Quote:
Originally posted by KRL
I'm sorry but an 11 year old girl should NOT be walking alone on the streets without a parent.
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You wouldn't trust an 11 year old girl to walk to the corner store or to school alone? When I was 11 I was all over the fucking place, and not just me, all my friends too... I was raised by a strict grandmother who was VERY paranoid. So everyone single one of my friend's families and my grandmother were terrible parents because they didn't escort us everywhere? I would take the bus to the mall with my friends (which was about 10 blocks away). My friends came with me too. I think if someone had tried to escort me every single place I went I would have had fits, aside from being the brunt of ridicule from every single kid their age. It's about perspective, I guess... So many factors affect the choices parents make regarding their kids..
I doubt I would allow my kids to do the mall thing alone, but I'm MUCH more paranoid.. not everyone has the same standards though.. and it really depends where you live. I am in a small town, everyone knows everyone. If there is a stranger in town, everyone knows. Period. An 11 year old around here has to worry more about the blackflies than the people, 99% of the time. If I lived in metro Toronto I would be extremely MUCH more paranoid.. It depends on the kid, it depends on the situation, it depends on a lot of things. Every child has their own level of maturity at 11 too.
What I don't get is why nobody would speak up if the girl was yelling and he was taking her away? I would say "wait a second what's going on". *I* would probably say something if I saw that..
It's a matter of perspective, dependant on the situation..just like anything with children. There ARE certain situations I would probably be ok with an 11 year old girl being alone.. but NOTHING will ever guarantee a child's safety 100%. Not a reason to be UNDERcautious, but being OVER-paranoid doesn't accomplish much either. There have been SO many instances lately where little girls are abdcuted from their bedrooms while they sleep. More than them being taken from public places, even.
The whole thing with this little girl is a total tragedy, and it is going to make everyone more cautious with their children.. But when is enough is enough? How far before it's not ok that we teach our children, especially our little girls, live in fear?? When does caution go overboard into obsession? Who is anyone to make the judgement call but the person in the situation?
It's a damn tough call. I have a little girl. I'm going to teach her to be careful, I'm going to teach her to be cautious. I'm going to set rules down, and I'm going to protect her and take care of her. I guess I'm just gonna have to see where SHE is at when she's 11. But above all, I'm going to hope for the best.