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Comment by Detrytus | Hacker News Reader

Maybe that's true in small, peaceful countries like Denmark, but in the US children "excersising some independence" would likely be kidnapped, raped or killed.

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This has never been significantly true, and becomes less true every year.

The probability that any given child will be kidnapped or otherwise threatened by a stranger is minuscule compared to the chance that they will be abused, kidnapped, or killed by a family member.

People don't like to think about this harsh reality. Stranger danger is much easier for them to accept.

It's a low probability, high impact event in a country with limited public access to affordable health care and very limited access to therapists.

By that thinking, looking at the data, you should prevent kids from seeing their family… Understand the nonsense? But nonsense gets often commonsensical when everyone in your circle believes it. Going outside has more benefits than risks. Like biking, yes you are at risk of accident, but in the average you’ll be fitter and live longer.

>> in the average you’ll be fitter and live longer

That's sort of the point about low probability events though, it doesn't affect the average but it has a significant impact on the individual.

The US has much better access to mental health care than any European country. Not to mention everyone who lives in a walkable city there lives in a state where healthcare access is good.

That is simply not true.

Are you sure that's true? How do you know?

How much does it depend on where in the US you are?

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