“What Would You Do” if you witnessed a man talking to a child? Everything about this makes my blood boil.

logic11 · 2010-05-22T05:19:10+00:00

Two things annoy me about the segment: 1) No female "predators", and 2) The lead in, in which the host implies there are predators around every corner.

As for the reactions of bystanders, I agree 100%. In this situation, with a stranger approaching a child and asking her for help or trying to lead her away (while the guardian is away), I would also keep a very close eye on him OR HER.

They really should of tested the effects of women too. I would wager that nobody would even notice her lead the child away. It is assumed that women are the honest caretakers, while any man in a park is there for devious deeds.

Just last week I took my lunch break in a park. I ate on a bench near a playground and the woman playing with her kid was visibly distraught. She placed herself in an area with a better view and would call her back if she came close to me.

WabashSon · 2010-05-22T07:14:40+00:00

Ehh. I'm kinda torn on this one. It's a shame that everyone has to be so un-trusting. I would have found it a little more palatable if they would have changed it up and tried a boy kid, or a woman stranger in some of the scenarios. hmmmm.

RobeAndWizardHood · 2010-05-22T03:41:45+00:00

You can’t talk to kids without people assuming you’re a predator.
You can’t talk to kids you already know from the neighborhood without people assuming you’re a predator.
Don’t expect help from mainstream society if you lose your dog.
Why didn’t ABC hire female actresses to portray the adults talking to children? Oh, that’s right—only men can be predators, and females are angels who rescue children from scary men. Thanks, ABC!

hmasing · 2010-05-22T13:15:38+00:00

The part that scared me the most was that "People parents with other children can be trusted". Aka if you are a woman and you take kids to a park you can abduct children all day long.

To be honest though, abductions by strangers are so rare that it's almost not worth talking about.

2010-05-22T19:30:21+00:00

I'd have an issue if the "predator" was confronted over appropriate conversation. But it's obviously inappropriate to isolate an unknown child while searching for your dog.

2010-05-22T22:20:31+00:00

Wow. Steve Buscemi must be desperate for parts...

... body parts. Amirite?

Sandaasu · 2010-05-23T08:00:34+00:00

My blood just about boiled when the last fellow said that adults without kids of their own shouldn't be in parks. What the heck is that all about? I end up stopping to rest at them when I'm jogging or walking around, or sometimes just to be outside and around other people.

Why can't people get it into their damned heads that the biggest risks to kids are from people they know and trust, not people they don't?

NJBarFly · 2010-05-22T14:24:01+00:00

The other day I was driving through my friends apartment complex and I saw a little girl, maybe 6 years old chasing after a puppy. It looked like the dog may have gotten away from her and she looked distressed. My first instinct was to stop and try to help her, but then then image of a 34 year old man in a car asking a little girl if she needed help finding her dog popped into my head. I assumed that people would think I'm a predator and I kept driving without stopping. It retrospect, maybe I should have helped her and screw what anyone else thinks.

kloo2yoo · 2010-05-22T18:23:58+00:00

1) stranger-danger should be offensive to NO ONE.

2) teaching your children to "look for parents with kids" is no guarantee. several abductions have begun when children have been brainwashed into befriending and grooming victiims.

much better: teach them to yell, "NO! GET AWAY!"

3) abductors are not always male. As we've seen in trafficking cases, female aggressors are more effective because they're assumed trustworthy.

2010-05-22T10:59:06+00:00

I don't see a problem with this video besides the fact there was no female predator. You can guarantee if a female people wouldn't have reacted. Note that the 'predator' in this video was acting suspicious. If one of us, hopefully none of you are predators, walked up to a little girl from your neighborhood and asked her were her mom was and how she was doing and that you'd stick around until her mom got back, I don't think people would think negatively towards you. It's when you say "oh I got candy back in my van" or "Help me find my dog?" that sets off the red alerts, not necessarily being male. However, if a woman asked "Help me find my dog?" i'm sure people would assume that it was a relative or something trying to get a child to do what it wants.

windynights · 2010-05-22T22:42:46+00:00

Women are just as likely to be predators as men. The child abuse industry loves to stir the pot. Fuck every one of these miserable, creepy little bastards...

2010-05-23T07:12:19+00:00

Would any of you honestly look the other way if you were the parent who was in the situation?

brainburger · 2010-05-22T15:38:14+00:00

The actors appearance seems to have been chosen to make him look dodgy too. (of course, there is no reason why hairy guys in hippy clothes can't be safe adults)

“What Would You Do” if you witnessed a man talking to a child? Everything about this makes my blood boil.

Comments

2 on your list really stuck out to me, there. Adults with children of their own shouldn't be considered any safer than those without. Children should be taught that ANYONE they don't know, other than a police officer, shouldn't be followed anywhere.

Title	“What Would You Do” if you witnessed a man talking to a child? Everything about this makes my blood boil.
Author	RobeAndWizardHood
Upvotes	42
Comments	34
Date	May 22, 2010 3:39 AM UTC (16 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/c6wqt/what_would_you_do_if_you_witnessed_a_man_talking/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/what-would-you-do-if-you-witnessed-a-man-talking.1049421 https://theredarchive.com/post/1049421