[stuartj]

Not picking a fight all. Yes I have kids. Once again Lube, you leap to a confusion.

Making an assumption here about our collective approximate ages, but was it like this when we were kids? What has actually changed? Ae instances of random abductions higher?

AKAIK, random abductions of kids (or adults for that matter) are statistically rare. Children are many, many times more likely to meet harm from someone they know. The general awareness, and reporting, of this in our society now, as opposed to 30, or 50 or 100 years is much higher. Does this make it appear to us that instances are increasing?

I simply wonder -is it good when, as rcecale recounts, a kid going next door to check out little Mary Sue's new Barbie, causes parental hysteria such that "oh my god, she's been abducted" and bailing up the poor bastard delivering a new fridge to Mrs Smith in number 12.

So in short, are these fears rational or irrational?