View Full Version : Children Concerned By Parents' Web Habits
Children in Sweden are becoming increasingly concerned by their parents' internet habits, according to a new report from Children's Rights in Society (Barnens R?tt i Samh?llet - BRIS).
Last year the organization dealt with 1,895 IT-related cases, up sharply on figures from the previous year. Further investigation revealed that more than 100 of the children who made contact with BRIS did so because they were in some way worried about their parent's behaviour on the internet.
Dads visiting pornographic websites represented the most common complaint, while philandering fathers were also a cause for concern.
"It seems that my dad is 'unfaithful'," wrote one 15-year-old boy.
"I read his MSN conversation log. I was just curious. And then I saw that he was talking to, like, young girls. And the disgusting part is that he's 53!
"And they talk about sex and how they're going to meet and everything. It makes me want to puke. It really makes me feel bad.
"I don't know if I should tell mum because I'm worried they'll get a divorce. Please, what should I do?"
The report also made it clear that children were not the only ones spending inordinate amounts of time in front of the computer.
One 12-year-old girl called the organization to explain that she rarely got to speak to her mum anymore. Her mother spent most of her time sitting half naked in front of the computer and posting photos of herself on the internet, the girl said.
Another girl's mother had begun devoting all her attention to a computer game.
"I know it sounds ridiculous but my mother has started playing the computer game WoW, World of Warcraft," wrote the 13-year-old.
"This summer she has been sitting up all day and all night and she forgets what's important to me. And when she's not at the computer she's like a lost soul. She just looks straight ahead and says nothing. I'm not doing so well."
While parents' web behaviour is clearly a growing problem, the majority of cases covered in the Children, BRIS and IT report related to: love and friendship (47 percent), insults, threats and assault (15 percent) and sex (10 percent).
Source (http://www.thelocal.se/12640.html)
For once, they complain about something we can all agree on (unless you're one of those who they complain about). People are spending WAY too much time on the computer. That's how you end up in the porn habits, anyway, and things of that nature. Whatever eventually makes you alienated from the world, corrupt, etc.. I'm only recently re-discovering that there's actually a LIFE to be lived outside of the internet, myself. Through work, actual human interaction, and things pertaining to that. Something that's almost 10 years overdue (well, okay, 8 years).
But anyway, yeah. The more time spent online, the more unhealthy it is. For your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. You need sunlight, you need to hear people's voices, you need to hear yourself beyond the clanging of a keyboard, so on, and so fourth. Granted, it's a good learning tool, great for homeschooling, a good resource for getting cheat codes/learning about new video games, buying stuff, downloading music, and all that, but if it becomes your life, you can take it from someone who has before spent up to 12 hours or more doing nothing BUT coming online. IT. IS. JUST. NOT. HEALTHY! The light emitted from the monitor alone gives me a headache and eye strain, anymore..
tjkitsune
06-26-2008, 09:44
What? Oh, I'm sorry.. I was busy last night playing softball with coworkers and spending time with my girlfriend and her daughter to remember the internet existed.
;)
Gio Takahashi
06-26-2008, 10:04
Sad, really sad.
deathofcheese
06-26-2008, 10:32
Just like anything else in life, the internet needs to be taken in moderation. I myself would sit at the computer all day, but if a friend called up and wanted to go do something, I'd drop what it was I was doing and go interact. A large part of who am I now was shaped by my escaping to the internet to avoid real life, but now I find that the internet sucks compared to real life (not really, that's just me using poor language) and I really should get out more. You'd never recognize me in real life because I'm actually extremely socially awkward and largely un-fun to be around, until I realize that I amongst like-minded people that are friends and can let my real self out.
Bloodcinder
06-26-2008, 11:00
Just like anything else in life, the internet needs to be taken in moderation. I myself would sit at the computer all day, but if a friend called up and wanted to go do something, I'd drop what it was I was doing and go interact. A large part of who am I now was shaped by my escaping to the internet to avoid real life, but now I find that the internet sucks compared to real life (not really, that's just me using poor language) and I really should get out more. You'd never recognize me in real life because I'm actually extremely socially awkward and largely un-fun to be around, until I realize that I amongst like-minded people that are friends and can let my real self out.
Sounds like my story, except that I've managed to get past shyness to an extent. I still have nerve problems in public, but I don't think people know that.
I'm foremost among the people who used to spend too much time (and money) on the internet. I may be online a lot this summer, but it's only for real lack of things to do.
Killer_Man_
06-26-2008, 11:22
Open a window for sunlight and play in a FPS game. You'll hear plenty of voices and yourself talking. ;)
SpaceProg
06-26-2008, 12:49
But... sunlight... BURNS!
Detrevni
06-26-2008, 15:21
I'm SO glad I'm not addicted to the internet.
What?
WHAT? I CAN STOP ANYTIME I LIKE.
Seegtease
06-28-2008, 13:20
Heh, weird parents. I could never see mine doing that. Sometimes my dad plays some no-money poker game in the evening, and checks his email, but seriously I could never imagine anybody... older than me in my family playing an MMORPG.
And I like spending time on the computer, a certain amount. In fact lately, I haven't even been reaching that certain amount due to lack of time/sleep.
Bloodcinder
06-28-2008, 14:53
Yeah, I bet having a miniature human to take care of cuts into your internets time.
Killer_Man_
06-28-2008, 18:13
Zeit, I knew a 60 year old man and his wife who played and ran a guild I was in on WoW.
Seegtease
06-28-2008, 19:36
Zeit, I knew a 60 year old man and his wife who played and ran a guild I was in on WoW.
Probably retired. Still weird as heck. I can't imagine talking to such individuals in person, since I can't compare any elderly I know to them.
The Moody Ronin
06-28-2008, 19:45
One 12-year-old girl called the organization to explain that she rarely got to speak to her mum anymore. Her mother spent most of her time sitting half naked in front of the computer and posting photos of herself on the internet, the girl said.
Saddest part of the whole thing. Hope the Swedish social services system isn't too bad...
Seegtease
06-28-2008, 19:54
Saddest part of the whole thing. Hope the Swedish social services system isn't too bad...
QFT
SpaceProg
06-28-2008, 23:59
The internets are my only friend. That and beer. Beer and internets. They will always be here for me.
Gio Takahashi
06-29-2008, 01:08
Well we are just now entering the point where those who grew up with computers and internet are becoming parents. I wonder what will it be like in the next 10 years.
Killer_Man_
06-29-2008, 02:06
Our kids will be our MMORPG asian farmers. That's what will happen.(IF you don't play MMORPGS you won't get the joke and if it's offensive I am sorry.)
Cause I know a lot of parents who have two accounts and while they play one, they have their five year old play the other. Mainly they are like ok, Timmy, I want you to kill all these monsters that look like wolves and etc. Then I want you to right click on them to skin them.
I've heard it over ventrillo. It's rather funny.
Gio Takahashi
06-29-2008, 02:07
In FFXI, I know of a whole family (father, mother, and child) that plays it. It's rather interesting. the Father did a lot of work to get his child some of the cool things in game.
Seegtease
06-29-2008, 03:30
Our kids will be our MMORPG asian farmers.
Yep. Harvesting them Asians.
SpaceProg
06-29-2008, 03:58
Same here. For me motivation is 9/10ths of the action.
Killer_Man_
06-29-2008, 08:25
Yep. Harvesting them Asians.
Sadly, you are thinking too much. MMORPG and Asian is describing who the farmer is, not what he is farming.
Most of the time, if you do a google search for any game and their money. You'll pop up websites that sell that currency. Which you will see engrish and if you ever bought gold(I have for WoW for my flying money. 1k gold 25 bucks at the time.). The people who confirm who you are over the phone and all or if they have to call you so you can get online so they can do the transaction. They are asian and don't speak good english. Why? Because they are making tons and tons of money but yet, it's still legal because in their country it's legal to do.
Gio Takahashi
06-29-2008, 11:21
It's legal in their country, but most MMORPG tends to stop it. They are called "RMT" or "Real Money Traders". In FFXI, RMT forced price to seriously skyrocket, and SquareEnix has been aggressively banning them, and anyone who is involved with RMTs. Personally I think that RMT just ruins gameplay by selling money like that. You should earn everything in game, without having to use your money other than pay for playing it.
Killer_Man_
06-29-2008, 14:07
Yeah, Blizzard has been banning htem left and right but you know what? Atleast three times a day, people go about spamming in major cities, mailing you or even whispering you about RMTs. Yet, they keep coming back. Yet they STILL KEEP GETTING USA COPIES OF THE GAME.
Perhaps the smart move would not only to ban their IP(Supposely they already do so they can't join the server) but some how you can 'proxy' your way in. That and as well, with the RL money you make. I'm sure 30 dollars is a lot more worth then their yen. Thus being they could sit on all those copies and just keep on going.
The only way to stop it is that when you play a game, you must agree to the rules of the country. Regardless of where you live. If the gov't/country doesn't like it, they can forbid the game to coming to their country.
It does ruin the game but there is nothing you can do. I know people who even in the new game, Age of Conan have spent a ton of money just for a few pieces of gold. One gold being like 15 bucks from what they siad. I already have five gold because I stole some phat loot from higher up afks that didn't fully loot the chest. I think it was suppose to be a 'PVP trap' but hey it net me five gold for it.
Seegtease
06-29-2008, 15:25
It's legal in their country, but most MMORPG tends to stop it. They are called "RMT" or "Real Money Traders". In FFXI, RMT forced price to seriously skyrocket, and SquareEnix has been aggressively banning them, and anyone who is involved with RMTs. Personally I think that RMT just ruins gameplay by selling money like that. You should earn everything in game, without having to use your money other than pay for playing it.
Man, the 2006 (I think) peak in prices was the best for me. The right things were selling so well, I could farm effectively. I loved inflation.
My point was, KM, regarding your phasing. They aren't all Asian, and your phrasing indicated that Asians were being farmed. I know what they are. But obviously if our kids are born in America, they can't be Asian money farmers.
There are many Chinese farming crap for rice in Anarchy Online though.
And they keep spamming ingame channels too, FunCom doesn't really do shit about them. Or they say they do, but the spammers just keep coming back.
Killer_Man_
06-29-2008, 16:37
Bodo: It's the sameway, they act the same way and do the same. They just keep coming back with their names being hgasdihogdshoisohid.
Zeit: MMORPG Asian farmers. That would mean they are an online game, asian and a farmer. You haven't played WoW, EQ or any other game then. It's one of those inside jokes mostly within your guild. Kinda like, oh I am going to go be an asian farmer for the day by farming mats for the guild.
Those type of 'racial slurs' that are suppose to be *giggle giggle* in a manner of highschoolish humour.
Gio Takahashi
06-29-2008, 20:11
Man, the 2006 (I think) peak in prices was the best for me. The right things were selling so well, I could farm effectively. I loved inflation.
My point was, KM, regarding your phasing. They aren't all Asian, and your phrasing indicated that Asians were being farmed. I know what they are. But obviously if our kids are born in America, they can't be Asian money farmers.
The real winners were those that make money back then, because the inflation was so high (December 2005 was the highest peak of inflation, many FFXI players called it Black December back then, you could make obscene amount of money just from crystals alone). Still I don't think its fair, especially to the new players that just don't know how to make money. Which is why I think it's great that SE is working hard to put a stop to this.
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