TedMac
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I'm sure most of you have seen this video trending on SM, but I thought I'd put it here for those who haven't. It was a social experiment about just how easy it is to get a child to go with a stranger - right in front of a parent. While I do know that there are critics stating this is fear mongering amongst parents, I think the experiment itself proves that it's much easier than some parents want to believe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGIDHrYKJ2s
The parents reactions are a true testament that no matter WHAT we tell our children, if someone doesn't LOOK the part of a "stranger" or "bad guy", the reality is, children aren't innate to fear amongst other humans (particularly adults). If they've grown up in an environment where adults are trust worthy, helpful, and loving people - naturally they don't have warning bells or a gut instinct that produces fear.
There are children who have, in one way or another, been wronged by an adult. I think THOSE children are far more apt to fear another adult speaking to them, or coming near them - with or without a parent in eye sight. They KNOW what adults are capable of. But thank goodness, MOST of our children don't live in a world where every adult (stranger or not) is someone to be feared.
Why? Because a lot of parents (including myself) don't WANT to raise my kids to be fearful of every single person they don't know. That is no way to live a life. I don't WANT my children to think that every man who says hello is a dirty old man who wants to abduct and rape them. What a horrific fear to put into a child.
But finding that balance between what is safe and what is not is where so many of us parents struggle. It's impossible to teach your children who to fear when the majority of sexual assaults/molestation etc. happen with people whom they've grown up with, are relatives, or people their parents and families know and trust.
Unfortunately, this is why I feel that LE may potentially have this one backwards as far as who all needs to be deeply investigated. I have a feeling that Lyric would be MORE apt to be a little more "schooled" in the world of what adults are capable of. Elizabeth may not. Maybe Lyric went along because Elizabeth "knew" this person, even though she herself didn't. Maybe she felt something was off...wanted to stick with Lizzy to "protect" her, but didn't say anything because Lizzy "knew" this person and went more than willingly, so she followed.
I agree that children do/have done some things that would make their parents cringe if they knew. However, I wouldn't put too much emphasis on what you see in the video. Notice that the kids displayed appear to be 4-6 years old. Lyric was 10 and there is a huge difference in a 5 year-old and a 10 year-old. I admit that there are some very naive children, but having worked for 3 years as a substitute teacher I can tell you that 5th graders-even those in rural areas are very much aware of things and more "street smarter" than I ever was at that age. Girls are especially aware of their surroundings and who is looking at them. Lizzy may have been very trusting and "never met a stranger", but it would have been very difficult for a complete stranger to trick Lyric with a puppy or any sort of ruse like that. I am not disagreeing that they didn't go willingly with their abductor, but I feel it was someone that one of them or both of them knew or some sort of authority figure (someone in a police uniform, etc.) they would have trusted. If a stranger was involved, they most likely presented a weapon and forced them in the killer's vehicle.
All of the above is MOO.