as most of the firewall allows access to google

Personally, I think you need to loosen up with the whole ‘rules’ analogy because if the rules were always followed, nothing would change, and if nothing changed, society wouldn’t progress, and deviance(not crime) is what society thrives on. However, you might not want to let go of your ‘rules’, so then just bear in mind that everyone is not you. They can’t live and be satisfied with everything you are okay with, they weren’t conditioned like you, or brainwashed (don’t worry, everyone is really) with the same morals/perceptions/ideas so you can’t expect them to see everything in your light.

And that line, “I’m an adult and you are still a child. I know what’s best for you,
and you still do not. That’s how it works”, just for that, no one should read whatever else you have to say. FYI, that’s not how it works. If you want to continue seeing the world in black and white, and you don’t want to think for yourself, then go ahead, your loss.

I’m sorry I’m not commenting on the actual article. I found the arguments much more interesting, and a perfect example of how people are prone to becoming static once they’ve come to a conclusion.

And I am still in my teens, hoping this comment will irk you.

Like it or not, children should not have unlimited access to everything. Our society runs on rules, laws, and regulations. It’s just a fact of life.

As I previously pointed out, restrictions are part of life. You’ll have to deal with them, or face the negative consequences.

To be perfectly honest, I don’t like some of the rules and laws on the books either, but I have learned that I have to tolerate them and obey them. Why? Because ultimately, I will be the one to suffer in the end.
For example, I dislike speed limits on most highways. After many years of disobeying many speed limits, I’ve spent exorbitant amounts of my money in fines and fees and such. I’ve finally decided that whether I like it or not, I’m going to have to obey the laws, because the consequences are just not worth doing it my way, no matter how much I think that they are wrong.

By the way, in regards to Sam’s comment about my childhood sucking… Quite on the contrary, my childhood was perfectly fine – AND, I did not have internet or cell phones, as they didn’t even exist yet – THANK GOD! There was no way to “track my every move”. (Anyone who disagrees with that is delusional and only kidding themselves.) Nothing worse than having a leash around your neck! (That’s exactly what a cell phone is.)
We had school sports and friends, brothers & sisters, video games, farm work, bicycles, atv’s, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and later on cars & trucks, as well as tons of other things to do to utilize our time. My family did not grow up glued to some computer, wasting our time, minds and bodies away.

“Social networking” is nothing but a complete waste of time and as I stated before, it is a great way to make the internet and phone companies rich. Sam, most of what you said in your rebuttal to my comments is exactly why you children shouldn’t have so much “free time” to waste your minds. Most of your comments were nonsensical and didn’t make any good points at all. At least with Dan, his thoughts were better thought out and he presented some more reasonable arguments.

To all children in school… instead of sitting on your butts and texting, surfing the web, or whatever, try getting off your asses during your lunch breaks after you’ve eaten, and go play sports or some sort of physical activity with the rest of your allotted time. Don’t tell me you can’t. Also, why not try socializing with people in your school IN PERSON, and not on some damned computerized device? During your “study hall” periods, try actually doing your homework or studying – now there’s a concept! You could even try reading a book, magazine, whatever if you have completed all of your homework assignments already.

Like it or not guys, here in the real world, you aren’t always going to get your way. There’s a reason that 18 is the age of minors – maturity. Yes, I’m aware that some people mature sooner, and some later. Unfortunately, our world tends to operate in black and white. Yet, there are grey areas in many aspects of life. I would have to say that school internet access is one of those grey areas currently set in black and white. Unfortunately, for everyone, many programs tend to ban unnecessary websites. I agree it is an imperfect system, but for now that’s the way it is. There’s no sense fighting it, or purposely breaking the rules through work-arounds, because you are only wasting your time, and setting yourself up for punishment. Is it really worth it? Nope. Adults have decided that you don’t need access to certain things at certain ages, and that’s just life.

Additionally, you kids can continue to fight regulations and restrictions all you want, but in the business world, people (adults) are not going to tolerate unnecessary internet or cell phone use. If you think that’s the case, then you are in for a rude awakening and you will likely not be able to hold a job as you will be fired repeatedly.

I have watched several of my friends’ children get fired for foolishly using their cell phones (mini-computers) for texting, “social networking”, internet and other uses while on the job. Pretty stupid, but we see it more and more from the younger generations, and it is completely unacceptable in the working world.

I sure wish more parents would limit cellular phone use with their children, as it is the primary reason for so many problems that are created in their future employment. The bad habits formed growing up (and while in school) are typically continued into their future adulthood employment and therefore lead them to many unnecessary problems.

Unfortunately, many adults are lousy parents in this day and age, and have little to no control over their children. Sad, but true.

Anyhow, I wish you all well. Remember, breaking the rules has consequences. Think for a minute – is it really worth it? – Probably not.

common sense, just cos u didn’t have somethings when u were a kid, doesn’t necessarily mean it is bad or unnecessary, what was probably a luxury at “YOUR TIME” need not be the same at present.

Your perfect analogy- “A perfect analogy to get my point across would be cigarettes/tobacco. Tobacco companies force it on the public, make it available and affordable, once you are “hooked” (both by the nicotine and the psychological effect) they’ve made it so that the person feels like they cannot live without it.”, is not even close to being perfect, cos to a person who is using cigarettes/tobacco there are no positive effects or aspects, while with internet an cellular phones the positive aspects heavily outweigh the negative aspects.

On your
“I’m an adult and you are still a child. I know what’s best for you, and you still do not. That’s how it works”.

If it was working, do you think we would even be having this discussion.I respect the fact that ” U might actually care”, but that doesn’t make u right in deciding what is needed an not, cos u will be deciding based on your experiences tat are at least 2 to 2 an a half decades old.

I agree porn an violent sites should be blocked but social networking sites???

“Boy, I’m not sure how I ever got through schooling without the internet. I mean really, OMG! I must be a social outcast!”
In your schooling days that might not be true… but at present it almost always is.At an age wher everyone is talking about freedom of speech, an freedom in the internet. How can u or the IT gods hired by you, decide which sites we are allowed access or not.

Also your comparison of school an your job place/company for everything seems not only absurd but also very lame. cos you yourself keep emphasizing the difference between us kids an adults.

Lastly,
“Yeah, I know that sucks, as I was a kid once too ya know. But that’s called LIFE.”

I am not trying to be rude or anything but just cos your childhood sucked doesn’t mean our should too…

Now I used the adjective arrogant because you seem to think you know what is right absolutely and anything else is just pointless or falls to your unfaltering logic. quote incoming

“I’m an adult and you are still a child. I know what’s best for you, and you still do not. That’s how it works”

I like to think I’m self aware and know what is good for me at least when it comes to internet.

As you pointed out we don’t need internet sure i agree i said it was a luxury. Doesn’t mean we CAN’T have it though as long is it doesn’t inconvenience anyone i don’t see why it should be restricted if anything having to monitor the filters and pay for an IT God is the inconvenience.

and just to say Dan goes to a private school where your tax dollars don’t pay for my internet and computers my parents pay for it and they trust me enough to not have to spy on me and i respect them and am very grateful to have their trust.

Back to no texting on company time… Yea i admit not the perfect analogy but i would leave school and text so its not on “company time” and most of your employee’s can leave when they are done… Students cant we are forced to sit and wait we can’t leave because trust me if we could we would. And no student is going to ask for any more work because there is no promotion to look forward to and if we can grasp the idea’s put forth in class why waste paper ink and time while cramping our hands repeating something we already understand.

Also you mentioned that anything can wait until we are outside of school. Once again i agree that is true but why wait if we don’t have to with the extra 1-2 hours i spend doing or learning nothing in school for every day. I could do a hell of a lot of stuff, but people seem to think they know more than the people actually forced to go through said experiences.

My last comment on your post has to do with this quote
“you will have plenty of time to make the phone and internet access companies rich with all of the internet and social networking crap.” Considering that internet and phone usage is payed for on a monthly subscription, so whether i use it or not i get charged Might as well get my monies worth. Isn’t that something business’ do rent a vehicle or something do as much as you can with it in the allotted time so you get the most for your money.

Well those are my points and i really wish you wouldn’t blatently claim you know whats best for me… Maybe some teenagers without Common Sense (lol) but you should never generalize like that and assume you know everything for all people under 18

~Dan

How to fix this issue? Well in my opinion it’s simple. Every school/business should have an e-mail set up for students/employees to send websites to that they feel should not be blocked.

Then, an “IT god” (as they often think of themselves) can go through the e-mails and allow access to those sites where a valid arugment is made or where the site clearly doesn’t fit the restrictions set forth by school/company policies. In time, things would greatly improve for everyone.

But hey, what do I know?

LOL, If you think things suck here, just be glad you don’t live in a Communist Nation.

Have a good one folks!

I’m really not being arrogant, just stating some good common sense. Sorry if I come across that way, but sometimes a little over confidence and certainty is needed to get a point across.

About school… What I’m saying is that children don’t need to be on the computer during school unless it is for educational purposes. Period. Sorry if you don’t feel that way, but that’s why I’m an adult and you are still a child. I know what’s best for you, and you still do not. That’s how it works. Ok, now if children want to be on the computer (internet) at home or outside of school, that’s perfectly fine with me. However, it is then up to the child’s parents as to how they regulate their kid’s internet useage.
Since MY tax dollars pay for the computers and internet use at schools, my children do not need to be exposed to the unregulated/unrestricted internet at school unless it is for educational use only. I do not want other entities allowing the open and unrestricted use of the internet to my children. You will find that the MAJORITY of responsible adults have the same feelings as do I.

I actually give my kids a lot of freedom and basically free roam of the internet when they are at home. It’s called trust. I do monitor their useage on occassion. If they violate that trust, then I put down restrictions. For the most part, we have no problems. Again, at school, they are there to be learning and doing as they are instructed. Not to be free roaming the internet or playing with cellular phones.

Secondly, comparing air conditioning to the internet is a rediculous analogy. Please use a better analogy and try again. (By the way, who had air conditioning in school?) Modern day kids have so much handed to them that it’s crazy. It’s called SPOILED. We certainly didn’t have A/C in our schools, and in fact, they still don’t.
I really suppose it depends upon where you live, whether or not it is justifiable to have A/C in schools or not. Areas like Florida or Arizona or the like certainly would need A/C.
Regardless, air conditioning is not the topic here. Regulated internet useage is. But before we get back on topic, I want to say a few things about “texting”.

Dan, in regards to your opinion on texting, and I quote:

“And i don’t know why you even brought up the topic of texting. Imagine this, Your employees are able to finish their work in 3/4 of the time you expect them to take, however they are forced to sit there in their office until that last 1/4th of time ends, wouldn’t it be acceptable for them to do a leisure or social activity.”

Well Dan, the answer to your above question is NO. It would NOT be acceptable for an employee to do a leisure or social activity while they are on company time – EVER. If you think that it should be acceptable, then you are in for a rude awakening once you get out in the real world. No well run company with any business sense is going to pay someone to screw off and waste time. Sorry.

Texting was brought up because it is basically a form of internet and communication that is totally unnecessary, particularly for children. As for texting or any other social networking nonsense, my employees are not allowed to do any of that during company time. I pay them to work for me, not to play around socializing. My employees know that our work is never done, and that if they complete one task, then it’s on to the next. If they somehow manage to get caught up with their work, that’s great, but there is always something they can be doing to earn their wages besides playing around on the internet or on their cell phone. I don’t care if it’s cleaning their desk or sweeping the floor.
Additionally, I would be more than happy to find them something more to do with their new found “free-time” if they came and asked me. Employees like that show initative and those hard-working people are the ones that get promoted. Certainly NOT those that play on the internet or are texting all the time. (They wind up fired.) If internet or cell phone use is that important to them, and their work is truly complete with nothing more to do, then they need to contact me and find out what else they can or should be doing with their time. If I have nothing more for them to do, at that point, they are more than welcome to punch out for the day and leave the workplace to go play with their internet or cell phones.

An employee should realize however, that if their leaving the job became commonplace, I’d find more work for them, or if that was not practical, then I’d find a way to completely eliminate their position because clearly it is not needed if they continually run out of work with nothing to do. However, that would be an internal management issue that I would certainly deal with. By the way, I can assure you that running out of work rarely, if ever, happens.

The bottom line is that in the business world, we do not and will not pay for others to play around – using the internet, texting, or whatever. That would just be foolish and very bad for business.

I’m happy to hear that you are a scholar. That is good. Keep up the good work and with any luck you will go places in life. However, you will find that the majority of people are not top scholars. Outside distractions are not welcome in school environments, or even in work environments to be quite honest. Additionally, your “social networking” that you cherish so dearly, can wait. There is nothing that any child must do on the internet or on a cell phone DURING THE SCHOOL DAY that can’t wait until the end of the school day. NOTHING. Sorry, but it’s just a fact.

I’m not a fan of any type of “oppression” either. However, you must understand this. Under the age of 18, you are a child. As a child, you have LIMITED to NO rights. That is a fact of life. Deal with it. Your parent or guardian is the one that is in charge of making decisions FOR you. Yeah, I know that sucks, as I was a kid once too ya know. But that’s called LIFE. Deal with it. Life’s not fair. Most adults are looking out for their children’s best interests. (I realize not all adults are good parents.) Allowing free use of the internet and cell phones to children is a really BAD idea, and should be regulated/limited and in some cases, yes, banned.

Additionally, you should realize that things that are made illegal or banned or policies are set for you to follow for a reason. They are all one thing – rules. If a person is to break those rules, be aware, there will very likely be consequences. More often than not, you will not like those consequences! Whether it is hacking on a computer, or drinking underage, or stealing money or goods from someone… sooner or later you will get caught, and you will be punished. The sooner you take personal responsibility for your actions and grow up, the better. You can then avoid any wrongdoing and save yourself from punishment(s). Most everyone knows the difference between right and wrong. It’s whether or not you choose the right decision or not that will dictate your future.

Once out of school and grown up, you will have plenty of time to make the phone and internet access companies rich with all of the internet and social networking crap. Let me assure you, none of it is NECESSARY for the business world. Business’s that profit from the internet and cell phones have forced these things into society and strive to make them necessary, but they really are not.
A perfect analogy to get my point across would be cigarettes/tobacco. Tobacco companies force it on the public, make it available and affordable, once you are “hooked” (both by the nicotine and the psychological effect) they’ve made it so that the person feels like they cannot live without it. But anyone can, and many people do. Same goes for the internet and cellular phones.

There is a time and a place for everything. During school hours and the learning process, there is no place for unregulated internet or any form of personal cellular phone use. Same goes for most all business during the workday.

‘Nuff said.

One of the only reasons i feel the need to argue this topic is when I’m given 45 minutes of free time at school with access to computers and internet i expect to be able to use it as i wish as long as it isn’t harming the computer or anything else.

In terms of internet access we deserve the same rights you allow your employees, unrestricted access to the web. Albeit if doing something outlandishly inappropriate sure you can kick us off or something but for the most part unrestricted access.

And i don’t know why you even brought up the topic of texting. Imagine this, Your employees are able to finish their work in 3/4 of the time you expect them to take, however they are forced to sit there in their office until that last 1/4th of time ends, wouldn’t it be acceptable for them to do a leisure or social activity.

Texting in class works in much the same way. For a certain amount of students we can easily manage the work load handed to us or pick up the point of the lesson well within the time constraints of the class/school day. And before you say anything while i doze or sleep instead of text in class (or doodle or just talk) I’m in honors classes don’t take notes and consistently get B’s and A’s. So I’d be able to text while going to school to LEARN as you put it and still excel while expanding or strengthening my social network which is useful and an incredibly important skill in the business world.

I understand that texting during a teacher’s class could be considered offensive to the teacher but since so is talking and you didn’t mention that i will assume that was not the arguing point you were using.

And oh also, the whole “The problem is, people like to abuse EVERYTHING. Give an inch, they take a mile. It seems to be human nature for the vast majority. That is why BANS are put into place in the first place – CONTINUED ABUSE, WITHOUT CONSEQUENSES.”

True to an extent, we do abuse some things. While i can’t speak for others the main reason i try to bypass internet security is not really to view sites i want to (Though a nice benefit indeed). It is to say i beat it, I try to beat it because it is banned and I’m not a fan of the oppression. Similar to the way there are more drunk driving accidents with teens in the US than in countries where there is no drinking age or it is very young.We get a thrill not only from the booze but because its not allowed so we go out of our way to do it. If internet restrictions were lifted maybe we wouldn’t try to abuse it so much… Just a thought. ~Dan a.k.a. Dpldogs

Boy, I’m not sure how I ever got through schooling without the internet. I mean really, OMG! I must be a social outcast! Yeah, ok… whatever! Except for research purposes only, CHILDREN have no business being on the internet during school. What they do at home on the internet, on their own time is up to them and their parents. Perhaps if we taught this way, then once they grew up to be adults, they would continue such good behavior practices into their jobs. DUH!

Before I continue, let me tell you a little about myself. I’m a successful 33 yr. old college educated businessman. I allow my employees to use the internet whenever they need to, which is actually not very often. I expect the best from everyone I employ, as often as they can. I treat them all well, (good pay, good benefits, am pleasant to talk to – my door is always open to talk to them), and in return, they work hard for me and are productive. I have no problems with theft or with abusive internet practices. A little common sense goes a long way. Many businesses these days seem to lack that.

Ok, so back to the topic of internet access in schools…

Look, the bottom line is this – The internet SHOULD BE BANNED for all children’s use from grades K-12. Not just parts of it, but ALL of it with SOME exceptions.

Now, wait before you freak out about what I’m saying here, and continue to read on…

Exceptions should be for when research is being done in the library, for when children are using a computer in a classroom setting where the teacher is using the internet as a learning tool, and for internal e-mails. Nothing more.

Sorry, but all this social network crap, porn, messaging, and any other obvious sites that children need not be on should be blocked for all children while at school. Cellular phone use and “texting” should also be completely banned during school. Cellular phones should not be allowed to be turned on during the regular school day. If anyone disagrees with that concept, then I’m sorry, but you are nothing but a fool. Children are in school for one purpose, and that is to LEARN. They are not in school to be talking on a phone, texting, chatting, you tubeing, facebooking, or any other such nonsense.

E-mails should only be with internal accounts set up by the school system, and NOT via yahoo, hotmail, or any other webmail accounts. That’s right, limiting e-mails to internal school use only, and not the “outside world”. This would greatly limit unnecessary e-mails that have nothing to do with education, although I realize there would still be some, it would be substantially minimized. The sole purpose for e-mails in school should be for student/teacher interaction, for student-to-student interaction, and nothing more.

Aside from doing research or limited e-mail contact, there is absolutely no reason that kids should have any additional internet access during school. None. Period.

NOW, on the topic of internet use in the workplace:

From then on out, once you have graduated from High School with a diploma, you are now an ADULT and should be made to use your OWN brain and make ADULT DECISIONS. Time to be a grown-up folks, so start acting like one!

Banning adults from ANY sort of internet use is just utterly and completely assenine.

Want people to not screw off at work? That’s really simple. Fire them if they are screwing off! Hire people that have some intellect and know the difference between right and wrong.

Secondly, allow employees to use the internet for their personal use during their lunchtime. You are paying for it either way, so what’s the difference? (NONE.)
Many people need to pay bills online or e-mail a family member or friend. Nothing wrong with that if you are doing it off company time.
To be completely honest, the truth is, if you are staying productive, I couldn’t care less even if you did some outside internet usage ON company time, as long as it was kept to a minimum.

The problem is, people like to abuse EVERYTHING. Give an inch, they take a mile. It seems to be human nature for the vast majority. That is why BANS are put into place in the first place – CONTINUED ABUSE, WITHOUT CONSEQUENSES.

Personally, I would highly recommend this: Have a company policy that fully details all internet usage while on the job. Have a system that you can easily periodically “police” the separate employee accounts for abuse. If an employee is found abusing the system, visiting sites on company time that have nothing to do with the job, then sit them down and talk to them. Give them a warning. Let them know that if they continue to break company policy, they will be fired.
Then, if they continue to break policy – just FIRE THEM!
This isn’t rocket science people!

Treat your employees with respect and trust. Treat them fairly. You will be amazed how well they will reciprocate.

Shit on your employees, be dictator-like, be paranoid of them and act like they are all out to steal from you or do things they shouldn’t, and they will stick it to you!

You will find in life that most people give what they get. If a person gets crapped on, expect crap in return. Treat your employees like one of the family, expect (and receive) their best!

Good luck and god bless.

how stupid the management is how many safe sites are blocked.

if an employee is motivated enough, the hell with facebook and everything else? i need my salary and bonus, teehee!

The rationalization that goes on… I liken it to me walking into a Porche dealer and stealing a 911 justifying it with… “well, if they priced it right, I’d pay”.

does any1 hav anysites to get onto bebo id be very thanful!!!!!

mi mi xoxoxoxo