Hacker News Reader

Comment by binarnosp | Hacker News Reader

I thought about the walkie-talkie, but I think that all those devices are more of a pacifier for parents than something that keeps the child safe.

If I'd give her the walkie-talkie then my wife would call her every 10 minutes and ask her where is she. Tracking her with a GPS would keep me calm but I don't think it will help my daughter.

The only time I freaked out was when she removed the watch and she didn't come home on time: I went out to look for her and in the meantime, she went home. Realizing that she may go home on another path I went back home and found her watching TV. Honestly I think that those devices are meant to keep the parents calm, not for the sake of the children.

View on HN

Thanks for the feedback. I think that's fair. One of the things I remember most from my sociology classes in college is that America has, in general, been getting safer for decades now, even though everybody thinks it's been getting less and less safe.

I think you're absolutely right that our product may do more to help parents feel secure letting their kids roam, rather than actually making them safer. Still, if it gets kids out more and helps parents feel more comfortable, I think that's a win.

Devil's advocate opinion: we can't objectively say society is 'safer', only that crime rates are down. Maybe crime rates are going down because people are more likely to stay hiding in their living rooms.

> Maybe crime rates are going down because people are more likely to stay hiding in their living rooms.

i fail to see the practical difference. if would-be predators are staying home, it is still safer for kids to go play outside.

I think blowski is suggesting the kids are safer because the kids are staying at home, safe from the prowling predators outside.

Exactly. I’m not sure I believe this, and definitely don’t have any evidence to back it up.

If kids are safer because they are staying at home, then we can’t criticise parents for not letting them out to play by themselves. That would be like saying Donald Trump doesn’t need bodyguards since very few presidents have been attacked.

More accidents happen at home than anywhere else, so perhaps kids are safer outside. As an example, my brother broke his arm in a pillow fight when he got knocked off the bed.

More accidents happen at home for the same reason more car accidents happen close to home...that's where the people are often spending time.

And mine broke his outside jumping from the compost bin. (We were all doing it...)

I don't have children yet so I'm probably way out of turn when I say I like the "be home for dinner" method after a certain age.

Sometimes we'd come home scraped up and dirty, but we'd be okay. My mother was about 10 feet away when my brother broke his arm.

It's just such a game of chance. It's probably best not to train for fear, though. (as a general philosophy, not addressing any anecdotes here)

Is that adjusted for time spent?

Yes, I agree.

Anyway, the device looks nice and is a step in the right direction to overcome the fear of the parents.

Good luck with your business.

As a parent, when my kid was 8 years old I let her play in the local woods with a walky talky. Pacifier for me? Probably. But she wouldn't have been out all morning without a means of contact.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com