Age Limit in Cafe Car

[Devil's Advocate]

It was also a safer world.

Safer in what way exactly? [1] Crime rates have been falling steadily for decades even though [2] there are many more crimes you can be charged with today than there were in the past. If you're talking specifically about white collar crime then I would strongly agree with you, but in the case of blue collar crime your contention isn't supported by the majority of statistics I've seen. Speaking of statistics, while you're busy watching and waiting for strangers in a public restroom to "try anything" [3] the far more likely predator profiles are already known to you and are welcome in your own home. But please don't let messy things like objective statistical analysis stop you from spending as much time and effort as possible worrying about some of the least likely threats to your family.

Are there any facts in that rant? If so, I missed them.

At least three, which I have now highlighted for easier reading.

 

[anir dendroica]

I'm not convinced the USA is a dangerous country - i.e. where children are more likely to be taken advantage of and criminal acts will befall the unwary. We're probably not the safest country on the planet, but the chance of anything bad happening to an unsupervised child in a cafe car on a train is still slim-to-none. We are a country full of fear - especially fear of strangers - fueled by the media which hypes the gruesome details of those relatively rare bad things that people do. I find that trains, and especially the lounge car, are a great place to meet interesting folks and hear their stories. Some folks are strange, and some are drunk and annoying, but I've yet to meet someone who would make me think twice about letting kids roam free.

Just my two cents...

Mark

 

[inspiration100]

I know 11 year olds that are much more responsible than 30 year olds. Have you ever seen a 12 year old punch at a conductor? I haven't. But I have seen a 40 year old punch at a conductor, and the results were him getting escorted away by 5 police officers at the next stop. I don't think age should have to do with it. If the kids are acting up unattended (yelling, screaming, making noise, making messes), their parents should be required to be with them or the next time they get removed from the train at the next stop. If the kids are responsible, let them enjoy walking around the train. I did plenty of that when I was 12 and if I was constantly being watched and scolded to by AmTr employees, I probably wouldn't be on this forum and enjoy train traveling like I do. My thoughts, that's it.

 

[GG-1]

Aloha

When I made my comment about safety and children I din not intend to imply society was bad. All I intended was to convey, It only takes one, And I would not want any child to meet that one. Another thing if, and when, I err, I want to err on the safe side. Heck in my industry, errors can and have killed.

 

[Bob Dylan]

As a Father and Grandfather, Totally agree with Eric! When it comes to Children one Cant Be Too Careful to be Sure They are Not Taken Advantage of by Pervs! Of course, as the Headlines tell us, one Never Knows?

Look at al the so called "trusted" people that have abused children! ( ie Priests/Teachers/Scout leaders/Coaches etc. )

Generally Trains are Probably Safer than being out on the Streets but as another Poster said Dont Ever let a Child go into a Public Bathroom Alone or without Checking to be Sure its OK!

Most of the Bad Actors I've seen on Trains were so called Adults under the Influence of Intoxicating Substances or else were Mentally Unstable! On the whole I think Amtrak Personnel do a Great job Watching out for their Trains and Passengers and are Kid friendly! We all Can Do Our Part to help Protect our Young, Nothing Better in this World it says here!

 

[chandj]

When I was a 13 year old girl I got approached by many pervy men--sometimes in church, sometimes in my home and a couple of times at school. Never in the lounge car on a train. I agree that we cannot be too careful with our children, but if OP's parents or guardians grant permission for a trip to the lounge car and Amtrak does not prohibit this in their official rules, I don't see why the OP and her sister should be turned back. If I were OP's parent, I'd have had a pleasant word with the attendant and then decided how to follow up.

 

[ReidTYK]

When I was a 13 year old girl I got approached by many pervy men--sometimes in church, sometimes in my home and a couple of times at school. Never in the lounge car on a train. I agree that we cannot be too careful with our children, but if OP's parents or guardians grant permission for a trip to the lounge car and Amtrak does not prohibit this in their official rules, I don't see why the OP and her sister should be turned back. If I were OP's parent, I'd have had a pleasant word with the attendant and then decided how to follow up.

just for the record, I'm a guy

 

[chandj]

When I was a 13 year old girl I got approached by many pervy men--sometimes in church, sometimes in my home and a couple of times at school. Never in the lounge car on a train. I agree that we cannot be too careful with our children, but if OP's parents or guardians grant permission for a trip to the lounge car and Amtrak does not prohibit this in their official rules, I don't see why the OP and her sister should be turned back. If I were OP's parent, I'd have had a pleasant word with the attendant and then decided how to follow up.

just for the record, I'm a guy

Same points applies--just replace her sister with his sister and we're good to go.

 

[George Harris]

It was also a safer world.

Safer in what way exactly? [1] Crime rates have been falling steadily for decades even though [2] there are many more crimes you can be charged with today than there were in the past. If you're talking specifically about white collar crime then I would strongly agree with you, but in the case of blue collar crime your contention isn't supported by the majority of statistics I've seen. Speaking of statistics, while you're busy watching and waiting for strangers in a public restroom to "try anything" [3] the far more likely predator profiles are already known to you and are welcome in your own home. But please don't let messy things like objective statistical analysis stop you from spending as much time and effort as possible worrying about some of the least likely threats to your family.

Are there any facts in that rant? If so, I missed them.

At least three, which I have now highlighted for easier reading.

I am aware that this has been the case for the last couple (or few) years. I am talking long term, as in what it was 50 or 30 years ago.