Won't somebody please think of the liability?

Okay, so I'm doing another rare "blog suggestion." I barely have time to read my own, let alone someone else's, but this Lenore Skenazy deserves kudos for "Free Range Kids." This woman caused a sensation awhile back for letting her 9-year-old son ride the NYC subway alone! You know what THAT calls for:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHjFxJVeCQs

Anyway, she makes some good points about the fact that the crime rate today is actually LOWER than in 1970, and thus it's actually SAFER for kids today. But because those fewer crimes are broadcast and twitterized 24/7, well...then that explains why people can nod knowingly and/or shake their head sadly and say stuff like, "Yes, well, you know, things are different these days."

Um, yeah, it's safer.

Anyway, Ms. Skenazy just wrote about this community that will not allow children under 16 to even play outside w/o supervision! Somewhere in Florida, I think. Oh God, I just remembered! It's Code Orange! I just remembered from the airport 3 months ago! OMG, WTF, WDWD when it's Code Orange? Is this the one where we take off our shoes and do what with the toothbrush and take a picture for the hotel maid? (google toothbrush, picture, maid if you miss the reference)

And very closely tied to the whole fear FEAR FEAR thing: Is there anything more tiresome now than the word "liability?" You can't INSERT RANDOM SEMI-BIZARRE THING HERE w/o someone warning you about liability--most always in terms of ensuring you understand "they" won't be held liable. The cable guy can't tack the cable, snaking throughout the house and over the river and through the woods to make it from the stupidly placed entry point in your closet to the TV, because of "liability." Our summer campers, for an outdoor experiential environmental camp for God' sake, can't go in the ocean because of "liablity issues." You can't host a party in your own home unless you're willing to ensure that either no one gets drunk, or that if they do, they don't drive--otherwise you'll be held "liable." Roller coasters strap you in like an Air Force fighter pilot to protect the park's "liability."

OMG, random aside: fortunately, the Cyclone still operates on Coney Island. I swear, if you've never ridden this thing, and you're a coaster fan, it MUST be on your MUST list! My friend Brian and I rode it back in '94, and I swear, when we got off, I was literally shaking and slobbering and afraid to ride it again!

Don't make 'em like THAT anymore. Coz who'd be liable?

Humph.

Check out the Cyclone:

http://www.coneyislandcyclone.com/about_us.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajz-tzyp3FQ