Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Men used MySpace.com to meet underage girls for sex
AP ^ | Mar 2 2006

Posted on 03/02/2006 9:05:04 AM PST by george wythe

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-96 next last
To: MineralMan

Thanks.....I figure there's always away AROUND parents anyway.....and YES, raising them RIGHT is BEST!


41 posted on 03/02/2006 9:29:18 AM PST by goodnesswins ( "the left can only take power through deception." (and it seems Hillary & Company are the masters)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: MineralMan
"It's almost impossible to keep them from doing what they want to do, unless you control their every moment.

So, what you really have to do is teach them well, raise them to do the right things, and trust that you have done a good job."


Amazing that an idea so basic eludes so many.
42 posted on 03/02/2006 9:29:31 AM PST by ndt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: JamesP81
"If I'm in a smart-mouted mood my usualy reply is: "I suggest you install, and actually, use, Mom_and_Dad.exe"."

That's very good, I'd like to use that if you don't object.

43 posted on 03/02/2006 9:29:44 AM PST by paulcissa (Only YOU can prevent liberalism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: JamesP81; oceanview

A Linux live CD is the way to go (for the kid). Just boot from the CD, use the computer, remove CD, reboot and windows is exactly like you left it.


44 posted on 03/02/2006 9:32:41 AM PST by ndt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: dangus

"I'm not sure. If it does have private areas, certainly many of its users don't use common sense about what to keep private! But on the other hand, you make me realize the benefit of NOT having private areas... Parents can monitor it. Maybe MySpace should require all under-18 users to give parental access to private spaces."

Ah, but you see, MySpace can't see its users, can it? Go there and sign up for an account. You can be any age you like. How would they check?

You want privacy there? You can have it. You want 10 accounts? You can have that, too. Wanna sign up as being 21, even if you're only 14? No problem. Wanna sign up as being 14, even though you're 43? You can do that, too.

MySpace is just that. It's a space. It's free. You can just go and sign up. So kids do. Kids like free stuff. Kids like friends.

The thing is that the abuses are few and far between. Yes, there's a story here and there about some creep who stalks some kid. Not all that many, though. And 50 million users +?

Well, there are creeps at the mall. There are creeps at the McDonalds. There are creeps in your church, school, police department, and just about anywhere else you can mention. You can read the stories about them stalking and molesting kids, too.

It happens, but it's all rare. Protect your kids by teaching them about the risks and how to avoid those risks. It doesn't matter if it's MySpace or the parish rec room. You MUST teach your kids about the risks and how to protect themselves. That is the only answer.


45 posted on 03/02/2006 9:34:47 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: JamesP81

Well, two or three weeks IS a lot of days!

:0)


46 posted on 03/02/2006 9:36:40 AM PST by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: george wythe

Every means of communication invented has been used by wrong doers. I'm not excusing these perverts' actions, I'm saying it's hardly news that Match.com or any other Internet hook up site or chat site attracts the bad with the good.

Newspaper and magazine lonely heart columns were used in the past. Boy's and Girl's organizations, school organizations/ etc. have been infiltrated by some nasty actors. When the telephone was invented, some worried it allowed too much dangerous contact.

The solution comes down to parental involvement with their children along with appropriate cautions to youth. When inappropriate contact is found, the law should have quick and harsh penalties.


47 posted on 03/02/2006 9:40:08 AM PST by RicocheT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pageonetoo

Man, you are lucky that your daughter didn't get in trouble BEFORE you did your investigation.

So for those unfortunate kids whose parents do not have the intelligence or parenting skills to watch over their kids, I understand you all to be saying "heck with them". I get it.


48 posted on 03/02/2006 9:40:17 AM PST by dinoparty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: ndt

"Amazing that an idea so basic eludes so many."

Yup. Parents who believe that severe restrictions on teenagers work are just fooling themselves. That trick simply never works.

Teaching teens (and even younger kids) what risks there are out in the world and what they can to to protect themselves works a whole lot better.

Teach them moral values and teach them WHY those values are important. Then...little by little, let them have their heads and explore the world, step-by-step, with you there as a backup.

That method has always worked just fine. The other method, of keeping them ignorant and trying to keep them restricted to doing nothing has never worked. We all knew kids from very strict homes who were the wildest kids on the block.

Nothing has changed. Parents teach their children how to behave, one way or another. Often, sadly, they learn by the absence of much teaching at all, with parents believing that the only word they need to tell their kids is "no."


49 posted on 03/02/2006 9:41:35 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: MineralMan

I agree. Those who want some sort of "regulating" of this are people who are too lazy to properly parent their child and want Big Brother to do the job for them.

Concerned about what your kid is doing while using his/her computer? The three computers in my home are in my office, the living room, and the kitchen. No computer in the kid's room... nor television, xbox, or such stuff. Who says such things must be in a kid's room rather than in the living room where parents can keep an eye on whats happening? I will tell ya who does... parents who would prefer the kids disappear into the bedroom, or wander around town... and who do not really give a damn what their kids do so long as the kids do not disturb them. They want televisions, video games, and the internet to be the babysitter of their kids, and want Big Brother to be responsible for their kids upbringing... so that they can sit on their asses and not be disturbed when watching "Desperate Housewives" or the Super Bowl.


50 posted on 03/02/2006 9:41:53 AM PST by AnnoyedOne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: vpintheak

Ah, didn't read the article till I got your reply. I was picturing a woman in her late twenties or early thirties.


51 posted on 03/02/2006 9:42:49 AM PST by Still Thinking (Disregard the law of unintended consequences at your own risk.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: dinoparty
Waiting for the mandatory libertarian conservative to blame it all on the parents...

Didn't have to wait long for the mandatory liberal to tell us that Big Nanny State government will solve all our problems and absolve us of individual responsiblity

52 posted on 03/02/2006 9:43:49 AM PST by LambSlave (The truth will set you free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: dinoparty
Waiting for the mandatory libertarian to blame it all on the parents..

Firstly, "mandatory libertarian" is an oxymoron, I think.

Secondly, whose responsibility is it to "regulate" the Internet usage of teens? It's not the government's responsibility. If a parent fails to keep an eye on a child's internet activity then who else do you want to blame? You open the door to the government regulating this aspect of the internet, and the government will regulate (and tax) every aspect of the internet.

We need less government regulation across the board, not more.

53 posted on 03/02/2006 9:46:41 AM PST by SittinYonder (That's how I saw it, and see it still.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: AnnoyedOne

"parents who would prefer the kids disappear into the bedroom, or wander around town... and who do not really give a damn what their kids do so long as the kids do not disturb them. They want televisions, video games, and the internet to be the babysitter of their kids, and want Big Brother to be responsible for their kids upbringing... so that they can sit on their asses and not be disturbed when watching "Desperate Housewives" or the Super Bowl.
"




You have it exactly right. I'm an old guy of 60, and what I see around me are parents who simply do not spend any time with their kids. So, no time...no teaching. And many of these folks consider themselves conservative and Christian. I've seen some like that here on FR, too.

The way to protect your kids is to be involved in their lives, from the time they're in diapers until they become adults and go out on their own. And involved means being there and talking with them, and teaching them things...all kinds of things, from how to catch a fish or change a tire to what to do when some boy tries to feel you up and you don't want him to.

I'm completely shocked at how some of my nieces and nephews are raising their children. The less they see of them, the better, it often seems. This group's kids are sullen, inarticulate around adults, and just not much fun to be around.

The rest of my nieces and nephews are totally involved in their childrens' lives. Since they were babies, they've taken them everywhere, always been involved in teaching them new things and are always expanding their horizons. This group's kids are happy, can carry on an interesting conversation with old farts like me, and are great kids.

Guess which group's kids are going to get in trouble and which group's kids are going to grow up and make good families? I think I know.


54 posted on 03/02/2006 9:50:34 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: oceanview
it takes a parent all of 10 minutes to install web security software on their kids PC, and block myspace.com.

It takes the average kid 10 seconds to bypass.

55 posted on 03/02/2006 9:50:53 AM PST by Raycpa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: dinoparty
So for those unfortunate kids whose parents do not have the intelligence or parenting skills to watch over their kids, I understand you all to be saying "heck with them". I get it.

Numerous people have asked you how you would recommend the government regulate this internet activity. You haven't responded to any of them.

You can police this stuff - and cops do - but the government can't prevent a kid who is determined from posting at myspace or similar websites.

As far as the kids who are unfortunate enough to have parents who "do not have the intelligence or parenting skills to watch over their kids" ... well, those kids are already in trouble with or without the internet. Would you recommend they become wards of the state?

56 posted on 03/02/2006 9:53:25 AM PST by SittinYonder (That's how I saw it, and see it still.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: MineralMan

>> Ah, but you see, MySpace can't see its users, can it? <<

Um, well, actually, yes they can! It's a visual-based medium.

>> Go there and sign up for an account. You can be any age you like. How would they check? <<

Well, you can BECAUSE they don't check. Simply requiring a credit verification would easily suffice. B-b-b-but then teans would need parental permission! Riiiiigghgt!

>> And 50 million users +? <<

FIFTY MILLION USERS? Try a few hundred thousand.


57 posted on 03/02/2006 9:59:10 AM PST by dangus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: dangus
Wife was alerted about it and did some checking.What she found out shocked her!She started looking up kids,nieces,nephews etc.What she found out did not make her happy.She said it basically came down to "hooking up",with a massive amount of false info.Age of one girl she knew was 16 and wanted our niece to lie for her so she could spend 3 days with a 23 yr.old whom she had never met!Wife went over to sisters house and showed her how to monitor nieces activities discreetly.Young people don't realize the danger involved.
58 posted on 03/02/2006 10:00:20 AM PST by xarmydog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: george wythe

guys are scum but the girls are too dumb for words..why does an 11 year old have access to a comp and a myspace account anyway..hello parents


59 posted on 03/02/2006 10:01:03 AM PST by skaterboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dangus

LOL.....your right


60 posted on 03/02/2006 10:01:29 AM PST by skimask (Ezekiel: 25/17)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-96 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson