MovieChat Forums > The Shining (1980) Discussion > Danny... left alone to wander

Danny... left alone to wander

posted 6 years ago by tricksoftrade (82)
3 replies | jump to latest

When management was showing the Torrance's around the Overlook, Danny was temporally separated and lost track of his parents . A woman found him and reunited them in the Golden Ballroom, where his mother greeted him with a smile.

How rare is this today in America? Kids aged 8-12 just are not left to explore alone. For most of humanity, this was not the case. Kids were given a certain amount of freedom and independence. This does not happen now until much later in life. What will the effects be?

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Yeah when I was 6 (1980) or so and went shopping with my parents I'd be allowed to wander off to go look at the toy section. A few years later, after a few high profile kidnappings the trend of erring on the side of caution and never letting kids out of sight really took off.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I remember going to Modells Shoppers World with my mother and sisters when I was very young. My mom would leave me alone in the toy department for what seemed like hours while she and my sisters were off shopping. I also remember running out of our house (on a daily basis) in the wee hours of the morning, and not coming back until it was either lunch time or dinner time. From a young age I was hardly ever supervised.

What does it mean for the younger generation? Who knows. The world is already a complete mess. I suspect that it will only get worse.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

When I was around 10 years old I use to be allowed to go hiking in the wooded valley in front of my house. I use to go out for hours with no issues. Not to say something couldn't of happened and this was a time before cellphones (at least for the common people, let alone kids). It was a great time. If it had any effect it was that I'm more independent and not afraid to go out exploring by myself.