# To deter pedophiles some NYC parks are banning all adults without children **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 28, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936 "2005-09-28T23:31:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/41 "2005-09-30T20:15:47Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > Awesome, another law which we can apply in an inconsistent and unclear manner to people that we don’t like or, _give us the creeps_. Like minorities, poor people, or any of society’s other undesirables. Or belly dancers. When I see a belly dancer coming, I always cross to the other side of the street. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/42 "2005-09-30T22:24:05Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > I hear Aqualung playing in the background. 😉 That was the funniest comment I’ve seen in a while. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_MuD\_PhuD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/2bfe46/32.png) [@Elmer\_MuD\_PhuD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_MuD_PhuD)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/43 "2005-10-11T03:53:30Z")
> [@velvetjones](#): > > There are no free museums where I am. The few I’ve been to in the area charge a small fee. So does the Met in NY and the Smithsonion. (though I think they call this a “donation”). > > There are also quite a few state parks you have to pay to enter and parts of the beach you have to pay to enter here. > > I think the reasoning is that there isn’t government money to support the maintenance of these places anymore so they rely on these “donations” to keep the lights on. They call them “donations” beacause they are, in fact, dontations. You are not required to pay a cent to walk through the Met. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_MuD\_PhuD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/2bfe46/32.png) [@Elmer\_MuD\_PhuD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_MuD_PhuD)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/44 "2005-10-11T03:56:08Z")
> [@TripingJimiThing](#): > > They call them “donations” because they are, in fact, dontations. You are not required to pay a cent to walk through the Met. Or rather donations. They took the “dontations” sign down ( :o ). It was confusing the tourists. ---
**Author:** ![uglybeech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/82dd89/32.png) [@uglybeech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uglybeech)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/45 "2005-10-11T04:42:01Z")
I wouldn’t mind this sort of stupididty except that at some point I realized these kids are going to grow up. And what will they grow up into? A bunch of completely paranoid nutcases probably. They’ve been taught the world is so terribly unsafe and filled with evil people that it’s dangerous to spend even a few minutes out of your parents’ watchful eye. The mysterious grownup on the bench is probably there to molest and kill you. Don’t take any chances. People you don’t know are dangerous. What a horrible way to live. And that will be the normal mindset in a few years in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/46 "2005-10-11T10:13:40Z")
> [@velvetjones](#): > > There are no free museums where I am. The few I’ve been to in the area charge a small fee. So does the Met in NY and the Smithsonion. (though I think they call this a “donation”). Just as a point of clarification, the Smithsonian museums in Washington do not charge admission. They offer voluntary memberships (and out of three museums, exactly one clerk asked me if I wanted to join), and solicit donations via discreet little collection boxes. I don’t know about the setup of the museums outside Washington, but that’s how it is here. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/47 "2005-10-11T14:35:49Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > I know and I agree and I addressed it with post [14](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6634794&postcount=14). And I addressed it in Post 37. And I read your response in post 14. So fucking what? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/48 "2005-10-11T14:47:50Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > And I addressed it in Post 37. And I read your response in post 14. So fucking what? It took 11 days to come back and be hostile over what? I will apologize for whatever you found offensive, can you please tell me what it was? ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/49 "2005-10-11T15:33:14Z")
Paranoid parents are the reason no kids are allowed in my home in the neighborhood and why when I saw a kid in a store on the ground crying I went for security, rather than offering to help. I get the message: People are paranoid. When I see the dumb laws about adults and kids in parks, I get the message even clearer: Don’t expect me to be anywhere near any of your kids EVER. Now, unfortunately, I’m paranoid. Wouldn’t even watch my neices and nephews, because to care for little kids, you have to touch them at some point. PASS. I’m reacting to people’s paranoia by adopting my own in defense. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/50 "2005-10-11T21:04:31Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > It took 11 days to come back and be hostile over what? > I will apologize for whatever you found offensive, can you please tell me what it was? Why don’t you tell me why you took the snotty attitude with me. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/51 "2005-10-12T02:57:49Z")
The areas of NYC parks signed for no adults without children are usually relatively small playground areas within larger parks. I sometimes go to the playgrounds with my nephew. When I’ve been there, I’ve seen single men there who definitely gave me the creeps. They seemed to take more than the usual interest in being an area with small children. To me it seems like a common-sense rule that works. There isn’t really much in the playgrounds to interest adults. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/52 "2005-10-12T03:22:34Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Why don’t you tell me why you took the snotty attitude with me. [Moderator Underoos on]And why don’t _you_ calm down and try to remember that you are not in the BBQ Pit?[/Moderator Underoos on] ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/53 "2005-10-12T15:35:34Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Why don’t you tell me why you took the snotty attitude with me. I did not think I was snotty. You had replied to my post originally and I simply replied back I had covered that very subject. I am sorry you took offense to it. In my clumsy fashion I was just pointing out I understood your point of view. I don’t fell too strongly on this issue either way. I am very sorry Kalhoun, please forgive me. If there is any other issue please let me know an I will try to address it. If not please, I really wasn’t trying to be snotty. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/54 "2005-10-12T16:08:27Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > I did not think I was snotty. You had replied to my post originally and I simply replied back I had covered that very subject. I am sorry you took offense to it. In my clumsy fashion I was just pointing out I understood your point of view. I don’t fell too strongly on this issue either way. > > I am very sorry Kalhoun, please forgive me. > If there is any other issue please let me know an I will try to address it. If not please, I really wasn’t trying to be snotty. Water under the bridge, my friend. I had a rather short fuse yesterday. Shake? 😮 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/55 "2005-10-12T16:09:30Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Water under the bridge, my friend. I had a rather short fuse yesterday. Shake? 😮 That was supposed to be a 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/56 "2005-10-12T16:10:26Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > That was supposed to be a 🙂 Shake, I am happy to clear that up. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936/57 "2005-10-12T16:30:48Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > The ban is for the playground areas of the park. Not for large public areas of Union Square or Central Park or anything. So if you are a 35 year old who has some burning desire to play on a jungle gym, I can understand how you might be upset. I actually use the playground equipment when I run. I like to do a couple L-seats before the last half-mile. I get funny looks sometimes, but that’s about it. If someone told me I couldn’t use a tax-supported park, I’d be furious. You shouldn’t need to explain why you’re on public property, without some other, very important, overriding interest. I’ll bet more children are injured on jungle gyms than molested by strangers in parks. If we ban anyone, let’s think of the children. It’s for their own good, after all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-deter-pedophiles-some-nyc-parks-are-banning-all-adults-without-children/323936.md?page=2)