Banned for being single

Nope, Elf and safety gone mad- and mass hysteria about peadophiles and over cautioness, over protecting kids in a way that becomes dangerous in itself and counter-productive. Here, the words of one of them

:'How stupid, its a slippery slope to hell and I say that as a parent of two toddlers myself. What next, banning single people from beaches, public pools, supermarkets, Ikea on a Saturday afternoon etc..?

We need to get back to seeing the good in people and not being scared little sheep driven by media hysteria., - his words, not mine.

Here kids walk to school on their own and it is encouraged- more kids are likely to be hurt by parents driving and parking stupidly by the school - than attacked by paedophiles. Risk assessment and calculation totally losing common sense.

I do sympathise with single men (of whatever age) who are immediately suspect by their very singleness (the idea that something must be wrong with them) whereas as a woman I may be stared at for walking by myself (when between dogs) I doubt that I pose a threat (although now I am not so sure )
it is a form of prejudice that singletons are treated with suspicion because they are single (as well as being excluded from 'family things/discounts and the rest}
I do remember speaking to a little girl in a supermarket a while ago who nearly collided with my trolley and I jokingly commented to her mother that 'it was all right as I could not help but see her in her lovely red coat'
I was glared at and muttered about - what a sad state of affairs that natural friendliness can be so misconstrued
so maybe that was an isolated incident and the woman was paranoid but I would not vouchsafe to talk to any small children or comment on them in future.

Are you living in the UK granjura?
And is the crime rate good where you are?

I suppose though, that in a leisure park of this kind, it may be of comfort to parents to know that single men are not wandering around.We once lost our 4 year old daughter at Chessington [found her 10 mins later] but what a 10 minutes that was!
Of course people on their own are not going to be banned from the beach/cinema/shopping malls, why would they be? They are places that are as much for adults as children.
I don't feel too strongly either way in this debate, but feel most single people would understand that a Leisure Park may take this stand.

more kids are likely to be hurt by parents driving and parking stupidly by the school - than attacked by paedophiles

yes, but it is not an either or situation.
I want kids safe from both.

No Soontobe, I lived in the UK all my adult life and brought up my children there born in early 70s, in the Midlands. Daughters and grandchildren still in the UK, Surrey and Midlands. We now live in Switzerland- where there are many many younger expats- crime rate varies with location, just as in the UK. But children are generally still allowed to be children- and elf and safety has not yet gone mad.

As said, kids are much more likely to be injured by parents terrible driving around school pick-ups- thand by kids being attacked by peadophiles on the way home- and also by the lack of balance and fitness, lack of risk awareness and common sense more freedom brings with it. Hope it makes sense.

I've been to Puxton Park with the DGC; I wouldn't think it would be the kind of place where a single person would go although it is great for children, both fun and educational. The cafe is next to the play area and can get very noisy and the other restaurant will be full of noisy children as well. If I was going somewhere on my own it is not somewhere I would choose, even to watch a falconry display. I would have thought there would be falconry displays in other places nearby.

However, the rule does seem to be a bit OTT - surely children will be under the supervision of their parents or other responsible adult?
Unless, of course, they have had suspicions about some of the visitors there.

Children can never be totally safe- if you wrap them in cottonwool and keep them indoors- they will be unsafe in other ways, as they won't be able to develop - so we need to constantly re-assess but watch out against totally non-sensical and damaging hsyteria. Soon there won't be any school trips, any scout camps- nothing- because organisers will be terrified of the responsibilities. I know, I used to organise so many of those when i taught in the UK, my younger colleagues just refuse- I can't blame them. Teachers are no longer allowed to comfort, or to treat a child for a grazed knee without wearing gloves- its so sad- and NOT good for our grandkids.

I think it's awful. I would prefer them to say that children can't use the park unaccompanied, and parents must keep their children within sight at all times. Both DBH & DS love birds of prey, are highly likely to want to see them if they are out and about and would be mortified!

I saw a very small child in town recently, red in the face and screaming 'I want my Mummy!' being carried away by a man. People were staring and in fact I was just about to give chase and challenge him when a woman rushed up and called after them 'I've just got to do a bit more shopping, darling'. Turned out it was the mother, but you never know.

I think I agree with the extra health and safety rules. Perhaps not all of them, but I feel somewhat bruised by all the goings on that have happened in this country and are happening.
Perhaps I am slightly biased because I have done some work in the foster care area of life.
And all the cases that have come to light in the media recently.
And all the cases of women having been raped and abused.
I feel a bit jaded.
And like I have just woken up somewhat.

IMO, things are way out of proportion these days, I'm sure that things are no worse than they have ever been, The news services etc. just publicise instances so much more. Years ago unless the incident was very serious or local, you would not have heard about it. As a lad I can remember 3 instances where I was approached, I ran and never thought to say anything about it. We do tar any man that does not fit the norm as being weird and probably dangerous. Personally I am afraid to say hello to a child in case it is seen as having evil intent.

How sad pompa- glad you agree it's gone way too far.

Do young ex-pats seriously think that paedophiles do not live any where else only Uk if they do then they are very deluded a massive ring was found on the Continent not too many years ago,it is not just a British problem.

Quite so, glamma. Several countries on the continent have looked to the UK for advice and training in order to strengthen their child protection procedures.

No, I think.... what they are saying that the UK, following the US- have become disproportionately fearful to the point of hysteria- about peadophiles, as this thread illustrates so well.

Children are much much more likely to be hurt or sexually damaged by their parents, step parents or some other relative or friend/neighbour. So yes, you have to be vigilant, and aware- but not let it ruin your life, and more importantly, your child, and affect everything they do. The dangers of staying at home and constantly watching tv and playing with their consoles, computers games and other- is much more likely to affect them in a massive way. This thread illustrates so well how it has just gone too far.

When people are too scared too approach a lost child, or one who has fallen over, or is screaming in the supermarket- when teachers can't comfort any more, or treat a graze wihtout wearing gloves first and call an ambulance- it makes no sense at all to me.

I still think it's a strange reason to emigrate, as your first post indicated, granjura!

When I first read the OP I thought this had happened in Saudi Arabia. My DH though now
retired encountered situations like this when he was out and about after his working day. He accepted obviously the situation. Well, what else could he do?

Tell that to the 1000s who are saying just that on expat Forums all over Europe - who do say that Elf and safety gone mad, and near on hysterical responses to the very rare case of 'stranger' peadophlia- and too many rules and regulations about everything- have encouraged them to leave. Not of course just about peadophilia, but in general.

As said, kids are still much more at risk from parents (and grandparents) scramble to pick up kids from school (parking on double yellows, on pedestrian crossings even, reversing, pulling off at speed, etc, etc).

I still dont see a reason to not deal with what may be the 10th biggest reason of danger to kids. Or the 100th.

Of course, but proportionally, not hysterically. Are you saying you think it is sensible to ban singles from amusement parks?

Just been watching the BBC news- and we are now talking about young kids having stomach reducing surgery, and are suffering in greater and greater numbers of morbid obesity, diabetes, joint and heart problems- but when schools are trying to take measures to stop this massive problem- many see them as just interferring with parental duties. It makes no sense- let's assess the proportionality of danger, and address them sensibly.

But I think that the danger is more than the general public think, not less.

Singles from amusement parks.
Yes, I think ban them. There cant be many more than a handful a day there.
So for the greater good, yes.

If dealing with the problem assumes that all singles (especially men) are potential paedophiles, then that is a step too far. What happened to innocent until proven guilty. By all means take precautions and supervise your children, but don't accuse the majority of harmless singles.

Do we assume all drivers are potential drunk drivers, just because they could have a drink if they wished.

They are innocent until proven guilty.
I always think that about anything.
Cant stand the expression "there is no smoke without fire", as there definitely is sometimes.

But yes, it is best to assume that all drivers are potential drunk drivers.
I always tell my kids to assume that all drivers are idiots. That way, they always drive expecting the unexpected.

Well, yes, all drivers are potential drunk drivers because they will all have the ability to drink too much alcohol, whether they actually drink or not.

Not all men and women are potential paedophiles, though, because the majority of them have never had such inclinations.