When I first flew I was 14 and BA organised a stewardess to escort me from the terminal to my seat, which was next to a kindly middle-aged lady. I'm sure I remember reading that there was a law against seating lone women and children next to single men but it seems I must be mistaken.
Fast forward a few years and I took an Easyjet flight to and from Cyprus. On the way there, they did as I thought they always did at the time. Families with young kids got free speedy boarding and you got your pick of unallocated seats and could always ensure you were together. It was a good and generous system.
On the way back we were given allocated seats. My partner and I were separate and my 2 year old son was about 20 rows back across the aisle and between two single men. It was remarkably difficult to interest the flight attendants in the problem, or the other passengers who didn't seem to want to move. And I've checked my reservations and there was no mention of any possibility of booking seats beforehand.
I'm afraid anybody who doesn't think that is ridiculous doesn't have kids of their own.