rocio Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 It seems to be that children today are being raised in fear. Fear of strangers, fear of injuries, fear of pretty much everything. Is this really healthy? And what's with all these commercials on t.v. that try and convince us that there are deadly germs crawling all over our homes, and we simply must kill them immediately with the strongest chemical we can get our hands on. I think these chemicals create more problems than they solve. Link to comment
Supa_gurl Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 My father thinks the same way. When it comes to my children he says "you stayed home alone at their age." and makes comments like that. I think todays society has changed soooo much since I was a child and we do need to take more precautions. However I do believe the commercials go a bit overboard. Link to comment
Catdancer Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Well...are there more germs today than there were 20 or 30 years ago? Are their genetic mutations of different strains of things? Maybe this is the reason for more potent chemicals, hand sanitizers and the like. Link to comment
blackgnat Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Absolutely! I am not from the US and I have noticed that Americans are obsessed with cleanliness. Some people act as if everything they touch is crawling with germs (which might actually be true, but PLEASE!!) and are always reaching for wipes, hand sanitizers, etc. Some people I know flush the toilet with their elbows, never drink out of water fountains, wash their hands constantly, especially after they've had contact with another human being (God forbid), won't sit on toilet seats, etc. Isn't contact with some germs supposed to strengthen our immune systems? Whatever, I think it's a horrible way to live your life, to be constantly paranoid. I just can't subscribe to it and think it has gone way too far. Link to comment
rocio Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 Well...are there more germs today than there were 20 or 30 years ago? Yes - because of all the chemicals! They are so unhealthy, from a public health perspective. Also, if your kids grow up in a (relatively) germ-free home, how are they supposed to function in the real world? Germs are good. They build up your immune system. Link to comment
Catdancer Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Yes - because of all the chemicals! They are so unhealthy, from a public health perspective. Also, if your kids grow up in a (relatively) germ-free home, how are they supposed to function in the real world? Germs are good. They build up your immune system. I agree. I child must be exposed to everyday dirt and germs. If not, they live in a bubble of fear and that's not living. I agree with hand washing and the like before eating, after bathroom time, but that's all I was raised on. All the other stuff is just white noise..lol! Hand sanitizers, millions of cleaning products and germ killers....all a money rackst! lol JMO Link to comment
JadedStar Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 It seems to be that children today are being raised in fear. Fear of strangers, fear of injuries, fear of pretty much everything. Is this really healthy? And what's with all these commercials on t.v. that try and convince us that there are deadly germs crawling all over our homes, and we simply must kill them immediately with the strongest chemical we can get our hands on. I think these chemicals create more problems than they solve. Yea, I think we are a nation of paranoia. I played in the dirt as a kid and never even saw a bottle of antibacterial soap and i can't say i was a sickly child either. I think precatuions are great but i do think some people go overboard. Humans (even child humans) are much more resilient than some would believe. I have also read that the antibacterial hand lotions/hand sanitizers can cause more harm then good for a couple of reasons. One, introducing bacterias in very small doses can build immunity, using these things religiously makes a person more suspectible and continued use makes the bacteria more resistant as well. I don't use them, never have and doubt i ever will. I wash my hands with plain ole soap and rarely get sick. This was on the net regarding hand sanitizers...there is probably some benefit but unless one works in a hospital or daycare where they are around a lot of sick people I doubt they are very necessary: Although there are other ingredients in most commercial hand sanitizers, the main ingredient is usually alcohol. And since repeated use of alcohol on living tissues dessicates or dries out the skin, prolonged use of alcohol based sanitizers has the potential of damaging the body’s main protection against disease. Hand sanitizers are not very effective at removing physical matter and unless the “dirt” is physically removed from the hands first, the alcohol or other chemical ingredients of the sanitizer can’t come in contact with the pathogens and can’t kill them. If there is any dirt or macroscopic material present, the sanitizer’s effectiveness is very limited. And since they do not remove any material already on the hands, hand sanitizers are totally ineffective at cleansing the hands after contact with non-organic materials, such as drugs or chemicals. Drug and chemical residues must be removed with a thorough hand washing using soap and water. Then there’s the concern with overuse of anitmocrobial substances and how that may contribute to more drug-resistant organisms. Although there is really no conclusive proof one way or the other on this issue, the prevailing wisdom is to limit use of antimicrobial substances when physical cleaning can accomplish the same objective. Link to comment
Girl79 Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 It seems to be that children today are being raised in fear. Fear of strangers, fear of injuries, fear of pretty much everything. Is this really healthy? And what's with all these commercials on t.v. that try and convince us that there are deadly germs crawling all over our homes, and we simply must kill them immediately with the strongest chemical we can get our hands on. I think these chemicals create more problems than they solve. Yes and it's not just kids being raised that way either. People in general are being raised in a fear. Fear of diseases and germs and terrorists and the works. Whatever happened to the way we were all raised as kids? My parents had 4 of us kids and they didn't feel the need to get rid of any tiny little germ and overclean and CONSUME all these products supposedly so that we would be healthier. Germs keep our immune system strong. I miss the old days Link to comment
Crazyaboutdogs Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I carry hand sanitizers in my purse just in case I touch something sticky or disgusting..but I won't use it on an every day basis. I agree that we are too obsessed with germs and all these antibacterial soaps and cleaners are overboard. Even all the "safe toys". I remember as a child I had a metal refrigerator stove and sink..it had some pointy edges but I never got hurt. Now everything for kids is plastic. Also, while they have done away with metal toys for kids for "safety" reasons...most kids toys now need batteries! Link to comment
TheSmilingTurnip Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I think you are exactly right, OP!!!!! I have said this for a long time. People are so surprised that my daughter plays with dirt and bugs and stuff...I'm not and it doesn't bother me that she gets dirty. So what? I did it too. I played with snakes, dug in the dirt, got filthy. It washes off, my friends! And guess what else? My daughter almost NEVER gets sick. And hand sanitizers? Ridiculous!!! This is marketing folks. They are creating a need so their product can have a market. And can we please stop worshipping children? Crikey! Love them, yes, take care of them, of course. But stop the worship! Children need to learn their place in society. Link to comment
ImThatGirl Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Nothing is healthy in extreme doses.... That being over-protective parents that never let their kids actually "live" because they are in such a bubble and aren't able to experience the fun of a carefree childhood that we once had. Fear of strangers - there should be a certain reservation about going up to strangers in my opinion. My children are friendly - I don't mind that when I'm with them or within eyesight of them. They know not to approach any adult alone and what to do if an adult approaches them though. A child should be taught safety precautions and have an awareness about strangers. Unfortunately, society has changed. We don't work as communities where everyone within the community can be trusted any longer. Fear of injuries - Some may say I'm overprotective. Actually I'm sure people do. I don't let my children run the neighborhood (wish I could, I loved those days as a child!) I don't let my children go to the playground alone or ride their bikes around the parking lot. As a parent, it is my responsibility to ensure their safety. I don't feel as though I go overboard, my children are not secluded or burdened with the safety cautions I insist upon. They are carefree and happy kids. (Besides that they can't go to the playground alone as all the other many kids can in our area.) Fear of germs... we love to get dirty. We clean appropriately but aren't OCD about it. (as far as constant hand sanitizer, lysol wipes, etc.) I think that with today's society and the items available to further our childrens safety, we can use those tools to keep our little ones safe. That doesn't mean we have to go overboard. Link to comment
Crazyaboutdogs Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Hand sanitizers are wonderful when you pick up your dog's poo and there happens to be a hole in the bag! I used to carry around the wet wipes that come wrapped up, but those often dry out...I am grateful for hand sanitizers! Link to comment
Catdancer Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Hand sanitizers are wonderful when you pick up your dog's poo and there happens to be a hole in the bag! I used to carry around the wet wipes that come wrapped up, but those often dry out...I am grateful for hand sanitizers! Ewww...unfortunately I know EXACTLY what you mean!!! And yes, they are great for that. Link to comment
greensleeves Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Oh...I agree, it's all just too much and many children are being raised in so much fear that they'll grow up to afraid too take any risks in all areas of their lives. There's a great book called "Too Safe for Their Own Good" by Michael Unger, and he basically says that people are bubble wrapping their kids and it isn't healthy for their emotional growth. It's okay to be somewhat cautious, but some people just go way too overboard. I remember being on a beach one day and this little boy was running along the sand holding this tiny little twig in his hand...(it couldn't have been more than 1/16 of an inch around and 3 or 4 inches long. His mom comes running over frantically and SCREAMS at her son "don't run with a stick in your hand!" The poor kid was just running on the beach having a beautiful time and his mom instilled that fear into him. When my kids were little, I was one of the only mom's who would allow them to climb trees...I couldn't believe it. I'm not talking going up into 30foot trees, just apple trees etc. Sure they might have fallen, but they didn't, and it gave them a sense of accomplishment and pride. And what about all the media coverage about the bird flu, or duct taping plastic around our windows and the colour alerts after 9/11? Nothing ever happened, but the media will jump on a story and create fear where it wouldn't normally exist. It's enough to make a normal person abnormal. Link to comment
rocio Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 Hand sanitizers are wonderful when you pick up your dog's poo and there happens to be a hole in the bag! I used to carry around the wet wipes that come wrapped up, but those often dry out...I am grateful for hand sanitizers! Hand sanitizers are also great for hospitals and gyms. But using them with kids also creates the risk of alcohol poisoning. I also don't sit on the toilet seat and the first thing I do when I get into the office on a Monday morning is to wipe my phone and keyboard. I guess it all has to do with balance. I think it's great that children, by law, must ride in carseats. And I certainly wouldn't allow my daughter to ride a quad by herself at 10 years old, the way I used to. Link to comment
TheSmilingTurnip Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Greensleeves, I know what you mean. I hardly ever see any children in my neighborhood out playing. The only reason that I know that there are other children in my neighborhood is because they go to Dee's school. Parents are scared out of their minds of pedophiles and kidnappers, and they should be. But it's going a little too far now. Link to comment
TheSmilingTurnip Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I guess it all has to do with balance. I think it's great that children, by law, must ride in carseats. And I certainly wouldn't allow my daughter to ride a quad by herself at 10 years old, the way I used to. I agree fully. I can't imagine toting my three or four year old around in the car without a car seat. How would you actually keep them in the seat? LOL. Link to comment
rocio Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 Do you really think there are more pedophiles and kidnappers today than at any other time in history? Or is it just that we hear so much of it in the media? I actually know what the inside of every single house on my family's block looks like... Ah, the good old days.. Link to comment
TheSmilingTurnip Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Do you really think there are more pedophiles and kidnappers today than at any other time in history? Or is it just that we hear so much of it in the media? I actually know what the inside of every single house on my family's block looks like... Ah, the good old days.. I don't believe there are more. I think we are just more aware. Link to comment
Catdancer Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Do you really think there are more pedophiles and kidnappers today than at any other time in history? Actually, yes I do. We are a sexually based society. So we generate more sexual deviants Link to comment
TheSmilingTurnip Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Actually, yes I do. We are a sexually based society. So we generate more sexual deviants Wow that is quite a can of worms. We ARE a sexually based society and we should change that. Anyway, that's not the topic I suppose. Link to comment
Catdancer Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Wow that is quite a can of worms. We ARE a sexually based society and we should change that. Anyway, that's not the topic I suppose. The OP posed the question. So I answered with my opinion. Link to comment
Crazyaboutdogs Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I don't think the sicko sexual deviants are a product of our sexualized society....they have always been around...we are just more aware of it now because of the global media. The sexual deviants who prey on children have mental health issues and control issues...sexual violations have to do with power issues rather than horniness. As for the topic of cleanliness...I went swimming yesterday and swam into somebody's over large bandage that they stupidly left on them when they went swimming. Of course it came off and I had to have this disgusting encounter. Pretty gross. Link to comment
TheSmilingTurnip Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 The OP posed the question. So I answered with my opinion. Oh I'm not saying you're wrong or inappropriate at all. You're absolutely right!!! Hope I didn't come accross wrong, sorry if I did. Link to comment
Catdancer Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Oh I'm not saying you're wrong or inappropriate at all. You're absolutely right!!! Hope I didn't come accross wrong, sorry if I did. That's ok and you're right...this topic would be interesting as a thread. I'm sure we'd get tons of opinons on it. Link to comment
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