Split from Cloud's Kids&Internet Thread

[Ibby]

Do you ever learn, Merc?

Stop with the ad hominem argument. Its failing and making you look like a fool.
The first quote of mine was addressed to cloud. If you like, ignore it and focus on the second. I'll say it again for good measure.

"If your kids have half a brain at all they can make their own decisions about what is and isnt okay. You teach them how to be safe, and let them do the rest."

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Literally, "against the man". As long as you construct the argument this way, you are committing the logical fallacy. Address the point, not the teen.

Ah yes, but please note the teen attacked the premise that a parent has no right to spy on his children and that such action deemed him/her, father/mother to be a "mother-fucking asshole", and you have no offense to this?? this is perfectly acceptable as a parent to be called a "mother-fucking asshose" with absolutely no response??? If an adult was standing next to this punk teen most would back-hand deck the little fag with a firm fist and break his jaw.

But given this is all virtual, obviously anything goes, as long as you are a teen. Correct?

[zippyt]

As with all teens, yourself included, you do not have the "half of a brain" for which to make decisions about what is ok and what is not ok.

I dissagree , That is a WAYYYY broad statement about ALL teens , now I agree that some kids can do some STUPID stuff , there ARE those teens that are more senseable than some adults .

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Ibram

Do you ever learn, Merc?

Stop with the ad hominem argument. Its failing and making you look like a fool.
The first quote of mine was addressed to cloud. If you like, ignore it and focus on the second. I'll say it again for good measure.

"If your kids have half a brain at all they can make their own decisions about what is and isnt okay. You teach them how to be safe, and let them do the rest."

If you call me a "mother fucking asshole" that is hardly an "ad hominen" argument, no matter how hard you want to cover your teen ass, sorry that dog will not hunt either.

[Beestie]

The horrific mistake that Merc is making is confusing control for instruction.

Kids who are controlled like automatons never learn how to exercise good judgement. Their first day in college, they will not know how to handle all the evils available to them because they have never had to make a decision in their entire life - all their decisions were pre-empted by Stalinist-level control.

You can't teach a child how to choose good over bad if they are raised in a hermetically sealed bubble.

All that Merc is accomplishing is deferring their exploratory years to when their actions are no longer Merc's problem. Basically, a philosophy of "screw up all you want just wait till you move out to do it."

That is nothing short of an abdication of parental responsibility.

Its really not that different than not teaching your child how to drive. You have to teach them then you have to give him (or her - this isn't a gender issue) the keys now and then and not let them see you pray to God that they come back in once piece.

If you don't show a child some trust, then don't expect any back.

I'm with Ibram on this one.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by zippyt

As with all teens, yourself included, you do not have the "half of a brain" for which to make decisions about what is ok and what is not ok.

I dissagree , That is a WAYYYY broad statement about ALL teens , now I agree that some kids can do some STUPID stuff , there ARE those teens that are more senseable than some adults .

True statement, on general terms, but from the standpoint of a parent of a specific set of teens, would you allow some other teens to tell you what is right or wrong for you children? I think not.

[GuinivereXBloodgood]

TM, why can't you just accept the fact that you're only making an ass of yourself even more?

Seriously dude, chill. Quit arguing just to be arguing.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Beestie

The horrific mistake that Merc is making is confusing control for instruction.

Kids who are controlled like automatons never learn how to exercise good judgement. Their first day in college, they will not know how to handle all the evils available to them because they have never had to make a decision in their entire life - all their decisions were pre-empted by Stalinist-level control.

You can't teach a child how to choose good over bad if they are raised in a hermetically sealed bubble.

All that Merc is accomplishing is deferring their exploratory years to when their actions are no longer Merc's problem. Basically, a philosophy of "screw up all you want just wait till you move out to do it."

That is nothing short of an abdication of parental responsibility.

Its really not that different than not teaching your child how to drive and giving him the keys now and then and not letting them see you pray to God that they come back in once piece.

If you don't show a child some trust, then don't expect any back.

I'm with Ibram on this one.

Woooowooo my friend... There are no statement of abdication or control for that matter, only monitoring and appropriate intervention when and if things appear to be getting out of hand.

[Ibby]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

If an adult was standing next to this punk teen most would back-hand deck the little fag with a firm fist and break his jaw.

So now you're promoting child abuse, too?

Merc, I called you an asshole because I think you are one. That wasn't an argument, that was my opinion of you. Not an argument; merely an insult. My argument is why i think you are an asshole. I think you're an asshole because youre a pathetic little dictator - and I think youre a pathetic little dictator because... say it with me now...
"If your kids have half a brain at all they can make their own decisions about what is and isnt okay. You teach them how to be safe, and let them do the rest."

[Undertoad]

Ah yes, but please note the teen attacked the premise that a parent has no right to spy on his children and that such action deemed him/her, father/mother to be a "mother-fucking asshole", and you have no offense to this??

That's certainly ad hominem too; it's not moderators job to police for ad hominem, which happens all the time, but there's also a point where it goes over the line and can degenerate to mere abuse and name-calling nonsense.

[zippyt]

would you allow some other teens to tell you what is right or wrong for you children? I think not.

No I wouldn't , but I wouldn't revert to name calling eather ,
just WHO is the adult here ???
You are , so you need to act like it !!!!!

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by GuinivereXBloodgood

TM, why can't you just accept the fact that you're only making an ass of yourself even more?

Seriously dude, chill. Quit arguing just to be arguing.

Chill, I am having fun.

Let me ask you a question.

Do you think there is anything on the internet that you could monitor of your teen that would be inappropriate?

So basically, you as a parent, believe that your kid is so totally trustworthy and such an angel that there would be no chance that anything they do on the internet could be harmful or that any information that you, as a parent, could ever gleem to help prevent that child from heading into trouble??? Please give me a response, I am curious.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

That's certainly ad hominem too; it's not moderators job to police for ad hominem, which happens all the time, but there's also a point where it goes over the line and can degenerate to mere abuse and name-calling nonsense.

Ok, I see so his comment is more correct. I get it.

[monster]

I'm with Ibram. I have three kids. I teach them how to stay safe on the internet and then let them loose (ish) -mine are younger than Ibram, so still need enough help that I know what they're up to anyway. But I will give them a pretty free reign when older. You want your children to grow up to be responsible -you gotta give them a chance to practice responsibility. Over-protected and spied-on children just become more devious -often at the expense of other things to which they should be applying their intellect.

p.s. Merc, if you're such a good parent and a good judge of what is appropriate for teens on the web, how come you don't know how to respond appropriately to a 16yo on a forum like this?

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Ibram

So now you're promoting child abuse, too?

Merc, I called you an asshole because I think you are one. That wasn't an argument, that was my opinion of you. Not an argument; merely an insult. My argument is why i think you are an asshole. I think you're an asshole because youre a pathetic little dictator - and I think youre a pathetic little dictator because... say it with me now...
"If your kids have half a brain at all they can make their own decisions about what is and isnt okay. You teach them how to be safe, and let them do the rest."

And because I think you are an inmature little punk teen with zero life experience I am more wrong than you???? So if I just call you a "mother-fucking-asshole" we are all even??? Because that is my opinion of you??? My argument is that you have no experience as a teen without the responsibility of teen children, like yourself, to make a judgement. How in the hell would you know if or if not I was a "dictator" to my teen children??? Just asking for a legit answer here teen.