The parental fear of the ped
A friend won't let their 12 yr old out by themselves or with friends, because, "you know, there are peds out there".

We used to get locked out of the house at age 10 because playing outdoors was good for you (although I suspect it was so dear mummy could have an afternoon delight). A bike and a few friends meant you had a life of your own, you were trusted and eventually left the house at a decent age of 17-18. Childhood obesity was a total unknown - the fat kids then aren't the same or as numerous as the fat kids now.

Parents - let your kids out. Unless they are the little fuckers who run amok and then you can keep 'em in your basement or whatevs.
(boozehound is drinking your bar dry, Sun 4 Mar 2012, 2:57, 9 replies)

Yeah. Sort of agree with that
I guess it's the difference between perceived risk and actual risk. I have two little darlings of my own and whilst they are both pretty young at the moment, I am aware that there is a balance to be struck between keeping them safe from harm and giving them the freedom to learn from their own mistakes. Still doesn't stop you worrying about them though. I guess the media generated paranoia doesn't really help, (There's a topic that deserves its own thread - the media is to blame for..) if it's not childhood obesity, it teenage knife crime. To be honest I'm more worried about the potential dangers of traffic, particularly when they are old enough to start walking to school themselves. Whatever happened to the good old days of being able to play down the disused cement factory eh? Ah happy days.
(Nitrous Nitrous, Sun 4 Mar 2012, 8:22, closed)

Disused cement factory?
sounds bloody great! I had the town dump and Ashfield Valley ( do a youtube search for Hardcore Valley )
( uncle bastard is twanging a dan moi, Sun 4 Mar 2012, 8:37, closed)

Jesus, you covered it all.
"the media is to blame"
Having to get my Working With Children's Check recently. I'm coaching my daughter's soccer team. It's not mandatory in the club I'm in to have a WWCC.
The no. of parents who didn't ask me about it tho is scary.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Sun 4 Mar 2012, 8:46, closed)

I like the fact there is a level of trust still apparent in your community.
Scary - yeah I see your point - but on the other hand it is nice that not everyone suspects you of being a ped.
(boozehound is drinking your bar dry, Sun 4 Mar 2012, 9:23, closed)

I'm not sure what a check is supposed to prove?
Does it mean you've not been caught, or you haven't molested a child yet?
I would have thought that you would teach your child not to be alone with strangers and to tell you if anything happened that they didn't like and you would not be cross. A peice of paper does not make your child more safe and you not having the check would not make you any more or less likely to be a paedophile.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Sun 4 Mar 2012, 16:59, closed)

Yup The Media are to blame
I remember some civil servant on tv ages ago, getting a bit exasperated at constant badgering by concerned residents of some area, wittering on about a "paedo" in their area.

He/she said that the incidence of child abduction/murder by paedos had not increased or decreased in decades (possibly inferring as far back as the 40s). What had changed is now we have 24 hour news, internet news and reporters in satalite tv vans, ready at a moments notice to head off to some wee village most of us never knew existed to pontificate and extrapolate the 1 firm fact (or no news what so ever) for hours on end.

Everyone went into a bit of a reflective mood after that

So these paedos have always been there, it is the fear created by the media that have changed the populations behaviour. But the level of fear is far out of proportion to the threat
( Fire & Forget it's the only way to be sure, Sun 4 Mar 2012, 10:40, closed)

but is ignorance bliss?

( Fire & Forget it's the only way to be sure, Sun 4 Mar 2012, 11:00, closed)

It was for me
out all over the place late 70s/early 80s without parents helicoptering around like they do now, just me and my brother, never once nonced. Got chased, menaced by and occasionally had fights with the offspring of Hardcore Valley, but that was part of life.
( uncle bastard is twanging a dan moi, Sun 4 Mar 2012, 17:19, closed)

exactly
this was my youth too. And I feel better for living like that
( Fire & Forget it's the only way to be sure, Sun 4 Mar 2012, 23:50, closed)

While I agree with you completely
being bummed isn't really a first world problem is it? It really sucks where ever you are.
( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Sun 4 Mar 2012, 17:34, closed)

Lube
for africa.
(speedevil, Sun 4 Mar 2012, 23:49, closed)

bummed or sucks?
there is a difference
( Fire & Forget it's the only way to be sure, Sun 4 Mar 2012, 23:51, closed)

I second this.
The puppies in the back of my van are getting really lonely.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Mon 5 Mar 2012, 14:05, closed)