'Jail' Playground in Brooklyn Public Housing Project Sparks Outrage

maybe they just don't want their kids thinking jail is alright. different circumstances different trains of thought. the person is quoted saying that the area produces alot of criminals so you don't need to speculate with your snarkiness. it's obvious they don't want that promoted.

Maybe kids did play "jail" but the word itself was not painted on the equipment and there were no bars. I don't care if this is in an all-white upscale suburb. It's still offensive and gives kids the wrong message. Playground equipment should be for play - period!

You know I think this is seriously ridiculous. Too many adults take too much offense to little things. We all played Cowboys and Indians, Cops and Robbers, Pirates. Shot each other with imaginary guns. Or in the case of playing pirates ran each other through. And this just wasn't limited to those of us who had little or no money. I played shoot'em up games with some of the richest kids in town. WE ALL DID IT. I for one would have liked to have a jail to send those rascals to rather than having them stand in a designated corner of the playground.

You want to know how ridiculous this has gotten. My daughter was called to school not long ago. Why? Because her 7 year old was playing with his friends and they were pretending to shoot each other with imaginary guns...Seriously???

I think everyone needs to stop acting like everything that everyone says or does is pointed at you because of your race, religion or whatever. Adults, or people who are supposed to be adults, have ruined everything for these kids. Do you seriously think little Johnny or Suzy are going to pay any attention at all to these things if their parents don't point it out and say OMG this is a slap in our face. GROW UP

I think your a bit offensive and ignorant to boot but that's just my train of thought. I remember being a kid playing cops and robbers,
cowboys and indians but don't recall one jail cell in any of the
play grounds nor pretend scenarios with my brothers or friends.
This isn't a black and white issue, it's a wrong or right issue.
And this just seems a bit wrong 2 me... I think with all the things kids see now that we didn't , war on TV , world disasters, perents without jobs and a world with little hope left, I think
we should try and leave the kids something innocent like their
playgrounds..

It's not a race thing. It's more of a gang thing. It's in style to have jail time under your belt in the gang community. I live an hour from Memphis. Black kids think nothing of their parent being arrested or having been in jail.

I have to agree here. How much of this is about selfish raceism. I think it sends a good message to the kids. "Jail is not a nice place to be." And good people don't end up there.

To "oh whatever".....oh, let me guess...you must be white, middle class, and just a bit privileged (and Republican too, right?)...and completely unfamiliar with the struggles that face people of color every day. Maybe you should get over yourself and take some time out of your shopping excursions and consider the fact that not everyone has had the pampered, middle class existence that you have. Unfortunately, that pampered upbringing has cultivated a racist...

Begin worrying when you see the kids trading cigarettes for favors, and sharpening the handles of their tooth brushes.

People like you are what makes this "race thing" such a hot argument. This has nothing to do with race and everything to do with building character and self confidence in children! I am utterly appalled to find that you and others like your ignorant self think the families in the neighborhood in which this is occurring should sit back and accept this! I happen to be white, and I would not sit back and allow this in my neighborhood, why would I or any other reasonable person believe it is okay to put up in any other neighborhood. Get educated! People like you are the problem here! - And take the darn playground down! Put up a playground where the children can play and develop their imaginations, build their self esteem and self confidence! Stop labeling these and other children and stop setting such low expectations for them! These children are just as deserving as those in Manhattan, or the Hamptons or anywhere else!

You people will NEVER UNDERSTAND

Lmfao @ RobtheBlogger he said niglets. That's a new one. And I'm from the south. Dad's gonna love it.

I agree.
To Breezie,
you think it's easy being white these days? As far as I have noticed, most people of color have tried to live up to bad stereotypes and then complain that they don't get it easy. Stop it already, I have been called a white b*tch and pushed for no reason but the color of my skin, because they figure I have light skin so I am privileged white whatever who get's it easy. Notice what you said to "oh whatever", you yourself are stereotyping, by the way a black person hating on a white person is not "reverse racism", it's RACISM.
What struggles are you talking about? All I see around me is schools closing down because these kids don't want to learn. They have no discipline at home, the parents leave it up to the teachers. It is not their job. Then they go to another school and repeat the same thing. There are no family values. ALL of THIS starts AT HOME. Raise your d*mn kids! This is why my brother, in a black school had to start pumping weights instead of learning, which he used to love. He is now more interested in not getting ganged up on. Take responsibility and stop blaming the system which almost literally wipes your behind now. Look at the jews. They were slaves, they along with others were the victims of the holocaust. Now look at them.
Oh and by the way, I would love to find out about some of these privileges you are talking about, I'm white but I must have missed that day....

To Breezie:

What pampered middle class existence?? We're too busy supporting your lazy welfare ass. The middle class (soon to be non-existent) has spent generations paying taxes to support ALL of the programs you feel you are entitled to. It's not about black or white - there are just as many lazy white welfare bitches as there are black. Just get a job and support yourself and stop having kids that you CAN'T support. And stop blaming the people with jobs for your problems. WE SUPPORT YOUR ASS!!!

they teach kids about jail in school anyway they know jail is for bad people! god people blow things way out of proportion over the littlest things but we will stand by and let our government take over everything in our life. i cant even believe im wasting my time replying to this if you wana do something constructive talk to your kids about how jail is for bad people and everybody just shut up about all the stupid stuff......people that are overprotective parents can cause children to have culture shock and mental problems!

Tony 3-25-2010 @ 4:50PM Said:
They should be more outraged that the project has such a high number of prisoners in JAIL. Do something about that and don't worry about a word in a playground.

My response: Thank you, Tony! You said it just right.

That is the whole problem right there.