You Can’t Blame MySpace for Your Lack of Attention

Mashable had an informative article worth checking out.

Be thankful that when it comes to blaming the web for offline crimes, one judge has it figured out. The Texan parents who tried to sue MySpace for $30 million when their daughter was sexually assaulted by another MySpace user have had their case dismissed. What’s more, the judge said that the parents were negligent, not MySpace.

The 12-year Texan girl lied about her age on MySpace (she said she was 18) and met a 19-year-old man last summer for dinner and a movie. Afterwards, it’s alleged they had sex in a parking lot. The girl’s parents tried to sue MySpace for a whopping $30 million, accusing the site of negligence.

The decision supports a common sense belief that parents should not blame MySpace (or any other Web site) for the bad behaviour of your child.

This country has been tumbling down hill for decades with this stupid litigous mentality that someone else is always responsbile. I recently read about a lawsuit where a gun was stolen during a break-in at a sporting good store. Sometime later the stolen weapon was used to commit a murder. So the victim’s family sues everybody in sight: the store, the alarm company, the display case manufacturer, the gun manufacturer, the town, the state, etc. It’s ridiculous.

Children and teens are incredibly niave and imature.

The creep who manipulated the 12 year old should be punished severely. But MySpace is hardly to blame. I’m sorry, but these enabling excuses are poor arguements. Parents, blame yourself first if something goes wrong. Better yet, take steps to involve yourself in your children’s life now before something bad happens. Know what they are doing online, who their friends are, and where they go. IT’S YOUR JOB, whether you like it or not.

Check it out these articles:
Negligent Parents Blamed for MySpace Assault, Tom is a Free Man

MySpace Sued By Parents Who Don’t Keep an Eye on their Kids