Violence Against Childen
Physical Violence
Verbal & Emotional Abuse
School Violence
Bullying
Dating Violence
Sexual Abuse
or Any Other Abuse or Violence?
Ask Andy
It's My Fault?
Dear Andy,
I surf the web a lot and like chat rooms. I've been emailing this kid the same age as me and he saying stuff that's kind of scary. I stopped chatting and emailing him but I feel like it's my fault that he said that stuff.
I told my older brother and he told my parents and they called the police. My parents yelled at me and won't let me use chat rooms anymore. What can I do to get my parents to trust me again?
Signed,
Bad surfer
Dear Bad Surfer,
First ... it's not your fault that the creep who said he is your age did what he did. Andy is pretty sure that he reallt isn't your age. Unfortunately there are some sick adults who play games with kids in chat rooms and gain their trust, hoping to lure
them into a meeting. Then you meet and bad things happen!
You did the right thing by going to your older brother! Your parents are trying to protect you and keep you from being harmed, missing and other bad stuff.
Talk to your parents and tell them you would like to use chat rooms again and promise them that the minute someone says something that doesn't feel right to you, that you will tell them and not respond to the person. By showing them you are responsible they may learn to ease up a little. Talk it out and come to some kind of compromise ... but remember -- if anyone suggests anything like meeting or anything sexual, or anytthing that doesn't sound right ... stop corresponding immediately and tell your parents!
Andy
June 7, 2005
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