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Comment by probably_wrong | Hacker News Reader

I didn't notice the author until she mentioned founding the "free-range kids" movement. For those who are unfamiliar with her, she was labeled "America's Worst Mom" in 2008 for a column she wrote about letting her son ride the subway alone when he was 9. She has been on a crusade against overprotected children since then [1].

I always found her advice extremely reasonable, but then again, I don't have children.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenore_Skenazy

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Meanwhile in Berlin you can use public transport alone if you are 6 years old, and you can take your younger sibling too

https://www.bvg.de/en/tickets-tariffs/conditions-of-carriage

It appears you can use public transport alone even if you’re just four years old, and six years is merely the minimum age to be a “guardian” for under four year olds.

> Children under four years of age may only use public transportation if they are accompanied by an individual who is at least six years of age.

An "individual" … maybe that means it would suffice for them to be accompanied by the family dog?

(edit: unfortunately not, for in the German it is more specific, "nur in Begleitung einer Person …".)

Now that would be neglectful - letting a 3 year old wander around town with just the dog!

A six year old dog may be a better guardian than a six year old human.

Perhaps if it was a very well trained dog. But on average I'd trust a 6 year old human more than a 6 year old dog to:

- actually navigate to the intended destination

- Communicate and find help from adults in the case of any issues

I've witnessed the opposite problem in Berlin. Parents, and the general public, seem underprotective of youth.

I used to live across the street from a primary school and the kids (no older than 10) would come out and smoke at recess in front of my building. Nobody batted an eye. Just yesterday I was walking behind some kids who couldn't have been older than 12 drinking and smoking, and that was in a nicer Berlin "suburb". Nobody cared.

I do have children, and from that perspective: She is not crazy. What she's describing is what we would call normal life in most of Europe. I'm sure it's also normal in more small town US. The kind of crazy incident she describes sounds like a New York, or other big city kind of thing.

It’s difficult to detect a consistent trend in the US: most of the anecdotes in this thread are about people being accused of endangering their children in small, suburban communities.

As a personal anecdote: I grew up in NYC, and was riding the subway alone by the time I was 8 or 9. I believe there’s also around when my school gave me a free metrocard to travel on my own, and I believe that program is still in place. Most of my NYC friends had similar experiences.

Some of the reactions against her were unreal. People were wishing for her children to be kidnapped to teach her a lesson.

And 14 years later America is now watching "Old Enough!" on Netflix.

What's wrong with some people, honestly no words.

The desire to control and to punish those who don't comply is strong. Used to be religious element of society that did this. Now social control doesn't wear the mask of religion anymore.

> social control doesn't wear the mask of religion anymore

The new religion is "safety."

“Old Enough!” is a cute, amusing, and quite surprising show. It follows 3 and 4 year olds as they run their first errand for their parents. The kids are generally clueless about the cameras, and they’re wired with a microphone. They are usually sent on a surprisingly long journey, although along a familiar route, involving several tasks. FWIW, we’re childless & in our fifties, and really enjoyed the season.

I was shocked when she revealed who she was. Maybe writing an article will do more than calling the police and making a stand and big stink, but if she, the leader, is easily shoo'd away, what are normal people in this position (and god help us, males) supposed to do? Raise awareness? Share the article? I guess so.

And what an amazing coincidence that the crusader and the martyr are the same person!

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