14yo girl driven to suicide on Myspace

The Prototype · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:15 am

That's really a messed up and a very sad tale, there are some very messed up people using the net these days...I wonder if they stopped to wonder how they'd feel if it was their daughter copping shit like this and ended up taking her own life...

Dave The Man · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:48 pm

What Happend of the Net Being a Nice Place

The Prototype · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:58 pm

Dave The Man · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 1:06 pm

Joel · Joined: 23 Mar 1999 Location: Mornington Peninsula

Read about that on Whirlpool. Though a few cynics over there reckon the story is fake.

If it is true, those parents are twisted to play with the mind of someone so young.

bwphantom · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 5:02 pm

I have 13& 11 yr old Daughters. I have banned Myspace, youtube, Pm sites and the like.
If they want to chat to friends they have MSN. And they are not allowed to add friends unless i give permission.

This will continue until they turn 18 or move out of my home. Also none of my kids will have their own mobile until the same age.

Technology is great but we are allowing our children to become vulnerable. We have told our children to beware of strangers, but some young seem to believe that if it is cyber it is not really real. And some are not able to use the technology responsibly enough to keep themselves out of harms way.

Dave The Man · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 5:34 pm

bwphantom · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 5:45 pm

I never had a mobile Dave, and I turned out just fine. And besides If they go out they can use mine. I understand the keep in touch concept but do not see it as a necessary item. We have one mobile in our family and it serves all of us well.

As for Youtube it is not at all innocent and deserves to be on the banned list. My daughter uses the computer learning code and for educational reasons. Call me antique but we do not have a PS or the like and I will not have one in my house. It is called outside playing a thing of the past. Problem is kids are not using their imagination and because entertainment is given to them, some find it hard think for themselves. For instance I took 6 young men aged between 13-16 camping. We went to a place called 1770. Now it is right near the beach, there are creeks and bush to explore. For the whole time they kept asking 'what are we doing now' I said have a look around and go explore. They expected me to show them how to have fun. Because the use of TV, Video games and other easily accessed entertainment has lessened the use of brain power.

Dave The Man · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 5:55 pm

stui magpie · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 6:00 pm

The kids being alienated by the peers, is one issue. Not everyone has a computer and internet in their house.

Another risk factor is actually alienating them yourself. It's a differentgeneration these days and while they are (IMO) not as intellectually mature at the same age as our generation was at the same age and far more concernned with "bright shiny things", they can be a lot more self centred and able to take and hold offence at perceived unfair treatment. Trying to explain something to a 15 year old using logic is a waste. They can hear the words and mouth the right phrases, but they actually don't get it.

EBB · Joined: 26 Apr 2007

Dark Beanie · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Location: A galaxy far, far away.

I agree with BWP, kids have forgotten how to play and need to be entertained all the time.

We restrict the 10 year old's computer time to 1 hour per week, provided all homework is done, and there is no access to the internet unless we vet the site (he only wants to play games anyway). Even though he has friends with mobiles, he will only get one when he goes to high school as he will have to travel on public transport.

Haven't got to the MySpace etc. stage yet, but even at work we had to remove access to MSN as we had staff spending all day messaging friends

ANNODAM · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 8:30 pm

DTM, unless you have kids you have NO idea what you're talking about!

Telling a parent they're being harsh when they're only trying to protect their own flesh & blood....How old are YOU more to the point?

Well done BWPhantom!

DTM you need to GROW up, fair dinkum!

Johnson#26 · Joined: 18 Dec 2003

That's a fair call, BW, and I applaud you for taking the stance.

I became all but addicted to the internet in late 2003 and really haven't stopped since, simply because it is my direct link to Collingwood and football, and since my friends. It's hard to know where to draw the line, although I think that kids (13-14 and above) should be entitled to a mobile, however I can see where you're coming from.

EBB · Joined: 26 Apr 2007

hmmmm children and mobiles! Recently I saw 7 or 8 yr old girls with mobile phones. They were with parents but I'm not going to tell you what they attempted to take pictures off!!