What difference does it make to the subject of the thread? My dad was born in 1911, the youngest of six, and mother came along in 1914, the oldest of eight. Nothing was ever said about these grandparents of mine going out to restaurants, concerts, bars, you name it. I'd be amazed to know they ever paid a babysitter.
The only ones who minded my brothers and me at times were an aunt or uncle or my grandparents.
My husband and I did have babysitters...the daughters of our good neighbors, and sometimes their friends whom they highly recommended. They all happened to be teenage girls. Never a problem...all trustworthy.
Two of our children totally trust my oldest grandson to babysit their kids. My youngest daughter has had a neighbor boy stay with them in the past. No problem. (None of them are little babies, of course).
It all comes down to having and using good sense and our gut instincts. I would never have put my children in harm's way, nor did my ancestors. Our lifestyles change, circumstances are not all the same in any era.
Read it in the context of the question brought up that it addressed and you will know.
After this sentence in your post:
What difference does it make to the subject of the thread?
Every sentence you wrote, addressed the same subject, so let me address the same question to you - What difference does it make to the subject of the thread?
Back when I was growing up, we had some neighbors who lived down the road from us who have a couple of daughters that are both grown now, one of which is married and has kids of her own now, in fact. They’re 10 and 12 years younger than me, and I used to babysit them on occasion. With me, there was never EVER a problem, and may God strike me dead with a bolt of lightning and send me to hell for eternity if I’m lying.
I never knew that John Walsh advocated against hiring male babysitters until I saw this thread. Since committing such a criminal act would be completely unthinkable to me, let’s just say I USED to be a fan of America’s Most Wanted. My opinion of him just dropped like a falling rock.