Ah, Mz, this is the point. Glad you commented. Crazy that at 21 and 23 you feel they were "kids" (or still are in your eyes I am sure, lol) just yesterday.
Now, setting aside some things I personally see as an advantage, which you should be proud of, like home schooling, let's keep it the coming of age argument and also strip the parental argument out for a second (even though I agree that it is a huuuge factor).
Your children were at this age 10 years ago. What has changed in 10 years?
1. Internet speeds that were still mostly dial-up at the time making the ability in quantity of media consumption less at similar time allotments.
2. Digital cameras have not only come way down in price, they exist everywhere and on everything.
3. Webcams were a small market, where now whether you really want one or not it is on often your device (computer, phone, portable media device)
4. Facebook-like sites were really only starting to evolve into the "social staple" (whether you and I agree or not) what they are today.
5. The fact that all these kids, seemingly rich or poor, have or have access to all the above which was nowhere near the case 10 years ago.
The playing field has changed. Before kids victim of bullying were either tormented at school or in their neighborhood or even worse both. Now, there isn't even a "virtual" escape because the bullies are there too. I quoted virtual because virtual has transformed from playing consoles without internet access and other "old-fashioned" forms of escape into everything practically being connected to the internet--socially and playfully.
Bullying is just one example. Go back to the article and the virility in which these coming of age experiences are shared and experienced is at a ferociously fast rate. If you wanted to look at porn in past generations, you either had to wait for a friend or your older sibling to hand over a magazine with still pictures where there would be a small group of friends to share it with--or if they were really lucky a video cassette--but not you can share it with the neighborhood called the world instantly online. Forget pictures of Pamela Anderson that boys had to use their imaginations to fantasize about, now just go over a friends house with more trusting parents if your parents are over your shoulders to forget the pictures, just get it all.
This is the bigger issue. Not one that I can see any stopping. Vigilant parenting and strong bonds will help, but then you also have to depend on equal parenting from the rest of your society. This is a tough one and why it is scary.
Without arguing it, as I said, it can be a problem but doesn't have to be. I realize things have changed in the landscape. But since my kids had strong acceptance from me, they were never desperate for acceptance from others. If others did not accept them, they felt no need to seek that acceptance and so were not easily manipulated in social settings. This is a strong defense against many types of social problems, whether online or off.
I really need to get offline now and attend to some things or I imagine I would be happy to drone on at length.
Comments
Ah, Mz, this is the point. Glad you commented. Crazy that at 21 and 23 you feel they were "kids" (or still are in your eyes I am sure, lol) just yesterday.
Now, setting aside some things I personally see as an advantage, which you should be proud of, like home schooling, let's keep it the coming of age argument and also strip the parental argument out for a second (even though I agree that it is a huuuge factor).
Your children were at this age 10 years ago. What has changed in 10 years?
1. Internet speeds that were still mostly dial-up at the time making the ability in quantity of media consumption less at similar time allotments.
2. Digital cameras have not only come way down in price, they exist everywhere and on everything.
3. Webcams were a small market, where now whether you really want one or not it is on often your device (computer, phone, portable media device)
4. Facebook-like sites were really only starting to evolve into the "social staple" (whether you and I agree or not) what they are today.
5. The fact that all these kids, seemingly rich or poor, have or have access to all the above which was nowhere near the case 10 years ago.
The playing field has changed. Before kids victim of bullying were either tormented at school or in their neighborhood or even worse both. Now, there isn't even a "virtual" escape because the bullies are there too. I quoted virtual because virtual has transformed from playing consoles without internet access and other "old-fashioned" forms of escape into everything practically being connected to the internet--socially and playfully.
Bullying is just one example. Go back to the article and the virility in which these coming of age experiences are shared and experienced is at a ferociously fast rate. If you wanted to look at porn in past generations, you either had to wait for a friend or your older sibling to hand over a magazine with still pictures where there would be a small group of friends to share it with--or if they were really lucky a video cassette--but not you can share it with the neighborhood called the world instantly online. Forget pictures of Pamela Anderson that boys had to use their imaginations to fantasize about, now just go over a friends house with more trusting parents if your parents are over your shoulders to forget the pictures, just get it all.
This is the bigger issue. Not one that I can see any stopping. Vigilant parenting and strong bonds will help, but then you also have to depend on equal parenting from the rest of your society. This is a tough one and why it is scary.
Without arguing it, as I said, it can be a problem but doesn't have to be. I realize things have changed in the landscape. But since my kids had strong acceptance from me, they were never desperate for acceptance from others. If others did not accept them, they felt no need to seek that acceptance and so were not easily manipulated in social settings. This is a strong defense against many types of social problems, whether online or off.
I really need to get offline now and attend to some things or I imagine I would be happy to drone on at length.
Later.