Really, why do we have to enact laws to get people to be reponsible parents. 13 year olds shouldn't have unlimited access to a computer or the internet without supervision. You wouldn't let them drive a car until they showed competence and responsibility the same with computers and internet access. I think it is awful that an adult is so petty to have done this to a child that they knew in the first place but there is a certain degree of blame on the parents as well.

It will be interesting to see what develops out of this "Megan's Law".

Actually, the parents stated clearly on the Today show and in various interviews that they monitored Megan's use of the computer and even discussed the MySpace friend with her. What the parents didn't realize is how emotionally attached she had become or how abusive the online relationship had become.

The reason this law was needed was the absolute horror of the fact that what this woman did was not illegal.

I am really unconvinced that they monitored their daughter's activities. It is really ludicrous to allow a 13 year old to establish anything that you do not have control over as the parent.

I still think the law is a knee jerk reaction.

Time will tell.

Have you had thirteen year old children, and thought you had absolute control over everything they were involved in? Were you ever a thirteen year old yourself?

Yes, I have two and had more control than these parents did. The computer is a tool not one's life.

The woman is a horrible person, but should being an asshole be illegal? She never threatened Megan. She just pretended to be her friend, and then ended the "friendship", called her names, and said she wished Megan were dead. It's heartless and mean, but it's not a crime. Where does it stop? Are they going to create the "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" law next?

This girl obviously had emtional problems before the whole thing happened. Most people, even children, understand that not everyone is nice and that you have to ignore mean insults from mean people. I'm really uncomfortable with the idea of creating laws for everyone because one really screwed-up kid had an extreme reaction to something as minor as being called a name.

Well, I would like to hear what you would have to say if something like that happened to one of your kids. I am sure you would be singing a different tune.

Actually, it is against the law, it is called harassment and just because most people don't report it doesn't make it legal.

Believe me, it is more than one really screwed up kid that has had an extreme reaction to being called a name. It happens more than you think. What about Columbine? That is the same thing, they did what they did because of the way they were being treated. Not everyone can ignore being harassed.

I do not give my children power tools without supervision, they don't watch the tele without supervision and they certainly do not have free and open access to run willy nilly about the internet without supervision.

There is a degree of responsibility on the part of the parents, not a large one but enough that they certainly are reacting in hindsight.

If you want to hear what my son has to say he posts in the Doonesbury feedback space for the soldiers serving in Iraq where he is currently. I believe he is posting under Svrog.

And actually I believe at one point or another everyone's children are harassed and teased to some degree in school. As parents it is better to teach your children how to cope and respond appropriately than to just think that things will work out. Certainly to manage your children better.

This law is, as was posted in another thread, is a slippery slope into freedom of speech. As with the Columbine incident, those kids broke how many gun laws already on the books? Those parents were how involved in their kids lives? Knee jerk responses are not necessarily good responses.

What happened was harassment but the parents did nothing to prevent their daughter's exposure to it. Had they actually monitored their daughter's computer activity as they claimed, such as keeping logs, they could have prevented it. Sort of like the father in the Sharice Iverson case at the Primadonna Casino. Had he not been apathetic in believing that the arcade was a suitable baby sitter for his child while gambling she wouldn't have been murdered in the bathroom. Some parents claim to be good or reasonable parents but really ignor their share in the responsibility of tragedy.

Again, there is a fine line between what can be considered strong wording vs. actual harassment on the internet, that slippery slope that treads on free speech.

See my response in the previous post regarding Columbine.

"Well, I would like to hear what you would have to say if something like that happened to one of your kids. I am sure you would be singing a different tune."

If I had kids, first, I would teach them to not let petty people who make mean comments bother them so much. I would teach my children to understand that there are bullies in the world who get pleasure by putting other people down and that they should never give those people power by listening to their crap. I would encourage my children to go out and find things that they are good at so when some jackass bully gives them a put-down, they have enough self-esteem to either ignore it or laugh it off. Then I would teach my children to not associate with those kinds of people either by walking away from them in the real world or by blocking their accounts (and ability to post mean things) from their myspace/e-mail/etc.

Second, I would accept the fact that the internet is never going to be a place that is 100% safe for kids and that it is up to me as a parent to protect my own child. I would monitor what my kids are doing on the internet and I would pay attention to who they are talking to. If my child was being sent e-mails or postings that were rude or offensive, I would either block the person sending the messages or I would go ahead and block the site so my child wouldn't be able to go there anymore.

Third, I wouldn't let them have accounts in myspace since it's a meeting place for grown-ups. I don't care how easy it is for kids to lie about their ages at the site. It's still a place for grown-ups, and I wouldn't let my kids bully or harass me into giving in on something that I know isn't for kids.

That is exactly what I was trying to convey Rockstar, Thank you.

I am not laying the blame on the parents completely but there are a few things that are totally questionable on their part.

These people are now universally reviled in their community. Their neighbors are themselves learning to walk the fine line between free speech and harassment.

You're right: what she did shouldn't be illegal. And the voluntary upwelling of outrage and resentment that will likely follow this horrible woman for years should also remain legal. If we outlaw one, we risk outlawing the other.

You say that you are "not laying the blame on the parents completely," Heleva.

So who else should share the blame? Forgive me for missing this, but you seem only to indicate that the parents should have been more vigilant. Did you intend to blame others as well?

Prytania3:

You say that you are "not laying the blame on the parents completely," Heleva.

So who else should share the blame? Forgive me for missing this, but you seem only to indicate that the parents should have been more vigilant. Did you intend to blame others as well?

From my top Post:

"I think it is awful that an adult is so petty to have done this to a child that they knew in the first place but there is a certain degree of blame on the parents as well."

I believe that there are two sets of sunbjects of blame in that sentence.