I don't want to hijack the thread but quick wanted to add that you can also set parental blocks, as well as block certain websites, allow only certain websites, block cuss words, set up a time limit including start up & shut down times, etc.
Yep. I have ALLL kinds of parental blocks on my children's computers and iPad. We use them for homeschool, but they inevitably become toys too. They have a special browser on the iPad set to Middle School level. (although I have a six YO, younger siblings often get freedoms sooner)
What I haven't been able to control is YouTube. I wish I had choices other than just flat blocking it all together. It's a wild ride out there. Some stuff is horrifically inappropriate, but there is so much that's fun & OK
As far as responding to bike thefts... Have you listened to a scanner? (that is sooo not a sarcastic question!) LE can be so incredibly busy, especially on weekends. Call after call, some are dogs barking, many are for drunks, DV, child welfare, 'someone is living in my attic,' loud music, loud music part 2, shooting, peeping and on and on. Maybe the bikes were a lower priority that day. After listening to a scanner feed for a while now, I have a newfound respect and awe for LE. I had no idea just how busy they are, many times simply because people can't hold their beer or fist or find the volume. JMramblingO
IMO unaware of just how many LE officers there are in the area and what they had to be doing at that time. Also it's not like they would rush the whole calvary over there it would just take 1 cop to come over and talk to them.
I did something illegal when i was younger, and one night when i was watching tv the Cops came knocking on my door to ask me some questions.
Yah I saw a call (to 911!) because there was a snake in the caller's pants. Gosh, I have a serious phobia of snakes so that would probably make me soil my pants, but what are the cops gonna do about it?
I have a friend who is an EMT. He has responded to a call from a woman who could not remove her ring. So, yeah, they have to prioritize those calls.
Today was recycling pickup day in my neighborhood. As I drove by those tall blue bins at the end of each neighbor's driveway, I thought who, in a million years, would think one of those might contain a body?
Me too. I was telling DH about the case and I said, "she was in one of those big blue recycling bins,
like ours." :shudder: it's my 12 year old's chore to empty the small recycling bin under the sink into it each day and roll that out to the street once a week.
easy to miss....just concerning to me that 12 year old girls are on the computer at 3 am ANY night....let alone a school night. Also, concerning that SHE started the conversation. I hate that girls need to be trained to be overly cautious, but they do, and it is becoming more apparent daily.
jmo
I don't think anyone could have anticipated that these boys were murderers. She went to school with them and knew them, was already Facebook friends with the younger one. I certainly don't fault her for initiating a conversation with them. nothing she said was risky or suggestive. My goodness. I will not ask my daughter to be THAT careful.
And regarding the time:
The times on the fb posts would be of the time zone of the person taking the screen shot, not necessarily the time the chat occurred, if they are in different time zones.
This is why parents need to be more proactive in protecting their kids. Social media IS NOT a good thing for kids or even young teens. They are being "online friends" with friends who would never make it through your door.
And 3am on a school night? If I found my daughter doing that, or son, technology would be gone. For a long time (aside from one pc that can access only educational website) in the kitchen.
You know that's interesting. There are several risks Autumn was allowed to take that my children wouldn't be able to do. (I have on 12 year old, the other two are younger) but talking on FB is one they would likely do - if they had accounts, which they won't until they are 13, per Facebook TOS. We home school though, so we keep flexible hours. It's one of the things I love about it. The time she talked to him alone doesn't represent risk, but it
is one more piece of the picture of Autumn's degree of supervision. Which I would say was relatively low.
I get the whole bashing of social media, I do. I don't have a facebook, neither does my husband...I just never got the concept of reading up on what others are eating, watching, doing, liking...who really cares?
But kids do, and it's the way it is. I don't fault any parent who allows their 12 year old to have a facebook. And I'm a little uncomfortable with anyone assuming that these parents didn't monitor Autumn's facebook.
I love Facebook. I am a 42 YO SAHM, I use it for a nice social connection. It's cool that you don't care for it, but it's
not just for kids. I have some pretty meaty conversations there too. Which is why, I
do fault parents who let children younger than 13 have accounts. That's a violation of Facebook's TOS, and frankly, when I'm on Facebook, I don't want to censor my thoughts or words, or the links I post to grisly news stories because someone else's kid might see them. And I don't, which is why
it's really doubly necessary for parents who do choose to let kids younger than 13 use Facebook, keep an eye on them and watch their accounts. When my son does turn 13 I'll have access to his password. I won't check it constantly, but he'll know that I
might JMHO
To be fair, the text between Autumn and JR regarding his "sweet ride" (my words), do not seem alarming at all. They only are in hindsight. IMO
I totally agree here. It's completely innocuous. Only in hindsight is it sinister.
maybe someone else can help better?
