Letter to the Observer

Caz · 05-09-2003, 00:15

I feel so strongly about the new forum started by a 12 year old , that I have written a letter to the Observer.

Let's see if it gets printed!
A month late would be par for the course though. ;D

September 5, 2003

Accrington Observer

Dear Sir:
I just had to write and voice my opinion on the new forum you publicized in last week’s Observer, as I feel so strongly about it.

Whilst not wanting to knock the young boy’s obvious efforts and enthusiasm, does anyone really think that this is a suitable thing for a 12 year old boy to be doing?
I have two 13 year old boys, and there is no way I would let them do something like this.

The forum is apparently open to anyone, including adults. This 12 year old is the Administrator. So am I to take it that he is going to moderate all the adults who care to post on there?

Anyone with any Internet knowledge will know that forums can be the target of bad language, racism and personal prejudices. Even some of the jokes should not be witnessed by children. Supposedly this boy is in control of this! It beggars belief!

Also do adults really want to be moderated by a child? I think not!

I would also suggest that something of this nature should have a modicum of reasonable grammar and spelling at least from an Administrator. Obviously with a 12 year old at the helm, this is not necessarily going to be the case.

I wouldn’t even recommend that this venture was kept specifically for the children of Accrington. How many of us parents have spent time telling our children about the possible dangers of the Internet and the undesirables who use their anonymity in order to make contact with them?

Now we have an open forum, run by a child, which is obviously targeted at children as well as adults.

Not only that, the Accrington Observer has publicized the fact!

Nice one Observer!

Sincerely,

***** ********

littlemo · 05-09-2003, 01:18

NIce one cazzer

tracey · 05-09-2003, 06:12

i agree with you cazzer, no way would i let my sons do it, and they are 14 and 15.

ANNE · 05-09-2003, 08:31

Well said Cazzer.

lettie · 05-09-2003, 09:14

I totally agree, although you can't knock the lad's enthusiasm I don't think his parents and support agencies have thought this through. ;D

Mik Dickinson · 06-09-2003, 10:21

Well said Cazzer,nice to see that some people actually read what they look at.Its also nice to see that some people take their community seriously.

Caz · 06-09-2003, 11:39

[quote author=lettie link=board=general;num=1062720954;start=0#4 date=09/05/03 at 10:14:03]I totally agree, although you can't knock the lad's enthusiasm I don't think his parents and support agencies have thought this through. ;D[/quote]

What you said about support agencies Lettie.

I agree. I'm asuming that the school (Hollins) know he has done this, can't see that he won't have told them.

Also the boy seems to have connections with New Era, so presumably they know.

Both of these should have had more sense and discussed the negative aspects of this with his parents. I haven't come accross a single person so far who supports this venture.

I'm just utterly astounded by this!  :

&gt;

Mick · 06-09-2003, 14:29

There should be a age limit put on this
as to when you can start a site say 18  ???

Caz · 06-09-2003, 18:04

A forum anyway, yes I would agree with that.

But then how could the person providing the forum assure that the person appying was over the age limit?

In any case this one was bought for the boy by his father!

No problem with kids building websites. My own boys have done it, but they don't have on it any means whereby someone  could contact them, even by email. they are purely for their own enjoyment and for their friends.

Caz · 11-09-2003, 16:56

Just got this week's Observer. Gobsmacked!

They actually printed the letter, even the last line.

Maybe the fact that I had told them it was already on line helped!

(Mind you, I did contact them further by email yesterday morning, to give added information & comments, and as yet have still not had a reply.)

No other comment though, about whether they made an error of judgement in giving the site publicity. That was asking a bit much though I suppose. Let's see if It prompts any replies next week. Hopefully. Maybe then they'll admit they were wrong.

g78 · 11-09-2003, 18:24

Well done Cazzer...... I shall look out for the letter tomorrow in the paper.  

The internet is always going to be a danger ground for children.  I mean it can be bad enough for adults let alone minors being exposed to the things that can be displayed online.  The internet is such a great commodity to have, such a shame that it is ruined by certain individuals.

I congratulate the young lad on having the enthusiasm and knowledge to create an online site and the fact he has created it for his community should also be acknowledged.  Although if no adult supervision is provided then there should be some way to make it 'child' friendly.  

At the end of the day, we all know kids will be kids.  And without supervision they will try and do or see things that they shouldnt really be, I know I tried as a child.  Therefore it should be up to this young boys parents or guardians, or any adults in his company to make sure he is not being exposed to the vile side of internet life.

HarryX · 11-09-2003, 18:29

If a teenager/under 18 happens upon a website that says.. Only click here if you are 18 or clcik leave

I would guess just about every under 18 in this country would click the 18 only button.  hands up if ya think I am wrong?

g78 · 11-09-2003, 18:36

I totally agree HarryX, most teenagers (especially boys) would  click on an over 18 button to access the site, because unfortunately there is no way to prve if they are telling the truth or not

Mick · 11-09-2003, 18:45

Thats the way to go cazzer if your taking up a pertition you can put my name and e-mail address on it

Caz · 11-09-2003, 19:14

One of the points I have been trying to get across is parental  responsibility.  In particular that of this boy’s parents.

Sure his effort is to be applauded.

Making a personal website with no means of contact available is one thing. My kids do that.

Doing something constructive for the community is good. My kids try to do that.

But some parents either can’t be bothered or are ignorant to certain facts

We are not talking about a couple of lads trying to sneak a few peaks at dirty pictures here. Or trying to access  an adult website even,  which  responsible parents would do their utmost to prevent.

We are talking about our local newspaper openly promoting a forum, run by a child, and likely to have a large number of children accessing it.

They have no means of knowing who is registering, and are already talking about arranging meetings.

The Observer has pointed  undesirables in their direction.

As you say, boys will be boys, (or girls will be girls ) and parental responsibility is crucial.

But does our local newspaper not have any moral  responsibility on such an important issue?