Do you think that inaccessible and forbidden are the same thing? Or is there a difference? I am specifically talking about the internet access at this time but wondering if it probably doesn't apply to a lot of the things. Up until now we have not had the internet at our house. I know. Most of you are thinking that we live in the dark ages. I didn't but my family really did. I had access to the internet at work and actually could dial in remotely at home if I needed to. It was a dial up speed and so my kids didn't want to use it for any games or such even if they could have used it.
Obviously, they are getting older and the need and desire for the internet is getting stronger. They have friends who have access at their house and I know that is something that is going on when they are over at their houses. Duh. I am not stupid. Especially knowing how addicted I am to the internet. I am honestly amazed that my husband does not put up more of a fuss about not having that dandy little 21st century tool in our home.
So, the internet is not forbidden at our house. It is just not accessible. Is there a difference?
I know all about forbidden fruit and it's tempting qualities. I grew up in a very mormon home. There was a lot of emphasis on THE DON'Ts. They became secretive. They became a challenge. They became more than what they were in your mind. It was never the actual object, it was the fact that it is forbidden that makes it so irresistable. At least that was my experience.
So, now that I am not working and no longer have access to the internet for business purposes only I have convinced Bart that we need the internet at our house. And to make sure that there are not more forbidden things than need to be at our house the children must have access to it as well. We have had many conversations with computer techs and saavy IT guys trying to figure out what is the best way to keep our children safe with this incredible tool that we have at our fingertips. I mean, look at this cool page which makes a map of all the states (or countries) that you have been too. http://douweosinga.com/projects/visitedstates How fun!
Mostly I am just pissed that I have to worry about freaks and sickos trying to hang out with my pre teen children who are just interested in playing a game or building their own online journal page on a computer. And that also includes media outlets that use soft porn to get people to use their page. I am amazed at the filth that can be innocently found out there.
And so I bobble. Bobble, you know, go back and forth between getting the internet, not getting the internet in our home, letting my kids have complete access, not giving my children access unless I am sitting with them, moving to Nowhere, North Dakota and living on a farm that doesn't have electricity. Let me know if you have any other options.
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Well, maybe this will make you feel better, and maybe not! But my kids have been playing games on the internet for literally years, without incident. They play on cartoon network mostly and some other sites, and the games are not based in chat rooms.
Sam is the only pre-teen I have, but he ia also imminently trustworthy (right now). I am pretty sure that you have probably done a BETTER job of instilling in your kids a sense of right and wrong than *I* have (because we are Heathens and do not go to church) and so I would monitor their activity, limit it, but not forbid.
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