View Full Version : These online pervs...
Cabster22
22 Feb 2007, 05:13 PM
So when will these pervs caught on that dateline show "to catch a predator" ever going to learn? Its amazing how dangerous it still is for kids to be on the internet these days. If I had a kid I would keep him off the computer and outside playing. I think part of the problem is some parents don't know enough about facebook, and myspace, and other social sites to know how dangerous they can actually be. After talking about all this with a friend, she sent me this link, http://www.netsmartz411.org/ , which is a site that can give parents all kinds of info on ways to keep their kids safer.
What got me thinking about all this is when my little sister (whos in high school) asked to be my friend on facebook. Can you believe facebook is in high schools now?!?!
Toon³
22 Feb 2007, 05:35 PM
You do know that you can pick and choose who you want to see your profile on Facebook and myspace. What is the big deal about facebook being in highschools?
Cabster22
22 Feb 2007, 06:19 PM
I understand you can choose your profile setting, its just surprising that facebook is allowing younger and younger kids to join.
Toon³
22 Feb 2007, 06:54 PM
I understand you can choose your profile setting, its just surprising that facebook is allowing younger and younger kids to join.
Yet again, why is this a problem?
96Squig
24 Feb 2007, 06:34 AM
Highschool kids should be responsible enough to manage Facebook. If not, their parents and schools did something wrong. Now, if primary school kids are allowed to join (which they could theoretically I guess) I'd worry.
Twenty26Six
24 Feb 2007, 10:42 PM
Highschool kids should be responsible enough to manage Facebook. If not, their parents and schools did something wrong.
Is this supposed to be ironic? :eek: What world are you living in? I truly believe that the percentage of parents who raise their kids, to act with the capacity you suggest, is below 50%.
I'm not trying to be insulting or bash your post. I just truly believe this. Properly raised kids, in my experience, are not the norm and I knew MANY friends growing up who had absolutely NO supervision, whatsoever.
Ringo
25 Feb 2007, 01:13 AM
and even raised in a good home ... kids will be kids. that means they'll be stupid, brash and do all the dumb things we did (except now they have technology at their fingertips that we couldn't dream of. but we would've done the same thing if we could).
Good post Twenty26Six.
dj43
25 Feb 2007, 01:16 AM
Is this supposed to be ironic? :eek: What world are you living in? I truly believe that the percentage of parents who raise their kids, to act with the capacity you suggest, is below 50%.
That is probably at least 10 points too high.
serieAfan89
25 Feb 2007, 08:06 PM
well if your kids are stupid enough to reveal the type of information that could be potentially dangerous to a complete stranger then its no surprise that they get into these types of situations.
Myspace/Facebook are only as dangerous as the information you choose to put in them.
Twenty26Six
25 Feb 2007, 08:12 PM
well if your kids are stupid enough to reveal the type of information that could be potentially dangerous to a complete stranger then its no surprise that they get into these types of situations.
Myspace/Facebook are only as dangerous as the information you choose to put in them.
Yes!! Damn you 11yo Sara, it was your fault your Father never bothered to pay attention to you. Now it's your fault you got molested by some creepy sociopath, b.c no one told you the world was inherently evil and you should shelter yourselves at all times!
Riiiiight. :rolleyes:
How about we think with a broader perspective and take into account the preteen kids who don't have an IQ over 115 [or overly protective parents]?
serieAfan89
25 Feb 2007, 08:16 PM
Yes!! Damn you 11yo Sara, it was your fault your Father never bothered to pay attention to you. Now it's your fault you got molested by some creepy sociopath, b.c no one told you the world was inherently evil and you should shelter yourselves at all times!
Riiiiight. :rolleyes:
How about we think with a broader perspective and take into account the preteen kids who don't have an IQ over 115 [or overly protective parents]?
well considering they have C.A.R.E. and D.A.R.E. programs in schools across the nation, kids SHOULD know better than to provide this sort of information.
Twenty26Six
25 Feb 2007, 08:20 PM
well considering they have C.A.R.E. and D.A.R.E. programs in schools across the nation, kids SHOULD know better than to provide this sort of information.
I used to smoke dope, while wearing my D.A.R.E. t-shirt. Since when do part-time afterschool programs make for good parents?
serieAfan89
25 Feb 2007, 08:26 PM
I used to smoke dope, while wearing my D.A.R.E. t-shirt. Since when do part-time afterschool programs make for good parents?
That may be true..but C.A.R.E. is focused on domestic abuse..which is the primary cause of these types of cases
however, i agree D.A.R.E. is a waste of time. But getting into drugs has a lot to do with peer pressure, which is impossible to escape. But how many kids are getting pressured to talk to online perverts at age 11 these days?
Twenty26Six
25 Feb 2007, 09:21 PM
That may be true..but C.A.R.E. is focused on domestic abuse..which is the primary cause of these types of cases
however, i agree D.A.R.E. is a waste of time. But getting into drugs has a lot to do with peer pressure, which is impossible to escape. But how many kids are getting pressured to talk to online perverts at age 11 these days?
I've been sarcastic, yes, but this is serious in my opinion and is a deeper problem than people expect. So, I'll be serious for a moment.
It is about doing what your friends are doing and if your friends are in adult chat rooms, you will be or want to be. That will happen regardless of new internet security filters or parental controls. Those are places that predators hang out.
BUT! This isn't about "predators" per se. Those guys are far and few between. What people need to worry about is the behavior they condone when they expect their children to be "adult" at 11-14. They're going to want to do adult things at that age anyway and more so if they have adult responsibilities or attitudes. That is where you have to worry about young girls [11-14] being influenced - not by "TV perverts" - but by 17-24yo males.
I've seen it happen. There are unsupervised preteen girls left unsupervised and unaware of the possible dangers they are in. And, IMO, one underage girl that gets exploited is too many. A passive - "kids, parent should know better" is not going to protect these kids, b.c the parents and kids just don't know any better.
Sachin
25 Feb 2007, 10:23 PM
well if your kids are stupid enough to reveal the type of information that could be potentially dangerous to a complete stranger then its no surprise that they get into these types of situations.
Myspace/Facebook are only as dangerous as the information you choose to put in them.
Spoken like someone who has never been around children. :)
You're right that these type of Web sites, even BigSoccer are only as dangerous as the information people put in them. But you should also know that kids don't understand all of the risks involved, and in most cases, it take multiple conversations AND aggressive follow up to get the message through. And then sometimes it still doesn't sink in.
Sachin
Lizzie Bee
26 Feb 2007, 12:49 PM
It seems to me that the most susceptible kind of teenager on the internet is a lonely one--doesn't matter what their I.Q. or training when there are emotional issues to weigh in.
Twenty26Six
26 Feb 2007, 02:40 PM
It seems to me that the most susceptible kind of teenager on the internet is a lonely one--doesn't matter what their I.Q. or training when there are emotional issues to weigh in.
Lonely. That is a good point, thank you. You could add low self-esteem and not given enough attention from their parents as factors.
ROMERO879
26 Feb 2007, 09:38 PM
Still though, your kid has to be an idiot to invite someone they met on the internet into their homes, like on "To Catch a Predator".
Lizzie Bee
26 Feb 2007, 11:01 PM
Reckless, yes. Idiots, nah.
I speak from very reckless experiences in my past. I knew what the dangers were, acknowledged them but took my chances. Luckily for my reckless past self, everybody I met from online was pretty close to what I expected.
(p.s. And in defense of the "idiot" theory, I usually met people in public places and not alone... So maybe my behavior would be classed separately...)
Ringo
27 Feb 2007, 12:04 AM
Still though, your kid has to be an idiot to invite someone they met on the internet into their homes, like on "To Catch a Predator".
no, it makes your kid a kid. Every kid (yes, even you) did stupid things. the stakes might be a bit higher, but a kid using poor judgement doesn't make them an idiot. It makes them a kid.