internet relationships and real ones

[Rainbow Moonlight]

Should kids be encouraged to form internet friendships and relationships? Should parents support them in such friendships as with ordinary ones?

[freediver]

No. Kids should be encouraged to get some exercise and get some real friends. There is a lot of social pressure on kids and many reasons for them to want to escape, but they should face up to the real world. Computer skills are one thing you don't need to get them started early on.

[Rainbow Moonlight]

But if kids are lonely online friends can help them feel connected - they can also be a way to further school friendships.

[freediver]

I guess you just need to keep an eye on things. Is it helping their social skills, or hindering them? Are they escaping, or embracing?

[Rainbow Moonlight]

Or both. In my experience I think it is largely positive for them. I am a little worried about my eldest who appears to have fallen in love over the net.

[freediver]

Learning how to deal with the opposite sex can be difficult. I'd be concerned about that too. There is a steep learning curve on your first few relationships, and you aren't going to learn it unless you interact in person in uncomfortable situations.

[pakistani_dalek]

Or both. In my experience I think it is largely positive for them. I am a little worried about my eldest who appears to have fallen in love over the net.

Alarm bells should be sounding for you then. Living in a virtual world is not the real world..there are too many creeps on the net. Nothing can beat face to face human contact. FD is right..real friends ..sunshine and exercise.

Living in cyberspace can cause a child to lose touch with reality.

My kids have limited access to the internet.Mainly for school projects and stuff. This is after my girl experienced extreme bullying from one peer in particular..she would go to bed crying at times. The bully was a very vicious and malicious peice of work...even tho' in real life she was a slight weedy small insignificant "butter wouldnt melt" child who was very overindulged and spoilt.

When I approached the parent..they of course denied it could ever be theyre little darling..the root of the problem right there..

The net is good for information and forums (lol) ..kids should be limited and supervised.

[deepthroate]

"The bully was a very vicious and malicious peice of work...even tho' in real life she was a slight weedy small insignificant "butter wouldnt melt" child who was very overindulged and spoilt"

Most are,I wonder what noiq and deepthoughty look like.

[pakistani_dalek]

"The bully was a very vicious and malicious peice of work...even tho' in real life she was a slight weedy small insignificant "butter wouldnt melt" child who was very overindulged and spoilt"

Most are,I wonder what noiq and deepthoughty look like.

Yes indeedy Deepthroat...you have to wonder dont you?

Just how deep is your throat btw?

[deepthroate]

"The bully was a very vicious and malicious peice of work...even tho' in real life she was a slight weedy small insignificant "butter wouldnt melt" child who was very overindulged and spoilt"

Most are,I wonder what noiq and deepthoughty look like.

Yes indeedy Deepthroat...you have to wonder dont you?

Just how deep is your throat btw?

I brag a little paki, I'm sure iq has a much deeper throat than I.