6 ms·

If you thought your kids didn't like you before, wait until you install something like this on their phone. Emotions are weird, if you're sitting around worryi

by dm2 12y ago

If you thought your kids didn't like you before, wait until you install something like this on their phone. Emotions are weird, if you're sitting around worrying about your child then you need a hobby. If it's really a problem that your child goes somewhere without texting you if you asked them to then don't let them go out next time. If they are in college and don't answer your calls, then leave them alone, find something else to do, send them an email if you need to inform them of something or have something you want to discuss. Kids go through weird phases, they lash out at parents for different reasons such as being unhappy with themselves or struggling to find purpose. Talk to them in person, ask difficult questions, if they don't have an answer, ask again later or ask different questions. Be a good roll-model by being calm, rational, humble, and honest. I can picture the mom who had the idea for this app, controlling, slightly crazy, comes off as bitchy. What if your significant other installed a similar app on your phone? Would piss you off, right? If you want to restrict the games kids play or the sites they visit on their phones, that's probably for the better, be sure to inform them of the logical reasons such as the fact that game companies exploit human psychology to create addiction and many apps upload private information that could harm them later in life. But locking their phones because they haven't called you back, I just can't see how that'll do anything but harm in the long-run. "Because I said so.", "Do as I say, not as I do.", "Say it, say I love you." If you kid doesn't answer their phone they are either in class, busy, have it on mute, in jail, dead, getting high, in a loud car, at a party with friends, having sex, eating somewhere, or they just don't want to talk to you at the moment. If they are in jail, they'll call you, if they're dead, then there is nothing you can do about it, you'll find out soon enough. In every other situation it's not that critical that you hear their voice, send them a text message and find something to do. It might just boil down to positive verses negative reinforcement. Just my 2 cents about actually using this product as a parent. Looking at it as an app idea, it's a good idea and looks well executed. I'm sure many parents will purchase it.

unethical_ban 12y ago
I find some of your content presumptuous, but overall, I agree that, if you tell a child to check in or be home at a certain time, this app won't solve insubordination. Either lock them in at home, have a real chat about it in person, etc., but this novel locking mechanism isn't going to solve the problem. >Emotions are weird, if you're sitting around worrying about your child then you need a hobby. If you're worried about your pre-teen while he/she is out roaming the city, you're a good parent. It doesn't mean you have to be freaking out all the time, but my parents cared enough to be concerned if I didn't check in at the deemed intervals.
- JoeAltmaier 12y ago
  Scoutmaster for 20 years. I told my boys, make your mother happy and we can do anything. If she wants you to call every hour, then call every hour. If she wants you to ride only in my car and no other parents', then we'll do that. If she says take a jumbo bottle of sunscreen, take the bottle and we'll work it out on the trail.
grayclhn 12y ago
Of course, a parent could also install an app like this as part of a long process of discussion and negotiation wherein the child repeatedly blows off commitments to check in, blows off even lenient curfews, and struggles to hold up his or her side of the agreement. Maybe you think that's unlikely, and maybe it is. But assuming that all parents should share your attitude and that they'll all experience your success at childraising (I assume you've been the parent of a teenager?) is absurd. I have no plans to use the app (my oldest daughter is 5), but there are plenty of good reasons a sane parent might want to. As well as plenty of bad reasons.
pbhjpbhj 12y ago
>What if your significant other installed a similar app on your phone? Would piss you off, right? // Attempting to equate spousal (or similar) relationships with parent-child relationships suggests you either have no clue about how adults in such a relationship should relate to one-another or you have no clue about parenting. I've never said any of those unwanted idiomatic phrases but can still see a place in which I would want a child who relies on me to buy their phone and/or keep them safe to be coerced to respond to a contact request. >In every other situation it's not that critical that you hear their voice // That doesn't appear to be the point of the app, the point is to coerce a response instead of allowing a person to ignore you but keep using the phone you purchased. Suppose my child has absconded, ie gone off without telling me where they're going, I'm about to start my shift at work. Do I miss work and try and find them, or do I use this app and "force" them to respond indicating they're safe & well? This app means you can give your kid a smartphone but enforce a usage pattern coterminous with a single-number phone if required. Having a smartphone isn't some sort of inalienable right for a minor. If you're an adult (eg at university) then buy your own phone and refuse to let people install apps on it; or not, your call.
- otterley 12y ago
  > Suppose my child has absconded, ie gone off without telling me where they're going, I'm about to start my shift at work. Do I miss work and try and find them, or do I use this app and "force" them to respond indicating they're safe & well? I think what the parent is trying to suggest is that you go to work and not try to find them. If they're old enough not to require constant supervision, they'll come around.
  - true_religion 12y ago
    What if you just need to talk to them, and you know they're blatantly ignoring you for no good reason?
    - otterley 12y ago
      What would you do if you faced this situation with an adult? People of all ages -- children and adults -- respond to incentives. Incent them to talk to you and they'll do it.
galfarragem 12y ago
Most of people here had a childhood without cellphones (aka dog leach) and managed very well to survive without permanent parent surveillance. Would my parents, for example, have had less headaches/worries with this app? For sure I wouldn't have liked something like this. Of course this app can be useful in some exceptional cases but not in standard ones.

by dm2 12y ago

unethical_ban 12y ago

I find some of your content presumptuous, but overall, I agree that, if you tell a child to check in or be home at a certain time, this app won't solve insubordination. Either lock them in at home, have a real chat about it in person, etc., but this novel locking mechanism isn't going to solve the problem. >Emotions are weird, if you're sitting around worrying about your child then you need a hobby. If you're worried about your pre-teen while he/she is out roaming the city, you're a good parent. It doesn't mean you have to be freaking out all the time, but my parents cared enough to be concerned if I didn't check in at the deemed intervals.

JoeAltmaier 12y ago
Scoutmaster for 20 years. I told my boys, make your mother happy and we can do anything. If she wants you to call every hour, then call every hour. If she wants you to ride only in my car and no other parents', then we'll do that. If she says take a jumbo bottle of sunscreen, take the bottle and we'll work it out on the trail.

grayclhn 12y ago

Of course, a parent could also install an app like this as part of a long process of discussion and negotiation wherein the child repeatedly blows off commitments to check in, blows off even lenient curfews, and struggles to hold up his or her side of the agreement. Maybe you think that's unlikely, and maybe it is. But assuming that all parents should share your attitude and that they'll all experience your success at childraising (I assume you've been the parent of a teenager?) is absurd. I have no plans to use the app (my oldest daughter is 5), but there are plenty of good reasons a sane parent might want to. As well as plenty of bad reasons.

pbhjpbhj 12y ago

>What if your significant other installed a similar app on your phone? Would piss you off, right? // Attempting to equate spousal (or similar) relationships with parent-child relationships suggests you either have no clue about how adults in such a relationship should relate to one-another or you have no clue about parenting. I've never said any of those unwanted idiomatic phrases but can still see a place in which I would want a child who relies on me to buy their phone and/or keep them safe to be coerced to respond to a contact request. >In every other situation it's not that critical that you hear their voice // That doesn't appear to be the point of the app, the point is to coerce a response instead of allowing a person to ignore you but keep using the phone you purchased. Suppose my child has absconded, ie gone off without telling me where they're going, I'm about to start my shift at work. Do I miss work and try and find them, or do I use this app and "force" them to respond indicating they're safe & well? This app means you can give your kid a smartphone but enforce a usage pattern coterminous with a single-number phone if required. Having a smartphone isn't some sort of inalienable right for a minor. If you're an adult (eg at university) then buy your own phone and refuse to let people install apps on it; or not, your call.

otterley 12y ago
> Suppose my child has absconded, ie gone off without telling me where they're going, I'm about to start my shift at work. Do I miss work and try and find them, or do I use this app and "force" them to respond indicating they're safe & well? I think what the parent is trying to suggest is that you go to work and not try to find them. If they're old enough not to require constant supervision, they'll come around.
- true_religion 12y ago
  What if you just need to talk to them, and you know they're blatantly ignoring you for no good reason?
  - otterley 12y ago
    What would you do if you faced this situation with an adult? People of all ages -- children and adults -- respond to incentives. Incent them to talk to you and they'll do it.

galfarragem 12y ago

Most of people here had a childhood without cellphones (aka dog leach) and managed very well to survive without permanent parent surveillance. Would my parents, for example, have had less headaches/worries with this app? For sure I wouldn't have liked something like this. Of course this app can be useful in some exceptional cases but not in standard ones.