So, Wait, Do We Blame Or Praise Tech For Stopping Another Columbine?
from the so-confused dept
We've been talking a lot lately about how the press seems to give too much blame or too much praise to technology when a story often has more to do with a person's choices. Two areas where this has has been seen the most are with violent video games and MySpace. Both seem to get an inordinate number of stories where these digital works get credit or blame when the reality is that the real story is about the people and their (usually bad) choices. So how do we handle a story where the technology gets both blamed and praised? MySpace, which seems to get both types of stories written about it, is now being praised for helping to stop a potential Columbine-like situation, after a student posted some info about a planned teen rampage on his MySpace page. This isn't all that different than past stories of kids getting caught in crimes after posting their own evidence on MySpace -- where the cops are increasingly watching. However, in a past situation where a similar threat was made, instead of praising MySpace for helping catch the kids, it's been blamed. And, once again here, the story has an element of blaming the technology. For no apparently reason, the article makes sure to mention that the arrested kids planning to attack their school "were computer buffs who liked violent video games." The implication, of course, being that these violent video game players would now act out on what they learned in the games -- the same accusation originally thrown out about the Columbine killers, before most people realized that video games had nothing to do with it. So, instead of praising MySpace or blaming violent video games, why don't we look at this as a bunch of troubled kids -- one of whom talked too much and got them (thankfully) caught before they did any damage.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Technology is just a tool
Some parents might say otherwise. But I think people really should take the time to listen to each other and be more open so that we could avoid some dilemmas like another Columbine, etc.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Huh
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
...morals died and parents killed them.
I mean, who ends up letting their kids play violent videogames, even if that's a reasonable suspect for violent behavoir? [Which I believe it is not.] Furthermore, who should be watching what their kids are doing online?
Yeah, parents. They take absolutely _no_ blame nowadays.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: ...morals died and parents killed them.
Parents can say what they want. But, parents must be prepared to take resonsibility for their child(ren)'s actions. Parents have become increasingly dependent upon playing the 'blame game' with whoever they can think to pin their own shortcomings as parents on. Parents should be monitoring their own child's MySpace account. And if they aren't familiar with what MySpace is, they should sit down and learn it, or simply not allow their child to use it.
Monitor your children and know what they're up to, or be prepared to take responsibility for their actions. (Or else don't have any children if YOU'RE not up to the responsibility of raising them!) Stop blaming perfectly decent institutions for your own shortcomings as parents. "People don't kill people. MySpace kills people." Please.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Whoops.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Whoops.
Not a problem, Riley. After all, the original article got away with "one of whom talked to much"...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: ...morals died and parents killed them.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: ...morals died and parents killed them.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: ...morals died and parents killed them.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: ...morals died and parents killed them
I read above, way above, where someone posted that parents "claim" ignorance too often casting blame in other places, media, video games, etc. I think it is not a claim, I think parents ARE ignorant. Not a burn, Single father of two boys here, but given the new challenges in both keeping up with technology, single parenting becoming the norm, social changes in what is acceptable and not accaptable parenting, dealing with the backlash of 80's and 90's "friends" parenting and all the chaos that created, we HAVE to become educated as parents. We have to learn skills that will help us guide our kids to becoming successful, healthy, productive members of society. I used to say, "My parents didn't do any of this crap and I turned out ok". Pure ignorance. The rules have changed, or maybe they need to be changed back...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: ...morals died and parents killed them.
So everyone is like, OMG! Violent game teaching kids to steal cars. Meanwhile, I'm thinking 'Why the hell did the parents buy that game for their 8 year old in the first place?'
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
People don't want to talk about troubled kids, because then you have to logically talk about our dysfunctional society as a whole, and noone wants to do that, so the latest sound byte (videogames) gets the blame.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Blame the music? The games?
A: Figure out what's write for their child. I once knew a parent of a 9 year old, who let her child play GTA. I'm sorry, but the kid is 9! Who was at fault there? I think it's obvious.
B: Help your children understand. Play games WITH them. Find out what they're playing, and explain things. Make sure they know what they're seeing is make believe, and they know what would really happen if they were to, say, shoot someone.
It starts when they're young. Blaming anyone BUT the parents is ridiculous and pathetic. This is all about parents trying to escape the responsibility they laid upon themselves when they decided to have sex.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Bah, ever hear of IP logging, you try that and they know exactly where and when that's done and most imbeciles use their PC or at least their user name they're busted....
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: IP Logging?!?
Any of these tools can easily be used to nullify any log of your IP address without exception.
If you want to truely find a person without fail, you will have to do it using a hardware MAC address...and even then, it only works if they are on their own computer and not at a public terminal.
It's not difficult for people to stay "hidden" when doing things online...and a lot of people are hidden just by the nature of the beast...
Don't be naive.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Actually, Myspace can easily track who makes what page. The trackability of all things internet is easier than most people believe.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Parents...it boils down to them.
In America, anyone under 18 years of age is not considered an adult. They are expected to be looked after by a responsible person, (ie, a Parent or Legal Guardian) who is over the age of 18 and is of sound mental capability and capacity. There's a point to this: persons above the age of 18 are supposedly capable of making important decisions. At the very least, they are held legally accountable for their actions, unless a licensed physician finds they are not of adequate mental capability to be considered an adult.
Adults taking on the additional responsibility of caring for children must be even more mentally sound; as the effects of their guidance go beyond their own personal contacts - they have a significant impact on their children's lifestyle and beyond. Place the (legal) burden on the parents, and you'll see significant results.
Yes, our society is skewed. Yes, there are more and more broken homes created on a day-to-day basis - but there is a point where enough is enough. Living in America has become too easy. People can plead ignorance far too often, and there is absolutely no requirement for people to accept responsibility for their actions. If you have a child, YOU are responsible for their actions until they are of legal age to accept full responsibility themselves.
Let's stop idiot-proofing America, and let's start holding people accountable for their (or their offspring's) actions.
"Campaign to Bubble Wrap America!"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Parents...it boils down to them.
Man of few words this early in the morning, but you right on.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
My reaction
So, yes, what you say would not work on many people who might visit a site such as this, or any other site for people who may know a bit more about computers then the average user, but do you truly believe that the majority of MySpace users even know what a proxie is?
Now, as to the video games creating problems. Parents watch their children. Simple as that. It has been said a million times before, and it will be said a million times in the future. It would not surprise me if items such as this actually end up not being posted at all, as it happens way too often, and with nothing coming of it that it becomes a waste of time.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Hooray the blame game.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Responsibility
As a side note, even if it were the games' that made these kids want to go out and do whatever, it makes no difference. The kid still did it, the parents didn't do their job, therefore the blame lies there. Don't blame the providers of content/entertainment, but those that misuse and abuse that content.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Luddites
My proposal is for people who blame technology pointlessly to convert to luddites and move to a colony where they can beat their kids at their leisure without the fear of technology getting in the way of all that blame...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Always gotta find something to blame, don't they?
It's never the stupid teenager's fault... lol
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Not the technology
I'm not stupid enough to think MySpace could police everything but they made no effort at all. It was to their benefit that people ignored their rules.
In the end parents bear much of the responsibility for problems with their kids. But the fact is, MySpace has created an easy vehicle for kids, particular girls, to get into trouble without much effort. We were very involved parents and we constantly hammered on online safety with our daughter. But peer pressure and ubiquitous access to the internet trumps parental involvement. Our daughter still posted stuff that put her at risk and communicated with total strangers. Thankfully nothing ever happend to her. Unfortunately, others aren't so lucky.
It is my belief that MySpace and other social networks like it, have a responsiblity to do everything they can to protect their members from preditors. If they choose not to, the day will come when it costs them more than they can bear as a company. That's still a small price compared to what it ultimately costs some young girls.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
*raises hand*
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
you leave it the hell alone and keep your mouth shut.
Thats my response, America. Like it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
hmm
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: hmm
a. Their parents
b. Other students
I find myself depressed from time to time, but I still have to take responsibility for my own actions. It still comes down to someone needing to instill the proper respect for others in our kids. That job, unfotunately, falls on the shoulders of a bunch of parents who simply WONT DO IT.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Get rid of paper, get rid of pencils, they are evil. :) This kid is an angel, an innocent child who has been demented by paper and pencil. We must abolish paper and pencil.
I think we are just not punishing kids hard enough. I'll bet these kids needed a good spanking, or a butt-kicking threat from their daddys.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Blame
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Bad Parenting
Someone needs to stop allowing the parents to use the technology "excuse" and very simply point out that if they had come down off their high horses for a few minutes and actually spent time with their kids instead of being so self-involved as many parents are these days that maybe, just maybe these kids would understand the difference between right and wrong and why things that happen in video games are NOT supposed to happen in real life.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
2 cents can grow to 1 million+
"I am not accountable for my actions, the devil made me do it."
Haha, the human species, we blame the very products of our own imaginations. We created the world around us in a cumulative effort and then turn our back and point in the other direction when it comes to accountablity.
I was one of those people that said parents parents parents. But today I'm changing my view. I believe that parents should be involved in their childrens' lives. Ask questions, help educate them on how to make better decisions, well that's hoping that those parents were raised to know?? hmmm, my mommy worships the devil, and yours? so how do we get around that??? (She doesn't really, but someone's does and well... not everyone has a family like the Cleavers)
we now live in a society where we are so connected I can go anywhere and find anyone to help me figure out what I want and need. Now the village needs to step up and step in and do its part to make the whole, well whole again. I can get on any site today and interact/post my views and opinions with people all over. From this day forth... I will do my part everyday to make my village stronger. When the walls of Rome are strong, no army of Sparticans can penetrate. People are so quick to throw their hands up in the air rather than fight, and here we all are spouting out these views on a page that's lost in a sea of information while there are others out there that need to hear your views. People go out and get on your own myspace page and blog it out. Is your bite as big as your bark? or will you stay where it's safe and talk amongst yourselves? I'm not criticizing you I'm supporting you and thanking you all for helping me realize that I, although one person, can take a more active role to making the world around me a little better.
"There are people I know who won't hurt me. I call them corpses."
- Randy K. Milholland
"A satirist is a man who discovers unpleasant things about himself and then says them about other people."
- Peter McArthur
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
"I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity but couldn't we just take the safety labels off everything and let the problem solve itself?"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Violent video games
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Blame game
I would like to see someone collect all these allegations and put it all into a beautiful repository - they're all based on the same principle "I don't understand it so it must be bad; therefore all things bad comes from this."
I'm worried that in 50 years we'll be sitting around complaining that the "3D virtual mind transfer games" are corrupting our kids and they should just sit down and play some good old fashioned blood'n gore games on a regular computer.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
lots of opinions
Anyone ever notice that some parents hardly ever accept responsibilty for what their children do, yet they won't hesitate to use them as an excuse (or even a tool) for their own agendas?
How many times have you heard some "Think about the children......" bullshit spouted by some self-rightious parent?
Want an example? Ok, how about saving the enviroment? You know if we don't save the enviroment there won't be anything left for our kids..........
I even heard this from some chained-to-a-tree protester on TV. They were screaming some drivel about there not being any trees left and thus the air would fill with CO2 and we'd all die..........ok maybe an extremist isn't the BEST example in this case, but it's an example none the less.
Another great one that's currently in the media is "Same sex marriages." The children excuse has been used time and time again on this one. If it really were about the children, why don't they push for laws that ban same-sex couples from adopting.......oh wait, because then they'd look like intollerant psychos for suggesting such a ban........
Here, go do your own experiment. Next time you hear someone use "for the children" as a reason for doing something, I want you to SERRIOUSLY consider WHY it's "for the children."
Hahahahahhahahaha.....ok get THIS one. Type in "for the children" into Google...use the quotes so it searches for that phrase.
Count how many .ORGs you see.
Now I want you to realize that there is a very good percentage of "not for profits" in this country AND abroad that are specifically "for profit." Meaning, this is what people do for a living. That means, if your primary employment is with a not-for-profit orginization, you may be paid a fair salary. In some cases you'd become ill if you knew how much the heads of these orginizations get paid.
Now don't go thinking this is how ALL not-for-profits operate, it isn't. I'd like to think that the majority are legit, and I think for the most part that is true. Still there's are some that GLARINGLY stand out, and some of those are specifically "for the children."
"For only 80 cents a day you can sponsor your own child......"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Get it right.
They learned from watching the Columnbine attacks on Television.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]