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Around the Internet => Antimustachian Wall of Shame and Comedy => Topic started by: GuitarStv on July 17, 2014, 12:11:49 PM

Title: Playing outside as a kid . . .
Post by: GuitarStv on July 17, 2014, 12:11:49 PM

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/07/15/debra_harrell_arrested_for_letting_her_9_year_old_daughter_go_to_the_park.html (http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/07/15/debra_harrell_arrested_for_letting_her_9_year_old_daughter_go_to_the_park.html)

When I was 9 or 10 during summer vacation I would leave home first thing in the morning and usually not come back until about 5:00 for supper.  Spent a lot of time biking, playing with my friends and goofing off.  Apparently my parents should be arrested.

Title: Re: Playing outside as a kid . . .
Post by: socaso on July 17, 2014, 12:25:39 PM

I saw this yesterday and once again I thought, my mother would have gone to jail when we were kids.

Title: Re: Playing outside as a kid . . .
Post by: Paul der Krake on July 17, 2014, 01:19:34 PM

My parents regularly let me fly between Germany and England to visit friends when I was a teenager. I've been briefly held by border agents a few times because they thought it was a little weird, but nothing ever came out of it.

Title: Re: Playing outside as a kid . . .
Post by: gimp on July 17, 2014, 03:02:37 PM

Slate is a rag. I'd recommend not letting your blood boil by wasting time reading it.

Title: Re: Playing outside as a kid . . .
Post by: okashira on July 17, 2014, 03:27:02 PM

Wow. When I was 9, same here. I would easily end up as much as 8 miles from home on my Huffy.

Title: Re: Playing outside as a kid . . .
Post by: jpdcpajd on July 17, 2014, 07:36:53 PM

some of the stories reporting this stated the girl went to and from park 1.5 miles away.  only if she was driving see google link

https://www.google.com/maps/search/mcdonalds/@33.5009246,-81.9544146,410m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!2m4!3m3!1smcdonalds!2sNorth+Augusta,+SC!3s0x88f9cca12803caa5:0x366e37e61f71aa0c

Title: Re: Playing outside as a kid . . .
Post by: Goldielocks on July 17, 2014, 08:46:39 PM

I guess I would have been arrested for letting my 10 yr old take my 8yr old to 7-11 on their bikes...about 1.5 miles away...

We did have the school (in california) call us once to say they did not think it was appropriate that our Grade 3 daughter to be walking the 3 blocks home, alone.   
Now this is with about 200 parents other parents around, no busy streets, dad at home when she got there, and in a wealthy neighborhood with a high level of police car patrol funding.  (overkill police patrols, I was stopped when out for a run early on Christmas morning too...yes officer, there is a stolen TV hidden in my yoga pants.. not!...)

Man  the USA is overkill on the worry and putting blame on the victims.   If there is a worry about the safety of a park, shouldn't they cut back the overhanging tree limbs and have foot patrols or volunteers there?

Title: Re: Playing outside as a kid . . .
Post by: Gin1984 on July 17, 2014, 08:51:28 PM

Keep in mind that in that state it is legal to stay home by yourself as long as you are above the age of 8.  So seriously, WTF?