What The Heck Are Your Kids Doing On Facebook?

Since computers are going to be a part of everyone’s lives if not already, it makes sense that children should not only be exposed to this technology, but become proficient and adept at it.

But it’s going beyond computer usage! We’re not just talking about switching your computer on, using a word processor and spreadsheet and saving files to a disk! That’s like learning your ABC’s only! The online world is becoming the new youth hangout, and indeed for all ages, so communicating online is the modern equivalent to socialising on the phone and even face to face. Holding your children back from being online-savvy is like preventing them from learning how to read and write!

When we (“Generation X”) were kids, we used to hang around the local pinball parlour or some equivalent to a coffee shop serving milkshakes, or perhaps the local shopping strip. Many of the older kids would simply chat on the phone.

But now, more and more kids these days are hanging out with friends around the world after school on Facebook, MySpace, Windows Live Messenger and other online social networking media sites. There are a neverending growth of online games where people can play casually and socialise, much like people do over a game of pool at the pub or a coffee in a coffee shop.

Problem is, many parents, for lack of computing confidence, fear this technology rather than embrace it. Sensationalised news and talk shows about victims of online child predators shadow threats of offline crimes. Parents have become increasingly paranoid and knee-jerk political reactions have brought misguided awareness, policies and inconsistent “police-ing” of something that’s “un-policeable”. Even the most popular online social networking application has a policy of a 13 year old minimum age restriction for creating an account (despite the fact that many people create accounts for their kids by using a fake age).

What parents and families should do is recognise the opportunity to not only connect with their children, but their peers as well with this marvellous technology. All our 4 children, aged from 6 to 14 have accounts with one of the most popular online applications. They go there to communicate with friends (who are also under-aged by the application's policy - but that's to protect themselves legally) and play games. Any thoughts and comments, participations in certain interest groups, photos they share, and associations with any and new friends are all documented for all friends to see.

The beauty of this is that as parents, we now can either participate in our child’s peer group, or watch unobtrusively from a close distance.

So take note paranoid parents, when your children grow up and hang out with their friends at the shopping malls and night clubs, you can’t be there to chaperone and watch over them! But whilst they’re young, and accept you as a Facebook friend like many families have done, you can monitor them at an arm’s length! You can see what friends they’re choosing, and what thoughts they’re sharing with their peer group! You can’t do that easily in the offline world! You can even be nosey with their friends if you’re that concerned!

Our family embraces online technology and we encourage all others to do so!

There Are Only Two Things To Worry About...

Nothing original here, but cute enough to share...

An old Irish philosophy from spiritual philosopher, Syd Banks:

There are only two things to worry about - are you sick or are you well?

If you're well, there's nothing to worry about. And if you're sick, there are only two things to worry about - will you live or will you die?

If you live, there's nothing to worry about. And if you die, there are only two things to worry about - will you go to heaven or will you go to hell?

If you go to heaven, there's nothing to worry about. And if you go to hell, you'll be so busy shaking hands with all your friends that there's nothing to worry about.

Humane Mayonnaise

Just tried a new brand of mayonnaise today.

On the label, it says that it's made from fresh, whole cage-free eggs.

Thank heavens for that. It's good to know they treat their eggs humanely and don't lock them up in cages.

Women Call It Being Considerate - Men Call It Mind Reading

It's often been said that women are more intuitive than men. It stands to reason then, that women are generally more considerate and sensitive than men. But those are only the words women use to describe the situation. Men call it "mind reading".

Since men aren't good mind readers, they therefore appear to be inconsiderate or insensitive to women.

It's as simple as that.

What Are The Limits Of What We Can Achieve?

There really are no limits - just boundaries we haven't explored yet.

Only A Selfish Person Will Hate You For Being Selfish!

Have you ever been accused of being selfish? Ironically, that's only because you're not giving in to the hypocritically selfish demands or expectations of the accuser!

It's one of those paradoxes like someone can only complain about you arguing with them if they're arguing with you in the first place! After all, "it takes two to Tango".

I've also thought about times that as a parent, I've scolded one of my kids for being selfish for not sharing with siblings. Now is that congruent with what I just wrote? With brutal honesty, I would have to admit that it was out of my own selfish desire to have all the kids stop squabbling and to share and be fair to each other!


-Raphael Chan
Follow me on www.twitter.com/RaphaelChan

Global Warming? What Global Warming?

Another hot night in Melbourne Australia as I write this. It's just past midnight and it's probably around over 24°C outside (~75°F)

Last summer, Australia experienced a record heatwave, with huge rampant bushfires in several states. Australians are bracing themselves for another scorching summer. I guess people would blame it on "Global Warming".

But wait - what about what's happening in the UK with record cold spells and snow?

Is that because of "Global Warming" too?

Isn't that called "cooling", not "warming"?

Please explain?