative experiences at the Norfolk Post office and I should be allowed to voice my concerns whether you appreciate it or not. There was no excuse for a postal worker being rude to me on several occasions...or to conduct business over my baby's car seat on the floor of the post office, violating his personal while I was sticking one stamp on an envelope. It was petty and nasty to have me move aside to do this, when I was obviously struggling with all of my infant's gear. If I would like to discuss this on Thanksgiving, I believe that I have every right to do so. I give thanks to everyone in this country who has allowed me the freedom of speech, religion and political views. - MW Norfolknet.com your community, on-line