Man fined for sitting on bench[Germany-you can't sit at playground w/o being accompanied by a child]

Ananova ^ | 07:49 Friday 8th August 2003

[jjbrouwer]

I assume you are a German - you have my sympathy, Fritz.

[Frapster]

It would suck if I couldn't sit in the park anymore without borrowing the neigbor boy or girl.

You don't seem to understand - the borrowing of other people's children will be outlawed too.

[Tamzee]

I happen to like this idea... the playground area of the part limited to children and the adults bringing them there to play. As long as signs are properly posted in that specific area, why is this a terrible intrusion? I would guess there are many other benches throughout the part that aren't next to the playground and the fella certainly wouldn't need to hang around for any length of time to see if his daughter would like it.

[Prodigal Son]

Sometimes the weather in Scotland is a law unto itself.

Aye. The sun hasn't made an appearance yet today and it's fairly cool.

I've just moved into Edinburgh. Be staying here for the next 6 months at least. My flat is right beside the castle. So, there's a nice festive feel in the air right about now and the weather is making it even better. I get fireworks out my sitting room window every night (from the Tattoo) and a never ending stream of tourists to look at when I lean out the window for a smoke. Been a long time since I saw that many of my fellow Americans in one place at one time. All in all, it's very agreeable so far.

[jjbrouwer]

You went at the right time with the festival in full swing. I used to spend a lot of time there.

There used to be thousands of American tourists in the city at this time of year but that has probably dropped off a little this year.

[Tamzee]

Have you heard about how, if we put all men in jail, we'd get rid of 98% of all violent crime

While true, I wouldn't go that far LOL Of course, I wouldn't mind absolute life sentences with no parole for anyone who committed murder, rape or child molestation. That would cut down much of violent crime immediately and then we wouldn't have to worry as much about folks lurking around playgrounds :-)

[Republicus2001]

yes, what is a park? You have Yosemite, Yellowstone, etc...now if the ordinance specified a child's playground well that may be something. as a matter of fact anti-gang ordinance's in LA disallow even the bad guys from STANDING in the park...

[inquest]

Looks like we're headed that way, too. Basically, every adult is a "predator" and must feel guilty just for being an adult.

[CSM]

Fine, ban a childless person from the park. I would have no problem with it if they reduced the taxes of all childless property owners and raised the taxes of the people with children. While they are at it, do the same for the money used for education.

I will go and sit on any bench in any park as long as I am paying for it!

[DryFly]

[CSM]

It should be the interest of the parents to ensure the education of their children. I could care less what type of education some one else's kids get! Don't be passing to me the "it helps the value of your property" argument. The bottome line is that people choose to have kids (or at least the creation of kids activity) and they should be totally responsible for that choice. I chose to buy a dog and no one gives me any funding for a dog park, dog school, etc. I don't expect society to help with any responsibility resulting from my choice, therefore I don't expect to have property confiscated from me to assist with responsibility resulting from someone elses choice.

Bottom line, it is not reasonable for a publicly funded entity to restrict the use of that entity to a narrowly defined group of users!

[MattAMiller]

Actually a lot of states have laws like this for the purpose of getting creepy guys who hang out around kids to move along.

[Political Junkie Too]

Germany also bans killing ants.

Germans banned from killing ants

-PJ

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

I guess they are returning to a faciest state!

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

No, but most Germans I have met seem to be good people. Your statement was incredably bigoted.