Myth Buster!

Myth # 9: Your greatest danger is from a stranger.

When I was growing up, every other Maury-Harpo-Geraldo was showing specials about how some sickos skulk around parks and playgrounds rounding up kids like the pied piper with some song and dance about how he lost his dog. The sicko would say, “I lost my puppy. Would you help me find him?” in the softest voice possible before leading the boy/girl over to his van. “Maybe my puppy went back into the van. Would you go check for me?” Slam goes the door to the van and the next thing you know, that little boy/girl is abducted. Here's a clip from one of those specials.

Thankfully, in these instances, the sicko in question was actually some out-of-work actor or pop psychologist (same difference) who promptly returned the child to his/her terrified and hysteric parents.

I guess everyone is wise to this little game by now because that’s not what usually happens anymore! Now it’s Uncle Carl or cousin Thelma who decides to play a secret touching game or it’s a boy/girlfriend who pressures you into having sex. Your greatest danger is from someone you know. Period.

Update on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 12:48PM by Sean

This is a follow up to my previous posting. I want to stress that sometimes good people do bad things. It can be hard to talk about if you’ve been assaulted by a friend or a relative or someone you love. Just because someone commits a sexual assault, that doesn’t mean that he/she is a bad person... he/she needs help and can’t get that help alone. That’s one reason why it’s important to tell. If the first person you tell doesn’t believe you then tell someone else. That person who you care about needs help in order to stop from hurting you or hurting other people.