dateline/to catch a predator?

Question

i think this show is helpful to poeple with children... i have 4... do you agree or not??? is it a warning for watching what your kids do on the web??? i think so...what do you think??

Answer 1

I agree I thank that it is very helpful, it shows us how easy it is for these predators to contact our children..

Answer 2

I like this show and think its helpful to parents who really didn't know how dangerous the Internet was but the question I have is do these sickos only own a computer and not a TV Dateline runs that show all the time with new sickos going to meet what they think is some little child and it's really the dateline guy i wonder how many sicko's have stopped doing this becuase of the show?

Answer 3

I agree it is helpful for people with children and for watching what children do on the web. It also shows that these predators come from all occupations and social structure. I am shocked how they never run out of people. I would have thought that there were not that many predators out there.

Answer 4

I watched "Catch a predator" and surely my DD will never have internet in her own room, her online-activities will be carefully monitored.
DH haves a 15y/o sister. We had a long talk with her about the dangers of internet, what can happen and what to do if it happens to her and how to avoid it (like no personal info as email-addy or house-addy on her website, no info about what sports team she's playing in, where she hangs out and the like, no chats with strangers).
Banning internt completely out off your house isn't a good idea - the kids also need internet to research for school-projects, homework etc, yes, most schools expect the students to have internet-access nowadays.
Teach your kids the dangers and monitor them, that's the best way, IMO.

I volunteered at DD's school to give classes for the parents about safe internet-usage for children, but so far, they didn't took my offer.

Answer 5

I definitely agree. that was the first time both of us have actually sat down and watched a news program and were actually interested in it. i love that dateline gave more awareness to the problem and parents should really be more care full and use the parental blocks given to them thru Internet providers and/or software. my kids are still young, so they don't get online with out me, but i know it is hard to see every site a 15 yr old gets on, it wasn't that long ago!!! ha! i also like being able to get online and view the sexual offenders registered in my area, or whatever area my kids will be in for that matter.

Answer 6

It definitely is a huge help. Most people never ever check the sex offender registry, why- Im not sure. The registry tells you what exactly the person did so you can check whether or not it may affect your children. But to any parent that reads this, be aware of your surroundings, It only takes a min to check your neighborhood and it increases your awareness. In my old neighborhood they placed a sex offender right in front of a playground, if I hadnt checked the site, I would have never know, and my child could have been a victim too.

Answer 7

It was a wake up call for a lot of parents who didn't realize how pervasive the Internet and fishing for underage sex had become. I really want to read Chris Hansen's book "To catch_a predator: Protecting Your Kids From Online Enemies Already in Your Home". You can check out an excerpt here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/17584928/ and see his Today Show interview here: http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?f=00&g=c15ace9e-d7c2-4072-beef-b93e370edade&p=hotvideo_m_edpicks&t=m5&rf=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/17584928/&fg=

Answer 8

I think every parent - regardless of how old their child is - should watch at least one episode of that. It's really shocking to see. I actually saw a guy I know get caught on there. He was several years older than me and we had been friends since I was about 14 - we met at church for goodness sake! The screen name they caught him on was one that he had used to anonymously IM my little sister when she was 12-13 and ask her inappropriate questions about her breasts, undergarments, and sexual experience. I had spoken to him on that screen name before (not knowing who it was), and gotten the same sleazy routine.

It just goes to show you really NEVER know who might be trying to get to your child. I'm expecting a little girl soon and stuff like this terrifies me. My little girl will be under lock and key until she's 35!

Answer 9

I LOVE that they have this show. I think it will slowly make predators stop lurking kids online. Now men will be afraid that it may be a cop on the other end!! I am glad they catch these guys cause I HATE THEM!

Answer 10

Absolutely.