At the Park: Why we are no longer a high-trust society.

Something I noticed at the playground was that many of the moms there accompanied their kids onto the playground, and stood near them while they played. - rushbabe49

• Most of the kids had moms at the edge of the play area, and there were a bunch of blankets where the families had their picnic lunches and equipment...

I guess there’s no such thing as “free play” anymore. 

My friends and I played together all day long, going to each other’s houses and ranging all over the neighborhood alone. 

• That doesn’t happen anymore.
• And here’s one of the reasons why.

This adult male was sleeping just a few yards from the kids’ playground...

My guess is that parents today can’t leave their kids alone for even a short time, given that many parks (in all social strata of neighborhoods) are bordered by tents with homeless vagrants inside. 

• Their kids are in a certain amount of danger wherever they are, at all times of the day.