Nuked by my toddler today

4junk3000 wrote:

And I definitely remember being forced out of the house and expected back at dusk. That was when kids on a milk carton was not taken as the norm, no one shot up schools for attention, and they didn't issue brain drugs for rambunctious behavior, they made you pick out the stick they were going to beat you with.

Do a bit of research on the "milk carton" phenomenon. It was started by the Etan Patz case. (A stereotypical stranger-abduction case.). Then, an advocacy group of mothers whose husbands with noncustodial rights promoted the use of milk cartons to retrieve their children.

The media is a for-profit industry. Their coverage breeds hysterics in parents who perceive their children are in danger. Melodrama sells advertising space. In 1999, for instance, there were 70 million "children" in the USA. 33% of that group (23 million) were ages 0 - 5 years. There were 20 stereotypical kidnappings in that year, of that age group. In the same year, 34% of "children" (24 million) were ages 6 - 11. There were 24 stereotypical kidnappings that year, of that age group. One in a million. Yet, children are raised to believe the world is full of evil strangers around every corner. Ptui.

Your comment about medications plays to the same sort of misinformation regarding the facts. If I am not diabetic and take insulin, I will have a negative reaction. Many Diabetics need Insulin. If I do not have cardiac problems and take heart medication, I will have a negative reaction. Many people DO have cardiac problems, and need medication. If my vision is perfect and I put on strong prescription eyeglasses, I wont be able to see. Many people have POOR vision and need glasses. If a NON-ADD child (one who is healthy and "rambunctious") is given Ritalin, they will be bouncing off the ceiling. Many children DO have ADD. Ritalin calms them down. That's right. Speed calms THEM down.

A parent or teacher who gives Ritalin to a healthy rambunctious child ends up with a hyped-up kid. Nobody would want to make their life MORE difficult. The public perception that giving a classroom of normal kids SPEED will make a teacher's life easier is just plain ludicrous.

If my kid has horrible vision and I neglect to do whatever I can afford to help him, so he can read and learn with his peers, I'm a crappy parent. If my kid has ADD and i refuse to help him so he can read and learn with his peers, I'm a crappy parent.

/end rant