Penguin unearthed

Are all men paedophiles? I don't think so

Air New Zealand and Qantas have apparently banned men from sitting next to unaccompanied children on planes. The airlines say that "their rules reflect the concerns of parents, as well as child safety issues".

How likely is it that an unaccompanied child is going to be abused on a flight? Even a 15 hour one (which is the longest Qantas flight)? I caught trains to school by myself (well with other equally immature friends) from the age of 10. Did State Rail ban men from sitting next to me?

Balance that against the very real damage done to society by refusing to allow men to talk to children who are not their own, and soon children will start to think of men they don't know as potential paedophiles. And child care centres will stop employing men, and fewer men will teach schools, and children will grow up in a world in which they are only allowed to talk to women (and maybe their fathers if they're lucky).

At least 90% of child abuse is perpetrated by people who know the child.

Is Air New Zealand going to ban fathers, uncles, grandfathers and stepfathers from sitting next to their own relatives?

posted by Jennifer @ 8:18 pm