Lost child ---

[TheHaitian]

I remember awhile back there was a link posted about how a brown guy got beat up by the little girl father and others for trying to help her: they thought he was trying to kidnap her.

I posted how I never approach a small little Caucasian kid that is lost, I will get my wife if she is with me or another female associate at work if I am there. I am black, 5'9, +300lbs... I prefer not to risk it!

Here is a link to a blackish episode that actually address that:



And I think it is ingrained in all "black males" in some form: avoid any situation that you may look guilty at first glance... because more often than not we are first seen as a threat!

[saveinla]

I love Blackish

[Tennesseer]

Sad state of affairs, TheHaitian.  A shame society has come to this.  I understand there are monsters out there, of all colors, but it's still sad men, especially black men, are afraid to offer aid out of fear of being accused of something else.

[swamp]

Nov 5, 2017 12:54:48 GMT -5 TheHaitian said:

I remember awhile back there was a link posted about how a brown guy got beat up by the little girl father and others for trying to help her: they thought he was trying to kidnap her.

I posted how I never approach a small little Caucasian kid that is lost, I will get my wife if she is with me or another female associate at work if I am there. I am black, 5'9, +300lbs... I prefer not to risk it!

Here is a link to a blackish episode that actually address that:



And I think it is ingrained in all "black males" in some form: avoid any situation that you may look guilty at first glance... because more often than not we are first seen as a threat!

That's unfortunate that you are immediately deemed a risk.  

[grits]

In this day and age, men in general are deemed a risk.  Men of minority races more so. It's really sad. 

[Phoenix84]

I'm not sure if it's because he was brown, I think his biggest problem was he picked the kid up.

You NEVER pick up a kid that isn't yours.

But I hear you.  I don't engage lost kids at all unless I'm the only one around. 

A few years ago, I was going out to dinner and I saw a little boy who was barefoot and under dressed for the weather.  It was getting cold out and I debated what if anything I should do about it.  I asked if he was ok and he said he was so I left and went to dinner.  I decided if he was still there when I got back I'd call the cops to handle it, but he was gone when I got back.  It did cross my mind that I might be taking a risk by helping him.   

I have a federal security clearance so I can sometimes get a bit paranoid about not even given the impression of breaking the law, because it can affect my job.

[zibazinski]

Its instinct to pick up and comfort a small anything that's upset. I'd pick up because maybe the parent could then see their child or vice versa. But I'm a small woman so maybe that's less terrifying. I know I've helped plenty in Disney world but fortunately there's always a cast member around so I've been responsible for maybe a few minutes. 

[hoops902]

Nov 17, 2017 8:39:46 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

I'm not sure if it's because he was brown, I think his biggest problem was he picked the kid up.

You NEVER pick up a kid that isn't yours.

But I hear you.  I don't engage lost kids at all unless I'm the only one around. 

A few years ago, I was going out to dinner and I saw a little boy who was barefoot and under dressed for the weather.  It was getting cold out and I debated what if anything I should do about it.  I asked if he was ok and he said he was so I left and went to dinner.  I decided if he was still there when I got back I'd call the cops to handle it, but he was gone when I got back.  It did cross my mind that I might be taking a risk by helping him.   

I have a federal security clearance so I can sometimes get a bit paranoid about not even given the impression of breaking the law, because it can affect my job.

I think I'd be less concerned about seeing a random person picking my kid up than I would about a random person walking away with my kid (whether holding them or walking with them). It's hard to misinterpret picking a kid up while yelling "Hey, whose child is this?" than it is to misinterpret a stranger taking your child's hand and quietly walking away with them.

[zibazinski]

Yes but a panic stricken parent doesn’t think straight.

[TheOtherMe]

I happened to drive down the street my great nephew and niece walk from school to their house.  Nephew was on the wrong side of the street and I knew it.  Niece was screaming at him from across the street to get back to her.  At that age he was supposed to be walking her straight home from school.  Instead he had crossed the street and was goofing off with some of his friends.

I considered stopping but was afraid another parent would call the police on me.  When school gets out, there are a lot of cars on that road, most with their kids in the car.

Sad state of affairs.  I would have driven them both home.

[Artemis Windsong]

H. turned corner onto a street where a 2 y.o was standing in the street in a diaper.  He knew the child was out of place but what was the place.  He pulled over and called p.d.   Let them deal with it.  Dad was in the shower upstairs and child unlocked the door and left for the free outside!

[Phoenix84]

Nov 17, 2017 14:08:31 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

H. turned corner onto a street where a 2 y.o was standing in the street in a diaper.  He knew the child was out of place but what was the place.  He pulled over and called p.d.   Let them deal with it.  Dad was in the shower upstairs and child unlocked the door and left for the free outside!

Calling the cops or letting security/someone who works there handle it is usually the best way to handle a situation where a child is lost or in distress.  The only time I think I'd make a direct intervention is if the child was in imminent danger. 

[teen persuasion]

Nov 17, 2017 15:28:21 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Nov 17, 2017 14:08:31 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

H. turned corner onto a street where a 2 y.o was standing in the street in a diaper.  He knew the child was out of place but what was the place.  He pulled over and called p.d.   Let them deal with it.  Dad was in the shower upstairs and child unlocked the door and left for the free outside!

Calling the cops or letting security/someone who works there handle it is usually the best way to handle a situation where a child is lost or in distress.  The only time I think I'd make a direct intervention is if the child was in imminent danger. 

A 2 yo IN the street is in imminent danger, IMHO.  At the very least, I'd coax them onto the sidewalk, but toddlers can be unpredictable.  I can see where picking them up might be the most effective way to get them OUT of the street.

Very tricky situation in these PC times.

[Tennesseer]

Nov 17, 2017 16:21:55 GMT -5 teen persuasion said:

Nov 17, 2017 15:28:21 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

Calling the cops or letting security/someone who works there handle it is usually the best way to handle a situation where a child is lost or in distress.  The only time I think I'd make a direct intervention is if the child was in imminent danger. 

A 2 yo IN the street is in imminent danger, IMHO.  At the very least, I'd coax them onto the sidewalk, but toddlers can be unpredictable.  I can see where picking them up might be the most effective way to get them OUT of the street.

Very tricky situation in these PC times.

There are times when some so young must be held/contained until help arrives.