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, 1 reply)

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)