OT: Does this sound fair to you?

[trekgeezer]

I guess all men are perverts and not to be trusted. I think this is just a little unfair. Can you imagine the embarrassment of being asked to move and the reaction that  it would get from the other passengers.

Ban on men sitting next to children

[raj]

It is utterly ridiculous.  I'm certainly no danger to children, especially on airplanes.  They don't give you decent enough cutlery to carve kids up into bite sized pieces (and don't even think about asking for Tobasco sauce.)

Here in Toledo we've just had a woman convicted of raping a 4 year old girl.  So why do men get singled out? The woman got life.

[Zapranoth]

That article was worth reading just to learn the word "gobsmacked," which I will use every chance I get from now on.

[odinn7]

This is wrong. It's making the assumption that all men are pedophiles. As was stated in the article, what could you do to a kid on a plane anyway?

[Susan]

It is wrong because not all men are pervs, but i have to also say that i know of numerous stories of girls (i'm sure it also applies to boys) who were molested in some manner by a stranger standing or sitting next to them in a public place. IT does happen more often than you would think. You have to see it this way - if the child is not accompanied by a parent they have no one to watch over them. odinn, you asked what you could do to a child on a plane anyways? Think about it. I could tell you plenty of stories i know of things happening on a  public bus, in front of other adults who didn't notice, on a park bench...you'd be suprised.
Kids are very vulnerable.


Anyone could choose to sit next to them and it could be the wrong person. It doesn't specify all children, just ones that dont' have a guardian with them. That's just my perspective, because somewhere i heard the odds of a girl in particular being sexually abused or assaulted in her lifetime is like 1/3 or 1/4.  just wanted to give the other spin on this topic

[ThadC]

I don't think children should be alone on a flight at all. I will be damned if I let mine alone on a plane, or a bus for that matter. The child should have been moved closer to the flight attendants, and left the man alone to be none the wiser.

[odinn7]

Yes, good point...that is another thing...why the hell would you leave your child to take a flight alone? My daughter is the most important thing to me in the world and I would give or do anything to ensure her safety and well being. It makes me wonder about parents who wouldn't.