What is it about the UK and pedophiles?

Or should I say "suspecting everybody of being pedophiles?"

Another ridiculous story out of the UK, similar to their refusal to allow parents who haven't been screened to accompany their kids on playgrounds.

Now British Airways has a policy where, if they discover a child (either unaccompanied or with parents in a different row) sitting next to a man, the man will be asked to move.  Even if the man is with his own family.

Is there something in the water over there?
Mirko Fischer, an Australian businessman living in Luxembourg, is suing British Airways for "sexual discrimination."  He was sitting in the middle seat, next to his pregnant wife who thought the window seat would have more room, and next to a 12-year-old boy.  British Airways crews evidently stroll through the cabin before take-off and if they notice this kind of situation, they ask the male passenger to move.  Fischer said that he was with his pregnant wife, and the cabin crew started getting louder, drawing other passengers' attention to the altercation.  Finally, Fischer moved, but he was humiliated in the process.  He's suing, and he's going to be donating any winnings to the NSPCC (National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children).

"Mr Fischer, who lives in Luxembourg with his wife and their daughter Sophia, said: 'This policy is branding all men as perverts for no reason. The policy and the treatment of male passengers is absolutely outrageous.

'A plane is a public place  -  cabin crew regularly walk down the aisles and passengers are sat so close to each other. The risk of any abuse is virtually zero.


'Furthermore statistically children are far more likely to be abused by a member of their family. Does that mean that BA are going to ban children sitting next to their own parents?'"

I have to agree.  This policy basically says that any man is a suspected pedophile, and it's so ridiculous that I want to scream.   Have we all gone insane?

There are a couple of other things that I wish to note about this.

First, British Airways "Skyflyer Solo" policy states that a BA official will be with the child at all times.  So why would this child sitting next to a man be any danger?  Isn't it the official's job to keep an eye on the kid anyway?

Secondly, if this policy is so important to have in place, why can't it be that the *child* should be moved?  That has to be easier, especially in cases (like Mr. Fischer) where the man is traveling with *his* family.  And surely the child should be sitting with his/her guardian anyway, if traveling alone?  And if traveling with family but separated, how about Dad give up his seat for the kid?

But that's all practical matters.  What really pisses me off is the implication behind this policy.  It's just more "thought crime" legislation, this time without the thoughts!  It's not common knowledge that this policy is in place (I couldn't find it on their web site), so the other passengers must have really been wondering what Fischer was doing to be moved like that when voices started getting raised.

The nanny state is becoming more and more a reality every day.