Response to Angry Poster
Posted on 23. Apr, 2009 by The Dad D.A.D in Home
This is an email exchange between myself and a poster that is/was very upset with me for posting D.A.D I reached out to her not to defend or convince but to encourage civil discussion about a subject that is going to come up more often in the future.
READ FROM BOTTOM UP.
— On Wed, 4/22/09, David DeVore
From: David DeVore
Subject: David After Dentist
To:
Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 11:01 AM
I didnt mean to delete all of them, there is just no reason to post so many of the same thing. Feel free to post again. I would ask that you just keep it civil there is no need to get so personal. It doesnt allow people to take you opinion seriously. Plus, I bet you would like me if we met in person!
David DeVore
PS I am very sorry you are having to deal with autisim. I am sure that is very hard. God Bless!
On Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 12:53 PM,
I just need to know why you weren’t in the back seat consoling him??? Why was your reaction to grab a video camera? I am not a mean hearted person and I actually felt bad about posting that, but I feel very strongly that David needed his Daddy to hold him and tell him it would be ok. It honestly breaks my heart to watch that video. I cried the first time I saw it because I felt so sorry for David because he seemed so scared. I am sorry I was so rude in the comment…I was just hoping you would write back to me personally so you could explain to me why you felt the need to do this….I know that in normal situations you would not have to explain your parenting to anyone (as I feel that I don’t have to explain mine to anyone either) but in this case you invited the world in and so therefore I feel that I can ask you why…..
~Kari
Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass…it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.
Hi Kari,
I know you didnt mean to be rude and you are a nice person. The fact that you took the time to speak out on something you feel strongly about shows this. Anonymous posting tends to lend itself to people being harsher than they would be in person.
This is what I meant by not having context and perspective. The video only shows 1:58 of the entire ordeal. How do you know I didnt sit back there with him? I assure you I did. Did you notice he was strapped into his seatbelt even though the car wasnt moving? Cant you tell I am reassuring him by the tone of my voice? I grabbed the camera in the first place because I had already planned to do it. My wife couldnt be there and we had planned to take video of the day to be able to share it with her later. She was very dissapointed that she couldnt be there and was glad to see ALL of the video later that day.
I dont mind discussing this with anyone. I am confident in my parenting skills and the way my boys are growing up. I dont need to defend myself to anyone. I will explain it and if someone doesnt like it fine, I am not going to try and convince them either way.
We all have to do what we think is right and appropriate for ourselves and our family. While we never intended this to be more than just a family video, we have decided to embrace the fluke of it going viral. Yes, we are using it to benefit the family financially but we are also using it to bring attention to charities like Davids school and issues like Internet Safety. With a million views a week, we can reach many people.
I would like to point out that your tone doesnt do your argument any good. Its much better to approach things calmly and respectfully. Besides, dont you think calling me a dirt bag, and saying I shouldnt be allowed to reproduce could be more damaging to David than anything the video could have done? Kind of defeats the purpose of your post doesnt it?
I appreciate your concern and apology. I dont expect you to change your mind but just realize we all see things through different lenses. What might be wrong for you and your children might be fine for mine.
I think this is just one of those cases.
God Bless,
David DeVore
Name Olly
30. Apr, 2009
Hi, i think this is proof that americans take life FAR to seriously…please chill out, he had a tooth out and was a bit wacked its not like he got beaten up or anything!
Name
28. Apr, 2009
Hello! I love this and I think that when David is older he will love it too! He doesn’t seem scared and he doesn’t seem like he is in need of anything more than you were giving. I think it’s awesome to capture the moment for a mother who wasn’t able to be there
Name Susan Tampa
27. Apr, 2009
Hi David,
I just had to let you know that MY 7 year old son just went to the dentist for his first time last month and was there for four hours. He was very upset and hysterical in the dentist’s office after they were done, but his dentist is an absolute angel. She spent almost an hour of that time consoling him, but not babying him. Well, she was with him just as I am…held him and rocked him until he was okay to go….just no “poor baby” that would only make him worse. She explained to him what he needed to do and not do and that he’d be okay and how PROUD she and I both were of him.
When we left he acted very much like your guy. After gas and novacaine, EVERYTHING feels weird!! Who doesn’t feel that way afterwards?
I’m glad Kari came around (although I didn’t read any past stuff and only a tiny bit of other posts), but have to say what I saw at least one other saying. He wasn’t crying and sad and miserable…he was like my guy….feeling funny and not sure what to make of it all. You weren’t making fun OF him, you were giggling because you too have probably had that feeling, so you know how awkward it all feels.
I thank you for sharing it so that I can say that “Hey! Another parent with the same situation as my boy!! And he was SO strong and brave about it!” AND it was cute to boot!!
Cristina
27. Apr, 2009
I love your son … I need a camera to record my own children funny situations
karley
27. Apr, 2009
hey david i fely like that to. you kinda feel like a lump on a log.anyways that scream was the loudest scream ever.
Kudo
26. Apr, 2009
David you’re so cool. This is my fav vid (and my girlfriend’s fav one too).
Greetings from Spain.
Name
26. Apr, 2009
make a nother vid
alicia
26. Apr, 2009
hello my name is alicia
Name Luc
26. Apr, 2009
Hey hello
I am from switzerland, I think your son will be happy to see this video when he will be older…
+++
Tiffani
26. Apr, 2009
I’m 13 and I found your video and I think its SO cute! Thats normal for him to feel woozy after the medicine I dont think you did anything wrong by filming him. Absulutely right about showing ur wife/family and the rest of the world because its dang funny & cute!. Your sons very clever (:
andi
25. Apr, 2009
hello from hamburg – germany!
david is great and we all love him. best wishes
and good luck in the future for you and your family
did you know:
the “After Dentist” video comes in the breaking news in one
of the biggest tv channels of our country! i believe no other
youtube clip has reach this ever. its a litle privilege i think.
incidentally:
can you show us a picture?
we will see the father too
greetings and sorry for my poor english
god bless you and your family
Name Mauricio
25. Apr, 2009
Hi from Sao Paulo, Brazil!!
This video is só funny I wish my dead had a camera to preserve this kind of moment forever when I was a kid.
congratulations
Name Mirjana
25. Apr, 2009
I think this is hillarious! I have a little one and I try and always will to capture not only the milestones, but the “falls” as well! I only WISH my parents had ANY of me as a child!!!! LOVE IT & I also think you are great!!!
Raul
25. Apr, 2009
Hi from Spain. This video is more than famous here. Sense of humor, that is all, … i wish my father recorded me in this kind of fun situations… what is the problem in recording this?
Name Patrick Vine
25. Apr, 2009
Im sure David will love to see tis again when hes older. I had a similar experiance at the dentist when I was about his age but back then the vidio wasnt invented.
Jess
24. Apr, 2009
David,
You seem like a cool guy and I just wanted to confirm and defend your stance.
How in any way is this “hurting” his child. He just got back from getting stitches at the dentist. it’s not a big deal and if it were, the Dentist would not have allowed him to leave.
Maybe these “angry posters” should worry about their own lives.
Name Tabitha
24. Apr, 2009
This video is hillarious. To all those who are disgruntled about the apparent lack of sympathy David received, please know that just because Dad wasn’t in the back seat coddeling his kid doesn’t mean he doesn’t love him. I grew up in a family with a mom who was a nurse–the only way you ever got sympathy, is if you were on fire, your arm had fallen off, or you bleeding from all orifices. Even then, it was more of an alarmed “Call the fire department” than a sugary, “Oh, are you ok?”
My siblings and I learned early on that laughter is the best medicine–especially if you are laughing at yourself, which I’m sure David will be able to do in the future, if he doesn’t already. Life is hard enough–sometimes laughing is the best way to deal with the pain.
Name Dawn
24. Apr, 2009
OMG I saw this video for the first time this morning and thought it was the funniest thing. Recently had a similiar experience with my 17 year old daughter who, by the way, told me about David After Dentist. I can hear the love and reassurance in your voice and posted a link on my facebook saying I think you are the best four-eyed Dad ever.
P.S. I am a registered nurse, and thank God we have medications to help kid avoid the pain they must have had in the 1800’s during dental work.
Ray
24. Apr, 2009
Most of you come in here with such hatred do you teach this kind of hate to your children?
Chris
24. Apr, 2009
Life is about these amusing moments. Share them with the world or keep them to yourself, its your choice. All these people who rag on you for posting this: You have a choice to not watch videos online so quit bitchin when you see something you disagree with. That kid probably got a laugh out of it as soon as he saw it! Use your energy and save the whales or something, David had stiches. Ho Ho Ho
SuperMohammad
23. Apr, 2009
Negative. You are a parent with a sense of humor. Hopefully the merchandise sales will help you fund the little guy’s college fund. The video is on my FB page, everyone who sees it agrees that it’s the funniest thing they’ve seen in a while.
Rock on brother. Keep the child’s teeth healthy and let world laugh in the meantime.
Louis
23. Apr, 2009
I wish when I was a kid youtube was around for my parents to capture these types of moments, whatever angry posters say don’t stop recording your kids life.
Zoe
23. Apr, 2009
You are not a horrible parent at all. I am sure when David will laugh at the video for years and years to come. I sure would have loved it if my husband taped me telling the dental assistant that he was “going to take me home and take advantage of me”… after I was put out having my wisdom teeth taken out. You really are loopy after IV sedation, and yes, it was embarrassing, but what’s life without laughter?! People need to lighten up and stop taking life so seriously!