+11
Bluesmama
Alan Smithee
Rainmaker
Shale
Hyacinth Girl
wants2laugh
Marc™
Supernova
Nystyle709
Cheaps
Chris
15 posters
Should kids under the age of ten be allowed to walk home alone?
Chris- Chamber Admin.
Join date : 2010-01-30
Location : Oak Park, Michigan
Posts : 23201
Rep : 330
In light of the horrific murder of the little boy who was murdered walking home the other week, what do you think about children under ten years old walking to and from places (school, the store, etc., etc.) by themselves?
Cheaps- ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.
Join date : 2010-11-17
Posts : 25876
Rep : 252
I walked home alone at age of 8/9.
Nystyle709- ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.
Join date : 2010-03-16
Location : New York
Posts : 27030
Rep : 339
In this day and age....it wouldn't be a good idea.
Supernova- The Book Chamber
Join date : 2010-06-22
Posts : 11954
Rep : 182
Nystyle709 wrote:In this day and age....it wouldn't be a good idea.
When was it?
Supernova- The Book Chamber
Join date : 2010-06-22
Posts : 11954
Rep : 182
We live in a small town that has a relatively low crime rate, so there are young kids coming and going by themselves all the time. Miraculously nothing's happened to any of them. My best friend and I were the same age when she lived on the block and she got to walk down to the store by herself all the time but I could only go with my older brother and I always thought that was unfair but in retrospect I think she was a bit more savvy than I was about walking alone.
Marc™- …is a Chamber DEITY.
Join date : 2010-01-30
Location : Michigan
Posts : 12006
Rep : 212
If it's within a few (and by that I mean 3) blocks, then perhaps....but I'd be against a kid under the age of 10 regularly walking a mile's distance by themselves.
wants2laugh- …is a Power Member.
Join date : 2011-07-10
Location : South Jersey---yes we are a different state
Posts : 3913
Rep : 87
heeelllllll NO!
I lived on a dead end street where everyone grew up and bought houses on the street. i mean this literally, not only did my 2 sisters buy houses next to my mom, but about 5 other families who went to school with my sisters also bought houses near their moms. So when i tell you we knew EVERYONE on the street, i mean it.
The thing was, that when unfamiliar cars drove down the street, my neighbors wrote the license plates down--- no kidding. We felt safe and I rode my bike around with groups of other kids, but someone was always watching us. The mothers would sit in the yards and playgrounds and watch---pretending to talk to eachother but watching. If i yelled, a dozen men would come running out of the house to see what happened. The neighborhood is still like that today. AND my sister still watched me walk to the bus stop everyday, and stood in the street til i got on my bus-- i was 12. she told me that she wanted to make sure i wasnt smoking, but she was just scared.
But normal neighborhoods? No Way - normally people dont intervene. Even if a kid starts screaming, people would think it was the parent, they would never think "abduction". They would think, "damn that kid is a brat". And those who do think kidnapping, probably woulnt try to stop it... call 911 yes, but interfere? no. That is why these kids get taken, raped, and killed. The parents and community let them down... but we dont want to think that way---we want to blame the criminal. Not that he isnt to blame, but not completely to blame, because he could have been stopped by precautions.
I lived on a dead end street where everyone grew up and bought houses on the street. i mean this literally, not only did my 2 sisters buy houses next to my mom, but about 5 other families who went to school with my sisters also bought houses near their moms. So when i tell you we knew EVERYONE on the street, i mean it.
The thing was, that when unfamiliar cars drove down the street, my neighbors wrote the license plates down--- no kidding. We felt safe and I rode my bike around with groups of other kids, but someone was always watching us. The mothers would sit in the yards and playgrounds and watch---pretending to talk to eachother but watching. If i yelled, a dozen men would come running out of the house to see what happened. The neighborhood is still like that today. AND my sister still watched me walk to the bus stop everyday, and stood in the street til i got on my bus-- i was 12. she told me that she wanted to make sure i wasnt smoking, but she was just scared.
But normal neighborhoods? No Way - normally people dont intervene. Even if a kid starts screaming, people would think it was the parent, they would never think "abduction". They would think, "damn that kid is a brat". And those who do think kidnapping, probably woulnt try to stop it... call 911 yes, but interfere? no. That is why these kids get taken, raped, and killed. The parents and community let them down... but we dont want to think that way---we want to blame the criminal. Not that he isnt to blame, but not completely to blame, because he could have been stopped by precautions.
Supernova- The Book Chamber
Join date : 2010-06-22
Posts : 11954
Rep : 182
wants2laugh wrote:heeelllllll NO!
I lived on a dead end street where everyone grew up and bought houses on the street. i mean this literally, not only did my 2 sisters buy houses next to my mom, but about 5 other families who went to school with my sisters also bought houses near their moms. So when i tell you we knew EVERYONE on the street, i mean it.
The thing was, that when unfamiliar cars drove down the street, my neighbors wrote the license plates down--- no kidding. We felt safe and I rode my bike around with groups of other kids, but someone was always watching us. The mothers would sit in the yards and playgrounds and watch---pretending to talk to eachother but watching. If i yelled, a dozen men would come running out of the house to see what happened. The neighborhood is still like that today. AND my sister still watched me walk to the bus stop everyday, and stood in the street til i got on my bus-- i was 12. she told me that she wanted to make sure i wasnt smoking, but she was just scared.
But normal neighborhoods? No Way - normally people dont intervene. Even if a kid starts screaming, people would think it was the parent, they would never think "abduction". They would think, "damn that kid is a brat". And those who do think kidnapping, probably woulnt try to stop it... call 911 yes, but interfere? no. That is why these kids get taken, raped, and killed. The parents and community let them down... but we dont want to think that way---we want to blame the criminal. Not that he isnt to blame, but not completely to blame, because he could have been stopped by precautions.
It's too bad more neighborhoods aren't like yours, W2L. I have the exact opposite train of thought when I have a family, I'm planning to move out to where there aren't any neighbors around, that way if anybody does come around they're going to have one hell of a time explaining themselves. Because only about half of our block is made up of people who you can rely on for help, the other half is the people you'd need to get help because of.
Hyacinth Girl- …is a Power Member.
Join date : 2011-05-19
Posts : 1736
Rep : 70
I think it would depend on a few factors--
1. The location--how safe is it overall?
2. Distance--how far does the kid have to walk?
3. The child him/herself--how mature and observant are they? Is the kid aware of his surroundings, or oblivious to someone sneaking up on him because he's got the Ipod earphones plugged in, and at the same time, looking down texting while walking.
1. The location--how safe is it overall?
2. Distance--how far does the kid have to walk?
3. The child him/herself--how mature and observant are they? Is the kid aware of his surroundings, or oblivious to someone sneaking up on him because he's got the Ipod earphones plugged in, and at the same time, looking down texting while walking.
Shale- ...is a Chamber Royal.
Join date : 2010-09-27
Location : Miami Beach
Posts : 9699
Rep : 219
Supernova wrote:Nystyle709 wrote:In this day and age....it wouldn't be a good idea.
When was it?
I agree it would be more dangerous today. The ppl in most neighborhoods are less involved than they were in the past and would likely not intervene if a strange kid was in trouble.
As for when, try 1954. I lived in the inner city when I was 9 and I would walk from our apartment in North St. Louis to hang out downtown (Big library, the Soldiers Memorial Museum and waterfront). I once almost walked to Illinois but didn't have the nickel toll to cross the Eads Bridge. (The toll taker asked me if I lived in Illinois - he woulda let me cross to go back home) I never had any problems in my walks, which went all over the city in other directions as well.
So, it may be the times we live in that make this a concern.
Supernova- The Book Chamber
Join date : 2010-06-22
Posts : 11954
Rep : 182
I think it's always been dangerous to a degree but back then there was less news coverage about it and today everybody's too scared to find out how much of the danger is valid and what's just paranoia.
Rainmaker- …is an Up 'N Comer.
Join date : 2010-11-30
Posts : 275
Rep : 0
I used to always walk alone even as young as 6. The walk to my bus stops were pretty far too. I'm not that old and there was always a danger even then but times are much different today. Not only is it more dangerous out there because of adult predators but even older groups of kids are very dangerous, especially to younger and smaller kids. Kids themselves are much more violent today.
Supernova- The Book Chamber
Join date : 2010-06-22
Posts : 11954
Rep : 182
Well there have always been adult predators, just didn't hear about them as much. And as for the kids, again there have always been pos older kids but the thing is they didn't used to be the rule, they were the exception because most kids were trained to behave. So from that point of view it would seem one area of blame for this new society of minor league terrorists is their own parents.
Nystyle709- ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.
Join date : 2010-03-16
Location : New York
Posts : 27030
Rep : 339
Supernova wrote:Nystyle709 wrote:In this day and age....it wouldn't be a good idea.
When was it?
When crime was down and people weren't as crazy as they are now. I was walking home at 8 and 9 yrs old. I was a latchkey kid when I was 10.
Alan Smithee- ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.
Join date : 2010-09-03
Location : 40º44’18.33”N 73º58’31.82”W
Posts : 25792
Rep : 381
Supernova wrote:Nystyle709 wrote:In this day and age....it wouldn't be a good idea.
When was it?
1965-66. Earlier too.
Supernova- The Book Chamber
Join date : 2010-06-22
Posts : 11954
Rep : 182
Nystyle709 wrote:Supernova wrote:
When was it?
When crime was down and people weren't as crazy as they are now. I was walking home at 8 and 9 yrs old. I was a latchkey kid when I was 10.
People have always been crazy, there just wasn't as much news coverage about it.
Bluesmama- …is a Power Member.
Join date : 2011-07-09
Location : Portland “Burbs”
Posts : 3353
Rep : 43
Ten is at that age when they're really not babies anymore. I'd feel better if the child was with another one. But where do you draw the line? 13 is too old to decide, "Well, is it time to let Robbie walk by himself now?"
I think much has to do with where you live; however, "things" happen in surprising places.
I think much has to do with where you live; however, "things" happen in surprising places.
CeCe- …is a Chamber DEITY.
- Join date : 2010-06-30
Posts : 11962
Rep : 326
I did in the first grade but a lot has changed since then.
AtownPeep- …is a Power Member.
Join date : 2010-01-31
Location : Atlanta, GA
Posts : 1867
Rep : 39
I probably wouldn't ever feel comfortable with my child walking long distances by themselves, and under 10 years old you can forget it. If it's not around the block, then it's not anywhere he or she needs to be walking to. The parents should be escorting them to and from school, or some place vital.
Nystyle709- ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.
Join date : 2010-03-16
Location : New York
Posts : 27030
Rep : 339
Supernova wrote:Nystyle709 wrote:
When crime was down and people weren't as crazy as they are now. I was walking home at 8 and 9 yrs old. I was a latchkey kid when I was 10.
People have always been crazy, there just wasn't as much news coverage about it.
Chris- Chamber Admin.
Join date : 2010-01-30
Location : Oak Park, Michigan
Posts : 23201
Rep : 330
If my child were under the age of ten, I wouldn't let them leave off the street by themselves.
wants2laugh- …is a Power Member.
Join date : 2011-07-10
Location : South Jersey---yes we are a different state
Posts : 3913
Rep : 87
i was 5 when Adam Walsh was abducted from the middle of a sears store and his head was found floating down a river. It was terrifying because he was playing a sample video game console in the store--- all kids would go and play while their parents were shopping. That was around 79-- that should have been a wake up call to all parents everywhere. They never found his murderer either--- they think it was the partner of henry lee lucas, one of the most notorious serial killers in US history, but there is no proof.
TSJFan4Ever- …is a Chamber Royal.
Join date : 2010-03-28
Posts : 5362
Rep : 78
Probably not, unless the place they were going was within my sight, like going to the neighbour's house or across the street.
Supernova- The Book Chamber
Join date : 2010-06-22
Posts : 11954
Rep : 182
wants2laugh wrote:i was 5 when Adam Walsh was abducted from the middle of a sears store and his head was found floating down a river. It was terrifying because he was playing a sample video game console in the store--- all kids would go and play while their parents were shopping. That was around 79-- that should have been a wake up call to all parents everywhere. They never found his murderer either--- they think it was the partner of henry lee lucas, one of the most notorious serial killers in US history, but there is no proof.
This is something I wanted to point out, several people here have said it was safer to do so when they were kids, well WHAT is the cutoff point? This was over 30 years ago that this happened to this 6 year old boy, and a lot of people have said even for 30 years ago his mother had NO business leaving him alone, that what kind of a mother was she? how careless could she be? But that was NOT the norm of thinking back then when it happened. So what was it, was it 1979 when this happened to Adam Walsh was killed that it was suddenly more dangerous for kids? I mean to say it was safe at one point and dangerous at another, there would have to be a time between point A and point B when that change occurred.
And actually it's more surprising that there weren't more things happening in previous times, like it's a wonder more kids weren't killing each other back in the 1800s because the country wasn't as crowded, there weren't as many neighbors, there were no age laws about guns, 9 year olds could take rifles hunting, but somehow back then they managed to grow up usually without having killed anybody. And today it's the exact opposite even though today we have the oh so important age laws that tell kids they can't be trusted with guns, but the laws don't work because people don't follow them anyway. NOW when guns are illegal for kids to have, they have them tenfold, now that guns are a taboo thing with the 'BAD! Don't touch!" mentality attached to them, everybody can't wait to get their hands on them. Kids are not being brought up to be responsible with them; in the times when kids were out hunting, they KNEW what to do with guns, they knew how to use them, they knew how to be careful with them, etc., you very rarely see that today because everybody's too scared of guns + kids but I really don't know that it's doing anybody any good because it's proof shining through that ignorance is not bliss.
RedBedroom- …is a Chamber DEITY.
Join date : 2010-02-18
Posts : 10696
Rep : 312
Hyacinth Girl wrote:I think it would depend on a few factors--
1. The location--how safe is it overall?
2. Distance--how far does the kid have to walk?
3. The child him/herself--how mature and observant are they? Is the kid aware of his surroundings, or oblivious to someone sneaking up on him because he's got the Ipod earphones plugged in, and at the same time, looking down texting while walking.
Exactly. This isn't an issue where one age fits all.
» Should home schooled kids be allowed to compete in high school events?
» How Far From Your Home Could You Walk Naked Before Getting Arrested?
» What age should kids be allowed to use the internet?
» The no-kids-allowed movement is spreading
» Should underaged kids be allowed to get married with parental consent?
» How Far From Your Home Could You Walk Naked Before Getting Arrested?
» What age should kids be allowed to use the internet?
» The no-kids-allowed movement is spreading
» Should underaged kids be allowed to get married with parental consent?
Sun Mar 17, 2013 3:17 am by Chris
» NEW ADDRESS: http://conversationchamber.ipbhost.com/
Sun Mar 17, 2013 3:16 am by Chris
» New project
Sun Mar 17, 2013 2:17 am by wants2laugh
» st pattys day
Sun Mar 17, 2013 12:21 am by Bluesmama
» White smoke signals cardinals have selected a new pope
Sat Mar 16, 2013 8:11 pm by wants2laugh
» Red?
Sat Mar 16, 2013 8:05 pm by Alan Smithee
» Do You Look Like a Celebrity?
Sat Mar 16, 2013 7:57 pm by wants2laugh
» Canned Foods
Sat Mar 16, 2013 2:57 pm by CeCe
» English Muffins or Toast?
Sat Mar 16, 2013 12:45 pm by Nystyle709