Before I go on to talk about my problem in this thread, I jus want to make it known thatI love both of my parents very much and appreciate all that they've done for me…

You too? That's the same with my mom and dad. If they see me online chatting, they would get me off and tell me what would happen like all that stuff. Do any of your real friends online chat?

starwars293 : not that I know of. 

catfight09 : Well, did you try telling your parents about how not everyone in online chat can do that kind of stuff and that they aren't bad people?

starwars293 : it's usually my mom. My dad isn't all that much bothered by it. My dad told me to give t some time before I bring it up again. 

The only way to rape or kidnap you is offline. The point of the internet is to connect with people you do not know who live in parts unknown. Unless you are using the PS3 mic for love connections and giving away your real name and location I don't see what the deal is.

Plus you are a guy. Girls have higher chance of getting raped and kidnapped from online activities but there are predators out there who do like young boys.

Tell her if she would rather see you talking to a stranger in person or online.

Benefits of talking to strangers online:
- You can escape easily
- You don't have to give away your name or address or any other personal information
- You can't get raped
- You can't get kidnapped
- You can record conversations
- You can do all kinds of research on people online

Benefits of talking to strangers offline:
- Rape
- Kidnap
- Robbery
- Death
- No escape unless you have weapon or are good at getting away
- You are forced into a position to communicate whereas online you can simply click a button to make them go away

Just tell her you won't meet up anyone from online in real life that you do not know and will not give away your location or real name to anyone. After all, how are they going to rape or kidnap you if they don't know who you are or where you are?

The only reason why people get raped or kidnapped from online activities is they meet up with strangers or give away too much details about themselves and their locations.

JigSaw : Yeah, I guess you're right. I'll tell her sometime tomorrow (since she went to bed and everything), but I completely agree. I have more than enough common sense to know what to and what to not put out on the internet.

My sister and I had to deal with similar restrictions when we first got then internet as well. The biggest rule was no chat rooms. Funny enough, message boards were okay with them, they just did not like chat rooms. My sister somehow managed to convince them instant messaging was fine after some time, but they said that they must be free to look over our shoulder at anytime while on them. That did not last too long, haha. After awhile, it was mainly just not allowing sharing personal information. I was banned from using chat rooms and instant messengers when my grades slipped though.

When you approach your mother, be sure to present your arguments calmly and rationally; if you whine or shout, your argument will lose value. Also, make sure she's in a good mood; if she is stressed out over something and you bring it up, it will not end well for you, heh. Jigsaw really hit the right arguments here, a small compare-and-contrast argument comes out clearly enough for most people to understand.

If she had other objections besides that people might come and get you, be sure to hear her out. Maybe let her listen in some times to just show her that you are careful (though maybe not offer it right away, just if nothing else seems to be working). Just know that if you break her trust, it takes a long time to earn back; it took me a few years when I sneaked out of the house once... Was not worth it!

Hmmm, very interesting. I can understand where your Mom is coming from but I can also understand your side as well. My Mom was strict, not as strict as yours but to a certain level, so I can understand your frustration.

As for the whole, be careful who you are talking to, that is a good caution to use, because even on a microphone, someone can us a voice changer and try to trick you, and I mean, you as a whole, as in society, not only you as a person. So being cautious is a good thing to do, but maybe you can tell you Mom that you are being careful and just because you're talking to them on a microphone, doesn't mean you're going to just go and meet them if they ask you too.

It's all about trust and just let her know she can trust you to make the right choices. Also, let her know, that the only way you can learn how to be responsible is if she gives you the chance. I don't know if this is helpful at all, but it's all I can really suggest. Maybe others have better advice for you. I hope I helped some.

catfight09 : First let me say that you are young and you are about the age that I was when I was going through a rough period of my life and really ended up screwing my life up. I do not judge and I can understand both your side and your mother’s.

Back when I was your age my parents were separated and I was basically put in the middle of it. For several years I felt like I had to play referee and peacemaker between them. It seemed as though whenever I wasn’t in school I was trying to keep peace between them. When I could get away from that I would but I wouldn’t make the most rational decisions and would say and probably do things that I wouldn’t do otherwise. Simply put because of the situation that I had to deal with I didn’t really have a structure and any rules that were set on me I more or less laughed at.

It’s natural when you go through adolescence that you rebel against authority and think that you know everything. I know I did and I now know as a mature adult with his head on straight that I was very wrong about what I thought back then. I gradually went through a downslide ended up going through a lot, ended up hanging out with the wrong people and, ended up dropping out of school. There is a lot I can’t remember about that period of my life and the stuff that I do remember isn’t something that I am really fond of. My parents were separated for most of my teen years and although they eventually got back together I had damaged myself at that point.

I am not saying that you are 100% wrong but I can understand what your mother is saying. The internet has a lot to offer and a lot of it is very good but, it can also be a very dangerous place. Unless you know someone personally or know of someone’s background the fact is you really don’t know who you’re talking to. It’s a lesson that everyone learns eventually. It may seem like nonsense to you but your mother isn’t wrong either and she in all likelihood only has your best interest at heart.

I am approaching my 30’s now and I am still trying to come back fully from the damage I did to myself in my teen years. I don’t blame my parents one bit for anything that I went through. The fact is no one is responsible for the choices I made other than me. I obviously wish that my parents never had their falling out back then and wish that I didn’t go through a lot of things that I did but it’s not their fault.

I was never really a bad kid but when my parents separated my world was kind of flipped upside down. Rational reasoning and thinking took a back seat and like I said I admit that I was a screw up. Despite my parents being separated both of them were there for me but the problem was I was set in my ways, didn’t want to listen to reason and rebelled. It was a big mistake. I can’t tell you how much I wish I would have listened to them or my other relatives back then. My life probably would be a little easier today that’s for sure.

Please don’t dislike your mother for looking out for you. I am an uncle to six kids and I would do and at times have done the same thing your mother has. Set rules and try to give them structure. I can understand wanting to have more freedom but too much of anything is no good. I can also understand wanting to fit in with everyone else. Believe me when I tell you as you get older fitting in becomes less important. Just worry about yourself and the people who are important. It may seem a bit over baring right now but your mother is doing the right thing.

As for what you should do… Well if I were you I would listen to your mom but try to talk with her to try and reach a compromise. I would also thank her if I were you for being involved and looking out for you. Not everybody is that lucky. I had both my parents but I allowed outside influences and my own stupidity to dictate much of what I went through in my teen years. Believe me when I tell you if I could go back in time to my teens I would do a lot of things differently and would prevent myself from making the mistakes I made before it happened.

I know that it may not seem like it but your mother has your best interest. One last bit of advice please stay in school. You’ll thank yourself later on. Best of luck to you.