Why Do We Judge Parents For Putting Kids At Perceived — But Unreal — Risk?
Posted by CircuitGuy 8 years, 8 months ago to Culture
"Children need to explore and experiment and be on their own sometimes in order to develop independence and responsibility and self-efficacy. By keeping them under our direct supervision at all times, we sacrifice that, and we narrow their world in profound ways."
"Here's an analogy: Imagine that parents suddenly have a phobia that their children are going to fall down and hit their heads and die while walking, running, climbing or playing sports. When such an injury or death happens anywhere in the country, it is covered 24/7 by the media; shows such as CSI: Head Injury Unit and Law and Order: Running and Falling Down draw big audiences. Some parents decide that just to be on the safe side, they're going to require their kid to stay in a wheelchair all the time. Gradually this practice becomes so widespread that it becomes standard, and schools and camps start requiring all children to be in wheelchairs at all times for safety reasons. Eventually, it becomes so unusual to see a child not in a wheelchair that people start calling the police when they see a child walking around, and parents are charged with criminal negligence for allowing their child to take such risks."
"Here's an analogy: Imagine that parents suddenly have a phobia that their children are going to fall down and hit their heads and die while walking, running, climbing or playing sports. When such an injury or death happens anywhere in the country, it is covered 24/7 by the media; shows such as CSI: Head Injury Unit and Law and Order: Running and Falling Down draw big audiences. Some parents decide that just to be on the safe side, they're going to require their kid to stay in a wheelchair all the time. Gradually this practice becomes so widespread that it becomes standard, and schools and camps start requiring all children to be in wheelchairs at all times for safety reasons. Eventually, it becomes so unusual to see a child not in a wheelchair that people start calling the police when they see a child walking around, and parents are charged with criminal negligence for allowing their child to take such risks."
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The tattoo thing was a mimic of every stupid, "it's Obvious" warning label we find on everything these days, taken to the next level.
It's a sci-fi book and movie about a world where suddenly people couldn't have babies anymore and the schools and playgrounds were empty.
I've gone round-and-round asking term2 to explain what PC is. He patiently explains, and I end up knowing nothing more. Is there a premier for people who don't believe in it? Maybe I am a PC liberal. I do not know. I ranted a little about it here: https://www.galtsgulchonline.com/post...
I think I just disagree that PCness even exists. Thanks anyway, even if I never get it.
My point is use your head and trust your judgement if unsure it isn't worth it so don't.
Whose sense do we rely on if not our own?
"who and who cares what they think?"
The only reason I care is when I help my kids ride the park on a Saturday where I played, it's like Children of Men now. It's unfortunate. There's still another park where kids play, with more parents nearby than when I was a kid, but at least some kids still ride their bikes there and find kids to play with. It's becoming a rarity.
Be responsible for your own decisions and actions.
I don't know. My common sense and experience are out of step with mainstream though. Maybe we need more science, more dispassionate look at the perils. Things I did would be considered very dangerous now.
It was when I was a kid, but it's not anymore. It's sad on multiple levels, but the thing that hits me the most is that my 6- and 8-y/o kids would not feel comfortable to walk down the same street in Madison I did, knock on a friend's door, and find some random game to play. It would be a crime now if I let them do it. But it was an every-day thing just few decades ago. We watched TV when there was kids programming, but there usually wasn't, and we went to the park or hung out in some friend's basement. Now people see a 7-y/o as need constant hovering supervision. They must learn to go out and do things for themselves, take kiddie risks, face kiddie consequences.
I didn't get the tattooed warning thing. I'm only 41. Don't tell me kids aren't doing it anymore, hey. In a few years I don't want to hear my kids are just texting instead and not interacting in the physical world. OTOH, I don't want to hear if they're scamming (hooking up, or whatever they call it now) either.
I can see the progression of this paranoia with a tattooed warning notice at the exit of every vagina stating, entrance into this world may cause death...
Yes. I'd rather them blow all their money on something stupid as a child than as an adult.
As a parent the one thing I will say in a non-joking manner on this topic is that we, as a society, have decided to coddle those who would victimize a child. We are starting to be told to try to be understanding to the ghouls (see recent Solon Mag coverage on this). This does result in a more dangerous environment for kids. Other than that, I say let them learn some lessons on their own.
For decades NPR has been preaching socialist rubbish, encouraging teachers to train little comrades, and pushing morality in this meddling direction, but now the public is supposed to be to blame.
Meddling statist looters.
Ignore everything that NPR vomits out on the airwaves and you will be infinitely better off.