Children sitting on Santa's knee....yay or nay?

The Adversary wrote: »

We really are at this stage in society now.

Earlier in the year I was collecting my sister from primary school, I was about five minutes early, so I was just standing there playing a game on my phone when I realise im starting to get the evil eyes from a few mothers around. My sister runs out and gives me a hug and wants me to hold her hand because she doesn't like crossing the road when an inquisition arrives and starts bombarding me with questions "who are you to this child?" "why are you collecting her?" etc, trying to take her away to talk to her on her own. I was livid.

A woman doing the same thing. No problem at all.

This whole paranoia is completely fuelled by trashy morning TV and sensational tabloid articles. Sure, some strangers can be a threat, but the vast majority of abuse suffered by Children is committed by those close to them, such as Family members and relations - Not at the hands of strangers.

I just steer clear of kids completely if I can. I don't need to be made feel like a creep.

dubscottie wrote: »

Yes every male is a pedo.. I was in town and witnessed a kid (4-5 years old) running down Dawson Street alone. I am trained on how to deal with lost kids but myself and everyone else watched the kid go.

To scared to step in.. Had a lost kid at work and first thing mummy asked was "did anyone touch you".. Thats why we request cctv asap. To protect us from false claims.

As some has said, kids are more likely going to be harmed by someone that they trust. Not some ramdom stranger.

I know it's the Daily Mail, but this article speaks volumes: http://goo.gl/s6aJw4

I would probably have been one of the people to walk by. . .

Loving the 'PC culture gone mad' attitude when children can't play in their front yard without being taken away and raped by pedophiles living just down the road from them. Or the fact that sex offenders could (I don't know if it's the same now) make up an address for where they could be found, with some gems being 'a tent by the leisure centre' or 'the woods'.
Let's not forget that the Catholic Church got away with hundreds of thousands of cases of pedophilia, children were ignored, offending priests moved around to get a bigger platter of children. Children are statistically more likely to be molested by a family member or someone they know and trust, but by god, you can never, ever be to careful and while as a man it may negatively impact me, I understand that it's for the good of the child, I'm not selfish enough to believe my ego is more important than a child's potential safety. Quite frankly I'd rather people be over-alert than ignore the issue, even if it inconveniences people at times. Like really, not sitting on Santa's knee isn't a huge deal, I didn't like sitting on anyone's knee when I was a kid, it's really, really not a big deal. Let's also remember that 'tradition' means nothing, 'tradition' hurts children, we can't afford that anymore.

And here's a great idea for men who could potentially be placed in a situation where allegations could potentially be brought against them: don't get bent out of shape, don't get indignant, do what I'd do in that situation; ask someone, perhaps a passerby who's a woman, to help you. Problem solved. Failing that, call in local law enforcement, don't touch the child, just speak to them, don't try to comfort them, that's not your job. At the end of the day, you feeling victimised isn't remotely important next to the fact that children can, have and will be victimised by pedophiles. Despite what you, personally, think or feel, the logic stands up to scrutiny: protection for children is paramount, however imperfect the system is, it's for the good of the child. There'll be growing pains, but that's par for the course.

PC is gone a bit mad, however it's also possible that Christmas time is really all their Christmases come at once for actual pedophiles, when else could they get parents voluntarily handing over their children and even paying for the privilege! There's a big onus on event organisers to fully vet "Santa's" and monitor their behaviour.

I find it a bit strange tbh. I would not say Id be suspicious of the Santa but it's the opposite of what people normally encourage. As someone else has said, the kids are often upset by it and it looks like its more for their parents sake. Why not go up and give Santa an elaborate series of fist-bumps or something

DukeOfTheSharp wrote: »

Loving the 'PC culture gone mad' attitude when children can't play in their front yard without being taken away and raped by pedophiles living just down the road from them. Or the fact that sex offenders could (I don't know if it's the same now) make up an address for where they could be found, with some gems being 'a tent by the leisure centre' or 'the woods'.
Let's not forget that the Catholic Church got away with hundreds of thousands of cases of pedophilia, children were ignored, offending priests moved around to get a bigger platter of children. Children are statistically more likely to be molested by a family member or someone they know and trust, but by god, you can never, ever be to careful and while as a man it may negatively impact me, I understand that it's for the good of the child, I'm not selfish enough to believe my ego is more important than a child's potential safety. Quite frankly I'd rather people be over-alert than ignore the issue, even if it inconveniences people at times. Like really, not sitting on Santa's knee isn't a huge deal, I didn't like sitting on anyone's knee when I was a kid, it's really, really not a big deal. Let's also remember that 'tradition' means nothing, 'tradition' hurts children, we can't afford that anymore.

And here's a great idea for men who could potentially be placed in a situation where allegations could potentially be brought against them: don't get bent out of shape, don't get indignant, do what I'd do in that situation; ask someone, perhaps a passerby who's a woman, to help you. Problem solved. Failing that, call in local law enforcement, don't touch the child, just speak to them, don't try to comfort them, that's not your job. At the end of the day, you feeling victimised isn't remotely important next to the fact that children can, have and will be victimised by pedophiles. Despite what you, personally, think or feel, the logic stands up to scrutiny: protection for children is paramount, however imperfect the system is, it's for the good of the child. There'll be growing pains, but that's par for the course.

Have you ever actually heard of a Santa at a store inappropriately touch a child while they were on their knee?

Santa has his magical ways.

It would be the perfect job for a pedophile though....

Tabnabs wrote: »

If Bad Santa has taught us anything, keep small children at arms length and never on your knee...

mad muffin wrote: »

Exactly. I don't want my child sitting on no hobo rent a santa's knee.

God knows what kind of filthy peado this hobo is! :mad:

Bad Santa was more interested in the women in the Big and Tall department than the kiddies

For Christ's sake.

The child sits up on the man's knee, not on his crotch.

In a crowded room.

Only the most paranoid, idiotic twat would see anything creepy or sexual in that.

me0w wrote: »

Pedophiles love/ are attracted to children so they'd be inclined to work with or around them. It would be quite easy to touch a child subtly for example if they were wearing a dress, parents would be unlikely to notice.

Gibberish.

You really think a man would be capable of slipping his hand unnoticed up a child's skirt in a small, crowded room in which the child was centre of attention?

By your logic, children should not be allowed out of their rooms, even under close supervision, lest they be "subtly" touched. Apparently, pedophiles are so crafty they can molest your children undetected even as you're watching them.