<p>I’ve never understood why tping is considered something fun to do.</p>
<p>"SOLON TOWNSHIP, Mich. A toilet paper prank has led to the shooting of a 14-year-old by a southwestern Michigan man who believed strangers were trying to break into his home.</p>
<p>The Grand Rapids Press and WZZM-TV report the victim and four other teens were pulling the prank about 1 a.m. Sunday at a home in Solon Township, about 20 miles northeast of Grand Rapids…</p>
<p>Oh man, that is so sad. It never crossed my mind that TP-ers might be mistaken for criminals and be shot at. Where I live almost every varsity athlete gets TP-ed at least once during the season. </p>
<p>It sounds like the boy is still alive, which is fortunate and miraculous.</p>
<p>I felt like getting out my shotgun last time we got TP’d and egged. </p>
<p>Although I’d never actually do so these kids are taking a risk when they vandalize people’s property and TPing and egging is vandalism, especially the egging - take it from a guy who who had to spend money and lots of time to do the cleanup.</p>
<p>Back in my younger days, kids might TP their friend’s house. But I understand from my D that kids nowadays TP absolute strangers’ homes. Not cool!!</p>
<p>I’ve let my kids know that I believe that TPing is vandalism and that they shouldn’t become involved in it. They’ve obeyed and have told me that they’ve talked friends out of TPing when they are together (seriously, can’t you find something fun to do?).</p>
<p>My D was also deeply moved by a story told by an adult friend to her. The adult friend (when she was in high school) had TPed an older man’s house one night. She saw him out in the yard cleaning up the mess the next morning. The man died of a heart attack that afternoon. She felt bad that, because of her actions, a man spent his last hours on earth cleaning up a mess she made.</p>
<p>Ever been to Wake Forest after a big win? Especially over Duke or UNC? They TP the entire quad area. We went for a visit the day after a night of apparent mayhem. I’m happy to report that no one was shot.</p>
<p>It’s one thing to TP a friend’s house (and then hopefully help with the cleanup) but they especially shouldn’t be TPing a stranger’s house and they should never egg anything - that can cause a lot of damage. </p>
<p>In my case I was either a random house or a house of mistaken identity since both of my girls are out of the house now. A previous time we were TP’d it was some boy down the street who was my D’s age.</p>
<p>I think some of the news sources are mixing up their facts. The guy shot his shotgun three times, and a boy was hit in the chest, arm, and leg, leaving him with non-life-threatening injuries. I’m not sure that means all 3 shots were at this one boy - I think the spray from the shotgun included 3 pieces of shot that hit the boy. If all three shots from the shot gun all hit this boy, it seems the damage would have been significantly greater. </p>
<p>On another note, during the summer our neighborhood was having trouble with thefts from cars parked in the driveway, or from garages that had the doors left open. (H had a CD player taken from his car, which was in our garage. Hope the thief is enjoying the Bible on CD my H had been listening to.) When the neighbor had a case of beer stolen from his garage, he called the police. The policeman told the neighbor that the moment someone crosses the door frame leading into the garage, they are considered home invaders and Georgia citizens have the right to protect their homes, including use of firearms. </p>
<p>(I decided from now on I will always use the front door when visiting friends!)</p>
<p>I’m in the minority, but I consider tp’ing to be harmless and funny - of course, if it is done to someone you know. I’m not for tp’ing random houses at all (which seems to be the story in the Michigan case). But around here most of the varsity players’ houses get tp’d by the JV teams toward the end of their season. It’s a big tradition that the cheerleaders TP the houses of the football Seniors the night before the last game (they call the parents and get permission first, of course, but I’ve never heard of anyone saying no.) It’s harmless, it sort of melts when it rains, or is easily cleaned up. If a football player didn’t get TP’d, I think he’d be offended!</p>
<p>Eggs are another matter entirely. That’s vandalism.</p>
<p>In my day, TPing was fun and was almost a status thing. The kids who were the most popular were the ones TPd most often. In fact, if kids weren’t old enough to drive, I know parents who drove kids to friends’ houses to TP.</p>
<p>We’d never TP a stranger. What was the point? In our minds, it wasn’t vandalism, just a fun thing to do. I guess it’s the equivalent of a “poke” these days.</p>
<p>My experience was the same as youdon’tsay’s - “wrapping” was definitely a status thing. It was also something of a school spirit thing when we wrapped the homes of the football players.</p>
<p>TP’ing a stranger’s house makes no sense whatsoever. I’m also not sure about the “draping the house” statement in the news report. We always TP’d ONLY people we knew, and it generally involved tossing rolls into the trees (not draping the house) and chalking the sidewalks. I think under those conditions, it is fun and harmless. </p>
<p>Egging was definitely out of bounds for us – our parents would have killed us for that.</p>
<p>Aw, corranged, if you wanna give us your address, I’m sure some CC’rs would be happy to come by and TP your yard if it’ll make you feel better. (wink wink) ;-)</p>
<p>The best was when we got guys to go along because they had better arms and could throw those rolls WAY up there. Oh, and it was always a secret. The wrappee was left to wonder whether it was good friends or a secret crush or whatever.</p>
<p>I’d love to TP again. If we do you, corranged, you have to pretend you don’t know it’s us!</p>
<p>If had TP in some very tall redwoods for months now.( It does not rain for months at a time here.) Police came to my door at three AM when a neighbor called. Never did find out who did it so I accused everybody.</p>
We’re also in a somewhat spread out area, which may contribute to the lack of TPing.</p>