omg, don't let us get started on the "tots in tiaras" and other forms of child abuse....
but yes indeed, this appears to be going on and having been going on for ever.
while over at the foreign legion today, it was an interesting people-watching occasion. the guys went from easily 6' 6" to 5' nothing. every shade, shape and colour present.
punkin pulled up to the gate, presented her p/p and the guy spoke in finnish to her. she was mortified. on the way back she asked a guard, in French, what ID her father needed to drive in with her. he replied "where's your father from?"
one thing about these guys, they are really polite, very helpful and ever so charming. which is interesting, considering most of them have very checkered backgrounds...