Rheingold Tells Parents to Talk to Children Rather Than Censor Them Online

[zekrahminator]

The internet is a wonderful place, especially when you consider that at least 60% of it is of a pornographic nature. Most parents, not wanting their children to be jaded by the porn, decided to install web filters to eliminate all but the sneakiest porn. However, Rheinegold, the author of The Virtual Community, thinks that this is not the best approach. He tells a compulsive community of people who devote all their time and money to sheltering their children that the best protection against the evils of the internet is not to eliminate it. Instead, he says, parents need to talk to children about what they can see online, and take an active role in their online habits. Censoring kids from the real world does more than leave these kids unprepared for the barrage they will face when their parental protection is relinquished. Censoring these children form the real world also puts them in a bad relationship with their parents.

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[Nemesis881]

This is funny because we were talking about lust last night at church and how porn ruins your life and your relationship with God. I know some of you might read that and think I'm crazy but it's the truth. So I 100% agree with that guy, feeble site blockers, etc. don't have the knowledge that your parents (and God) do.

 

[p_o_s_pc]

porn is bad ookaaayyyyyy

 

[zekrahminator]

This is funny because we were talking about lust last night at church and how porn ruins your life and your relationship with God. I know some of you might read that and think I'm crazy but it's the truth. So I 100% agree with that guy, feeble site blockers, etc. don't have the knowledge that your parents (and God) do.

You've intrigued me...how does porn do all that?

 

[panchoman]

lol, you're better off talking to your kids about it rather then blocking it, cause the more you block it and tell em no, the more they'll want to do it. sort of like drinking. in italy, the kids get to drink a lil bit of wine and so when they grow up, beer isn't really a huge thing, unlike over here in america lol.

 

[p_o_s_pc]

i have done things i have been told no i shouldn't or couldn't just because i was told no. so i can see what pan. was talking about.

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Well, where to start....

You're objectifying women (or men-ewww!) and in doing so, reducing them to less-than-humans.

Think of it this way: Every woman you see in porn IS someone's daughter (they didn't "harvest" her from the Porn-Chick farm-although it sometimes LOOKS like it). What if she were YOUR daughter and you knew what men were thinking about when they looked at her.

Now, we are all God's children. How do you think He feels about what you are doing and, in turn, promoting (they aren't going to make more porn if there is noone to watch it). The human psyche and body, upon repetative exposure, loses sensitivity to the subject. It, in turn, becomes less of a "big deal". You move on to (stronger/weirder/darker) things that give you the feeling you had the "first" time you experienced this (cigarettes->weed, beer->booze, Victoria's Secret catalogs->porn, etc.). It is the classic pattern of addiction.

We all have an inner knowledge of what is "right" and "good". When we do things that we know are bad, there is always some shame. Shame separates us from others, be it friends, lovers, parents or God.(Sounds like Yoda in Phantom Menace when he explains to Anakin:
Yoda: How feel you?
Anakin: Cold, sir.
Yoda: Afraid are you?
Anakin: No, sir.
Yoda: See through you we can.
Mace Windu: Be mindful of your feelings.
Ki-Adi-Mundi: Your thoughts dwell on your mother.
Anakin: I miss her.
Yoda: Afraid to lose her I think, hmm?
Anakin: What has that got to do with anything?
Yoda: Everything! Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. I sense much fear in you.
Now replace "fear" with "shame", "anger" with "loneliness" and "hate" with "darkness". YOu get the idea....

But there is good news. You don't have to live in shame. Ask for forgiveness, turn from the things you know you shouldn't do and ask the Lord to take over your life. Very simple, very easy.

 

[oily_17]

Ask for forgiveness, turn from the things you know you shouldn't do and ask the Lord to take over your life. Very simple, very easy.

Yes,but it is up to the parents to teach right and wrong to children.At what age do you let your children use the internet or tell them about porn,there has to be a balance here somewhere,which comes first?

Using filters may help to stop some unsavoury sites,but you still have to prepare for the worst case scenario and how do you prepare kids for this.Do you stop them using the internet until a certain age? Or watch them 24/7 online?Or teach them about porn from 10 years old?

i have done things i have been told no i shouldn't or couldn't just because i was told no.

Agreed but that is where the sense of right and wrong that was instilled in your youth should help.Also everyone rebels a little bit,I know I did,I think that is just human nature.

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Yes,but it is up to the parents to teach right and wrong to children.At what age do you let your children use the internet or tell them about porn,there has to be a balance here somewhere,which comes first?

Using filters may help to stop some unsavoury sites,but you still have to prepare for the worst case scenario and how do you prepare kids for this.Do you stop them using the internet until a certain age? Or watch them 24/7 online?Or teach them about porn from 10 years old?



Agreed but that is where the sense of right and wrong that was instilled in your youth should help.Also everyone rebels a little bit,I know I did,I think that is just human nature.

I couldn't agree more! The "opportunities" usually present themselves (it's so like the devil). It is up the parents to be like the guardrails on a winding road. They deliniate the area in which you can operate without much danger and protect you from a plummet to a firey death!

To the second point. Hey man, they don't call it "forbidden fruit" for nuthin'!

 

[oily_17]

The age of innocence does not last forever so teaching kids about the pit falls in life has to be done,not relying on software to do this for you.

Only by teaching younger kids can you keep them on the "straight and narrow".

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Well said!

It's refreshing to see some goodness in such a debauched world.

 

[WarEagleAU]

way off topic, but that is probably one of the best scenes in that movie.


regarding censorship and kids these days..its the parents who stopped parenting and started letting TV shows, movies and games, etc do the parenting. now they are reaping what they sow.