on the way home from work today, a little girl was riding her bike and fell off. she had a cut knee and was in a lot of distress. I felt I could not say or do anything, so i just had to pretend i did not see anything. this is because if i would have went over to her to console her, being a middle aged man, if her parents came out and saw me they would immediantly think i was a pervert or something. 10 years ago i wouldnt of hesitated to see if she was ok. so my question is.... do you think that society has changed for the worse , because people cant be helpful anymore?
2006-09-08 06:20:49 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Yes society has changed and being a mother of two little girls your question has put me between a rock and a hard place if my little girl was hurt i would like to think that someone would try and raise the alarm to me in this situation but i would also be wary to an extreme degree. I would of knocked at the nearest house or looked to see if here was anyone else about that would of helped with you. It is a shame society is like this as i don't let my girls play outside on their own without me or their father with them it is just too dangerous. You only have to switch on the news to see why. It's because their are alto of evil and unstable people out there that are making things difficult for everyone because they are required by law to have their identities kept secret when in fact we should be watching them 24/7 instead of stopping our kids enjoying their childhood by not being able to go on bike rides with their mates or even walk to school on their own, sad i know but we all should be backing the campaign of little Sarah Payne's mum and maybe good Samaritans like yourself wouldn't feel like this. As a woman i am a little wary myself because not all paedo's are men some women are just as bad, or are under a influence of a paedophile and will lure the kids in for them so no-one can win were dammed if we do and were dammed if we don't
2006-09-08 06:36:06 · answer #1 · answered by joanne 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
its a sad reflection on society that we have all become afraid
afraid of consequences
afraid to take risks
afraid to do what is right, rahter than what the public think
the sad fact of the matter is that a child is far more likely to be abused and harmed by someone they knwo within their own family thant by a stranger. yes there are dirty old men, perverts and paedophiles out there, but a far more dangerous point of contact is in the home.
its a sad fact that parents will immedaitely lash out, when sometimes its their own behaviour or fault that has caused the problem (because perhaps they le tthe child out of their sight)
its sad to see parents not letting their children run free, playing where they want to.
its a sad fact that soem DoM's lurk around those play areas.
Personally I'd take the risk of getting an earfull from the childs parents. If it was in a potentailly sensitive area I'd try to get a woman involved or at least acting as witness
Its equally sad that its now reccomended by some professional bodies that no man should not be in a room with a woman (especailly medics dentists, etc) unless there is another woman present (not another man, but another woman)
We are loosing our moral compass, and its being discarded because of the actions of a few and the unwillingness of the many to stand out and do what is right
2006-09-08 13:32:17 · answer #2 · answered by Mark J 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If it was one of my children,I would have been very grateful if you had of helped them. Middle aged or not!
I think we are more aware of paedophilia now and that's a good thing for the sake of our children who need protecting from all sorts of dangers.
Being kind to a little girl is not the same as grooming a child for sex, which can take years and is usually someone they know well.
You have to do what you are comfortable with but it would not have crossed my mind that you were anything more than a nice guy.
2006-09-08 15:15:59 · answer #3 · answered by Nicola H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely! I am soooo glad that I don't live in England because of that.
Kids are missing out on so much. If a kid at our school needs a warm hug to feel better , we can give it and no one would stop to think there might be anything behind it other than genuine concern for the child.
Old men can call a kid over and give them 100 fills to go and spend and no one turns a hair.
Sometimes it is a sad, sad world we build for ourselves.
2006-09-08 16:11:58 · answer #4 · answered by Christine H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, sorry to say people think the worst of everything these days and it is a shame that we have to check ourselves for the most innocent of things. It is the same with the question of so called racist songs...like ba ba black sheep etc, can't ALL people live in peace and live and let live. Society has become very sceptical, prejudiced and self centred in general and I don't like it one bit. But what can we do?
2006-09-08 14:00:12 · answer #5 · answered by rose1 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know what you mean, I feel the same way. But I would go and help anyway. If I get mistaken for a pervert I'll just defend myself in court. It's a shame the world is now like this though.
2006-09-08 13:29:55 · answer #6 · answered by reddragon105 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think it has changed for the worst most definitely. i am only 21 but i can even see the dramatic changes from when i was a child, there was never the worry that there is now.
the thing i miss most is the community feel you had with your neighbours..now everyone thinks your up to something if your friendly. i live in a block of flats these days and i know 1 person..the rest sort of glare at you!!
2006-09-08 13:24:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you. Its is more awkward for males than females I think and it is a shame that nice people like you are suffering from the acts of a few sick individuals. I even find myself (female) hesitating to compliment someone on their cute kid as it might be taken as a threat. A real shame but probably a good move to have stayed away, even though your intentions were purely to comfort her.
2006-09-08 15:03:45 · answer #8 · answered by Blue robbin 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can see your point but If you had called a passerby to be with you when you went to the little girls aid , you would have had a witness and could have helped her. Yes ,I think society has changed, it has made people stand back and think instead of acting instinctively .
2006-09-08 14:13:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is so sad you felt like you couldn't help, i can see where your coming from though. if you was a woman nobody would think twice, you was right to be concerned, but i also think you was right not to go over, this day and age anyone could have thought you was a paedo,so you could have put yourself at risk.
its sad this day and age but society has changed so much, as a mother of a little girl myself, i would be worried if i saw a male talking to my little girl, i would jump to the wrong conclusion, although your just a caring chap, nobody's to know that.
i hope the little girl was ok though.
2006-09-08 13:32:14 · answer #10 · answered by zeldieuk2002 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋