| IMHO |
Rachel Strong | Mar 2007
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I was watching Headline News’s news ticker when I read something that made me LOL. The ticker said that English teachers R concerned CUZ more & more they R seeing IM abbreviations such as “UR” & “B4” N English assignments.
So Y is this a bad thing? CUZ language is always evolving…or devolving. We humans R always trying 2 find the fastest, easiest way of doing things. U can C this in some of our most irregular verbs “2 be” & “2 go”.
As TM, EM & IM become more popular, punctuation & capitalization R being used less & less. Not 2 mention, 2day’s youth have a language all their own. Gone is the need 2 put notes in code developed between friends. Now, all kids need 2 do is use the IM text they know already.
TV shows such as Dateline’s weekly “2 Catch a Predator” highlight the scourge that is online predation. While Dateline & the cops use adult decoys 2 entice (some say entrap) online child predators, 2 many kids fall victim 2 the predators 2 smart for the trap.
With all the publicity & coverage given 2 NET predators, it is vitally important 2 know what UR kids R saying online, & 2 whom.
If UR children R 2 young for much online surfing, start early. Let them know that CUZ U R the parent, U will be checking their email, MySpace page, & online chat logs regularly & when they least expect it. When they get older, especially, this will become a point of contention, but U just need 2 reiterate 2 UR child that U R the parent & U R going 2 do this whether they like it or not. (Do not confront them on anything they say about U in the email, but instead pick UR battles & save them for when something is obviously wrong.)
If UR child is already entrenched in the online world, set some ground rules. Have them watch “2 Catch a Predator” or other stories on the downsides of online chatting. While UR children will probably keep saying the usual—“My friends aren’t like that,” “I wouldn’t do that,” & the like—they will at least know that those kind of people R out there.
Also tell UR older children that U R going 2 start watching their MySpace page, if they have one. MySpace is a wonderful place 2 get 2 know UR kid, & who is talking 2 UR kid. It is also a wonderful place 4 everyone else 2 get 2 know UR kid.
There R also software programs 2 block unknown IM users from contacting UR children. A quick search of “NET filters” will come up with loads of info & different companies who offer these services.
IM speak is like another language, U need 2 learn it 2 understand. Parents need 2 learn what, how, & 2 whom their children R speaking online. The dangers 2 our children R not new, but @TEOTD, our children R just inviting the bad guys & girls in2 the house every day.
SOMY? :)
Translation Key:
@TEOTD—at the end of the day
&--and
2—to, too, two
4—for, four
B4—before
C—see
CUZ—because
EM—email
IM—Instant Message
IMHO—in my humble opinion
LOL–laugh(ing) out loud
NET—Internet
R—are
SOMY—sick of me yet?
TM—test messages
U—you
UR—you are or your
Y—why
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| Review By: |
Jan |
| Article Grade: |
A |
| Article Review: |
Very good information for parents and young adults. |
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