<p>"What I can tell you is that it would require two tomato cans and a long string."</p>
<p>LOL!</p>
<p><< Also, parents especially should learn that communication via IM is very different than it is through E-Mail. But that's another discussion entirely ;>></p>
<p>I was the first one in my family to use instant messenger back in I think '94. Still have the same screen name too. Unlike here. Back then I used to pay a couple hundred dollars a month for dial-up AOL access - you paid by the hour. Bet that would cool your average teenager's aim jets!</p>
<p>Never used AIM until D went off to college and now I can see what the kids like about it. It's nice to be able to "talk" with D for a few minutes--AIM seems to be more her style than using the phone.</p>
<p>What keeps younger D away from using AIM continuously is the fact that we all share the same computer. She gets booted off when we want to go onto CC. </p>
<p>[Glad she hasn't put any limits on our CC viewing!!!!]</p>
<p>I expect my children to be busy with challenging academic work in the courses that interest them, not in game-playing and chit-chat that mediocre students do. I let them choose their favorite subjects to concentrate on, but I expect them to try hard to be excellent at SOMETHING, and I don't mean playing computer games.</p>
<p>token, AIM isn't a game....it's like talking on the phone.....millenium style. </p>
<p>Technology, for our kids, is just breaking through.</p>
<p>In 3-5 years, the number of devices used to reman "present" (new INet buzz word) will be significantly reduced. It'll be hard to tell the difference between a PDA, cell phone, laptop, IPod, etc. They'll be able to come into their homes, talking on the call, and seamlessly transfer to their VoIP home phone. Profiles containing education, degrees held, work experience, etc will be visible for them via their "presence" on the web platform. "Personality" will matter less and less. Accomplishments and success will matter more.</p>
<p>
[quote]
token, AIM isn't a game....it's like talking on the phone.....millenium style.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yeah, I know; that's why I referred to "chit-chat" as well as "game-playing." </p>
<p>I'm no luddite, and I'm happy to have my children be early adopters of new technology, but I want them to learn how to write so that, indeed, they have a worldwide presence. Good writing is appreciated everywhere, and all too rare. Kids whose only writing experience is IMing are rather tedious writers to read at lengths longer than one sentence.</p>
<p><<kids whose="" only="" writing="" experience="" is="" iming="" are="" rather="" tedious="" writers="" to="" read="" at="" lengths="" longer="" than="" one="" sentence.="">></kids></p>
<p>Enter the blog.</p>
<p>Actually, blogs per se are not inherently tedious. It's the Xanga sort of blog which I'd safely put in that category. (Disclaimer: I keep 2 blogs myself, neither of which are tedious, if I do say so myself, ahem. ;) )</p>
<p>
AIM may not be my only writing experience, but it is my primary means of communication. Despite this, I haven't lost the ability to write. My instant messages look a lot like my forum posts. I try to avoid abbreviations, misspellings, fragments, and "run-ons" whenever possible. IM is what you make of it.</p>
<p>Its better than reading their diaries. teenagers are immune to deprivation or even sound beatings but psychologically weak. Flogging them is frowned upon by the more "enlightened" members of society and may even lead to arrest and imprisionment. On the other hand psychological tortur up to and including warping them for life is considered humane and progressive.</p>
<p>Read their AIM messages, their email. Publish it to the world. Email their friends. Put pictures of them on a web page. Mention that they were still bed wetting when they were 10 or that you caught them masturbating. None of it absolutely has to be true. Then tell them that you will stop when they do. Of course you do want to remember that eventually they will pick your nursing home and paybacks can be hell.</p>
<p>Seriously though it is a tough problem. Raging hormones and short attention spans and a longing to be anyplace but under the thumb of parents and teachers is something that many of us can remember from our own misbegotten youths. But under them they are. My own suggestion would be to get two computers and roll up right next to him/her and not tell them what to do but constantly ask them unrelated questions about the weather, Michael Jackson, fashion, Julius Ceasar, the ingredients in Twinkies, and what sort of tattoo would look best on you the whole time AIM windows are open. You might learn something and so will Pavlov's Dog who will doubtless find you more annoying than an alarm clock.</p>
<p>Hey, does anyone here ever just talk to your kids and work out an agreement, and then the kid does what you want on their own without requiring physical intervention? You know, like the kid shuts down AIM all by herself without you having to unplug stuff?</p>
<p>Yes, talk. Somewhat of an agreement. Son is ready for college on his own. The best of grades through high school? No, but not bad, good gpa. Educated? Yes. User of new technologies? You bet. Finishing up his IB exams? Yes. Aim user, web site maker, little t.v., social, community service, intensely political. Shuts down when he needs to? sometimes. Maturing.</p>