Lissa

Rebel or not. Our children are under our control. Until they leave the nest we are in charge of their actions. I will be lenient on the whole journal thing, as I know how important it is for a child to be creative. However, I want my son to feel comfortable talking to me in person about his issues and not in some book. As far as the internet, absolutely NO privacy. It is too dangerous. Without a question, there will be some serious supervision going on when Oliver shows interest online.

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Cthru

Yah.. It may sound bad, but I really don't give a crud about their 'privacy' when it comes to the internet. They want privacy.. they can go to their room (where there is no computer) and close the door. Yes, it's hard to keep up with sometimes.. Their computer is in the den where everyone can see what is going on. They will never ever have a web cam. I upload all the pictures they put on the internet, check their myspace and even logs from im chats from time to time. I do catch some swearing in there when they talk to their friends.. but if that is the worst they do I'm ok with that. That being said.. if they ever swore in front of me it would be big problems for them.

Geoff L

As with all things there should be increasing levels of freedom based on trust and respect built up over time. How one handles a 12 year old on the internet should be different to a 14 year old. Their personality, level of maturity and history should all be factored in. I for one am in no hurry to get my kids online but when it happens there will strict controls that will be relaxed as time goes by if they prove to be worthy of it.

To give your kids zero privacy while they are under your roof, wow, that is a time bomb in my opinion and reminds me of my 14 year old sister sneaking out at night to be with her 20 year old boyfriend! I might also suggest this kind of atitude is coming back on you when your kids are so disrespectful to others as mentioned in another thread. Kids are just small people, they want to be trusted and respected too.

mmynedshlp

I was told to treat the computer and the internet jus tlike as if were a car.
If you let your kid drive where they want without telling you where they are going. Then I guess you would do the same with the internet.
If they are not ready to drive the car then they are not yet ready to go on the internet alone.
Same priviledges too.

they say they need the car to go to work or get to school. they say they need the internet for work or school.
Same safety concerns too. carshing a hardrive with family memories on it and tons of money or crashing a car with family member in it and lots of money.

Ari2

I think that's a pretty decent analogy.

My kids are way too young for the net. But I'm going to be pretty strict about it. One of my nieces got involved with a scary situation over the net a while ago, and my nephew (who is not good with social cues) just did the same. Both of my siblings (their parents) thought that what their kids were doing was safe and that they had a good idea of what was going on. They now realize they didn't at all understand what their kids were getting into.

Sirk

I couldn't agree with this post more.

Children are posting things on the internet for millions of strangers to see, but want privacy from their parents? yeah... right.

When they're older, I'll stick a filter on the computer.


Of course that said, I have two myspaces. One for family and one for friends. Incase I get drunk and decide to post pics of my tush or something. It could happen.
My girls could never be a dumb as Mommy.

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Aunt

you know i am not sure of the my house my rules mentality. of course kids can't just run riot, but there is also a lot less rebellion if the kid is given some level of consultation or input. I also think it is natural for kids to have their secrets. i know i did not confide in my parents all the time. I also had a father who was all about this idea of if you don't like it leave, and i rebelled constantly from 14 to 22. i am determined to do things differently.

Patrick702

I'm sick and tired of hearing this whole MySpace bullshit the media has manufactured.

I have two teens, both have MySpaces, I dont bug them about it. I dont lurk their page, I dont ask for their passwords, they're old enough to make their own decisions. I'm sorry, but if you're kids are giving out info like where they live to a 67 year old man, they have some deeper problems than MySpace.

You as well have problems if you want to know every word you're teenager says. Give them some damn privacy, you dont need to know every detail of their personal life. Its ridiculous how far some parents take this kinda stuff.

MySpace is a way for teens to communicate. Nothing else.

meow_173

Actually, myspace has turned into just a whore of a site where there is porn, ads for porn, groups that are not appropriete for kids etc.

I don't really know if its your ignorance, or your sheer lack of knowledge about these sites, that really irritates me. If someone is giving out their information to a 67 yr old posing as a 14 year old, then no its not their problem, nor do they have bigger issues. THe bigger issue is making sure kids are aware of the potential dangers OF these sites. No one is who they say they are, and to be quite honest, you can never tell. I'm not saying get their password, and try to snoop around, but they should be told about who and what is on myspace.
Do you know who your kids are chatting with right now? Didn't think so......

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Sirk

What about a 27 year old? I would think that would be more likely.

__________________
Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.
- Mother Teresa

http://www.crowdgather.com