Dr. Byron needs to get out more...

My children were essentially raised with the internet, having been brought into the world by a father who's been an active participant in the medium for 21 years.

No netnanny software exists on our home lan. Just a father who "gets it", has frank discussions with his children, and then learns to trust them. Do you want to know what your children are doing? The solution is easy. Just freakin KNOW. If you're a parent and you don't know, shame on you. PERIOD. Even the things that can happen, that aren't necessarily your fault when raising your children are still your RESPONSIBILITY.

Putting all of the "what does this mean"'s into a context for your children IS A PARENTS JOB. Hiding things that exist in the world.....Exactly who does that sort of ignorance serve? Does it make you feel better to think you'll tell "Little Johnny" when he's older? Is that the logic? Or are you simply afraid of being a parent? It isn't an easy job, but few worthwhile endeavors are easy.

The net is not some microcosm of twisted evil that has magically reared it's ugly head in the modern era. It is actually little more than a cleverly focused lens that brings the realities of the world in sharper focus.

Philosophical ideologues like Dr. Byron make solid arguments, and her evaluation seems to be one of the more balanced I've read, but much of it is being taken out of context too, by those with political agenda's grounded in fear, wistful desires for some fantasy "past" that was "better and safer".Being sold on this way of thinking is being sold on myths.

If you can tell me of some arcane past that was substantively better than today, I'd be happy to take apart that past and show you how banal and cruel much of it was.

I'm all for protecting our children, and indeed I consider my daughters fate something I'd willingly lay down my life for. But I'm also for honesty. And that honesty demands that I refrain from shoveling societies fears (and even some of my own fears when they are clearly irrational) on their shoulders. I'd rather just tell them the truth about the real world. YES, even the ugly parts. How else are they going to know??

I'm raising well adjusted, intelligent, aware, and most importantly SELF AWARE children. If they happen across a stray nipple in a banner ad, or an ad for some violent video game, or some creep trying to IM them I am not worried. I've taken the time to explain all the contexts and ramifications of living in today's world.

Have you? Or have you instead installed software to babysit the children you're not raising? Maybe written your congressman or minister to have them "do something about it"? When has a politician ever done anything that actually worked? And besides, are they the governments children? Or yours?

Take some responsibility, and at the same time relax. Your kids get most of this stuff already. You're the one slow to realize this is all.

what!!

I think that the industry should only take measures when it comes to public safety! but when it comes to kids parents should monitor what they do on the Internet... I do so why can't all parents?

Parents

I think that the UK government should leave parenting up to parents, but it looks like the UK government think they can do a better job. Im sure they could do a better job in some cases.