4 ms·

"Unstructured time with other kids" is also the source of many many problems (as you acknowledge). Especially if the only destination is a gas station. Kids ne

"Unstructured time with other kids" is also the source of many many problems (as you acknowledge). Especially if the only destination is a gas station. Kids need parks, sports fields, cinemas, hobby stores, places to get food, etc, and they need them within walking distance. Being virtually dependent on cars to get anywhere is very crippling for kids.

ethbr1 3y ago
Being dependent on adults to drive cars is the crippling component. If there were free taxi services (or other transit), kids would be fine. And honestly, most of the evil comes from overly-empowering parents. "I don't think you should go there / do that / hang out with those friends" is toxic. Healthier, as kids mature, for them to be able to do things that parents disapprove of... but can't stop. While still allowing prevention of serious choices. Making kids dependent on parents' cars increases parents' power from "I can speak out about things I disagree with" to "My agreement is required for anything to happen." And that's really not healthy, for the kid or the parent.
- rayiner 3y ago
  Do you have any evidence of that? Asian American parents generally strictly control their kids’ choices, and they have much better outcomes than white American kids. I think it would be great if kids could take themselves to gymnastics practice on public transit. But giving them the choice between that and smoking pot with friends? I think the choice hurts rather than helps.
  - ethbr1 3y ago
    Outcomes measured with what endpoints? Last I looked it up, there were pretty serious mental health issues associated with the tiger parenting technique.
    - rayiner 3y ago
      A whole bunch of stuff—from income mobility to life expectancy to incarceration rates to morality rates from avoidable causes.
    - userinanother 3y ago
      Dollars and cents
  - fulladder 3y ago
    What do you mean in the second paragraph about gymnastics practice? It's implying kids cannot take public transit, but why? That was fairly common, even recently, and I'm trying to understand if something has changed in some regions.
frumper 3y ago
My roaming range on my bike was about 5 miles in any direction. All of those places cost money. I'm not sure what kind of childhood you had, but I didn't have a job at 14, and those are places I rarely went. What you seem to be advocating for is a credit card more than a ride.

ethbr1 3y ago

Being dependent on adults to drive cars is the crippling component. If there were free taxi services (or other transit), kids would be fine. And honestly, most of the evil comes from overly-empowering parents. "I don't think you should go there / do that / hang out with those friends" is toxic. Healthier, as kids mature, for them to be able to do things that parents disapprove of... but can't stop. While still allowing prevention of serious choices. Making kids dependent on parents' cars increases parents' power from "I can speak out about things I disagree with" to "My agreement is required for anything to happen." And that's really not healthy, for the kid or the parent.

rayiner 3y ago
Do you have any evidence of that? Asian American parents generally strictly control their kids’ choices, and they have much better outcomes than white American kids. I think it would be great if kids could take themselves to gymnastics practice on public transit. But giving them the choice between that and smoking pot with friends? I think the choice hurts rather than helps.
- ethbr1 3y ago
  Outcomes measured with what endpoints? Last I looked it up, there were pretty serious mental health issues associated with the tiger parenting technique.
  - rayiner 3y ago
    A whole bunch of stuff—from income mobility to life expectancy to incarceration rates to morality rates from avoidable causes.
  - userinanother 3y ago
    Dollars and cents
- fulladder 3y ago
  What do you mean in the second paragraph about gymnastics practice? It's implying kids cannot take public transit, but why? That was fairly common, even recently, and I'm trying to understand if something has changed in some regions.

frumper 3y ago

My roaming range on my bike was about 5 miles in any direction. All of those places cost money. I'm not sure what kind of childhood you had, but I didn't have a job at 14, and those are places I rarely went. What you seem to be advocating for is a credit card more than a ride.