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JumpinJesus, an excellent post. You put words to the simmering rage I often feel towards the majority of Americans...
That aside, I agree with those who say it comes down to the parents. Yep. 7 hours a day on the computer? I don't care if you're looking at porn or doing astrophysics on the computer... no kid of mine will spend that long on a computer, EVER. Or on a TV. Or anything else involving mass media.
This is exactly why I think a kid's computer should be kept in the living room where everyone can see it (since doing homework and gaming don't really require privacy, when it comes down to it), and also why I think that kids should never have access to the internet or TV within their own bedrooms. At least not until a certain age, like 18.
And if porn comes up, whether accidentally on the computer or elsewhere, it should be addressed immediately by the parents in a mature way that illustrates both the positives and negatives of porn. To me, that would just suck the power right out of the porn image being "forbidden" or whatever. I would be quite frank with my kids about porn, but I still wouldn't allow it before the age of 18.
Yeah, I know the kid would probably just go to his stupid friend's house (the one whose parents are like the one in this article) to watch it there, but ideally I'd hope to know what kind of parents my kid's friends have... and at least they'd know the rules inside my own house.
godammit, the lack of control parents have over their kids really pisses me off...
__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran
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