[House] "Tricky People" as opposed to "Stranger Danger"

[Robin Lee Powell]

On Sat, Aug 18, 2012 at 09:23:29AM -0700, RJ Johnson wrote:
> Thoughts?
> 
> http://www.checklistmommy.com/2012/02/09/tricky-people-are-the-new-strangers/

I'll copy my reply to Mary's FB:

  Ugh. Yeah, the original article's focus on "anyone [male] who enjoys spending time with children, ever, is probably about to molest them" really offends me. The shift in focus is good, but other than that, it's a pretty awful article.

  As far as practical advice to a child, I'd focus much more on overcoming http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect than on exactly who to pick. The *vast* majority of people are going to help a child in need. Actually picking a single, particular person and saying "Hey, you. Yes, you in the red shirt. I need help!" is *way* more important with regards to actually getting help, than who you actually pick, saith many studies on the bystander effect. Look around for a parent with kids, look around for an authority figure, but no matter what, pick someone, right away, and talk to that person specifically. If they don't help, pick somebody else.

-Robin