Here's a handful of things that have crossed my mind while I read this thread. In no particular order.
1. Homosexual ≠ paedophile. Not remotely.
2. I understand & accept the "policy" but completely disagree with the implementation. Plan ahead better with your seating allocation, if you fail at this point, leave the guy alone and just monitor the situation better, you've already got flight attendants doing laps the whole time.
3. I am slowly starting to realise that my normal helpful self can be seen as creepy, and as such, quite often second guess my offers to assist anyone, ladies struggling with shopping, other guys caught in the rain waiting for a bus while I drive past to the station, not just young kids who look lost.
4. (related to 2) Despite any common sense I usually possess, if I were the guy in the article, and I was asked to move away from the young boys, a voice in my head would probably have told me they were accusing me of paedophilia, I would have gotten offended, I would have kicked up a stink, and they would have had to arrest me before that plane went anywhere.
5. I understand that 3 and 4 seem contradictory. I don't care.
This is great post because as Man I am offended but as father I understand. You can see both sides.
On Point 1. Agree. My best mate is gay and he is safe with daughter or any child as any other friend. Sadly he knows he has to be careful because of perceptions re his sexuality.
Point 2. As I said above I fly Virgin a lot, have so every week for the last six years. I can advise:
- The policy is to seat child at rear row or two , with a seat spare between them.
- I know this as my preferred seat is rear row or pointy end. Not middle.
- In all my time I have been asked to move once and moved myself once. I moved myself when they put a boy next to me but a seat in between. Why go there? and looked like he was grumpy.
- Each time it was done with tact and no offence taken. Need trained savvy attendants.
- 99% of non peak flights there are plenty of spare seats at the back.
- 75% of peak there are spare seats.
- It is when there is not a seat free, the issue arises
.
Whilst the policy discriminates it is the best they can do. Just like you don't see older persons in the exit row because they might in 0.0001% chance need to open and eject heavy door in the event of a crash. Is that discrimination. Some 60 plus guys could flip the door but most? hence they make a call.
Lastly, on protecting kids for those without...
Yes, wife and i were couple for long time before our daughter and I did not understand this stuff. Like sick kids on TV in telethons you feel sympathy but not pain....then you have your our child.
It changes you. Better or for worst, you change.
No if I see a seriously sick kid on TV I well up because i cannot help but think that child could be mine. You can feel the parents pain. You know, like you, they would take their own life if it meant the kid would live.
On pedophiles, male and female but mostly male, they are there. I live in small Country town where parents all know each other and thus there is the informal networks of "who is who" and the trust level you can ascribe BUT even here.... one of the worst pedophiles in VIC lived 10 minutes away and spent 30 years as a music teacher, teaching in his own home. You don't know.
Point 3. Been there. Try to be nice to someone and they can think you weird. Tourists not so much. I have often got a stranded male or female into the business lounge as guest but sometimes they doubt my motives. I have a free pass so why not be nice. Pay it forward I say.
Point 4 & 5. Agree.
Whilst I pity any obviously mentally ill, potentially abused themselves, person who does these things to kids and they need help .....IF some guy or girl did it to my daughter, I would slit his/her throat and feed the f#%^*r to my mates (another father) pigs and my mate would help me.
Yes it makes no sense but have a child and find out, Peter 14.7
.
