we even teach our children to NEVER talk to a stranger (even though kids are “statistically” much more likely to be taken by someone they already know!).
Which exposes the dumb thinking. It was dumb 50 years ago when over 80% of rapists werent actually strangers and staying away from strangers achieved nothing when most rapists arent strangers but family members or someone family knows, and it is even dumber today when it is actually impossible not to talk to strangers, because everyone on internet is technically stranger and the only way not to talk to them is to not use internet. So I think stranger danger is a dumb thinking because there are many situations where the only one who can provide help is a stranger, lets say in case of dog attack which is common, or in case of family abuse where the only people person knows are those who abuse him.