Here is an interesting take on the latest trend, where people are either outright banned from, or are scorned somehow for taking pictures of children in public places:

The assumption that pictures represent a significant threat to children has acquired a fantasy-like grotesque character. We rarely dare ask the question: what possible harm can come from taking pictures of children playing soccer? Dark hints about the threat of evil networks of pedophiles are sufficient to corrode common sense. Tragically, what the dramatization and criminalization of the act of photographing children reveals is a culture that regards virtually every childhood experience from the standpoint of a pedophile.

Every possible form of interaction between an adult and a child is perceived as yet another opportunity for child abuse. In a roundabout way society has normalized pedophilia. The default position is to always expect the worse — and therefore children should be placed in purdah.

Combine this with the crazy tactics being taken towards people who are found guilty of sex crimes, and you can see that our society is making it out as if everything has some evil sexual aspect to it.  It's actually incredibly sad.

A man sitting on a beach watching some kids play, because they might look a lot like his own who he hasn't seen in a few months, would probably be stared at by parents in the area thinking he's a pervert.  Of course, the way the media portrays it, by exposing every rare incident as if it were common doesn't help either.

More at Dr. Helen.