I've noticed recently, in RL and on here and in other SM, that there are a lot of people who get very upset/scared about things that I think are just not rational. I'm not talking about people who have anxiety issues or even who have been endlessly abused/controlled by a partner/parent etc which has led to them being unable to see the wood for the trees.
But a few examples:
complicated boring backstory but woman was being harassed and threatened by the father of a child in her kid's class, and she works at the school. She is now terrified that she will be fired becaus of this other dad (very very clear that she has done nothing wrong, and this other dad has been in public arguments with other people in the past so has a long history at the school of poor behaviour).
The endless hysteria about children being kidnapped when it's actually extraordinarily rare.
Passport photo signing or witnessing legal documents - I've lost count of the people who can't seem to find anyone to do this because people are scard to put their name to these sorts of things. I've done about 20 passport photos for various friends/school parent families because I am fully aware that there's no personal risk to me when I say, "yes, that's the child I've known for five years as John Smith who has been in the same class as my child since reception" or "yes, I have witnessed these two people signing this document."
A friend who is too scared to tell the school about her DH's anxiety issues, even though it directly impacts their child and he's been playing up a little in class and frankly, needs a bit more support. She is scared the school will "do something". But I can't work out what? She's a great parent who is doing her best to support her DC and her DH, her DH is seeking appropriate medical treatment etc.
When did we lose so much trust in each other and every organisation in the world?