WN will do anything for a buck

[FNG320]

Now I have to admit I wasn't exactly splitting atoms when I was a kid but how stupid do you have to be to buy a ticket without the funds to get back home?

That is what parents are for! :laugh:

Just my opinion!

ps. The parents should take the money they used for the tickets and put it thier college fund since they obviously have too much free cash to play with!

 

[BEECH-SLAPPED]

On another note, how did kids today become so sheltered? I remember in the 70's and 80's being MUCH more independent than kids today (traveling alone without any Unaccompanied Minor programs on connecting flights across oceans, going out to play and not coming home until the street lights came on, using buses and trains to take day trips in the summer to nearby cities & amusement parks).

Maybe it has something to do with all the Amber Alerts and every time you turn on CNN, there's a kid snatched from some trailer park in Florida. The media has conditioned the public that the world is a dangerous place for children. Are there really more instances of child abduction now than there were 30 years ago? I doubt it. In fact, there's probably LESS due to quick dissemination of information nowadays. I used to do many of the things you listed when I was a kid and not even think twice. Now, whenever I see a 9 year old walking home from school alone, I shudder to think how quickly the child could disappear in this "sick" world we live in. Never underestimate the power of perception.

 

[Motown]

Maybe it has something to do with all the Amber Alerts and every time you turn on CNN, there's a kid snatched from some trailer park in Florida. The media has conditioned the public that the world is a dangerous place for children. Are there really more instances of child abduction now than there were 30 years ago? I doubt it. In fact, there's probably LESS due to quick dissemination of information nowadays. I used to do many of the things you listed when I was a kid and not even think twice. Now, whenever I see a 9 year old walking home from school alone, I shudder to think how quickly the child could disappear in this "sick" world we live in. Never underestimate the power of perception.

I read somewhere recently that there are an average of 3 child abductions per year in the U.S. not committed by a family member or friend. 3 out of 300,000,000.

I also found that most crime statistics (murders, car theft, etc.) are less than half today what they were in 1972.

So why do we all think we live in a much more dangerous society than when we were kids? (I think you already answered this question.)

 

[Whine Lover]

It's easy to control a society that lives in fear by offering them solutions to manufactured needs arising from that fear.

When people find out I don't have a cell phone the immediate response is "OMG... what if there's an emergency!"

Create the fear...create the solution.

The solution always being a means to an end to line someone's pockets, manage your behavior, or both.

Like Lemmings to the Sea....And Sheep to the slaughter.



YKMKR

 

[Turtle21]

I read somewhere recently that there are an average of 3 child abductions per year in the U.S. not committed by a family member or friend. 3 out of 300,000,000.

I also found that most crime statistics (murders, car theft, etc.) are less than half today what they were in 1972.

So why do we all think we live in a much more dangerous society than when we were kids? (I think you already answered this question.)

Dude. 3 child abductions per year.... 3 out of 300,000,000? There are just over 300 million people in the U.S. but there weren't 300,000,000 abductions last year... If you start out with these kinds of mismatched statistical comparisons then how can we accept your statistical analysis of 1972 compared to today?

 

[Motown]

Dude. 3 child abductions per year.... 3 out of 300,000,000? There are just over 300 million people in the U.S. but there weren't 300,000,000 abductions last year... If you start out with these kinds of mismatched statistical comparisons then how can we accept your statistical analysis of 1972 compared to today?

3 child abductions by strangers out of a population of 300,000,000 people. In other words, a statistical non-event.

 

[Turtle21]

3 child abductions by strangers out of a population of 300,000,000 people. In other words, a statistical non-event.

It a good thing that children only come in contact with compete strangers when they are out and about around town by themselves (or flying to Nashville on Southwest). And of course part of the reason they are so safe from strangers is that since there are about 31,500,000 seconds in a year (non-stop, day, night, breakfast and bathing), it is hard for all 300,000,000 strangers to pass by close enough to snatch them before the year is out.

If kids would just stay far enough away from home so that they don't come in contact with anyone they know they would be so much safer.

 

[redflyer65]

Here is a simple question..

If a child(13-16 yr old) used a parents credit card to purchase a on-line ticket, then went to the airport and checked in via a kiosk...who or what would stop them on ANY airline that flies in the US?

Wouldn't the parents be responsible instead of the airline?

I believe the UM rules are what, 12 and under?

RF

 

[UpNDownGuy]

3 child abductions by strangers out of a population of 300,000,000 people. In other words, a statistical non-event.

I haven't the foggiest idea where you got such a "statistic", but it's wrong.

Here is a study completed in 2002 that studied the year 1999:


http://www.globalmissing.com/USAmissing.htm


You'll notice the approximate number of children abducted that year in the US by non-family members was 58,200.

It is grossly irresponsible of you to pretend child abduction is not a serious problem, when it clearly is in the US.

Luckily, most parents, like me, won't relax our vigilance because of something we read on a web board.