Re:Parents now spend twice as much time with their children ...
by Larrikin on Tuesday November 28, 2017 @02:29PM
(#15800566)
It sick in its own right that society has demonized talking to any children that aren't your own or in your care. Police should not have been called in that situation and just asking if the kids are ok or lost should not be viewed as a creepy action.
Re:Parents now spend twice as much time with their children ...
by taeric on Tuesday November 28, 2017 @02:33PM
(#15800605)
I'm torn. I fully agree with you. I also think quickly calling the cops to check on them as you go do something else shouldn't be that big of a deal. Because, to my mind, police should be part of the community. Ideally, not strangers in uniform.
No, I don't think that is the case most (any?) place. :(
I'm also afraid to look at the statistics, as I fear I'll see that this is another slant in class/race standings. :(
Re:Parents now spend twice as much time with their children ...
by pbhjpbhj on Tuesday November 28, 2017 @03:43PM
(#15801342)
Indeed, if you do call the cops they should be able to send someone to speak to the children to check they're OK, make sure they've not absconded or something, rather than making an incident out of it.
Re:Parents now spend twice as much time with their children ...
by khedoros1 on Tuesday November 28, 2017 @03:09PM
(#15800943)
It's extremely unusual to see unescorted children where I live, below early teens or so. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to hear about someone calling the police after seeing a child outside on their own; that's just the current culture.
I live in a small gated community, in among other ungated neighborhoods. I see kids playing around my neighborhood, but never leaving it on their own. I hear grumbling from some of my neighbors even about that.
Yes, CPS in one state did something ambiguous and alarming to self-proclaimed "free range" parents.
No, you probably don't have the full story that a guy who had never seen the children before was concerned about their safety in that part of town, he decided to call 911 instead of talking to the kids and coming off as a creep.
Yes, that one town's police department did get the CPS' attention, and the CPS did an investigation and found something arbitrary which is rightfully concerning.
No, this isn't indicative of the entire US culture or widespread neighborly paranoia about children walking unattended.