Wednesday, April 6, 2011

The Right to Spatial Mobility

Why can't we be in any public place we want
without having to look over our shoulder
watching for the imaginary human predator?

Women have always been perceived as vulnerable
in public spaces, especially if alone.
In some instances,
men are also in danger for their safety,
such as in specific environments.

And, recent studies document that children
have much less independent use of public space
than 40 years ago.
Yet, physical activity independent of adult supervision
is an important component of youth physical activity.
In fact, there is a grassroots group called Playborhood
attempting to connect American communities so that
children can return to playing outside.


With progressing technological discoveries as tools,
one's safety may come to be protected in all public spaces,
in a near future world.
Think of a future world where one's physical body is automatically protected
as soon as one enters public space.

Thus, I would propose the Right to Spatial Mobility for all.


44 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think that we should have spatial mobility. There are too many children who do not enjoy the outdoors. Why can't it be like before. I remember growing up as a kid playing outside with my friends not wanting to go inside because I had to eat lunch or dinner. In today's world the children are glued to the television set, on the internet, and too busy playing video games. That is why there are too many children fighting obesity. I hope things were the same as they used to be when I was growing up.

Francisco A

Anonymous said...

The fact that children are afraid of playing outside is sad. This makes me woneder, what has this world come to? It has come to the point that I do not feel safe walking alone anywhere. There is a great fear that someone is out to hurt us, at any time. Now the government coming up with technological ways of keeping us safe. I am in favor of spacial mobility even if it means that "big brother" is always going to be watching.

cd884 said...

I completely agree with Francisco! We should all have the right to spatial mobility especially children. I have a little sister and the more time I can keep her away from TV shows and video games the better I feel about myself. I personally rather go outside than be on the computer all day. I am on now because I have to blog if not I would not be on it. I do think that we all should have the right to spatial mobility!

TrustMeImADoctor said...

If we had the right to sppatial mobility, meaning we are able to go into the public 100% stress free becuase of new technology, I believe that not many people would take that oppurtunity. Back when I was growing up we used to go outside to play basketball, or go to the pool, or even go to the park for some fun. Now a days technology has taken over instead of playing basketball in the blazing sun kids decide to play video games, they go on the internet to be "socialy" active. Less time is spent outside in general and I think have more safety would not affect the number of kids that would play outside.

michelle said...

Kid's these days amaze me. back in "my day" I would always be outside playing and it was not just cause all my neighbors were boys and really cute, I would be riding bike, playing outside until my parents had to drag me inside for dinner. these days, all kids want to do is be inside, play online games, text, and chat. when did kids under 14 start having Facebook? what can a child possibly do on facebook? and lets not get started with the Ipods. the toys in my childhood was a Giga-pet and those trolls with the furry hair, and Barbie's that dont look like they are starving. get your children out of the house people! they are frying their brains every 30 seconds they are on a computer!

"Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft."-Anon.

Anonymous said...

From a young age I have always been very observant of my surroundings and often times I won’t go in a public place alone if it is at night in fear of the “imaginary human predator.” I am not surprised that in today’s world children are also not using public spaces compared to 40 years ago. In fact I was watching a show on TV where a child was kidnapped in a play ground when the mother took her eyes of her child for one minute. Additionally, I agree with Francisco that technology has not helped the case. I definitely think that we all have the right to spatial mobility. -v.p.

Unknown said...

Your youth only comes around once, and the fact we live in such a twisted world, where our children are no longer able to be outside with out the chance of something negative happening to them is unfortunate. If the “Future world” will be able to protect ones physical body automatically then we are finally going to be able to let our kids run free.

-Nicole Chaplin-

Janet Almonte said...

The only solution for having the right to spatial mobility realistically is to be observed and this can take away our right to privacy. I do however; feel as if the risk to loosing the right to privacy would be worth its weight to be able to roam freely without having fear. We limit our selves and others such as our children everyday to many activities out of fear of harm. Many believe that we live in a world with people in our society who we cannot change their malice intentions. I differ in this opinion because there are technological advances with genetic modifying where we can take out these specific malformed genes. This specific type of modification has not yet (that we are aware of) been tested, but it has been tested to modify genetic diseases through the removal of particular genes. I think that all malformations qualify under diseases; therefore, we all do have a chance to live in a peaceful world to freely roam.
Janet

Anonymous said...

Mmmm, yeah this makes sense for women; always being conscious of who may be around us. But honestly, kids these days don't even want to play outside. I cant go to a family dinner with my boyfriend without seeing 4 Ipads and every kid playing on their iphone (between the ages of 3 and 16).

-surfershoes

Espy said...

I agree with "I'm a Doctor". I think the major reason that kids aren't playing outside is because of the technology that has developed over the years. Computers, Xbox, Playstation, Wii, to name a few, are the reasons why. There has been a drastic change in the last 10 to 15 years because of these indoor activities that kids are attracted to. Also as a parent, the fear of their children being taken by a predator adds to it, so parents don't mind that their children are inside. I believe they need to make a conscious effort to make their kids go outside to play and exercise. Child obesity is at an all time high because of these reasons.

RhWim said...

I believe that in this world one should have a right to spatial mobility. However, I watch the Nancy Grace show religiously and know that it can be dangerous for children. There are more missing children and women in the world today than ever before. It's sad, but it's true.

Anonymous said...

Its important for kids to have space to run around. Society has changed to the point where it is hard to have our kids run about without worrying about who is going to kidnap them or harm them. As the years progress, the freedom for our children spaitial mobility is being more restricted.

F.C.

Unknown said...

I totally agree with the right to spatial mobility. Children especially should have this right. Everyone should have a piece of mind when they hit their door to come outside.I myself keep my kids sheltered, due to me working around sick and crazy people.

Luz Mery said...

I really like this right. We should be able to be outside without looking over our shoulder. I do feel children don't have the same freedom as I did when I was growing up. It would be great to step outside and feel protected.

Esmeralda A said...

Everyone should have the right to spatial mobility. If no one has the right to space, this world would be completely insane. We need our private time without anyone spying on us. EA

Anonymous said...

We all should all feel safe in public places, especially children. It is sad that children cannot run and play throughout their neighborhoods like I did as a child. As a woman I tend to not put myself in compromising situations and always pay attention to my surroundings its my reality

Ann Marie

Ingrid J. said...

We have advanced in so many things which is supposed to make us more knowledgeable and more civilized and yet we cannot always trust the person beside us. Spatial mobility is very little outdoors, especially for kids. Nowadays it's mostly television, video games, i-pads, facebook and let's not forget the cell phone. Most of the times what is on the video games and television is sex and violence which is a great influence on wicked minds.

Pedro said...

People need the Right to Spatial Mobility in order to exercise, relax, and sometimes think. Parents also need spacial mobility to provide their children with space to evolve around their surroundings. Television is a good source of education and sometimes people stay indoors to learn. Technology is always making efforts to insure ones safety and it will become safer outside as time goes by. P.L

Mike Lanza said...

Hello, there! I'm the blogger behind Playborhood.com. Thanks for discussing this vitally important topic. I've written many, many articles on this topic. Here are a couple recent ones that you might find interesting:

Giving Freedom Incrementally
Beaver Cleaver: A Model Free Range Kid

Anonymous said...

Well, I think we should all have this right but it seems that in this day and age it is basically impossible. If we were to have a future world like the one you mentioned, maybe then we'd be able to exert our right to spatial mobility in all its extent. --Rosa F.

Anonymous said...

As much as I would like to think that one day we would all exercise this right to it's fullest, the truth is that we have some very sick individuals in this world that make it extremely difficult to exercise this right. All you have to do is watch the news and listen to the countless stories of children being abducted, women being taken while walking to school or waiting at a bus stop, etc. It's sickening. There is something we can do about this, but people have to be willing to take the necessary stand in order for the current situation to improve.

Eddie M.

Mirror said...

The right to spatial mobility is important for everybody, but due to the unsafe world, it is a good idea to practice this right in groups.
Aimara Ors

Anonymous said...

I agree with this right. We all should have the right to feel safe being outside. I don’t think technology is the reason why kids don’t play outside anymore. I think that it is the responsibility of each parent to monitor and restrict what their children do. GS

Unknown said...

People want to feel protected where ever they go. Turning a corner might lead you to an undesirable area of town without any means of protecting yourself. As for the children, although some kids seldom participate in outdoor activities because of technology, parents want them to be safe. It should not matter what location you are in; without spatial mobility future generations will lock themselves inside their homes.

Anonymous said...

Its a shame that people would have to worry about danger or problems affecting them when they go out in public. Unfortunately this is our society and only in a perfect world would our right to spatial mobility never come into to question.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with right, as a child I played without having to look over my shoulder. This made me feel freer; today, I am constantly watching to see who is watching me or my kids. The right to spatial mobility is important because it enables us to build long lasting relationships and connect with our peers. Gary Norris

kevin0121 said...

I agree with ROB O. Even if they try to make it safer for us to go out in public with the new technology scientist are creating, it will not work because are world is so twisted by insane peolpe that we always have to look over are shoulders.

Anonymous said...

I still remember the feeling of independence I got the first time my friends and I walked to the store by ourselves. I used to climb trees, go swimming, biking and hang out with my friends outside. It would be great if men, women, and children could feel safe outside so they could spend more time being physically active outdoors. It would help them be more connected to nature and each other. I support the Right to Spatial Mobility.

Anonymous said...

It seems that today’s society is more concerned than before about being in an outdoor environment. Children have the right to play and feel safe when they are in a public place, but violence is such a big issue in the country that we worry not only about out children’s safety but our own. I support the right to spatial mobility, but I believe that in order to achieve that there has to be more security.
-D.Diaz

Anonymous said...

The right to spatial mobility is very important to everyone especially for kids. Kids should especially have this right because they should not have to be worried or scared about anything. E.S.

Terrance Carter said...

I think we all have this right, but it is not reality. If we start connecting neighborhoods for protection, then will we again destroy personal space? If we use monitoring devices, bodygaurds, or any type of big brother system, are we becoming our own minature governments. In the end, we all should allow the government to inject us with chips and that way they will know where everyone is at all times. Is this really the route we want to take?

Anonymous said...

The Right to Spatial Mobility is something that our world lacks today. Unfortunately, there is so much crime in our community that our children cannot play freely, as they once did. Not only do I believe this affects their childhood but also their health. Many children today, are overweight not only because of the food they are ingesting but because of no physical activity. I strongly believe that everyone should have the rights to go out and do as they please. Children should be able to go the park or play outside in their block without the parents being concerned if someone is going to kidnap them, rap or kill them. Sadly to say, this is the world that we are living in today and the ones paying for it is our children, which make up the future of this world.
MelB

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with this right, when I was a kid I used to play outside, ride my bike, and my parents didn't have to worry that somebody will come and hurt me. Today's date we have a lot of sick people in the streets and unfortunately we can not leave our kids playing outside by themselves, not even us, as adults can walk around without being afraid of being robbed, sexually assaulted, etc. On the other hand, cell phones, computers, video games, etc have replaced that right to spatial mobility.
Laura R.

Jenny said...

I believe that we all deserve the right to spatial mobility. Children are definitely not enjoying the outdoors to it's full potential. I, as a woman, prefer to be accompanied by someone when I run my errands throughout the day or at night, due to the lack of security. The right to feel secure and enjoy every single moment of freedom, is something that is needed in our lives.

JR

Miglaude said...

Children are social creatures by nature; they have a need or obligation to socialize with others. The failure of safety as a community problem, it is a reason to doubt the reality of the worry over community members having surrounding neighborhoods. There is no hesitation to the need to protect the community from crime and more… I agree with right to spatial mobility.

Anonymous said...

Everyone has the Right to Spatial Mobility. It really is sad that people cannot go out like how they used to in the past. Every time I want to go out at night, I always get the speech from my mom: "The world is not the way it used to be when I grew up, there is too much evil in the streets, it is not safe for a young women anymore." There is much more hazard for women than men in present day. I do not deny men can get hurt if they are in the wrong place. It really is sad that some people cannot enjoy their youth because they are too busy looking out for people with bad intentions. Moreover, children should enjoy their childhood, especially. It is so true what Francisco said, when I was little I used to be outside all the time. I do not see kids nowadays doing that. They are either watching T.V or addicted to video games. There should be some sort of protection in the future so children, women and even men can go out without worrying that something bad might happen. We have the right to be anywhere at any time, to enjoy life, and the freedom that is granted to us.
-Shivani

Anonymous said...

Public safety is progressing, it has been for years. The only problem is that there are just some criminals ahead of the game, one step ahead of the people protecting us. Truth is we depend on other people to defend and protect us. Despite all of the methods and training techniques for self defense available, we simply ignore them and choose to be dependent on someone else. We live in a world full of people like us that breathe oxygen and bleed blood.--KB

Anonymous said...

Sadly, we can not live our kids playing alone for long time in the streets because it is dangerous. There are many predators and criminals in the streets. Eventhough, I agree with this right. But I will add that parents should watch while kids play outside.

Claudia B.

RV said...

Outdoor activities are important and necessary to human development, so this is a very important right to all.

Anonymous said...

I did not grow up playing outside and I also never had the interest of playing outdoors. Maybe my lack of interest was due to the city and culture I was raised. With all that being said I disagree with this right. I think that I grew up in very happy way even though I never played outdoors,also I believe that many other children can grow up in the same way I did and can have more fun than I actually had.

Anonymous said...

The Right to Spatial Mobility is so important in today's society. Most parents do not have the time to take their kids to open parks, like the photo above. Before, parks and open recreational areas were free of charge. Now, we have to pay parking, registration fees, etc to be able to enjoy from a nice time.
Patricia Delgado

Anonymous said...

Certain aspects such as an economic crisis can cause the environment to be unsafe due to people in it. Where 20 years ago kids could go outside and play without supervision isn’t seen anymore. Or when people left their doors open, now even locks aren’t useful sometimes. Due to safety concerns we are losing our ability to special mobility that as a right should be implemented. – D.T

Anonymous said...

With respect to spatial mobility the public spaces such as parks, beaches and street are governed by the rules of the governing body. We only have the right to use these public spaces that have been set forth by the governing body. However, if those rules intefere with any of the civil rights of the USA Constitution, we have the right to challenge those rules. All space is owned by someone even the space above all house. The airlines and the government owns the arial space above us. By: L.J.B.R.

Anonymous said...

I think the Right to Spatial Mobility is one of the most important things. It is the right to joy or play. Safety is something really important, and over the time it has been reduced by several things. This specific right is something that all of us should have.

H.D.A