Cyber Bullying

I have, so in my own mind believe, given a few successful presentation on Cyber-Bullying. The "Bible" of the Internet (Wikipedia) has this to say: Cyber-bullying involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others.

It would seem the hotbeds for "communication technologies" would be Facebook, Myspace and AIM (AOL Instant Messenger, for the computer illiterates). Our children our committing suicide to escape the torture and embarrassment that these sites can create. Not being a parent myself, what I find extremely strange is that parents can control the goings on of our youth, the future of our existence. Unfortunately I will long gone when the youth are running this country.

When I was young, my mother knew everything I was doing. Granted there was no Internet or texting in my youth, but she knew everything. I'm not sure what has changed. A Wii in every home, a PC/MAC in every child's bedroom, with door closed can be more dangerous than the hijinks's I found myself getting into a few decades ago. To me it would seem a little more involvement or better yet some parental trickery. Growing up, my mother knew all the catch phrases, the acronyms my friends I created to mean other things. When I told my mother I was going out to go camping, I was assured she had called everyone else's parents to lock up the beer.

Parents in this ultra technology rich society need to educate themselves much more than our parents had to. With both parents working as opposed to one. (My mother had some spare time). I'm old enough to be a parent, and I'm not sure I would have the time to learn all the new fads, new toys, mortgage the house for Hanna Montana tickets AND raise my kids to be pillars of the community, well behaved and prepare them for "life".

As an avid Internet user, I knew what BRB meant and K. When someone texted me TTYL for the first time I got it, it took a while though. Then came the flood gates. I kept seeing <3 everywhere, no clue what it meant (it's an emoticon for a heart). Kids are creative, very creative.

Ever see your child text 9 to someone? What about 99? You probably saw them type 9, but not 99. The number nine is short hand SMS (Short Message Service) for: Parents are Watching, and 99 is for: they are no longer watching. Scary?

I could go on, which I already have. If you have kids, know someone with kids or want to impress the neighbor's kids, check out this website: http://www.netlingo.com/acronyms.php
This website will help you out and you may end a little closer to my mom, The Warden.