Kids and the internet.

[Guest Caveman]

I watched a news story this morning concerning "cyber bullying." Apparently kids are getting on facebook/myspace and posting mean comments and videos about each other. Parents of these "bullied" children are pushing for more internet control and monitoring by the government. I was just curious what the opinions were here on TGO. I'll start with mine.

What are kids doing on these sites anyway? Facebook and Myspace are adult social networks. When Myspace first started, you had to enter a birth-date that made you 18 or older in order to make a profile. I'm not saying kids didn't simply bypass this by entering a false birth-date, but it shows that these sites are intended for adults. I am so sick and tired of lazy parents sitting their kids down in front of a TV or computer with no supervision so they wont have to deal with them, and then complaining that their kids are being exposed to "bad things" on cable or internet. MONITOR YOUR OWN KIDS, YOU ARE THE PARENT. Computers and cable have parental controls, USE THEM. If we start giving government more control over the internet they are just going to do what they always do and use it as an excuse to start controlling every element of the internet. I mean really???? Are people to the point now where they are so self involved they need the government to raise their kids for them? If these parents want someone to blame for their kids behavior, they should blame themselves.

[Guest SUNTZU]

Its parenting skills, rather the lack thereof. See Doug Stanhope on Youtube Rampant on the Internet.

[Guest cjames38464]

I have to agree with SUN, its the parents job to police thier kids not the Government...This is what is wrong with society today, noone wants to take responsibility for thier actions...and it seems to be getting worse...

[lowbud]

I have to agree with SUN, its the parents job to police thier kids not the Government...This is what is wrong with society today, noone wants to take responsibility for thier actions...and it seems to be getting worse...

You are absolutly correct. Nobody is responsible for anything these days as it's either someone elses fault or a disorder of some type. There's not a single day goes by where I don't yell at the TV. Totally unbelieveable!

[Guest SUNTZU]

What are kids doing on these sites anyway? Facebook and Myspace are adult social networks. When Myspace first started, you had to enter a birth-date that made you 18 or older in order to make a profile. I'm not saying kids didn't simply bypass this by entering a false birth-date, but it shows that these sites are intended for adults. I am so sick and tired of lazy parents sitting their kids down in front of a TV or computer with no supervision so they wont have to deal with them, and then complaining that their kids are being exposed to "bad things" on cable or internet. MONITOR YOUR OWN KIDS, YOU ARE THE PARENT. Computers and cable have parental controls, USE THEM. If we start giving government more control over the internet they are just going to do what they always do and use it as an excuse to start controlling every element of the internet. I mean really???? Are people to the point now where they are so self involved they need the government to raise their kids for them? If these parents want someone to blame for their kids behavior, they should blame themselves.

Caveman did a fine job discussing parenting skills.

[Guest Caveman]

Caveman did a fine job discussing parenting skills.

Thank you sir. I have two daughters and they rarely even use the computer because we are usually out doing things and being productive. I have no intention of letting my girls become lazy, uneducated morons.

That icon is awesome, lol.

[Guest SUNTZU]

Bam Bam.

[LagerHead]

I have no problems with my kids being on facebook, since you can control who can and can't see your profile and post to it. But that doesn't mean I stop being a parent, and in the end I am still in charge of the bits and bytes that enter and leave my house.

[Guest LieutenantDan67]

I have no problems with my kids being on facebook, since you can control who can and can't see your profile and post to it. But that doesn't mean I stop being a parent, and in the end I am still in charge of the bits and bytes that enter and leave my house.

Similar here...we are down to two boys in the house now in high school. They have facebook accounts and use them responsibly, and they are on our friends lists and know that we see what they are posting. But they are good guys and are fine, though I constantly like to tease them by saying facebook is the devil.

Also, my wife is a network specialist, so she has complete control and monitoring over the computers, as well as a comprehensive lockdown on sites and nothing can be downloaded without her approval and entering a password LOL.

[Seaslug]

I watched a news story this morning concerning "cyber bullying." Apparently kids are getting on facebook/myspace and posting mean comments and videos about each other. Parents of these "bullied" children are pushing for more internet control and monitoring by the government. I was just curious what the opinions were here on TGO. I'll start with mine.

What are kids doing on these sites anyway? Facebook and Myspace are adult social networks. When Myspace first started, you had to enter a birth-date that made you 18 or older in order to make a profile. I'm not saying kids didn't simply bypass this by entering a false birth-date, but it shows that these sites are intended for adults. I am so sick and tired of lazy parents sitting their kids down in front of a TV or computer with no supervision so they wont have to deal with them, and then complaining that their kids are being exposed to "bad things" on cable or internet. MONITOR YOUR OWN KIDS, YOU ARE THE PARENT. Computers and cable have parental controls, USE THEM. If we start giving government more control over the internet they are just going to do what they always do and use it as an excuse to start controlling every element of the internet. I mean really???? Are people to the point now where they are so self involved they need the government to raise their kids for them? If these parents want someone to blame for their kids behavior, they should blame themselves.

Jim, on a similar note, did you happen to see my FB status today? I did some impromptu, on-the-spot parent training at the mall last night...

[BrasilNuts]

Are people to the point now where they are so self involved they need the government to raise their kids for them?

yes.

[Guest Caveman]

Jim, on a similar note, did you happen to see my FB status today? I did some impromptu, on-the-spot parent training at the mall last night...

Indeed I did. My compliments. I am curious as to the details. You may fill me in tonight.

[MacGyver]

As a forensics specialist who does a lot of work in child protection, I'll go a step further. As a parent, if you allow your child to be on the internet, you have a responsibility as the parent to know where they are going and what they are doing. Period. Anything else is neglect.

You wouldn't let your child go somewhere without knowing where it was and who it was with, the internet is the same. It is a wonderful tool, and a great resource, but it is full of predators and is dangerous to a child who doesn't have fully developed decision making capabilities or the ability to fully understand or recognize consequences. It's the same as leaving a loaded weapon within reach of your child. I can't tell you the number of calls we've taken over the years from 'parents' who don't have any idea where there kids are or what they might have gotten mixed up in and are now having to deal with the sometimes life changing consequences because it's just AIM, or MySpace, or Facebook or whatever.

A computer isn't a babysitter. You have a responsibility to your child. It might make them mad, but you're their parent not their friend. Do you your job.

[strickj]

I watched a news story this morning concerning "cyber bullying." Apparently kids are getting on facebook/myspace and posting mean comments and videos about each other. Parents of these "bullied" children are pushing for more internet control and monitoring by the government. I was just curious what the opinions were here on TGO. I'll start with mine.

What are kids doing on these sites anyway? Facebook and Myspace are adult social networks. When Myspace first started, you had to enter a birth-date that made you 18 or older in order to make a profile. I'm not saying kids didn't simply bypass this by entering a false birth-date, but it shows that these sites are intended for adults. I am so sick and tired of lazy parents sitting their kids down in front of a TV or computer with no supervision so they wont have to deal with them, and then complaining that their kids are being exposed to "bad things" on cable or internet. MONITOR YOUR OWN KIDS, YOU ARE THE PARENT. Computers and cable have parental controls, USE THEM. If we start giving government more control over the internet they are just going to do what they always do and use it as an excuse to start controlling every element of the internet. I mean really???? Are people to the point now where they are so self involved they need the government to raise their kids for them? If these parents want someone to blame for their kids behavior, they should blame themselves.

yup.

Complete and utter bull twit!

[Guest db99wj]

Hmm, I was wondering how wimpy our kids have become. Someone, they may or may not know, says a bad thing about them, and the get all hurt about it. When I was a kid, I would have told them where to jump.

I know I know!! But yes, what everyone is saying, be a parent and be careful, and know what your kids are up to.

[Guest SUNTZU]

Pass me the Purell.

[Guest SUNTZU]

Jim, on a similar note, did you happen to see my FB status today? I did some impromptu, on-the-spot parent training at the mall last night...

Facebook...

[First Strike]

Facebook...

:rofl:!

(By the way, Facebook is the devil.)

[Guest Muttling]

Its parenting skills, rather the lack thereof.

I teach high school and I think you put that one in the 10 ring.

Just this week, I had 3 of my students headed for juvenile for animal abuse. One of them had a girlfried break up with him. To get even, they stole her dog and beat it to death. They were all drunk at the time. (One of whom has a long criminal history.)

I had another student who (in the middle of class) walked across the room and punched another in the face. Come to find out, he had been paid by a 3rd student to do it.

These are my two worst events of the year and these are not regular occurrences, but we have a few of these every year. It all comes down to parents more interested in being buddies with their kids or not being there at all.

[Guest Muttling]

Hmm, I was wondering how wimpy our kids have become. Someone, they may or may not know, says a bad thing about them, and the get all hurt about it. When I was a kid, I would have told them where to jump..

Our kids haven't become wimpy, they're just as violent as we were but they've lost much of the morality.

In our day, we fought and got mediocre consequences at school. Most of the consequences came at home. Today, they get serious consequences at school but rarely at home and the schools can't successfully discipline without parents supporting us. Even if we spank a kid (which Tennessee still allows and we do), it's doesn't work unless we have the parent saying "You had it coming."

They love mixed martial arts and other spectacles of extreme violence. At the same time, a number of them are not being taught morals about when it's appropriate to fight and don't think of what the victims experience.

A prime example of this comes from the high school gang rape that just happened in San Francisco. A girl was attacked 2 hours. Other students watched the attack like a freak show and some of the observers even joined in. None of them had the morals to call police or to report it or otherwise try to stop it.

[Kelemvor]

As a forensics specialist who does a lot of work in child protection, I'll go a step further. As a parent, if you allow your child to be on the internet, you have a responsibility as the parent to know where they are going and what they are doing. Period. Anything else is neglect.

You wouldn't let your child go somewhere without knowing where it was and who it was with, the internet is the same. It is a wonderful tool, and a great resource, but it is full of predators and is dangerous to a child who doesn't have fully developed decision making capabilities or the ability to fully understand or recognize consequences. It's the same as leaving a loaded weapon within reach of your child. I can't tell you the number of calls we've taken over the years from 'parents' who don't have any idea where there kids are or what they might have gotten mixed up in and are now having to deal with the sometimes life changing consequences because it's just AIM, or MySpace, or Facebook or whatever.

A computer isn't a babysitter. You have a responsibility to your child. It might make them mad, but you're their parent not their friend. Do you your job.

+1

The internet is the greatest tool ever invented (Thanks Al), but with it's unlimited power comes an unlimited danger. If there is ANYTHING that a parent doesn't want their child to read, see, or hear, they should not give their child unrestricted access to the internet. Also, children using the internet should be taught not to reveal anything factual about themselves (not even a first name) on the internet without being given permission by a supervising adult.

[analog_kidd]

We have always had our computer in the family room where anyone can look over your shoulder. With our kids there was never any expectation of privacy on the PC. It's my PC, and I'll check the history anytime I want. And, I'll be needing that myspace password too, thanks.

[Guest KarlS]

+1

The internet is the greatest tool ever invented (Thanks Al), but with it's unlimited power comes an unlimited danger. If there is ANYTHING that a parent doesn't want their child to read, see, or hear, they should not give their child unrestricted access to the internet. Also, children using the internet should be taught not to reveal anything factual about themselves (not even a first name) on the internet without being given permission by a supervising adult.

Great point!

The day we think the government should help us out with our children is a sad day. It takes constant monitering by parents. Danger and safety are last on a child's mind when they are online. My wife is the myspace and facebook pro as I refuse to participate. Even though our kids are all adults she still scolds them for revealing too much personal information. Although the defense for MySpace and FaceBook has always been for great social networking we have found it has created too many broken hearts through too much information displayed for public viewing. That being said I have no idea how the government could help protect each and every child without blanket laws that would affect adults as well.

Less government=better life.