Keeping Kids Safe, Or Keeping Them From Functioning Independently?
from the a-sense-of-balance dept
We've had plenty of stories over the years about technology that lets parents spy on their kids every move -- from web tracking software, to black boxes for cars to mobile phone apps that report back to parents. In almost every case these technologies are presented as helping parents in a busy digital age -- with very few noting that there's a downside as well. With kids being constantly monitored not only do they not build up a relationship of trust with their parents, but they never learn to grow up independently. They don't learn how to cut the apron strings, mature on their own, gain responsibility and make decisions independently. So it's a nice surprise to see that the latest article on the subject, from SF Gate, actually seems fairly balanced in discussing both the pros and cons of the various methods of tracking your kids. Yes, it's a dangerous world, and there are times when it would be nice to know where your kids are, or whether or not they told you the truth -- but that doesn't mean there aren't downsides to constantly monitoring kids as well.Meanwhile, lots of folks are talking about a new AP article that includes a tidbit about Montclair State University requiring all freshman to use a University-granted mobile phone that includes GPS tracking info. The details, however, aren't so bad. The GPS tracking is entirely voluntary, and the students decide when to turn it on or off. Thus, if they feel threatened or worried about walking across campus, they can turn it on and feel at least a little safer. This seems a lot more reasonable, and lets the students decide when it makes sense to use such technology. Of course, the students still need to understand that just because you can send a little beacon to the local police, that doesn't mean you don't need to be careful. With any of these technologies, the problem comes out when people think that they're somehow a substitute for teaching kids how to be safe and act responsibly. None of these technologies is a substitute for acting safely -- and anyone who assumes so is only asking for trouble.
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I'm sure that's very comforting to the families of murder victims.
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I'm sure that's very comforting to the families of murder victims.
No, I don't think having their personal tragedy turned into sensationalistic entertainment or political fodder is very comforting.
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Next bogus argument?
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path
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Try spending some time with your kids and raising them yourself, instead of letting some clown at day care, who makes as much at the guy at Burger King's drive-thru and can't get you hamburger right, raise your kids.
Funny, people complain about how bad the drive-thru is, but yet they let people who make the same kinda cash raise their children.
What do they expect? You know, you get what you pay for.
"Oh, but we can't do that, we gotta pay for our new Lexus!!!"
ok, whatever your priorities are...
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Carchip
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it's pretty simple...
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Fear is the best seller
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WHATS THE REAL PROBLEM
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The issue is good parenting. When I was growing up I lied to my parents non-stop. Why? Because I didn't feel comfortable telling them anything. I knew that if I told them the slightest thing that they might disapprove of they would flip out.
On the other hand, several of my friends could talk to their mothers about anything. Their moms always knew where they were and what they were doing because of this. We were both doing the same things, but my parents thought I was at Disneyland, not Ozzfest.
Fact of the matter is this, kids are resourceful. They are stubborn and clever. If they want to do something, they're going to do it. Once they get to a certain age, you can't control them, you can only guide them. If they're going to do it anyhow, you might as well have them be comfortable enough to tell you the truth instead of having to resort to sneaky CIA tactics.
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And the tracking programs in cell phones seems easily removable as well. How hard could it be to get into your cell phone's system?
Plus, any smart kid would examine his car every once in a while. Surely he would spot the suspicious black box and then be aware of it. Then, when a time comes that he doesn't want his parents to know where he is, he could simply unplug it/disable it/turn it off/etc.
So you see, all these tracking devices and programs could probably be easily removable by the person you are targesting. Generally, parents track their kids when they are using something they especially like (their computer, car, etc.). And if the kid likes that thing so much, he probably examines it a lot and knows a lot about it, probably even more than his parents. So he can just use his smarts about it to remove whatever has been installed in it.
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Classic
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Relationship of Trust?
Kids learn more from consistency than anything else, when you hold to your guns and they see that, they learn you are right and have knowledge about what you speak of.
Being a neglegent parent and giving in to the arguement that "they're gonna do it anyway" is just lazy parenting, or someone who wants to be their child's friend (which is another post altogether).
You set the rules, kids break the rules. When kids turn 30 and have their own kids they learn that their parents knew that all along, then they parent their own kids.
Having children is tough work, and an investment. Nothing has changed except that parents are getting lazier and giving birth to their best friend.
Oh, yeah and that you guys are shmoos...
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Aliance Drules
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big brother in So Cal
I believe in free will. I believe I must. I.B. Singer
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Computer security
Thinking about Joe's article on computer security and Mike's on monitoring children's behavior, I reflected on Vista's paternalistic UAC, which is supposed to guard your computer against unauthorized usage when the computer is unattended. I found it at best intrusive and at worst annoying. Having to give yourself permission to delete an item from the desktop is ridiculous in the extreme. I have been using computers since 1980, when Wordstar was loaded from a 5.25" floppy (which really did flop!). I have discovered that the best defense in the world against malware is one's brain! No technology on earth can substitute for safe computing practices. To think otherwise is to court disaster.
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