It was a quiet night in East Brunswick. Crickets chirped. Air conditioners hummed. And then—DING DONG. Footsteps. Giggles. A door creaked open to… nothing. Just the warm embrace of summer air and a Ring camera blinking smugly.
Yes, folks. The children have officially discovered ding dong ditch.
According to S.W., about four kids were seen around 9:30 p.m. in the Lawrence Brook area pulling off this time-honored prank. Not with malice, not with firecrackers, not with spray paint—just sneakers and the thrill of sprinting into the darkness like mischievous elves with too much Capri Sun in their systems.
Naturally, the thread exploded like someone had suggested turning Playhouse 22 into a skate park. Some parents were alarmed. Some were amused. And some—like our man A.K.—offered this eyebrow-raising gem:
“They called it something different when I was a kid.”
We’re still unsure if that’s a nostalgic nod to the 80s or a subtle threat from someone who possibly grew up on the set of Deliverance. Either way, we hope A.K. is doing okay. We’re genuinely curious what it was called where he grew up. Cowbell Bang and Bolt? Telegraph Tag? Front Porch Roulette?
The Gen X Amnesia
What’s most entertaining is watching Gen Xers—people who literally invented this game—suddenly forget how to smile. These are the same folks who toilet-papered trees, prank called Pizza Hut, and somehow turned Super Soakers into suburban warfare tools. And yet now, four kids ring a bell and disappear into the night, and it’s Defcon 5 on Facebook.
You’d think these kids spray painted “Free Palestine” on their minivans the way some are reacting.
Others, thankfully, still remember what joy looked like without a screen.
The Comments Section Civil War
B.N. stepped in like the neighborhood cool aunt with, “Good clean fun! Like back in the good old days!” followed by M.M. reminding everyone, “At least they are running and not sitting at home playing games.” (Valid point. Cardio matters.)
Then there was L.L. offering balance: “This is more funny than annoying. But yes, agree with the safety concerns.” Fair. But then came N.C.L. with a swift, “They’re out of school 1 day, parents need to do better.”
Yes. Because clearly the breakdown of civilization starts with an 11-year-old pressing a doorbell.
Don’t Be a Kenny
Let’s take a moment to call out the most Kenny comment of all time. K.L. said:
“Nothing a good paintball gun can’t fix.”
Okay, Rambo. Simmer down. No one’s looting your house. It’s not an ambush. It’s literally four middle schoolers trying to see if your Ring cam catches them at ninja speed.
If you need a paintball gun to manage the sound of a doorbell, perhaps the issue isn’t the kids. Perhaps it’s the caffeine.
Let the Kids Be Kids
Look, safety matters. We get it. Streets are dark. People drive fast. But let’s not pretend these kids are one prank away from a criminal record. They’re doing what kids do in the summer—testing limits, getting fresh air, making memories.
There are worse things they could be doing. Like vaping in the Wawa bathroom. Or filming “loyalty tests” on TikTok.
So let’s dial back the outrage and give them room to grow up with stories that don’t start and end with screen time. Maybe even laugh a little—especially if you’re the one who used to do it better, faster, and with zero remorse.
Eyes on EB is watching. And we’re kind of proud of these kids.
