We are terrorizing ourselves

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:48 pm

I walked through the door of the mall and there was a little girl about two years old. She looked at me and her eyes lit up. She began to smile and you could see she really liked me. I smiled back and said Ã¢â‚¬Å“hi thereÃ¢â‚¬. Her mother was terrified. She looked at me like I was going to take her child. She grabbed the little girl and while watching me to be sure I didnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t make any moves toward them, she whisked her away.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“How sadÃ¢â‚¬, I thought. That little girl is being taught that she has to live in fear. Why? Because in a country of 300 million people some children have been mistreated, abused ore molested. It is a terrible thing that shouldn't happen to any child but the number of occurances aren't so high that everyone should start fearing anyone they don't know.

If you consider the occurrences per capita, the chance of being struck by lightning would probably be much greater than for a child to be harmed by some other childÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s grandfather in public.

We donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t need outsiders to terrorize us. With the help of the news media we are doing a great job on our own.

minks · Post by **minks** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:04 pm

Clint wrote: I walked through the door of the mall and there was a little girl about two years old. She looked at me and her eyes lit up. She began to smile and you could see she really liked me. I smiled back and said Ã¢â‚¬Å“hi thereÃ¢â‚¬. Her mother was terrified. She looked at me like I was going to take her child. She grabbed the little girl and while watching me to be sure I didnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t make any moves toward them, she whisked her away.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“How sadÃ¢â‚¬, I thought. That little girl is being taught that she has to live in fear. Why? Because in a country of 300 million people some children have been mistreated, abused ore molested. It is a terrible thing that shouldn't happen to any child but the number of occurances aren't so high that everyone should start fearing anyone they don't know.

If you consider the occurrences per capita, the chance of being struck by lightning would probably be much greater than for a child to be harmed by some other childÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s grandfather in public.

We donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t need outsiders to terrorize us. With the help of the news media we are doing a great job on our own.

Oh geeze that is heart breaking. Pity how that child is going to be affected by her mothers close minded attitude.

nvalleyvee · Post by **nvalleyvee** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:01 pm

Far Rider wrote: My middle child, my daughter is a social butterfly... when we moved into the house we are in now she walked door to door on both sides of the street, knocked, reached her hand out to shake and said the same thing to each familiy... Hi, my name is ****** im 12, You got any kids I could play with?

Theres added risk to her social behavior and in some places I have to for her own safety stifle her, but I would rather her take a chance and be social than take that away from her all the time.

The hard part is to know how to balance that.

Ohh - how sweet. What are you going to do when she is 16 and the boys start sniffing around??

tommys411 · Post by **tommys411** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 2:04 am

:guitarist :driving: Hey just stay away from the dam kids don't be another MICHAIL JACKSON JUST LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE !!!!!!!!!1 www.cdbaby.com/cd/take. there is no fear with us we love just the way you are so dont feel sad.

:guitarist :-6 :

lou-lou · Post by **lou-lou** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:06 am

It is turning into a very sad world when my kids were younger they used to say hello to every one who spoke to them but they always looked at me for support to see if it was ok.

When anyone say's hi to young children they are looked at as if they came from outer space but we as humans are social beings and should not look at everyone we don't know as if they are pervs or mass murderers!!!!

God help the future generations as it stands now a lot of nations are turning their people into zenaphobes(gosh thats a long word for me:o ) I have friends that are muslims and are afraid to go into the city (we live 20 mins from london) but they are law abiding and belive in peace.

What have we turned this world into:-5

Wolverine · Post by **Wolverine** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 5:57 am

lou-lou wrote: It is turning into a very sad world when my kids were younger they used to say hello to every one who spoke to them but they always looked at me for support to see if it was ok.

When anyone say's hi to young children they are looked at as if they came from outer space but we as humans are social beings and should not look at everyone we don't know as if they are pervs or mass murderers!!!!

God help the future generations as it stands now a lot of nations are turning their people into zenaphobes(gosh thats a long word for me:o ) I have friends that are muslims and are afraid to go into the city (we live 20 mins from london) but they are law abiding and belive in peace.

What have we turned this world into:-5
Amen.

Wolverine · Post by **Wolverine** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 5:58 am

Far Rider wrote: kill them, and bury their heads far from thier bodies like the snakes they are..
yikes! You came up with that awful fast. no hesitation or anything.

i'll be sure to keep my nephew away.

actionfigurestepho · Post by **actionfigurestepho** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 6:19 am

I remember back when I worked at the mall and I found a lost little girl. She wanted me to take her by the hand and help her find her mom and I was afraid to! I was certain that as soon as I took her hand the mom would come around the corner, frantically looking for her child, and accuse me of trying to lead her somewhere. And I'm a woman! I wouldn't even think about if it I were a man.

vitaeb · Post by **vitaeb** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 10:53 am

I use to be a street mime/clown. Wore a silly kind of costume with a white face and shaggy orange hair with a funny cap.

I could walk up to anyone on the street and do things with them they would otherwise call the cops to come drag me away. I didn't talk, only pantomimed and had fun.

I could be silly and make people laugh.

Maybe we all ought to go around looking like mime/clowns.

I say to the everyone: Be not affraid. Even if someone blows himself up and you with him, you still are an immortal being. Life never ends.

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 12:10 pm

Does anyone know what the statistics are? What is the actual likelihood that a child will be abducted or molested? Of all the children in the western world, what percent actually experience harm?

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 12:15 pm

But here are some percentages from the Department of Justice of profiles:

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:t9 ... pdf+&hl=en

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 1:24 pm

chonsigirl wrote: But here are some percentages from the Department of Justice of profiles:

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:t9 ... pdf+&hl=en
Thanks but I couldn't get what I wa looking for from there. I don't think I'll be able to find what I'm looking for. It seems all the data I've seen has been generated by someone who needs the numbers to reflect a huge problem so they can get more funding.

That's what I'm concerned about. We are now a culture that profits from fear. The Police Departments need high crime stats to get more funding. The Fire Departments need the statistics to justify their existance. Child protection agencies sure arent going to round the numbers down...they need their money too. The news media needs senational stories to sell advertising. It goes on and on. We don't know what the real danger is but I'm thinking we aren't in as dangerous a world compared to years past as many would have us believe.

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 1:48 pm

Far Rider wrote: Maybe of you shaved and took that pointed hat off?

Sorry I could not resist...
IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve been thinking about using a real picture of me but then you would really know why people flea in fear when they see me. :wah:

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 5:35 pm

Clint! you have fleas??? that's why then! :wah: (just teasing you)

cars · Post by **cars** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 11:13 pm

Clint wrote: I walked through the door of the mall and there was a little girl about two years old. She looked at me and her eyes lit up. She began to smile and you could see she really liked me. I smiled back and said Ã¢â‚¬Å“hi thereÃ¢â‚¬. Her mother was terrified. She looked at me like I was going to take her child. She grabbed the little girl and while watching me to be sure I didnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t make any moves toward them, she whisked her away.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“How sadÃ¢â‚¬, I thought. That little girl is being taught that she has to live in fear. Why? Because in a country of 300 million people some children have been mistreated, abused ore molested. It is a terrible thing that shouldn't happen to any child but the number of occurances aren't so high that everyone should start fearing anyone they don't know.

If you consider the occurrences per capita, the chance of being struck by lightning would probably be much greater than for a child to be harmed by some other childÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s grandfather in public.

We donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t need outsiders to terrorize us. With the help of the news media we are doing a great job on our own.

Clint I know how you feel. I used to like to say hi to little kids in their Mother's shopping carts, or running around the store & or Mall. Unfortunately, the ways of the World have made me uncomfortable doing that any longer. For fear of causing fear on their Mother's part, so I don't do it as often as I used to. Sometimes, when there's eye contact with the kid's Mother & or Father and they smile first, I then feel it's OK to say hi to their kid & usually get a really big smile & sometimes a hi reply. I think there is no greater sound than a child's giggling laughter!!!

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 12:07 am

lady cop wrote: Clint! you have fleas??? that's why then! :wah: (just teasing you)

Only if they are trainable. The others bite.:yh_bigsmi

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 12:14 am

cars wrote: Clint I know how you feel. I used to like to say hi to little kids in their Mother's shopping carts, or running around the store & or Mall. Unfortunately, the ways of the World have made me uncomfortable doing that any longer. For fear of causing fear on their Mother's part, so I don't do it as often as I used to. Sometimes, when there's eye contact with the kid's Mother & or Father and they smile first, I then feel it's OK to say hi to their kid & usually get a really big smile & sometimes a hi reply. I think there is no greater sound than a child's giggling laughter!!!
It's really sad cars. We are losing the glue that holds us together. We have got to stop the fear business. There has to be a way to turn it around. It will be difficult though because so many have their hand in the cookie jar. The more people fear the more they profit.