'SEXTING'

[AWK]

Not really...  The difference is that the parents are providing it to their kids.  It is definitely the parent's responsibility to ensure that their brats aren't doing anything stupid or illegal with the new toy.  Think of it this way...  If those same kids go out and trash personal property, the parents are usually held liable for the damages and sometimes charged with crime. 

To be held liable for a crime committed by ones child, a ton of things are taken into consideration.  Generally, parents aren't held liable.  It depends on the situation, childrens age, etc.  Anyway, it almost never happens due to the wording of most statutes. 

Usually held liable for most civil damages. 

[GarMan]

Usually held liable for most civil damages. 

Agreed...  But, I do believe that parents should be held more responsible for the criminal actions of their children.  It would have a very positive affect on society. 

[Token]

Agreed...  But, I do believe that parents should be held more responsible for the criminal actions of their children.  It would have a very positive affect on society. 

Only if you loosen the child abuse laws.

[Thrilla]

Not really...  The difference is that the parents are providing it to their kids.  It is definitely the parent's responsibility to ensure that their brats aren't doing anything stupid or illegal with the new toy.  Think of it this way...  If those same kids go out and trash personal property, the parents are usually held liable for the damages and sometimes charged with crime. 

This is what I'm thinking.  And you better believe that I will be going through my child's phone, text by text, picture by picture, looking for pics of nude tweens making sure that he is not doing or saying anything stupid with it.  The parents have got to have more control over these priviledges and enforce that they are, in fact, priviledges which can be taken away indefinitely if used inappropriately.

This chick in this case sending out nude photos?  I feel pretty strongly that if the parents were to look through her phone prior to that event, they would have found some other damning evidence that could potentially have prevented this fuck-up.

Only if you loosen the child abuse laws.

All you got to tell them is that you are only beating them because you love them.     

[Token]

This is what I'm thinking.  And you better believe that I will be going through my child's phone, text by text, picture by picture, looking for pics of nude tweens making sure that he is not doing or saying anything stupid with it.  The parents have got to have more control over these priviledges and enforce that they are, in fact, priviledges which can be taken away indefinitely if used inappropriately.

This chick in this case sending out nude photos?  I feel pretty strongly that if the parents were to look through her phone prior to that event, they would have found some other damning evidence that could potentially have prevented this phuk-up.

You can delete text messages from your phone.  Most smart kids would.  I'm pretty sure you can get a print out of the text messages sent to and from the phone, but I'm not sure you can actually see the content in the text messages. 

We had a similar case recently between a 14 year old female and an 18 year old male.  We scared the living shit out of the 18 year old and I'm fairly certain his parents probably beat his ass.  The girls parents were very upset and at first wanted to go as far as the law would allow.  The next morning, however, they changed their minds.  Apparently it sank in that their precious daughter wasn't as innocent as they would have liked and didn't want to ruin the 18 year old's life. 

It was sad, but hey, they gave her the phone and freedom. 

[Saniflush]

If you beat them correctly they can't testify against you.

[Token]

If you beat them correctly they can't testify against you.

Beating them correctly constitutes whippings from ages 2-10.  A lot of parents don't want to discipline their kids at that age, then they wind up over-correcting when regular beatings don't work on their 14 year old smart ass.   

[CCTAU]

My 13 yr old has a phone. He uses when he is over at a friends house or at a school function or church function. I look into it every now and then just to be sure. We do not have the data plan so sending pics costs money. Costing me money loses the phone. So no pics are sent.

Token, I know where my kid is at all times, but I want him to have the means to call if the situation turns in a direction that he is not comfortable with. According to you, I should just let what happens happen. I CHOOSE not to do that. When your child gets to be a teen, then flop you big masculine pecker out and show us how strict you are. I'm willing to bet at that time  your child will have access to a cell phone too.

[GarMan]

Beating them correctly constitutes whippings from ages 2-10.  A lot of parents don't want to discipline their kids at that age, then they wind up over-correcting when regular beatings don't work on their 14 year old smart ass.   

That's what they make tasers for...

[Saniflush]

That's what they make tasers for...

From 11 up they become azz whoopins'.

[Token]

Token, I know where my kid is at all times, but I want him to have the means to call if the situation turns in a direction that he is not comfortable with. According to you, I should just let what happens happen. I CHOOSE not to do that. When your child gets to be a teen, then flop you big masculine pecker out and show us how strict you are. I'm willing to bet at that time  your child will have access to a cell phone too.

According to you, I should just let what happens happen.

1st, where did I say that?  I'm not sure I understand exactly what you're getting at.  Are you saying that you don't attend those church or school functions with your child, so he needs a cell phone to call you? I don't understand you're position.

When your child gets to be a teen, then flop you big masculine pecker out and show us how strict you are. I'm willing to bet at that time  your child will have access to a cell phone too.

This is exactly where my "trying to be a friend" comment comes from.  Because a parent decides their 13 year old child doesn't need a cell phone (because they don't), the parents are flexing their big bad masculine penis and being strict.  

My kids will have a cell phone when they can pay their phone bill.  Until then, they will only go places where they can call me if they need me.  School functions?  Teachers have cell phones.  Church functions?  Adult supervision will have a cell phone.  My kids don't need cell phones.

[Townhallsavoy]

I'm going to give a snippet of a "sexting" story that I know about.  I can't divulge any details because I'd lose my job. 

Here's the story: 

Teen Girl wants to date Teen Boy.  Teen Boy does not like Teen Girl.  Ignores her.  Teen Girl tells Teen Boy that she will do whatever he wants to her.  Teen Boy starts dating a new girl.  Teen Girl decides to send a naked picture of herself to Teen Boy.  Teen Boy thinks "holy shit!" and forwards the picture via text message to his friend.  His friend decides to show someone else and gets busted with the picture on his phone. 

Teen Girl's parents aren't happy and press charges.

Teen Boy is found guilty of distributing child pornography. 

[Token]

I'm going to give a snippet of a "sexting" story that I know about.  I can't divulge any details because I'd lose my job. 

Here's the story: 

Teen Girl wants to date Teen Boy.  Teen Boy does not like Teen Girl.  Ignores her.  Teen Girl tells Teen Boy that she will do whatever he wants to her.  Teen Boy starts dating a new girl.  Teen Girl decides to send a naked picture of herself to Teen Boy.  Teen Boy thinks "holy poop!" and forwards the picture via text message to his friend.  His friend decides to show someone else and gets busted with the picture on his phone. 

Teen Girl's parents aren't happy and press charges.

Teen Boy is found guilty of distributing child pornography. 

And that is ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT.  The parents shouldn't be allowed to press charges in this instance. 

[War Eagle!!!]

1st, where did I say that?  I'm not sure I understand exactly what you're getting at.  Are you saying that you don't attend those church or school functions with your child, so he needs a cell phone to call you? I don't understand you're position.

This is exactly where my "trying to be a friend" comment comes from.  Because a parent decides their 13 year old child doesn't need a cell phone (because they don't), the parents are flexing their big bad masculine penis and being strict.  

My kids will have a cell phone when they can pay their phone bill.  Until then, they will only go places where they can call me if they need me.  School functions?  Teachers have cell phones.  Church functions?  Adult supervision will have a cell phone.  My kids don't need cell phones.

Whatever. How old are your kids?

My girlfriends daughter is 14 and she has a phone. She texts all the time. I check it at any time. She knows I check it at any time. She leaves it around the house and leaves it turned on. I check it then. Until we find her doing anything that can prove to us that she is untrustworthy...lying, being deceitful, etc...then I have to trust her.

I think that if you are too strict with your children, they will act out the minute that you can't control the situation. In my opinion, let your kid have responsibility for things that they show responsibility for. If you control every aspect of your kids life until he/she are 16, they are not going to know how to handle the responsibility when they get the chance. In my opinion, THAT is bad parenting. That is not giving the kids the skills in order to gradually make right decisions. If your 14 or 15 year old son or daughter is never anywhere you don't know where they are, what is going to happen when they turn 16 and get a license? I know. They are going to go nuts and start lying to you because you want to know where they are every second. Why not give them the responsibility when you can control the situation instead of throwing them into this cruel world without helping them in the maturity process...

[Thrilla]

You can delete text messages from your phone.  Most smart kids would.  I'm pretty sure you can get a print out of the text messages sent to and from the phone, but I'm not sure you can actually see the content in the text messages. 

True.  But if they are deleted on both ends of the message, then they can't get in trouble for it.  It doesn't make what they are doing any more right, but out of sight...out of mind.  Unfortunately, it may hard for a teenage boy to bring himself to delete a picture of a nekkid classmate on his phone.

[Token]

Whatever. How old are your kids?

My girlfriends daughter is 14 and she has a phone. She texts all the time. I check it at any time. She knows I check it at any time. She leaves it around the house and leaves it turned on. I check it then. Until we find her doing anything that can prove to us that she is untrustworthy...lying, being deceitful, etc...then I have to trust her.

I think that if you are too strict with your children, they will act out the minute that you can't control the situation. In my opinion, let your kid have responsibility for things that they show responsibility for. If you control every aspect of your kids life until he/she are 16, they are not going to know how to handle the responsibility when they get the chance. In my opinion, THAT is bad parenting. That is not giving the kids the skills in order to gradually make right decisions. If your 14 or 15 year old son or daughter is never anywhere you don't know where they are, what is going to happen when they turn 16 and get a license? I know. They are going to go nuts and start lying to you because you want to know where they are every second. Why not give them the responsibility when you can control the situation instead of throwing them into this cruel world without helping them in the maturity process...

Did you have a cell phone when you were 14?  If you didn't, were you less mature because of it?  It's a bogus argument.  Kids having a cellphone at that age isn't necessary for them to properly mature.  

How is not giving your child a cell phone at the age of 14 being too strict?  If you want to, fine.  That's your choice.  My ONLY point is, it isn't necessary for a 10-15 year old child to have a cell phone.

It's bullpoop.  To say that a 14 year old kid needs a cell phone to "learn to handle" life decisions is bullpoop.  And the argument that a parent is "too strict" if their 14 year old kid doesn't have a cell phone is bullpoop.

If a parent properly checks their kids cellphone and knows they aren't sending out child pornography, then great.  CCTAU said that his plan doesn't allow picture messages.  That's a damn good idea.  But there are a lot of parents that don't even bother to check ANYTHING.  They just buy the cellphone and tell them to have fun with it.  Then they want to flip out and put someone in jail when they get a forwarded tit shot of their daughter on their own cellphone.

[War Eagle!!!]

Did you have a cell phone when you were 14?  If you didn't, were you less mature because of it?  It's a bogus argument.  Kids having a cellphone at that age isn't necessary for them to properly mature.  

How is not giving your child a cell phone at the age of 14 being too strict?  If you want to, fine.  That's your choice.  My ONLY point is, it isn't necessary for a 10-15 year old child to have a cell phone.

It's bullpoop.  To say that a 14 year old kid needs a cell phone to "learn to handle" life decisions is bullpoop.  And the argument that a parent is "too strict" if their 14 year old kid doesn't have a cell phone is bullpoop.

If a parent properly checks their kids cellphone and knows they aren't sending out child pornography, then great.  CCTAU said that his plan doesn't allow picture messages.  That's a damn good idea.  But there are a lot of parents that don't even bother to check ANYTHING.  They just buy the cellphone and tell them to have fun with it.  Then they want to flip out and put someone in jail when they get a forwarded tit shot of their daughter on their own cellphone.

You changed your argument. Your initial argument was cell phones are bad and your child wasn't going to have one.

And I never said a 14 year old "needed" a phone. The cell phone is a privilege. If anything....it is damn good leverage...

[Kaos]

Alright, you made a good case if you need to talk with Bob immediately.  But why would you ever be in a situation where you needed to talk to your child immediately, and couldn't unless they had a cell phone?  Maybe if your child is 16+ and driving....but there's no need for your 10-15 year old child to have a cell phone.  My kid (8) doesn't go anywhere that I can't get in touch with him if I need to call him. 

Sorry.  I have to disagree. 

My daughter got a cell phone when she was 13. 

She was in the band and played various sports.  That required her to be on trips that my wife and I couldn't always make.  We got her a cell phone so we could get in touch with her and vice versa when she was gone.  Came in very handy several times because PARENTS are utterly irresponsible. 

In many cases the kids had to ride with parents to the games since the school didn't always provide busing.  Parents would get there and then make alternate plans.  Most notably, one bitch who noticed there was an outlet mall 40 miles off the path on the way home and decided to detour.  She shuffled kids around so that the ones whose parents might object to the detour would not be in her car any longer.  Some kids inadvertently got left out and without a cell phone might have been stranded several hundred miles from home because of this idiot woman. 

[Token]

You changed your argument. Your initial argument was cell phones are bad and your child wasn't going to have one.

And I never said a 14 year old "needed" a phone. The cell phone is a privilege. If anything....it is damn good leverage...

Maybe I harped a little on the dumbass things kids do with phones, but my entire argument was that a kid from the age of 10-15 doesn't need a cell phone.  I'm fairly certain I've maintained and mentioned in each response that I've posted.

But I do agree, phones could be excellent leverage.

[Token]

Sorry.  I have to disagree. 

My daughter got a cell phone when she was 13. 

She was in the band and played various sports.  That required her to be on trips that my wife and I couldn't always make.  We got her a cell phone so we could get in touch with her and vice versa when she was gone.  Came in very handy several times because PARENTS are utterly irresponsible. 

In many cases the kids had to ride with parents to the games since the school didn't always provide busing.  Parents would get there and then make alternate plans.  Most notably, one bitch who noticed there was an outlet mall 40 miles off the path on the way home and decided to detour.  She shuffled kids around so that the ones whose parents might object to the detour would not be in her car any longer.  Some kids inadvertently got left out and without a cell phone might have been stranded several hundred miles from home because of this idiot woman. 

When I was in 6th grade, I went to Washington D.C. for a week with my class, no parents.  When I was in 7th grade I spent a week in Hoover for a Junior United Nations Assembly, no parents.  In the 8th grade?  Beta Club convention in Montgomery for a week, no parents.

I did all three without a cell phone, and lived to type about it. 

Cell phones are convenient, I agree.  But without them, civilization would carry on. 

P.S.  I just stood on the side of a busy highway for 2 hours diverting traffic because of a 4 car accident with serious injuries.  The cause?  You guessed it, a 16 year old texting.