Let's judge this woman

[Traianvs]

So you maintain that no kidnappings happen in a good shopping district?

It can happen anywhere, but if parents cannot manage to leave their kids alone three miles from home then they will need to guard them 24/7. Like most people here I headed out alone (with my neighbour) for an entire day without my parents worrying about me too much. I thought this was normal procedure when growing up?

Mom

[DaShi]

Guilty, I'm a new judge trying to make a reputation for myself.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

So you maintain that no kidnappings happen in a good shopping district?

Well, I maintain (1) damned few abductions of children by strangers happen, period; (2) the number of children abducted by strangers today is no higher than it was 35 years ago, when I was 12 -- but we're more aware of it today, because now we have a nationwide database instead of the gazillion local reports of my youth, as well as a 24/7 news cycle in endless need of content; and (3) child abduction by strangers is overwhelmingly a premeditated crime, not a crime of opportunity. So, yeah, these kids, at that age, only a few miles from home, and dropped off unexpectedly, were in no more danger than most American kids at most times.

It just seems more dangerous than it used to be because now we're a nation of frightened pvssies.

[Theben]

It just seems more dangerous than it used to be because now we're a nation of frightened pvssies.

QFT. When che and I were in grammar school we routinely walked to/from school 1 mile each way (1 1/2 in middle school). Hell, in 5th-6th grade I walked home for lunch and back, either to my house or downtown.

Still now I can't imagine letting my kid do that. Maybe it's the "I was a boy and she's a girl" thing.

[KrazyHorse]

Why are those days over?

Because the crime rate has decreased since then.

[Grandpa Troll]

Im a parent and grandparent

I would wonder how many here who thought it was "cool" would so after raising a child, everyday, and then because of a knee jerk action, discharging the children alone, if something did happen to them would stuill feel it was "cool"?

[embalmer42]

I could be wrong but I seem to recall reading that Leslie Mahaffy's mother locked her out of the house to teach her a lesson because she had missed curfew one too many times. Of course, that was the night that she was nabbed by Paul Bernardo.

Having said that, there is a world of difference between locking your soon-to-be 15 year old daughter out of the house at night and making your kids get out of the car a couple miles from home one afternoon.

[DanS]

Honestly, unless there are shocking new revelations, I think it highly unlikely that she'll be convicted.

But since she's a lawyer in the city, I bet the kids were just acting out due to general neglect by a crackberry addict.

[Straybow]

It's like 3½ miles. Maybe a bit far to make the kids walk, but not criminal.

[SlowwHand]

I could be wrong but I seem to recall reading that Leslie Mahaffy's mother locked her out of the house to teach her a lesson because she had missed curfew one too many times. Of course, that was the night that she was nabbed by Paul Bernardo.

Having said that, there is a world of difference between locking your soon-to-be 15 year old daughter out of the house at night and making your kids get out of the car a couple miles from home one afternoon.

No, there's not. The girl you write of was in her own front yard, right? Either one is wrong. There are other ways.
You don't use your child as bait to make a point.

[Ben Kenobi]

Leave the kids behind?

Just stop and sit and don't go again until they are behaving.

[SlowwHand]

Or stand their ass in a corner from now through eternity if that's what it takes.
Personally, I think a good swat is the answer. I think I spanked Summer once, and slapped her mouth once over sass.
Two real instances in her whole life. Evidently, something was ok.

EDIT: I forgot. There was also "the look" that she talks about.

[Q Classic]

You could just kill those two and have more to replace them, too. And then you tell your new kids that the last ones were such idiots, and that unless they want to end up like them, they'd better behave.

MAKE EXAMPLES OF THEM, PEOPLE!

[monolith94]

Perhaps a better solution would have been to pull the car over, force them out and to sit on the sidewalk to work out their differences, while the parent stays inside & chills out listening to the radio. Only let them back in when they've agreed to be nice to each other.

That said, as a non-parent, I'm going to refrain from either judging too harshly or too leniently. I just don't know.

[Wezil]

I am unable to judge this woman - there is no picture of her.

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