716Jones

I did see the story in the Daily Mail but avoided reading it, this type of article is increasingly common in that paper. The Saturday edition, which is the only one I buy purely for the TV paper, always seems to have this kind of sleazy article, usually about someone who is safely dead and cannot reply. Typical of modern journalism. Didn't the Mail once have pretensions to be a quality paper? It doesn't do any good writing to them, either, I once wrote pointing out a large number of factual errors in an article by David Mellor. I did get an acknowledgement from the paper but they didn't print my letter.

Windthrop

I once read an article in the Mail on Sunday on Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy coming out with the revelation (shock horror) that they both drank heavily. It wasn't a new story and seemed pitifully pointless. Must have been short of 'news' that day.

That's the joke that killed the Music Hall

Steve Crook

They are still asking for comments on that article - and still haven't published any although I know that some were sent. Presumably the other comments sent, like mine, all pointed out what an unfounded attack it was and they don't print anything that disagrees with their warped point of view.

The only way you can protest is by not buying it

Steve

Steve Crook

It is a sad sign of our times that with the newspapers leading campaigns against paedophiles (or even pediatricians) lots of other people get caught in the fall out. As a single man, if I go for a walk onto our local common and I see a child alone and crying, I wouldn't go and comfort them. Not without looking for another adult, preferably female.

And of course this is also a reason that many parents give for driving their children to school. Because they've been so terrified by the newspapers they don't dare let them walk to school, even in a group with their friends. This adds to traffic congestion, childhood obesity and other things that the same newspapers then rail against.

Steve

EHV_Emmetts

That is exactly what I'm doing.

Steve Crook

Between you and me EVH we're sure to being them to their knees

Steve

Straff

I haven't bought it for 47 years. That's shown 'em

Semper ubi sub ubi

Steve Crook

I haven't bought any newspaper for at least 20 years. Possibly nearer 30

Steve

Modular

It's an incredibly sad reflection of today's tabloid-lead society that a caring individual, regardless of marital status or sex, should have to think twice before going to the assistance of a minor.

And as for the 'safety' of looking for a female to help, lest we forget Myra Hindley, Rose West etc.

Edward G

I feel the same way about our inability to openly offer support or even assistance to children in the climate we live in. Recently i was at works party and as i was driving i didn't have an alcoholic drink all night. One of my female colleagues was paralytic and i was asked by my boss to drive here the mile or so home. I was happy to ensure she got home safely rather than just deposit her in a taxi and hope she got home ok. As a man being responsible for a seriously intoxicated and sleepy woman i asked a number of her female friends would they accompany me to see that she got home ok. None wanted to help and obviously would not take 10 minutes out of the night and miss any fun. I delivered the lady to her door safely and saw that she managed to negotiate opening it. As she wobbled in i was relieved enough but angry that i couldn't persuade anybody to "cover" me - especially as they were women and had to understand why i wanted someone else along.....

I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!

Modular

Were they as legless as your inebriated passenger perchance...?

Edward G

No! They just didn't want to miss any of the fun! A bit annoying but what can you do!

I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!

batman

If I were to see a child alone and crying my first instinct would be to talk to the child and attempt to ascertain his/her circumstances. You don't have to get up close and personal. Most of us carry a phone so it wouldn't take long to summon help from somewhere, even if it was only to call a friend or to explain the circumstances to the authorities and get them involved. My wife and I, while out for an evening drive, saw a youmg woman alone in the countryside, she was crying. We stopped the car and from a distance talked with her and, with the help of my wife's police ID card, we were able to get her in the car and to her parent's house. It's all about risk assessment and common sense. There's no way I could walk past a child who was alone and crying, I would rather take the risk of an accusation than possibly leave him/her alone at the mercy of some real creep who might be lurking close by.

Bat-Quiz 13 is up and running in the competition thread - 24/8/8.

Steve Crook

That would be my first instinct. But ever since a friend, also male and single, did just that and then got accused of all sorts of things by the child and by the child's mother when they were reunited - I am more wary. I don't need that sort of reputation thank you.

But of course I wouldn't just walk away and leave the child crying.

And it's a lot easier if you have a female companion, especially one with a police ID card

Steve

Dame Starry

But you were with your wife, Bats and, as a couple, you would come over more credible in a situation like that.
I do understand what you are saying and, of course, you are also a hands-on father, so your natural instincts would 'kick-in' anyway.
I think it's very difficult for single men with no children who find themselves in the same circumstances; I doubt that Steve meant that he would actually leave a distressed child alone, just that he would have to assess the situation a little differently.

DS x.