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Would/Do you let your teen have the computer in their room?

Would/Do you let your teen have the mac in their room?

  • Yes

    Votes: 120 70.2%

  • No

    Votes: 51 29.8%
  • Total voters
    171
Melrose said:
You don't have to experience bad stuff in order to know it exists. A lot depends on the common sense of the child and his ability to appreciate responsible behaviour.

I think a computer should be kept in a 'public' spot in the house. Even Dear Abby would agree with that one.
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As seen of the teen's point of view, it can be embarissing if parents see what there surfing about. And if it's there computer, it's there property.
Maybe i was to cynical last post, but it's not only the bad stuff. I just think it's a teen's right to find truth (whatever that is :confused:), without having to worry about what other people think about him/her (in this case parents).
Don't forget teen's go through some difficult hormone stuff and life questions and still worry about what other people think about him/her.
 
I'm not a parent, but if I were, my largest concern would be my child connecting with strangers online. As far as online threats are concerned, I feel this is the most likely to provide a real danger to a child.

For this reason, I would allow my teen to maintain their own computer in their room, but if I found a reason not to trust them, I might block social networking sites (namely myspace) and limit their IM conversations to buddies only.

Alt10 said:
As seen of the teen's point of view, it can be embarissing if parents see what there surfing about. And if it's there computer, it's there property.
Maybe i was to cynical last post, but it's not only the bad stuff. I just think it's a teen's right to find truth (whatever that is :confused:), without having to worry about what other people think about him/her (in this case parents).
Don't forget teen's go through some difficult hormone stuff and life questions and still worry about what other people think about him/her.
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I think you have a genuine point. For teens who may be struggling with a personal issue, the internet can provide lifesaving resources, which the teen may not seek if they can't do so in a private area. Although, even if the computer was located in a family area, a teen could most likely still access the net privately when home alone (unless the parents over-zealously disable access when they're not home).

However, the internet could also cost an irresponsible teen their life, and it's a parent's job to ensure that their child's foolishness isn't fatal.

It's a double edge sword, to be sure.
 
Alt10 said:
As seen of the teen's point of view, it can be embarissing if parents see what there surfing about. And if it's there computer, it's there property.
Maybe i was to cynical last post, but it's not only the bad stuff. I just think it's a teen's right to find truth (whatever that is :confused:), without having to worry about what other people think about him/her (in this case parents).
Don't forget teen's go through some difficult hormone stuff and life questions and still worry about what other people think about him/her.
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Unless they also pay rent I think they need to follow by their parents. Its the parents job to monitor and protect the kid.
 
LeahM said:
Unless they also pay rent I think they need to follow by their parents. Its the parents job to monitor and protect the kid.
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You gave birth to the child, so you should be thankfull to him/her. He/she never asked to be born.
But you can't always monitor your kids, once they go out to party, they come in contact with alcohol (and maybe other types of drugs, I know i have :D)
As for computer wise, i really think you're holding them back, if they can't surf privately. And i still think they should know about the (virtual) world. Even if that means porn, atleast they know where the market is...
If your eductation before there teen's isn't good (Norm's and Value's), then there doomed in there teen's, imo. (Doomed is exadurated, just more difficult, i think?)

(I'm very aware of my "strange" life phylosophy, and that some people find it disturbing)
 
Alt10 said:
As seen of the teen's point of view, it can be embarissing if parents see what there surfing about.
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And my point was: it shouldn't be. I could see being embarrassed if a child is caught doing something wrong, like viewing illicit material. But everything else should be a comfortable and open atmosphere.

If my boss shows up at my cubicle and sees me with a random browser window open, I instinctively feel a little embarrassed, because I've just been caught doing non-work-related activities. At my company that's allowed, so I'm not in any trouble, but I still feel a little uncomfortable. But everything else, I'm perfectly comfortable showing him what I've been working on. That's how it should be with your kids.
 
I'm 16 and have had a computer and TV in my room for quite some time.
I probably would, especially if the computer was his/hers and I trusted him/her.
 
I'm 15 and I use my MacBook in my bedroom occasionally. In fact, I use my MacBook anywhere around the house since it's portable, and we have a wireless network. If I had kids, I'd let them use a computer in their room, providing that parental controls and time limits are enabled.
 
sangosimo said:
the kitchen has hardwood. :D
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So does the kid looking at porn :D


I don't have kids, but I'd probably be OK with it. Hell, I've had a computer in my room with internet since I was 13, and I've seen just about everything there is to see on the internet and I'm normal. I think that with proper parenting, a child will turn out fine even if they see a pair of knockers
 
Depends on the kid

Echoing other reasonable voices- it depends on the kid.
Eventually they will probably see something that makes you cringe, but a good child can understand the world is a weird place.
 
If I didn't have free reign over computer and internet access since childhood I wouldn't be where I am today professionally and it's entirely likely I would never have discovered the passions, interests, hobbies, and so on I have toady. In other words, I had no limits and turned out better than most will ever be. If you have any bit of common sense, even as a 10 year old, I don't see how having full computer and internet access is in any way a risk to anything; it's a normal thing as much a part of daily life today as using a refrigerator. Limiting or controlling access would just cause the type of curiosity that could cause rebellion. My take.
 
if i have a girl i'm going to be a very strict parent, and if i have a boy, idc wtf he does w/ his computer. he wants to watch porn, i don't care. he'll know not to go to chat rooms and pick up chicks and stuff but i mean i'll let him experiment with what he wants. me begging for a computer at age 13 was probably the best decision i've ever made for myself, and the freedom my parents gave me with it allowed me to open myself up to so much. i learned how to design graphics with photoshop, how to design web pages, how to make money with the internet, use ebay, and tons more. naughty things with computers are just something to do when bored. my kid won't be to the point where he needs to look at it extremely often. you're a pathetic parent if they got addicted to porn.
 
Acknowledgement

ZiggyPastorius said:
My mom first gave me a computer at around thirteen, I've watched viewed porn online since then, seen both the jackass movies, number two a few times, have never been in a residential program, and am still salutatorian, and going to college in the upcoming year. Was your point that porn and jackass make kids bad?
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Congratulations to you! You are doing great, and your parents should be very proud of you (no sarcasm). I want to clarify some things:

1. No my son had other issues, like poor school performance and others.
2. He violated trust time and again, and to be honest, the web offers great temptations, that an immature person isn't ready to handle.
3. Some of Jackass stunts were funny, but I always worry that some bonehead will try some of them and wind up injured.
4. My greatest concern is about online predators.

sek
 
scottkifnw said:
Congratulations to you! You are doing great, and your parents should be very proud of you (no sarcasm). I want to clarify some things:

1. No my son had other issues, like poor school performance and others.
2. He violated trust time and again, and to be honest, the web offers great temptations, that an immature person isn't ready to handle.
3. Some of Jackass stunts were funny, but I always worry that some bonehead will try some of them and wind up injured.
4. My greatest concern is about online predators.

sek
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i believe that is the greatest fear concerning the internet and minors for parents

Montie Da Champ said:
if i have a girl i'm going to be a very strict parent, and if i have a boy, idc wtf he does w/ his computer. he wants to watch porn, i don't care..
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why the different attitudes based on gender? im curious
 
See later post

XnavxeMiyyep said:
My dad gave me his old Mac IIci when I was in middle school (12 years old?). I had a dial-up line that I could get online with occasionally. Then I eventually got an iMac G3, and about a year after that, I found a watch on the beach, sold it, and got an MDD Powermac G4. (Also we got broadband somewhere during that time)

Somehow, despite having had a computer with internet in my room from middle school and all throughout high school (and now in college, but that's a different story), and being the admin of said computer, I managed to turn out perfectly fine.

Anyway, back on topic. Yes, I would.


Also, scottkifnw, there has to be some other reason why you sent your kid away, besides disapproving of his internet activities.
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Yes of course, but this would not be the forum to blather about all kinds of crap.
 
Think outside the box

edesignuk said:
Probably because the automatic assumption as to why you might not let a "child" have a computer in their room is because of the things they might access which the parent would rather they didn't - namely porn and other supposed tasteless material.
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When you become a parent, you want the best for your kid, and when the kid gets into bad stuff, believe me it hurts.

Although porn, and predators come to mind, don't forget the case just tried in CA about the girl who committed suicide from harassment. Other concerns would be suicide pacts, planning violence, illicit drug & alcohol parties, the possibilities are endless.

The bottom line is that unless the child is legally emancipated, he is the responsibility of the parent until 18. Living with limits is what all people have to do, not just the "child". The child doesn't have a "right" to a computer or internet access.
 
Foxtrot Oscar said:
As long as they don't turn in to a dribbling WOW player, I'd have no problems, but then my boy is only 4.5 years old.

A few years to go, but I would imagine he'll have his own mac before he's finished primary school at around 12 years old, He already has computer lessons at kindie.

Fox
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Wow, I dunno....preschool seems to young for computers imo. Elementary school sure but kindie should be about playing and the basics. Just my opinion.

I wouldn't allow a computer or TV in my kid's room; totally unnecessary. Parents are smart to keep it out in the common areas.
 
I was thinking, maybe up through elementary school, my hypothetical kid would only be allowed to have some sort of *NIX machine with no GUI. Once s/he becomes the master of the command line, s/he will be given the privelege of OSX/Linux/Windows/whatever.
 
I've had my own computer in my own space for 9 years (since I was 11 in sixth grade)...all I cared about back in the day was AIM (where some creepy people IM'd me and I learned to use the block feature) and stupid flash games I played while I was supposed to be doing my homework. :p
 
I'm 18 and I've had a computer in my room since I was 15. My parents have trusted me enough, and I don't think there's anything really harmful on the internet to someone with the right upbringing and common sense.
 
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