when you're a stranger
This stupid Lake Oswego girl who faked her own abduction, along with a recent "slew" of real kidnappings have inspired a series of news articles on how to prevent your kids from being taken by strange people. Mainly, the press is correct in asserting that the watchful eye should rest with the parents, not the naive kiddies. There really aren't any "scare tactics" to use on junior to make sure he doesn't get nabbed by a member of the local parish out for a stroll. But there is the ever-classic "don't talk to strangers" shpiel. I wonder, though, would this seriously stop someone bent on kidnapping or molesting your child from getting away with it? I doubt it.

Where then, has this nurtured paranoia gotten us? We're now a generation- nay, a nation of adult children unable to trust each other when we should relax. Hey, we can take care of ourselves now! Right? Well, that's not what mommy taught us. Everyone has bad intentions. It's no reason we get nervous. Granted, when push comes to shove, we break the borderline and invest in each other at the risk of damage. Sometimes we get damaged. Actually, usually we get damaged even if we don't trust each other.

I wonder to what degree this uber-paranoia takes root in other countries. Is it the same in more laid-back nations ? Is it the same in less developed nations? What about more family-oriented societies? I'll assume for the sake of argument that no parent anywhere thinks its okay for their child to wander off with someone they don't know. This makes sense. But gawd, to the extent we take it... it's a wonder we aren't all balled up in our bedrooms afraid to see the light of day.

Something tells me that it has to do with population density. In rural areas or in subsistence lifestyles where there are fewer people per square mile, individuals are forced to depend on each other for what can be given. Here we're piled on top of each other. We're ancy, we're in each other's space. There's also a much higher chance that there are severly disturbed individuals among us. Sigh. Time to cull the herd...

Err... um... what I mean is, Christ, even I feel paranoid these days! I can't imagine anyone else's intentions are good, even though I finally trust my own! I remember once when I was a kid and there were a few abductions by van in the metro area near my home. When a similar van appeared in our neighborhood, all the kids learned so easily to be terrified. We crossed the street away from people we didn't recognize. We avoided strange cars. I still sense that feeling a little too often. Thank you, "common wisdom." Thank you, neighborhood psychos.

You make the world a loving place.