Thursday, May 18, 2006
Kids Should be Seen and Not Heard
Chalk another one up to government intruding where it is not needed. In an attempt to discourage online predators from being able to target children, Republican Congressman Michael G. Fitzpatrick has decided instead of prosecuting such criminals harshly, it would instead be better to prohibit anyone under 18 from gaining access to sites that promote social networking on public school or library computers.That's right. The best way to protect someone is to deny their rights. While some might question the real social value of a site like MySpace or FaceBook, to deny people access solely due to what might happen is ludicrous. And to top it off, the legislation uses verbiage that makes almost any website a prohibited site. An online social network is described as:
"a commercially operated Internet Web site that allows users to create Web pages or profiles that provide information about themselves and are available to other users and offers a mechanism for communication with other users, such as a forum, chat room, e-mail, or instant messenger"So that would include any chatroom. It would include an IMDB profile. It would include a seller's page on eBay or eLance. It would include a profile on CLASSmates or any of a million other sites on the web.
The law would stifle creativity for children, the ability to bond friendships,and discourage innovative an entrepreneurial teenagers from starting online ventures. Even worse, it cuts off children who have no access to home computers from networks that can give them great lines of support. I can guarantee that their are just as many children and teens facing personal crisis - eating disorders, abuse, depression - who will be just as negatively affected by this law as there children who would be protected from online predators.
And what is pushing this legilation? Apparently, mass hysteria on the extent of the problem in the minds of suburban voters, and an attempt to rally conservative voters to prevent the Democrats from sweeping the November mid-term election.
Hiding the problem isn't the answer. Denying information is not the answer. People can't be put in little plastic bubbles - because sooner or later, someone comes along who just loves to pop bubble wrap.
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