This is a recount from a lady on an online forum that I'm on (in italics, typos included):

I have just heard this conversation from a family going past out house - it has really upset me for the lad involved

I am going to leave the language in as I think it is quite a relevent part of the converstion - and there wouldn't be many words left without it!

Dad, I can't ride this bike it goes to slow.
change fxxxing gear then
I can't they are stuck
just put your fxxxin legs into it
I am but it is really stiff
why you have to fxxxing spoil everything you little dick
I'm not I can't make it go faster
get on it and get going dick
*crying* I can't my legs hurt making it go
you're an fxxing mary your sister can ride it
I know that is why she goes slow dad
fxxing get in front you dick you have spoilt our trip out again your a fxxing mary we're all going home
*cue other kids 2?* can't we just walk dad
No we fxxing can't just cause your brother is a dick were off home
*carries on as family ride off into the sunset*

I feel so sorry for them I estimate the lad was around 7yo.

Another recount:

I was in Asda earlier and there was a family..mum, dad and two boys of about 5 &9.

the mum and dad were walking around chatting away complelty ignoring the two boys.
they knocked a load of tins off a shelf, knocked into various people, were swinging around the trolley etc etc.

anyway the mum and dad were just carrying on regardless other than the odd "will you stop you little B***D" "keep that up and i'll give you a clump"

well the eldest boy was pushing the trolley that was very full, younger boy was hanging onto the side. running up and down the aisle....then the whole trolley flips up and is literally on top of the younger boy.

my heart was in my mouth, i ran over to help lift the trolley (which was incredibly heavy) off of the lad, i was really worried it may have broken his leg. thankfully he got up so seemed ok but clealry in pain and crying.

Mum and dad continue to shop along the aisle!! don't even look up. when the odler lad runs and tries to tell them what happened mum says " i dont want to F**King hear it" he tries again to tell her "i said i don't want to hear it" the poor lad just walks back to the trolley.

In this day and age, where people are contracepting and aborting away future generations, there are also people who, already having the most precious gift - another life - see it fit to treat their children this way. Absolutely shameful. When our government talks about having R-E-S-P-E-C-T, perhaps it should cut both ways.

I'm not talking about letting children get away with murder. On the contrary, I'm quite in favour of discipline. What I object to, is using methods which totally undermine the child, make him feel absolutely worthless, and with his mind already screwed up, trigger another generation with this behaviour, either with his own children or with his relationships with other people.

Should it be our business if we don't agree with how parents treat their own children? Is it our responsibility to intervene? What should we do if we see children abused this way in broad daylight? How should we do it?