Public safety, and public education, is all about sending the right message.
Most people are aware, especially in this era, of what ‘fake news’ is. Unfortunately it seems to be spreading. It used to be, pre google days, that the information we received was from the TV news, newspapers, mailings, books, etc.
Perhaps its now so hard to distinguish because it takes so little time and resource to spread fake news. The Russians did it in the last election, politicians do it daily, the media is no longer trustworthy, how do we KNOW what is the TRUTH?!?
My son Steven tried to to tell me something this week (Hi Steven). He used metaphors and similes and wanted me to ‘figure out the puzzle’. He tried to tell me that he CAN’T tell me the truth because it would only be HIS perception of the truth – that I need to use my own perception, and come to the same conclusion, for us to actually communicate.
But I disagree (needless to say we didn’t communicate). There are facts, and that is what I am most comfortable with. Facts are simple. Facts are indisputable. Facts are repeatable. Steven and I are two people. Fact.
When I think of facts, I think mostly of math and science. There are also actions – like the dog ate the steak. Fact. Emotions and perceptions do not affect facts. Facts are facts.
So it’s curious to me why law enforcement perpetuates, even creates, misconceptions. I’m talking about Stranger Danger. It’s been a well known FACT for decades that over 90% of child abductions, and child sexual abuse, is perpetrated by a person KNOWN to that child.
This ‘Public service announcement’ is on the Seattle Police website.
The only reason I can think of to spend money and resources on the less than 10% crimes OVER investigating reported crime tips and processing rape kits, would be to push a false agenda out as a ‘Public Service’.
What’s NOT mentioned is:
“In circumstances where the child is in danger for other reasons, avoiding strangers (who might help) could in fact be dangerous itself, such as in the case of an 11-year-old Boy Scout who avoided rescue searchers because he feared they may want to “steal” him.[17]
According to the University of New Hampshire‘s Crimes Against Children Research Center, “stranger danger” disproportionately increases fear of strangers in comparison to fear of abusers known to the child.”
Here is MY Public Service Announcement :
The Lady Justice Myth 