Stranger danger
Encyclopedia
Stranger danger describes the danger to children presented by strangers. The phrase is intended to sum up the danger associated with adults who children do not know. The phrase has found widespread usage and many children will hear it (or similar advice) during their childhood lives. Many books, films and public service announcement
s have been devoted to helping children remember this advice. The concept has been criticized for ignoring the fact that most child abduction
s and harm are not due to strangers, but rather someone the child is familiar with or related
to.
Stranger Danger is also a growing indie music compilation.
Although there are other dangers such as kidnap for ransom
, the main threat stranger danger campaigns concern is child sexual abuse
. In recent years, the emphasis of such campaigns has shifted somewhat, in order to reflect the risk of abuse by persons known to the child.
Some extreme proponents of "stranger danger" warnings have however instead proposed to teach children not to approach anyone without parental permission (such as not to enter a car even if they recognise the person).
Stranger danger has contributed to parents keeping children indoors, resulting in an alleged nature deficit disorder
.
("Truth or Consequences"), Dr. Lightman questions a teenage girl about a camera he found at a crime scene. She replies, "Whatever, stranger danger. Give me back my camera or I call the cops." This may imply that since she doesn't know him, his questions seem improper.
Season 1 Episode 12 of Criminal Minds
. Episode title, "What Fresh Hell" (2003).
Gideon and Reid mention the “Stranger Danger” program that was widely shown in public schools. Reid mentions it taught children about “scary man" instead of warning children that strangers are only a fraction of the offenders.
In the David Spade
film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
, the Finney children, whose parents he pays to live with, repeatedly call him "Stranger Danger" to express their discomfort with the arrangement.
An episode of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! looks into Stranger Danger, where they look into both sides of the issue with a heavy bias towards Stranger Danger being "bullshit."
In an episode of Adventure Time
, Jake the dog drinks from a river which gives him amnesia. Because Jake can't recognize his best friend Finn the human, Finn attempts to drag Jake onward which causes Jake to scream, "Help! Stranger danger!"
In Season 1 Episode 2 "Kryptonite" of New Girl
, Jess tells her ex-boyfriend, "Yeah, Stranger Danger is real."
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
s have been devoted to helping children remember this advice. The concept has been criticized for ignoring the fact that most child abduction
Child abduction
Child abduction or Child theft is the unauthorized removal of a minor from the custody of the child's natural or legally appointed guardians....
s and harm are not due to strangers, but rather someone the child is familiar with or related
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
to.
Stranger Danger is also a growing indie music compilation.
Common examples
- "Don't talk to strangers"
- "Don't tell anyone your name"
- "Don't let strangers touch your foodFoodFood is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
or drinkDrinkA drink, or beverage, is a liquid which is specifically prepared for human consumption. In addition to fulfilling a basic human need, beverages form part of the culture of human society.-Water:...
" - "Don't help strangers"
- "Don't let strangers touch your face"
- "If someone acts too friendly in a theater, complain to an usher or the managerManagementManagement in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
"
Although there are other dangers such as kidnap for ransom
Ransom
Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or it can refer to the sum of money involved.In an early German law, a similar concept was called bad influence...
, the main threat stranger danger campaigns concern is child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
. In recent years, the emphasis of such campaigns has shifted somewhat, in order to reflect the risk of abuse by persons known to the child.
Criticism
The process of constantly warning children of possible danger in the form of strangers has also been criticised as exaggerating the potential threat and unnecessarily spreading mistrust, especially when considering that (for example) in the US, about 800,000 children are reported at least temporarily missing every year, yet only 115 "become victims of what is viewed as classic stranger abductions". In situations 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 might want to 'steal him'.Some extreme proponents of "stranger danger" warnings have however instead proposed to teach children not to approach anyone without parental permission (such as not to enter a car even if they recognise the person).
Stranger danger has contributed to parents keeping children indoors, resulting in an alleged nature deficit disorder
Nature deficit disorder
Nature Deficit Disorder, a term coined by Richard Louv in his 2005 book Last Child in the Woods, refers to the alleged trend that children are spending less time outdoors, resulting in a wide range of behavioral problems...
.
In popular culture
In the TV show Lie To MeLie to Me
Lie to Me is a 2009-2011 American television series.Lie to Me may also refer to:* Lie to Me , a South Korean drama series* "Lie to Me" , an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
("Truth or Consequences"), Dr. Lightman questions a teenage girl about a camera he found at a crime scene. She replies, "Whatever, stranger danger. Give me back my camera or I call the cops." This may imply that since she doesn't know him, his questions seem improper.
Season 1 Episode 12 of Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds
Criminal Minds is an American police procedural drama that premiered September 22, 2005, on CBS. The series follows a team of profilers from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit based in Quantico, Virginia. The BAU is part of the FBI National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime...
. Episode title, "What Fresh Hell" (2003).
Gideon and Reid mention the “Stranger Danger” program that was widely shown in public schools. Reid mentions it taught children about “scary man" instead of warning children that strangers are only a fraction of the offenders.
In the David Spade
David Spade
David Wayne Spade is an American actor, comedian and television personality who first became famous in the 1990s as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and from 1997 until 2003 when he starred as Dennis Finch on Just Shoot Me!. He also starred as C.J...
film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star is a 2003 American comedy film directed by Sam Weisman and starring David Spade and Mary McCormack.- Plot :...
, the Finney children, whose parents he pays to live with, repeatedly call him "Stranger Danger" to express their discomfort with the arrangement.
An episode of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! looks into Stranger Danger, where they look into both sides of the issue with a heavy bias towards Stranger Danger being "bullshit."
In an episode of Adventure Time
Adventure Time
Adventure Time was a local children's television show on WTAE-TV 4 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1959 to 1975. It was hosted by the late Paul Shannon, with guitarist Joe Negri and puppeteer Jim Martin...
, Jake the dog drinks from a river which gives him amnesia. Because Jake can't recognize his best friend Finn the human, Finn attempts to drag Jake onward which causes Jake to scream, "Help! Stranger danger!"
In Season 1 Episode 2 "Kryptonite" of New Girl
New Girl
New Girl is an American television sitcom that premiered on Fox on September 20, 2011.On September 28, 2011, after two episodes aired, Fox ordered an additional 11 episodes to the initial 13-episode order, bringing the first season to 24 episodes.-Plot:...
, Jess tells her ex-boyfriend, "Yeah, Stranger Danger is real."
External links
- British Public Service film from 1973
- Child Lures Prevention - Program for teaching children stranger safety
- People Smarts for Parents from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) - Educational information for the community. Has a variety of free publications.
- The Kid's Safe Canada Network - Free information on street proofing your children. Seminars available.