PARENTS: WATCH WHAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE DOING IN CYBERSPACE!

"Unfortunately, the Internet is full of pornographic, violent, racist, and other hate content that you may not want displayed on IE. I have two kids myself, so I know how important this can be. My daughter loves to play at Barbie.com, but I don't want her accidentally jumping from this safe and fun site to something she doesn't need to see. Unfortunately, nothing is foolproof and I always suggest that you use the Internet with kids in much the same way as you would a public amusement park-- you hold their hands and you watch everything. Let me reiterate this soap box one more time-- leaving children unattended with the Internet is like leaving them unattended to play in the street-- something bad will happen eventually."
from Windows XP Headaches: how to fix common [and not so common] problems in a hurry, second edition, Simmons, Curt, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2005. pp.194-195.


Although I question the phrasing of the author in respect to how much porn is on the internet, I certainly respect the message. As adults, we have responsibility to our children. Get familiar with internet slang so you KNOW what your kids are saying in chatrooms and on messenger services if you decide to let them do these things. Put the computer out in visible shared living space, not up in the kids' rooms. Supervise, supervise, supervise.

I supervise my dog more than some of my past neighbors have supervised their kids.

People have scruples and I have a few of my own. Because sites exist on the internet that YOU find objectionable, it does not follow that ALL sites should be "G-rated."

Adults can hit the BACK button to get out of places where they do not want to be. If you don't like what people are blogging about, you can leave.

If I don't care for a store's policies or merchandise, I can choose not to shop there. Adults, do the same.

Meanwhile, be parents to your children. Teach them NOT to give out their names, addresses, or phone numbers to strangers on-line or off-line. Teach them how to be safe in an unsafe world. BE THERE when they are surfing the net. Teach your values to your children.
DON'T impose them on me.

~sapphoq