I have 3 teens on myspace.
Posted By: sm on 2006-04-11
In Reply to: myspace - anybody watch dateline
Really, you need to slowly step out on the porch, down the driveway, and into the world.
Don't you realize that media will sensationalize anything to the furthest extent possible in order to raise your blood pressure?
I watch the myspace of my kids, my kids' friends, and of any anxillary friends (it's not at all hard to do if you can use a computer keyboard). Ninety-five percent are fine. A few are revealing. Heck, my 16-year old met the greatest fellow on the planet through myspace; he has become a second son.
I have a myspace myself, centered around my work and hobbies.
Don't condemn reality before you experience your first breath.
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- myspace - anybody watch dateline
- I have 3 teens on myspace. - sm
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Just turned 40 last week, Not on myspace and won't allow my teens either. sm
I have a very fulfilling life with my husband, family and friends - don't see the need for myspace for folks my age.
As for the teens - there is just too much temptation on their for them to get in trouble. They are forbidden and I check the web as well as their computers, cookies, etc. every week to be sure they are in compliance. To much danger there for my son and daughter.
myspace
Did any of you see Dateline (I think it was Sunday)? It was about myspace. I thought it was scary. I have several (adult) friends who are on myspace and they post way too much information. They should be smarter than the teens are but they seem to have the thought that it is only their friends who see there pictures, etc. And a lot of the content is very inappropriate for teens--IMHO for anyone. My friends who are on it are completely addicted. I compare it to someone who smokes. They get on myspace each day about as often as someone who smokes in a given day. And what a competition it is to see how many "friends" you can have whether you have a clue who your friends are or not.
myspace
I'm not trying to start a debate about whether it is good or bad. Just trying to satisfy my curiosity. There are a lot of teens on it, of course, but a lot of friends my age (35) are getting into it too. How many here are on it and what is your age?
myspace
I'm not, but I have two friends in their early 30s who are. My 16-year-old daughter has one.
I think the media makes too much of it all. There are always going to be people who don't do the "smart" thing. You can't be paranoid about everything and cut out all the possible "bad" things from your life.
My daughter's is set to friends only. My adult friends have open profiles. If I started one I would probably make it friends only, but I'm not sure.
myspace
Why yes I do! But I use xanga more. I don't know why though, I guess because I had it first.
Do U MySpace?
I'm addicted!
Does anyone use MySpace.com?
I'm just starting out but it seems somewhat involved...is it worth the effort? And why do some people have 8,000 "friends" ? Altho I must say my sister has a very elaborate "space" with music and videos - but I just don't know if its worth it. Anyone meet Mr. Right?
MySpace.com
From what I understand, it started out as a musicians' showcase website for up-and-coming bands. My son happens to be in one of our local "grind core" bands. LOL Anyway, it seems to be mostly teenagers that use the site. If you're looking for Mr. Right, why don't you try one such as match.com or eharmony. I think you'll find more adults, and I can't say for sure, but I think Match is free. My cousin met her fiance there. Beware of internet liars, however. We can all seem dreamy when we know we have that anonymity.
I have a myspace account
I love it! It allows me to easily keep in touch with friends & family and I've found a lot of old classmates on there as well. I really enjoy the site. I think people are misinformed by the media & are quick to jump to false conclusions about myspace.
oh yes, I have two teens (sm)
and they know full well how I feel about them drinking. I am not saying you can control it or stop it, but you are the one who said you didn't want to know if she was drinking at college, and to me, that is retarded! My son will be 18 tomorrow, and believe me, I'd want to know if he was drinking when he starts college in January. I guess I just have a closer relationship with my teen than you do, and for that I am sorry!
I HAD TEENS TOO
not all parents are that easy to fool, maybe you are. and 2nd and 3rd grade drinking, that is kind of rare to me. maybe your head has been stuck in the sand too long, take a look at a alot of other kids, most of them did not have to attend a tenn AA MEETING.
Teens~
I hear ya. According to my son all the kids he knows are allowed to stay up all night, talk on the phone or IM until all hours and even drink alcohol at home. I say that is wonderful for them, but that is not going to work in our house. My son is a 17-year-old senior and the past few months have been a nightmare. He was always so sweet and mild and did listen, but that all went out the window. We have sent him to a psychiatrist because we cannot figure out how to motivate him. Believe me~ you are not alone. If you get any answers, let me know, because I am at the end of my rope with this crap. 
My 3 daughters have myspace sites
They are ages 18, 25 and 26. My older daughters stay in touch with old friends. My youngest has met lots of Marine girlfriends like her and they support each other. There is a lot of gross stuff, but some of it is kids being kids (do we all forget what we were like at that age). However, I do think parents should check their minor children's spaces. There is a lot of admission of underage drinking and drug use going on. I think these kids are nute posting that kind of stuff. I have a site and password too, that I only use to monitor things. My kids don't know that I have that. I just like to look at the pictures.
And yes, I agree, it is not any different than adults posting to sites like this or another adult type informational site.
My husband and I both 30 and have MySpace sites... sm
My husband keeps up with a lot of his old shipmates that way (some of them are under the age of 25) now that he is at another duty station and some of our old classmates from high school. And, if you didn't notice, classmates.com charges for you to see more information on an old classmate, so if you can do it this way for free, then do it! Not all people on MySpace are on it to do evil, look trashy or to have a popularity contest...some of us are just networking to catch up with old friends!
About myspace posts below and opinions.
My niece has met a guy on myspace. We're in New York, he's in Wisconsin. She is 19. She is going to fly out to meet him this summer. Am I CRAZY, I THINK SHE'S NUTS! Am I too old fashioned to believe if he were any kind of guy that he would come where she lives to meet her before her just flying out there sight unseen? I really believe she is heading into trouble that we can do nothing about. She is an adult (LOL) but this is still scary to me. What do you think?
meeting people on myspace
Oh boy that's such a tough question! Have they talked on the phone and corresponded for a while? I'd never meet anybody that I hadn't at least talked to on the phone for a good amount of time and gotten to know alot about them personally first. It's hard to say though for sure. A chaperone is a good idea but she may not be cool with that. I guess just keep really good dibs on here while she's gone if you can. She is 19 and I hate to say but she is an adult and if people get on her butt about it she may go just to spite everybody. What a tough call!
I get upset when people say people who are on the internet are all pedophiles and crooks. That's just simply not true. I'm on the net and I know for sure I'm a normal human being! I met my best friend online about 4 years ago. We talked online and on the phone and corresponded back and forth for an entire year before we even thought of meeting. Now she's my best friend and even buying a house here and I see her ALL THE TIME so sometimes it can be a great thing. Or maybe I just got extremely lucky!
www.myspace.com.....it is kind of like a place
where you can journal, share pictures, comment your friends, etc. It's basically like your own little space.
Career Step is on myspace now
Just telling you guys if you were grads or whatever, in case you are interested. A CS student friend of mine told me about it today. I went through CS and I loved it. Anyway, like I said, in case you are a myspacer.
myspace.com/careerstep
teens and New Cars
Yes, there are probably a few nice new cars the "sweet 16's" had given to them, more so probably out of the guilt the parents felt for not spending time with them or the parents need to "keep up" their own status. My niece was one of those....daddy bought his little girl anything she snapped her fingers for, she is 23, never went to college or held a job, but has a masters degree in partying and shopping. It's finally wearing thin on ol Pops and he gripes and complains but he set the standard the first time he gave in. Kids may not like you right now, but they will appreciate it more so when it's their hard earned money and feel a sense of accomplishment.
On the other hand, my kid who is 20, is still driving a used car and he now knows the benefit of it after 3-4, 5...can't even remember the count minor fender benders, no injuries except to his pride!
Teens are just learning how to drive, insist of driving with the damn cell phones to their ears and minds on anything but the roads, and as I put it, why take something brand new and bang it up? Save it till you have more experience, more of your own money and your insurance rates are lower. If my kid and his friends had stock in Maaco, they'd be young millionaires by now!
Remind her of that old saying, which I heard a zillion years ago when I was a teen "people in h _ _ _ want ice water but they don't always get it
I'd take hung any day over 2 teens that like RAP!! UGH!
I need shock absorbers for my upstairs floors while they listen to their RAP downstairs.
Don't ask why I put up with it. I do because they don't drink or drug. They write and record.
gotta pick your battles.
Yes, shocked here, too. As my 3 teens have
pointed out, dear Cat is sure strutting her you-know-whats. Yuck. Chris was absolutely stunned, and so were a lot of viewers. We're not even gonna bother - the remaining 3 are nice enough, but talented enough? No way!!
Yes, teens should work...
When I was in high school, I babysat and right after graduation worked in the local conveneince store. My sister worked in a clothing factory with no air conditioning, which gave her great incentive to go to college when she came home covered in lint and threads stuck to her. (Not bashing factory work, because that's where my grandmother worked. Just making a point.)
My oldest, who is now 19, worked at a grocery store and at a summer camp at our community center last summer. He had gas and car insurance to pay for after he bought a car. Right now he is attending college and working part-time at Fed Ex, loading trailers that are around 100 degrees inside. Again, another incentive to do well in school. He has rent, utilities and gas to pay for while he is at school.
My daughter is 16 and ready to take her driver's test in a couple of weeks. She started working at the same store I worked at, but unfortunately they scheduled her for every weekend and then started to cut her hours back to next to nothing, like 1 1/2 hours a night. She quit with our blessing with the understanding that once she has her license, she will start job hunting, because she, too, will have gas and car insurance to pay for. She already babysits quit a bit and buys whatever extra stuff she wants and also still has some money left from her other job that she left in March.
My youngest son is 14 and has been working in his uncle's shop for several years, helping out with this and that and he makes pretty good money. Of the 3 of them, he is the one who LOVES to work. In fact, we went to see Pirates of the Caribean (sp?) this weekend, and he wouldn't go because he wanted to help his uncle, so I have no worries about him making his way in the world.
Sorry so long.
TEENS SHOULD WORK...
At some point, at least at 16, teens should work. There are too many "EXTRAS" that they want now adays and if they want them enough they should be responsible enough to work hard to get them. My husband always thought my daughter(17) should not work while in school so she could concentrate on her studies until he saw how his sister (who is 18 years younger than him) did not work during high school or college and could not find a job after college because she had no experience. My daughter has been babysitting summers for two years and now she works at a fast food place. She pays for most of her gas, any extra clothes she wants and half of her expenses for extracurricular activities at school. This summer she mainly worked to pay off an enormous cell phone bill (which she no longer has) which taught her a big lesson in responsibility and money.
So it is my opinion that teens should work, be it part time somewhere or babysitting or yard work. The big real world is competitive.
YES teens should work to help pay for what they want but don't need
so I could help with money at home. It does teach responsibility and gives a sense of pride with each paycheck. My 10 yo wants a cell phone. I told her no way til she has a job and can pay for her minutes!
We have teens, so our plan is...
...to have one big trip every few years. We did Europe with all 3 teens in 2002, then Kauai with teens and friends this past summer (oldest graduating). Next year we are going back to Europe to do more of Italy, Wales, and Ireland with #2 graduating. Luckily I have a money-smart hubby who insists we live below our means so we can do these trips.
We also have a #2 daughter involved in competitive Irish dance, so we travel about once a month for that far and wide across the U.S. I don't call these vacations, though, but rather endless flying, shuttles, and staying at hotels. Not fun.
myspace users or computer gurus
Okay, I'm not sure what I did, but here's the deal...When I log into myspace on my computer, I can't see any pictures. All of the other sites are fine, just not this one. However, if I log into myspace from a different computer, everything is fine. Any ideas? 
My daughter met her boyfriend on Myspace. He's an wonderful guy.
Be careful, yes, but don't automatically assume that everyone on a specific site is out to do harm. It just isn't so.
Guess I have to show my ignorance -- what is myspace? TIA nm
Absolutely teens work
In this day and age of 10 year olds with ATM cards and cell phones, absolutely! How do you learn the value of money if you never actually earn it and handle it? All 3 of my kids walked dogs for $2 an hour, scooped ice cream, babysat, mowed lawns, shoveled snow, etc. As long as their grades were up, they could work part time. The deal was that whatever they saved towards college spending money, we would match. We would also help buy each a used car for college. They knew from age 12 they had ONE SHOT at college on our nickel, then they were on their own if they dropped out or flunked out. We didn't micromanage their savings -- they were responsible for it themselves all along. All 3 absolutely amazed us -- between them we had to match almost $20k. They are now well eductated, working and productive adults. My eldest son actually thanked me for our good example as parents, and giving them an understanding of the value of money. How great is that????
Absolutely and my 2 teens are ready also. sm
I have a Senior in HS and a Freshman in HS who both are board, finished their summer reading, tired of the swim club, been to the beach for 3 weeks, and they are now vamping up for their summer camps, VB and football. They both said yesterday, they are board and their brain needs stimulation.
I on the other hand, can't wait to have my space back. I sometimes feel "my space" is invaded and don't have a spot to call my own. No matter what room in the house I go into, someone is there or follows me in, especially the kitchen.
Can't wait for school to start, but on the other hand, am not that anxious as they will be 1 more year toward being on their own and leaving the house for good - college and everything. That is scary!
I think teaching pre-teens how to do laundry
I think 10-12 year olds can help do some laundry - it helps them develop a work ethic and shows them that if they go out on their own, what they will have to do....well, the ones who don't continually bring their laundry back to their mothers. *LOL* AND they love eaning $$$ - it's a great way, instead of *tossing* allowances at them.....chores/laundry/etc. = few dollars in their little pockets *S*
It's all about deals and contracts w/kids I think....and I'm a pro...on the subject, as I have some....*lol*
Not me - love my 2 teens at home! Enjoy it while you can.
I realize my house doesn't have to be perfect all of the time, their rooms do not need to be clean all of the time, and I enjoy them so much. Soon, my son will go to college and I will be left with my one daughter, and then she will go to college and I will have an empty house with just me, hubby, and our golden. Boy, I dread those days. I am enjoying all the noise, fighting, messiness and laughter as much as possible. I love when they have friends over. They are so funny and a delight!
Really, don't wish it away too quickly.
I don't think she means adults. She is talking about teens
nm
38, female, married, 2 teens ages 16 and 14. Started tMT when I was 17. nm
x
Maybe she should have stayed in America where Americans look for drunken teens everyday.
If you go to a foreign country, you are under their laws and their policing. If you don't like it, DON'T TRAVEL OUT OF THE COUNTRY! In the meantime, TEXAS TEAM IS SEARCHING IN ARUBA WITH PERMISSION AND ARE VERY HAPPY WITH COOPERATION FROM ARUBAN GOVERNMENT!
babies are easier than teens and older children. they sleep and you can hold them and type. nm
;
Definitely an eye-opening read. Having my teens read it, too. nm
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