Our times & culture have done a dramatic shift since the leftist/hippie cultural revolution of the 60’s.
You said: “Kids in my neighborhood were free to roam by 10 years old.” Today that is not a good thing - lefties call it free ranging.
But before the revolution, a 10 year old could be with buddies, actually several blocks away. The worst they could do was play baseball, cops-n-robbers, cowboy, marbles, etc. Rapists were from big cities you just read about, a murder was rare, most apt to be some guy whacking his cheating wife, child abductions practically non-existent. Homo’s firmly hidden in their closet, if any at all. The teachers at school could swat a kid on the butt and not get in trouble. And NO INTERENT.
Kids of that 50’s early 60’s era learned respect & common sense naturally. Same with freedom. A kid could not just roam without the fears of today, but with zero interference from the government. Mom always knew where the kids were. Kids always came home.
Agreed.
I have to admit we ran around from 10am to 9pm when me and my cousin were kids in the ‘70s.
Things started to turn when I was 16. That was ‘84.
Some guy tried to give my little cousin Danielle some candy out his window and I chase him like a mother @#$#$.
The good old days were coming to an end.