Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
Yes. We earmark places and establishments as 'family-friendly' and 'child-friendly.' In most of the world there is no need to make that distinction, as family-friendly and child-friendly are the default. You can spend half a day walking around Calgary and never see anyone under 15. That's not my experience outside North America. And in many countries I've been to, adults routinely interact with children around them who are not their own. Joke with them, kick a ball with them. That is a breach of etiquette in North America, where children are largely segregated from contact with society beyond their parents, schools, and supervised sports activities. And there is a significant proportion of the adult population who do not like children, and do not like to be around them, or see or hear them. Again, that's not the case elsewhere that I've seen.
Can you name some countries you've been to that are less child friendly than Canada and the U.S.?
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Wow, I think you're out to lunch on this. There must be something else at play. Like perhaps when you travel you are doing holiday-type things where you are likely to run into families who are also travelling. People bring their kids on vacation and have a lot of time to just hang out and play with their kids. It's a primary reason why people like getting away.
Do you have kids? If not, that would explain why you aren't running into them at the office, or at university, or when you're out at the pub.
I have kids and my life revolves around them, their friends and randoms from the neighbourhood. If I go to the park by my house, I know the little kids that live around there will show up. I know their names and I've never once met their parents. Same thing when we go to the lake by our house (in Calgary) - we always meet a random kid that hangs out with us.
Kids are
everywhere so I have no idea what you are talking about. And Calgary is wicked kid friendly. Just got back from San Diego and it is, too. No matter where I go on this continent there are playgrounds and activities for kids.