If you knew someone had left their children alone..
Report them? Or Turn a blind eye?
If you turned a blind eye would you feel responsible if something terrible happened as a consequence?
Devils advocates need not answer........
2007-09-30 14:54:16 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in News & Events ➔ Current Events
The reason for this question was because of the controversy over the McCann situation and I wanted honest and genuine answers to see how the majority really feels on this issue (Child care, or lack of it)
2007-09-30 15:10:37 · update #1
I would inform the police of what I saw. Even if it turned out different to what I thought at least I felt I done something good. §
2007-09-30 22:24:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Depending on the age of the child I would talk to the parent. If they could not afford child care I would offer to watch their child for free which I know would set me up to be taken advantage of but hey its better then letting a kid stay home alone. If they parents did nothing I would call social services. Have had to do it before. Social services did not take the child out of parents custody but told parents to get daycare of the child would be taken because the child was really to immature to stay home. No age limit in my state to leave child alone. It is determined by maturity. And yes if I turned a blind eye I would feel absolutely horrible. The only children I know that are home alone now are 10-12 year olds. In most cases I think its not that bad if it is for short periods of time but some of these kids are left home for 8-10 hours during the summer while the parents work and come home everyday to an empty house when they get off the bus some till 8 pm. Social Services would not intervene in such cases (not for 10-12 year olds ) because as I said it is not a law in my state so unless something happened they would just not look into it without evidence of danger. But if something tragic did happen the parents would be brought up on neglect charges because it would show the children were not mature enough to be alone. Its all messed up in my state.
2007-09-30 22:03:29 · answer #2 · answered by Ladybugs77 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
It depends. How many children, and how old, and how long? Do you know the children? Are they responsible enough to be left while mum goes to the shop for an hour and right back? Or not? Are they young enough that any time out of sight of an adult is dangerous?
This is a personal call with no simple answer. If you want a simple answer then
If you have to ask the question, it's time to report them. If you were easy in your mind about them, you wouldn't be asking.
2007-09-30 22:11:29 · answer #3 · answered by PuterPrsn 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How old are the kids? How long were they alone? Is it someone you could talk to? I would probably feel guilty if I turned a blind eye and something happened. Are these kids ones you know well enough that you could tell them that you are there for them if they need you? I would probably see if it happens again and then I might consider making a call, if I couldnt talk to the parent.
2007-09-30 22:05:20 · answer #4 · answered by plaplant8 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If I knew that it was young children/child left alone that could not look after themselves should something happen, I would have no hesitation in reporting the people responsible.
2007-10-01 04:21:18 · answer #5 · answered by Ysanne 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have worked abroad in countries such as Portugal, Turkey and Uganda, to name but a few. If I knew that someone was leaving three children under 5 years old alone in the room while they went out on the razz, I would go to the bar, bottle them and kick their sorry butts back to their hotel room. I would have the sympathy of the local police in this. Scum that leave their children unattended so that they can go out and enjoy themselves should be put in prison.
2007-09-30 22:35:55 · answer #6 · answered by mustardcharlie 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It depends on the circumstances, whether or not the child was in danger and whether or not the child was old enough to be ok being left alone for a while.
2007-09-30 22:18:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
if you knew that the children would be in danger, take them NOW and report the evil parents.
but if you know that the children where in the house alone while the parent goes to the store for a second, forget about it.
2007-09-30 22:02:52 · answer #8 · answered by iluvme1012345 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would report them, but if I did nothing and something happened, I would not feel guilty. They aren't my children and I'm not responsible for them.
2007-09-30 22:03:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i would certainly report it for the childrens safety especially if they are young. i would never turn a blind eye.
2007-10-01 00:29:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋