Talking to Strangers

Bruce Schneier says:

In Beyond Fear I wrote: "Many children are taught never to talk to strangers, an extreme precaution with minimal security benefit."

In talks, I'm even more direct. I think "don't talk to strangers" is just about the worst possible advice you can give a child. Most people are friendly and helpful, and if a child is in distress, asking the help of a stranger is probably the best possible thing he can do.

I told my kids that an 11-year-old boy was lost in the Utah wilderness for four days because his parents taught him not to talk to strangers.