Is this what it's come to? (Page 2)

This is exactly why I never attempt to interact with kids of any age. Ever. Oh wait. I have smiled at babies if they are staring at me - usually in restaurants and from at least 10 feet away. That's it. You never know when you're gonna get a freak.

The 'stranger=danger-in-all-situations" policy leads to kids and young adults who can barely speak to anyone but their peers. I've watched a 10 year old literally hide behind mommy and not even say a polite hello when introduced to someone. I'd expect that of a 3 yr old. Watching it happen with a 10 year old was kindof sad.

Devil's advocate here: I don't think a grown man should necessarily be asking a 7 year old boy who is alone in the bathroom questions. A lot of molesters have "intro" questions to gauge how pliable a kid is. They start out innocently enough...

Also, Gavin DeBecker has a book called The Gift of Fear. In it he talks about our innate ability to sense danger. Kids, especially girls are taught at a young age to override that fear. "Come on, give your Uncle Bill a hug" seems innocent enough and a parent will demand it when the kid doesn't feel comfortable.

Not saying the guy didn't overreact, but I have that perspective. When you weigh in 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted before their 18th birthday, it's cause for at least heightened awareness.

I just wanted to clarify.  It wasn't questions, plural.. It was question, singular.  Again, 25' away seems to me a safe distance to address a kid.  

btw, I don't doubt that stat, but I'd bet a lot of dough the majority of those victims are victims of fam. members and/or relatives/family friends...not complete strangers.

btw, any parent that demands their kid hug somebody they don't feel comfortable hugging is not doing the right thing...in my opinion of course.

It all starts with one...completely innocent...question...

Precisely because of the facts laid out by Fishrcutb8, many kids now are told to ignore adults who ask for help (with directions, or finding lost dog, or whatever), and trained "grownups ask for help from other grownups."  Also fwiw I don't think a 7 or 8 year old kid necessarily knows what time class gets out.  They go when Mom or Dad says "get in the car" and leave when it's over.  Things are easier when you're 7 or 8, as well they should be. 

But I also agree with gearboy: the Dad could have just said, "sorry, we teach our son not to talk to strangers, the class gets out at X" and called it a day. He didn't need to be so over-the-top hostile about it.