Shit, some people flirt with this. Not many, but some.
August 8, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Shit, some people flirt with this. Not many, but some.
#IDverification #idverification #onlineprivacy #onlinesafety #COPPA #coppa #onlinesafetyact #kospa #KOSPA #kosa #KOSA
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Just... Be an actual, responsible adult whom your kid feels okay coming to with things. Make yourself that person in their life so that they don't seek it elsewhere.
Thanks for reading all this, if you have. I tried to avoid getting into graphic detail. People probably don't wanna hear specifics.
Thanks for reading all this, if you have. I tried to avoid getting into graphic detail. People probably don't wanna hear specifics.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Just... Be an actual, responsible adult whom your kid feels okay coming to with things. Make yourself that person in their life so that they don't seek it elsewhere.
Thanks for reading all this, if you have. I tried to avoid getting into graphic detail. People probably don't wanna hear specifics.
Thanks for reading all this, if you have. I tried to avoid getting into graphic detail. People probably don't wanna hear specifics.
If I had that, I wouldn't have quite as many regrets in my life. If some people had that, they'd still be here right now. I wouldn't have gone to adults online for anything other than advice on how to set up my guitars or sew patches, like they'd already been doing for years.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
If I had that, I wouldn't have quite as many regrets in my life. If some people had that, they'd still be here right now. I wouldn't have gone to adults online for anything other than advice on how to set up my guitars or sew patches, like they'd already been doing for years.
ID for the internet will not help anyone. Being a good example will. So be a good example. Explain why we don't do things, even if you have to simplify it for young minds.
Not weird content rules, not destroying anonymity, not banning porn or whatever, but acting like you have some sense.
Not weird content rules, not destroying anonymity, not banning porn or whatever, but acting like you have some sense.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
ID for the internet will not help anyone. Being a good example will. So be a good example. Explain why we don't do things, even if you have to simplify it for young minds.
Not weird content rules, not destroying anonymity, not banning porn or whatever, but acting like you have some sense.
Not weird content rules, not destroying anonymity, not banning porn or whatever, but acting like you have some sense.
We are all trying life for the first time, and children are brand new to it. So as much as you might want to yell, or pop them on the mouth, or tell them they're an idiot, exercise patience and show them what to do. Just saying "don't do that" makes them just do it behind your back to be "cool."
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
We are all trying life for the first time, and children are brand new to it. So as much as you might want to yell, or pop them on the mouth, or tell them they're an idiot, exercise patience and show them what to do. Just saying "don't do that" makes them just do it behind your back to be "cool."
If you don't feel comfortable interacting with kids, that is understandable. But for those who do feel comfortable, make sure you set an example of how adults SHOULD conduct themselves. Especially as a parent or close relative. Patience is key.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
If you don't feel comfortable interacting with kids, that is understandable. But for those who do feel comfortable, make sure you set an example of how adults SHOULD conduct themselves. Especially as a parent or close relative. Patience is key.
That is how you protect the children. As adults, be kind to children. Treat them like people. Account for their lack of awareness and knowledge, but treat them like people. I will always make sure to be a healthy older presence in young people's lives, because that can save them so much pain.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
That is how you protect the children. As adults, be kind to children. Treat them like people. Account for their lack of awareness and knowledge, but treat them like people. I will always make sure to be a healthy older presence in young people's lives, because that can save them so much pain.
Not everyone can be Bandit and Chilli or whatever. Hell, even they make mistakes, and they. But you should try. Because your kids won't seek affection from awful people if you are a friend to them.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Not everyone can be Bandit and Chilli or whatever. Hell, even they make mistakes, and they. But you should try. Because your kids won't seek affection from awful people if you are a friend to them.
It slips my mind who said this, but don't let perfect be the enemy of good. You, as a parent, will make mistakes. That is okay. You are a human. But when you do, apologize. Correct your mistake. You may lose your temper, you may yell, you may say something you shouldn't have, so LEARN FROM IT.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
It slips my mind who said this, but don't let perfect be the enemy of good. You, as a parent, will make mistakes. That is okay. You are a human. But when you do, apologize. Correct your mistake. You may lose your temper, you may yell, you may say something you shouldn't have, so LEARN FROM IT.
You are all your child has in this world. You are the only guaranteed presence in their life. Be nice to them. Be patient, be understanding, be KIND. Not only will you avoid being put in a home if they don't just ditch you entirely, but you will actually be someone they can talk to.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
You are all your child has in this world. You are the only guaranteed presence in their life. Be nice to them. Be patient, be understanding, be KIND. Not only will you avoid being put in a home if they don't just ditch you entirely, but you will actually be someone they can talk to.
Some people may scoff at this, but as a parent, you should be your kid's best friend. My parents said, "I'm not your friend, I'm your parent." And they made sure I knew they were not my friends. I have PTSD more so from THEM rather than the sexual abuse I received from NOT them.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Some people may scoff at this, but as a parent, you should be your kid's best friend. My parents said, "I'm not your friend, I'm your parent." And they made sure I knew they were not my friends. I have PTSD more so from THEM rather than the sexual abuse I received from NOT them.
Kids will listen to young adults and older kids. They will brush off what adults and videos made by out-of-touch adults tell them most of the time. And do you wanna know a secret? You, as a parent, can be an exception to that. But you need to make sure you are parenting in a way that will get that.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Kids will listen to young adults and older kids. They will brush off what adults and videos made by out-of-touch adults tell them most of the time. And do you wanna know a secret? You, as a parent, can be an exception to that. But you need to make sure you are parenting in a way that will get that.
Not with the staff, but with the other patients. Some had similar experiences, and they helped me explain to those who hadn't what those videos never did a good job of.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Not with the staff, but with the other patients. Some had similar experiences, and they helped me explain to those who hadn't what those videos never did a good job of.
Now, on the rare occasion that I really talk to younger people, especially if I see myself in them, I give them advice they may not listen to from someone who is older, and didn't just leave high school a year ago. The last time I was in a mental hospital, at 17, I talked about my experience.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Now, on the rare occasion that I really talk to younger people, especially if I see myself in them, I give them advice they may not listen to from someone who is older, and didn't just leave high school a year ago. The last time I was in a mental hospital, at 17, I talked about my experience.
They got so tired of it that they faked their death to all these weirdos, and now, they are recovering very well, and we are each other's shoulders when it comes to thinking about what we went through. Typing this, my hands are very cold and shaky. That is because thinking about it hurts so bad.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
They got so tired of it that they faked their death to all these weirdos, and now, they are recovering very well, and we are each other's shoulders when it comes to thinking about what we went through. Typing this, my hands are very cold and shaky. That is because thinking about it hurts so bad.
And I am so, so happy that I walked away better than some other victims. Some of those people will draw someone in and convince them to do horrific things to themselves, things that you don't come back from. I thankfully never got manipulated that way, but I know someone who did.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
And I am so, so happy that I walked away better than some other victims. Some of those people will draw someone in and convince them to do horrific things to themselves, things that you don't come back from. I thankfully never got manipulated that way, but I know someone who did.
When I am around children, what do I feel? Anxiety that they might start crying for no reason, and a desire to make sure they walk away feeling better than I did at their age. I don't particularly like being around children, but I make sure to be nice to them because I never got that as a kid.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
When I am around children, what do I feel? Anxiety that they might start crying for no reason, and a desire to make sure they walk away feeling better than I did at their age. I don't particularly like being around children, but I make sure to be nice to them because I never got that as a kid.
Those people tried to make me a monster like them. I thought it'd be so fun to grow up and be a pathetic, manipulative slob like them. And now, I'm an adult, and I am so happy to say that I am nothing like them.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Those people tried to make me a monster like them. I thought it'd be so fun to grow up and be a pathetic, manipulative slob like them. And now, I'm an adult, and I am so happy to say that I am nothing like them.
They were "nice" to me. I was isolated physically, and the couple of people I was around always screamed at me for even small things. I'd always be degraded and belittled by the few people I got to interact with. So when these people online complimented me, I finally felt loved.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
They were "nice" to me. I was isolated physically, and the couple of people I was around always screamed at me for even small things. I'd always be degraded and belittled by the few people I got to interact with. So when these people online complimented me, I finally felt loved.
And so maybe one asks you to do something. Maybe one asks to see something. And... Well, all that was no big deal, so this also must not be. Especially when you aren't loved by those around you.
I was driven to talk to these people, due in part to the fact that I was not cared for.
I was driven to talk to these people, due in part to the fact that I was not cared for.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
And so maybe one asks you to do something. Maybe one asks to see something. And... Well, all that was no big deal, so this also must not be. Especially when you aren't loved by those around you.
I was driven to talk to these people, due in part to the fact that I was not cared for.
I was driven to talk to these people, due in part to the fact that I was not cared for.
For online safety content, it's "don't talk to people online! Especially don't talk to adults online!" And you inevitably end up talking to people online, because it's 2025. It's unavoidable. And, funny thing, in hobby forums especially, adults are the best people to talk to! So THAT is not scary!
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
For online safety content, it's "don't talk to people online! Especially don't talk to adults online!" And you inevitably end up talking to people online, because it's 2025. It's unavoidable. And, funny thing, in hobby forums especially, adults are the best people to talk to! So THAT is not scary!
For DARE, it was "weed is scary, don't do weed, don't do drugs, but REALLY don't do weed!" And it wasn't taken seriously, so kids tried that and went, "Well, I guess coke's also not scary if this plant just made me eat a whole bag of chips."
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
For DARE, it was "weed is scary, don't do weed, don't do drugs, but REALLY don't do weed!" And it wasn't taken seriously, so kids tried that and went, "Well, I guess coke's also not scary if this plant just made me eat a whole bag of chips."
Poor dialogue, failed attempts at pandering/being "hip," etc, make even elementary school children not take it seriously. All this is why DARE made teenagers do all the drugs, and why people now wear DARE shirts as a mockery, often while they partake in the "scary" substances it says to say no to.
August 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Poor dialogue, failed attempts at pandering/being "hip," etc, make even elementary school children not take it seriously. All this is why DARE made teenagers do all the drugs, and why people now wear DARE shirts as a mockery, often while they partake in the "scary" substances it says to say no to.