Manic Monday

How many computers do you have at home? I know that a computer can seem like a multi-purpose tool. But most tools are more suited to one use. You wouldn't use a flyswatter to catch butterflies. You wouldn't use a pipe wrench to drive nails to hang a picture. Both of those tools will do the task proposed. But the out come may be other than what you intended. A better analogy would be guns. Please don't tell me you "Don't believe in guns." Guns are real and they exist whether you believe it or not. Hunting is another unpopular subject. But it is a necessary part of the environment. Consider what happens when a deer population is left alone and there are no predators. They over populate, starve and die in big bunches. They do not migrate and will stay in one area and browse the vegetation gone. And then become a bigger problem. Consider the fact that in 1997 in the state of Pennsylvania, there were 22,000 deer killed. By cars on the road. The situation became so severe that the yuppies asked the scientists at Penn State to come up with a solution. The common response was to encourage more hunting. But NO! They didn't want to promote a barbaric ritual. The next best idea was to spread feed to the herds that contained chemicals that would neuter the male deer. Eventually the herd would all die of old age and the beemer owners would be safe to cruise the roads unimpeded. Fortunately common sense prevailed and someone decided that hunting deer was better than no deer.
Back to the point at hand. You wouldn't hunt grizzly bears with a .22 rifle. And you shouldn't hunt rabbits with a .458 Winchester Magnum. By this same token you shouldn't use the same computer to do online banking and play internet games. Or more precisely your computer should not be shared with the youngsters in your house. You wouldn't send your kids to the playground with your check book in their pocket. Not because they might be tempted to try writing checks. But they might not know how to keep someone from stealing it. The online world is fraught with dangers. Some even more sinister than you could imagine. And having your bank account emptied might be the least of your worries. I am not trying to frighten you. I'm being realistic. A child's natural curiosity and lack of fear, drive them to places that children should avoid. It's in their nature to explore and discover. And there are people in this world who take advantage of that curiosity. Give your children a separate computer to use. Watch them like a hawk. A mother hawk lookng over her hawklettes. Then learn how to monitor their use. Or confine all gaming to Nintendo or XBox. But don't share a computer with them. You might also ask your local libarian to not allow your youngsters to use internet connection systems. Next time I'll give you some ways to see where your computer has been.
In the words of Marilyn Manson; "If you won't raise your chldren, I'll be happy to do it for you."
Be safe and be blessed.