John Meier writes: > And I quote: > "....A "bad" website hasn't been accessed for a long time; I think > that curiosity is beyond her now. The biggest concern right now is > aim'ing. She's hooked and spends way too much time chatting with > anyone and working on her damn buddy profile. I discovered she had a > picture of herself on there... ok, tell that it is best not have a picture of herself on there and explain why this is a bad idea. > She's not that smart about trying to get around the parental's > controls, and is very forthcoming when we ask what she's up to. She > gets bored and has recently started chatting with strangers which is > alarming. ...." huh. Just as alarming as talking to strangers on mailing list? i don't know you, i never met you... maybe i should just shutup now. because i don't know, you may be out to get me or something, or heaven forfend; get to know me. maybe it is because i am not a parent, and maybe it is because i am an idealist, but i do not buy into the fear everybody and everything mentality, i do not believe that every stranger out there is out to get me or my family. i live in minneapolis proper and i do not lock my doors, even when i am not at home or sleeping. and yes, i have woken up to see a complete stranger sleeping on my couch. and no it was not some wierdo who fell asleep while trying to steal my laptop or TV; but some college student who lost her way after a party. > "....So basically I'm looking for chat monitoring software that will only > allow conversation with buddies we know and will schedule when chat > will work and when it won't...." i do believe jabber will let you restrict to certain buddies and cron can turn jabber on and off. but i have never used so i cannot comment on it > I agree that empowering anyone with knowledge is the best defense you > can give - I have suggested as much - but at the same time some safe > guards may be appropriate. Kinda like you wouldn't drop off your child > 6 blocks from school in a dark alley at night and let them walk the > rest of the way - just to attend a lock-in or something.... probably > not a good example, but hope you catch the drift.... you do what you > can to an extend to make sure they are relatively safe - let them > learn the lessons when the consequences are not life threatening or > life endangering. and i do not believe that browsing the web and chating over the internet can kill you. nor is it the same thing as letting a child walk home from school in the middle of the night, but properly empowered and aged children can do that as well. I know this is getting very OT here, but the questing of children in brought up on a fairly regular basis, so i do not think this thread should be killed just yet. -- Munir Nassar