This made the rounds on some message boards over the weekend – take a look:
I’ve never thought of using plastic safety inserts in UK power sockets because I know that they have their own in-built safety mechanism.
Anyway, it got me to thinking beyond sockets. This is a superb metaphor for the short-sightedness of enthusiastically introducing intrusive safety measures without considering that:
- Humans are smart - intrinsic protective qualities are likely to be far more effective
- The intervention itself can introduce additional risk or cause actual harm
Given the current government and societal obsession with mitigating all possible risk in the lives of all children, to the utter detriment of individual circumstance or preference, perhaps watching this short video should be compulsory safety training for all professionals with a stake in child protection issues.
They probably wouldn't get it though.
