Reasonable people can disagree about whether anti-harassment policies would be effective in reducing the occurrence of harassment at atheist events. I believe that having an effective anti-harassment policy could help, but I recognize that some are skeptical. What I have a harder time understanding is the position of those who claim that these policies are unnecessary because we are all adults and all know better.I had the TV on while eating lunch today, and I saw a public service announcement on a local station here in Mississippi reminding parents not to leave their young children unattended in vehicles on hot days. I know many pets die each year because of this, but I guess it didn't occur to me that this was happening with children too. I suppose I figured that parents would have enough sense not to leave a young child unattended in a vehicle no matter what the temperature was like. Seems like one of those things that people should already know, doesn't it?
Anti-harassment policies seem kind of like this. I wish those arguing that they are not necessary were right. I wish people really did know better. But if we need to remind parents not to leave their children unattended in vehicles during a Mississippi summer, I'm not sure we can assume everybody does know better.
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