This is in the I CAN'T BELIEVE department of parenting.  Yesterday at a crowded community pool 2 boys ages 6-7 were throwing hard plastic rings like frisbees, bonking little kids in the shoulders, face, wherever.  The 2 corresponding Moms were watching/talking and when they happened to notice that a child was injured by their kid's throw they would sternly say "Say SORRY!"  or yell at their boy to "Stop hitting people! I TOLD you!" 

When one of the boys bonked ME in the head I held on to the ring and when he came for it I said "Don't throw this across the pool anymore; it's hurting people".  He just took the ring and threw it, hitting a 2 year old girl on the side of her face and she started wailing.  "Say Sorry!" chided the boy's Mom.  By this time I couldn't take it anymore, I stood up and went over to the Moms and said "Please stop your kids from throwing those rings".  They said nothing, basically looked at me and started talking again.  

Some other moms were holding their children protectively and watching me with grateful eyes, but saying nothing.  It was a weird experience.  I looked at the lifeguard a few times, but he was a young guy with sunglasses, and might have been asleep for all I know.  However, I resolved to wake him up and complain if another toddler got hit in the face.  It was like we were all captive to the 2 boys.  Many of us were not having fun anymore, we were just watching where those rings were going to be thrown next.  

WHY did these Moms ignore my request?  WHY didn't they take the rings away from their children?  WHY do some parents yell at their kids but take no action to actually stop undesirable behavior?  WHY was I the only one to say anything?