Big Brother is watching you....

[nekoro]

This woman blew my mind. Not just that she thought this was possible, but that she thought it was desirable.

Background, I work at a call center doing tech support for free virus protection software. You can only get this software for free if you have a certain ISP. Basically, it's a virus scan, firewall, and parental controls.

A woman calls in and asks if I can help her configure her firewall to block Myspace and all instant messengers from her kids. Okay, a bit overprotective of her children, but whatever, not my job to judge. I say sure.

CL: Crazy lady
Me: The Nekoro!

CL: I'm so glad that the government has finally found a way to protect our children.
Me: (wondering if I heard that right) Um, ma'am, we're not the government.
CL: You're not?
Me: No, we're a private corporation.
CL: Oh no! Do you mean that if my kids go to someone's house, and get on another computer, they could access these pages?
Me: (stifling a snicker) Yes ma'am. I'm afraid so.
CL: Oh NO!!

It was eventually discovered that she had competing software on her computer, which would basically ensure that neither program will work at all. So she decided to go to them...

...to see if they can protect her kids.

[Rapscallion]

Who's going to protect her children from her?

Rapscallion

[AFpheonix]

College, and beer.

[Silvercat]

And don't forget loose women (and men)

[ChicaViernes]

"CL: I'm so glad that the government has finally found a way to protect our children."

Yes, "finally", otherwise we would have to depend on the childrens' parents to protect them, God forbid.

[friendofjimmyk]

ME: Yes, ma'am, they could still access these sites from someone else's house. However, if you purchase our new, top-of-the line mind control computer chip - you can watch over your children at all times and even send out little electronic pulses to ZAP! them if they miss behave.

[kurisu7885]

Hmm, interesting, I guess she can't be bothered to watch her kids, the gorvernment has to do it.

[Gawdzillers]

I swear, since reading 1984, everyone's been making Big Brother references on the 'Net.
Is the whole world following me?

[Kogarashi]

I swear, since reading 1984, everyone's been making Big Brother references on the 'Net.
Is the whole world following me?

::shifty look:: No. ::waves hand all Jedi-like::

The crazy lady in the OP is just asking for trouble with that mentality....

[Becks]

Forgive me for thinking logically but...

Why doesn't she just not allow her children access to the computer?

If they need it for homework (I'm 27 and I remember a time when I didn't have to use the computer to do MY homework...I must be old...) then she should stand there and watch them. Or something.

Another thing. AOHell has parental control features for each screen name. Too bad she can't use something like that.

[kurisu7885]

Forgive me for thinking logically but...

Why doesn't she just not allow her children access to the computer?

If they need it for homework (I'm 27 and I remember a time when I didn't have to use the computer to do MY homework...I must be old...) then she should stand there and watch them. Or something.

Another thing. AOHell has parental control features for each screen name. Too bad she can't use something like that.

You're askign her to be a parent, that's liek asking a farmer to do rocket science.

[Becks]

Good point.

[Jester]

Forgive me for thinking logically but...

Why doesn't she just not allow her children access to the computer?

My best friend actually has a great system for that. I am not a technogeek, so I don't know how this works, but basically, her computer has different areas. When she signs in to her area, she has access to whatever she wants. When her 14 year old daughter signs into her own area, she only has access to whatever my friend has allowed in that area. That area is strictly controlled, and (I believe) her daughter has no ability to add stuff or download stuff, though I may be wrong. In any case, this gives my friend the ability to control to some extent what her daughter has access to, as her daughter only has the password to HER area, and not to the more open areas of her parents.

Makes sense if you ask me.

[nekoro]

My best friend actually has a great system for that. I am not a technogeek, so I don't know how this works, but basically, her computer has different areas. When she signs in to her area, she has access to whatever she wants. When her 14 year old daughter signs into her own area, she only has access to whatever my friend has allowed in that area. That area is strictly controlled, and (I believe) her daughter has no ability to add stuff or download stuff, though I may be wrong. In any case, this gives my friend the ability to control to some extent what her daughter has access to, as her daughter only has the password to HER area, and not to the more open areas of her parents.

Makes sense if you ask me.

Actually, we do offer software that will allow you to do that. I'd have been happy to help her set up the computer that way. But that wouldn't help with the other millions of computers in the world that her kid would be able to access.

[Imogene]

My best friend actually has a great system for that. I am not a technogeek, so I don't know how this works, but basically, her computer has different areas. When she signs in to her area, she has access to whatever she wants. When her 14 year old daughter signs into her own area, she only has access to whatever my friend has allowed in that area. That area is strictly controlled, and (I believe) her daughter has no ability to add stuff or download stuff, though I may be wrong. In any case, this gives my friend the ability to control to some extent what her daughter has access to, as her daughter only has the password to HER area, and not to the more open areas of her parents.

Basically sounds like the login screen in most recent Windows' operating systems. You can set up separate accounts for each user, and can limit what each account can do/get into.