Myspace.com

[CaptainTux]

For clarification, I am not assaulting the leadership of the lds. I am challenging the ten points. I would encourage parents to research netsmartz and make their own decisions.

The Internet is a hazardous place, so is the school, so is the mall, so is the park, so is driving, etc.

The best we can do is lay a foundation for our kids and teach them about safety and responsibility.

We do not help our kids with drivers education without knowing the rules of the road or how to drive a car. We do not teach our kids about the Bible without knowing the Bible, we do not teach our kids English without knowing the language and structure of grammar. We may not know everything about cars, the Bible, and Grammar, but we know enough to help them on thier way.

The Internet and technology is something that many adults are ignorant of, but the good news is that education is a few clicks away, a trip to the library away. or a community college class away. It is important for us as parents to be educated and not just take any document for granted as correct.

[BenRaines]

Well said Capt. Tux.

Our church leaders have often said: "I teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves."

We as parents need to be aware of what our children are doing. Teach there where it is safe to be and where it is not safe to be.

I taught my children when they were small to not talk to strangers. Same holds true to the Internet for young people. I think that there are parents, notice I did not say most or many, who would rather do like the ostrich and stick their heads in the sand and pretend that it doesn't exist than to teach their children proper behavior there.

My 23 year old son has a myspace account. We went there together, we removed his full name, his birthdate. I told him that my concern was not so much with predators of a sexual nature but with identity theft. Now just his first name shows there and he has lots of friends from his mission that stay in touch with myspace.

As I said in an earlier post. What about Yahoo groups, AOL chat, etc, etc. It is not MySpace that is the problem.

As a resident of Las Vegas I wonder how many of the same parents who worry about their childrens MySpace accounts don't give a second thought to their kids running down to Las Vegas from Utah for the long weekend. Sure because there is a lot of wholesome activity going on here in town. LOL

Ben Raines