213 replies to this topic 4 votes

[Mainer82]

I think that this is great, and if a child hands it back saying whatever explitive to the parent, that shows that they are clearly not ready for the responsibility.

[rippleman]

HawkMan, on 01 January 2013 - 15:28, said:

Live life or take pictures of other pictures living life so you can look back at the pictures and remember other people living life ?

it seems most of the crits here don't really read or understand the rules.

if taking pics stops your life, you're doing it wrong

[Detection]

rippleman, on 01 January 2013 - 16:35, said:

if taking pics stops your life, you're doing it wrong

Yea, I've heard of Long Time Exposure, but that could be taking it way too far

[Richteralan]

Mainer82, on 01 January 2013 - 16:34, said:

I think that this is great, and if a child hands it back saying whatever explitive to the parent, that shows that they are clearly not ready for the responsibility.

If a child hands it back, that means that child is smart: the cons of using a loaned device out-weight the pros.

The child does not have any responsibility by using a loaned device and they know the device does not belong to them so they don't care.

If you want them to be ready for the responsibility, let them fully own the device. But set the rules that you will take the device away FROM them if they break the rules.

[wv@gt]

can't believe some of you all think this is controlling. When I was 13 I got my first computer, my parents put restrictions on that as well. The mom is getting the kid an iphone and he is 13! If you all don't believe a 13 year old needs some kind of rules with that, then you haven't seen much of todays generation I guess. Shes actually trying to teach him how to take full advantage of it, but while not deterring him from his studies etc. kids are growing up quick these days with all this technology around them, and they need some kind of guidance with that

[Richteralan]

wv@gt, on 01 January 2013 - 16:40, said:

can't believe some of you all think this is controlling. When I was 13 I got my first computer, my parents put restrictions on that as well. The mom is getting the kid an iphone and he is 13! If you all don't believe a 13 year old needs some kind of rules with that, then you haven't seen much of todays generation I guess. Shes actually trying to teach him how to take full advantage of it, but while not deterring him from his studies etc. kids are growing up quick these days with all this technology around them, and they need some kind of guidance with that

Yes of course, because the 13yo never touched another portable internet device before. /s

The guidance happens gradually, does not happen over-night.

As a matter of fact the mother wrote so many rules for her 13yo that gives me the impression that she never did anything with her 13yo before.

[xendrome]

TheLegendOfMart, on 01 January 2013 - 14:48, said:

I can do that with my own set of morals, I don't need some jumped up parent controlling every little aspect of my life.

Well old are you, this kid is 13... there's a difference because of the age.

[HawkMan]

rippleman, on 01 January 2013 - 16:35, said:

if taking pics stops your life, you're doing it wrong

read the actual "rule" again, it's not about one pic, it's about constantly doing nothing other than taking pics.

[The Teej]

He'll only be using this phone no more then 20 hours a week anyway and it'll rarely leave the house.

Can't use it at school, and has to hand it over in the evenings. Meaning, Mon-Fri he'll only be using it between 4 and 7pm and on weekends only during the day.

Why would you spend so much on a device that hardly gets used?

[HawkMan]

because he wants it, and because he knows the rules, and because it's worth it to him, and because if you apply that rule to TV, laptop, car... well everything but your bed, you don't have anything

[Manish]

If she was planning to use the list broadly to edify her child and teach common sense/responsibility, then I don't see a problem with it. However, I don't think a "contract" is the best way of going about it.

On the other hand, if she's going to fully enforce each and every one of these rules to the letter, then it seems over-the-top and overbearing to me. If so, he's not really the owner and hasn't actually received a gift in accordance with Rule 1.

Also, I don't see a problem with a parent giving a phone to their 13-year-old child. It may not have happened in your age, but things change with time.

[Buttus]

those rules don't seem so hard to follow...

[n_K]

"3. If it rings, answer it. It is a phone. Say hello, use your manners. Do not ever ignore a phone call if the screen reads "Mom" or "Dad". Not ever."
First thing I'd tell the kid is: Run. Run and never come back. Never answer the phone if it reads 'Mom' or 'Dad'. Leave the phone. RUN FOREST, RUN!

[SPEhosting]

Stupid as hell... they are obviousy going to give the child no privacy ... this is fine for his age but what in 2 years? boys need that privacy away from their families .... if my mother ever did this I would say keep the phone, she goes on about living his own life... she means ... choose to live the life I have planned for you...

[HawkMan]

I don't see anything in those rules that say they're not getting any privacy, I see sensible common sense rules. a 13 year old has privacy in his room.