Everyone's Apostolic: A Word of Caution

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by timlan2057

Well Mike, you can think it's "offensive" all you want to.

I've been around the block and I stand by what I said.

Now let me requote the entirety of what I said:



And now of course, you come back with all the obvious exceptions which of course we both take for granted that everyone understands. Heck, my daughter is on my friends list on Myspace.

But ANY 42 year old that sends friends requestson social networks to 18 year olds HE'S NOT KIN TO etc. etc. has some fantasy - buried though it may be - of getting to know a younger woman in a romantic way to compensate for an unhappy marriage or just the fact he's a dud with women.

I've played pool in enough bars and sat on enough bar stools to see one of the BIGGEST frauds in human interraction: the guy who claims to just want to be a woman's "friend" and have heart-to-heart talks with her and all that.

Don't make me laugh.

He wants the same thing we all want (or wanted) when we went out.

At least some of us are honest about it.

THAT guy finds his parallel in "ole time pentecost" in the preachers that do the counseling sessions with women AND with old men trying to feel young again by hitting up on teenaged girls on these "apostolic" Myspaces.

And again it's worth repeating - I find it ironic that I am banned for not being "apostolic" enough for their tastes but who knows what trolling goes on there?

And what is OBSCENE about it is, unlike Myspace, this puts more innocents in harms way because parents think this is a "sanctified" place.

So be offended all you want Mike.

I stand behind what I said - it's sound and it's the truth.

And you and others can just wrestle with it all you want to.

I have a 13 year old niece that I talk with and email. I WANT her father and mom to know what we're discussing. I don't want any hint of anything weird.

[retsambeW]

Originally Posted by timlan2057

Well Mike, you can think it's "offensive" all you want to.

I've been around the block and I stand by what I said.

Now let me requote the entirety of what I said:



And now of course, you come back with all the obvious exceptions which of course we both take for granted that everyone understands. Heck, my daughter is on my friends list on Myspace.

But ANY 42 year old that sends friends requestson social networks to 18 year olds HE'S NOT KIN TO etc. etc. has some fantasy - buried though it may be - of getting to know a younger woman in a romantic way to compensate for an unhappy marriage or just the fact he's a dud with women.

I've played pool in enough bars and sat on enough bar stools to see one of the BIGGEST frauds in human interraction: the guy who claims to just want to be a woman's "friend" and have heart-to-heart talks with her and all that.

Don't make me laugh.

He wants the same thing we all want (or wanted) when we went out.

At least some of us are honest about it.

THAT guy finds his parallel in "ole time pentecost" in the preachers that do the counseling sessions with women AND with old men trying to feel young again by hitting up on teenaged girls on these "apostolic" Myspaces.

And again it's worth repeating - I find it ironic that I am banned for not being "apostolic" enough for their tastes but who knows what trolling goes on there?

And what is OBSCENE about it is, unlike Myspace, this puts more innocents in harms way because parents think this is a "sanctified" place.

So be offended all you want Mike.

I stand behind what I said - it's sound and it's the truth.

And you and others can just wrestle with it all you want to.

I think you miss my point:

I do not disagree with your premise. I understand what you are saying. Here is where I draw the line...To say that everyone has a fantasy is stretching it a bit. If you think for an instant that I have a fantasy for a young girl, you are sadly mistaken. I have a rather bad disposition towards those who would injure a child in any way, let alone in the way we are talking about here. Sorry, you aren't looking at or talking to a 42 year old with that kind of problem. I am very well satisfied in my relationship that I don't have to go looking for a fantasy with a child.

So, then, where do we go from here? I recognize what you are saying. I do not doubt there are predators out there. However, I know that there are a great many out there that feel the way I do. You are painting with a broad brush, Tim. Do not include us in your painting, we aren't going to model for you.

[DividedThigh]

i have to agree with you timlan, i didnt let my kids do that when they were home, and i dont let my step kids now, we are careful sound counsel is what i hear, dt

[DividedThigh]

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

I have a 13 year old niece that I talk with and email. I WANT her father and mom to know what we're discussing. I don't want any hint of anything weird.

good words dave, i protect myself too, even from the mouths of biddies, lol

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by retsambeW

Timlan,

I am 42 years old, and while I am sure you were not pointing fingers, I must say the assertion that any 42 year old is having a fantasy for a young chick is offensive.

Firstly, any of the younger girls I have as "friends" their, are people that I all ready know. Daughters of friends, or my own daughter for example. Secondly, I sent not a one of them friend requests, I responded to them because I am all ready their frind in "real space", let alone cyber-space. Thirdly, you won't see many minors as my friends. If someone in that age group requests a friendship and I do not know them, it will be rejected.

Does this sort of thing happen? Sadly, you are correct, it does. I trust it is the exception and not the rule. If it is the rule, then we are in a sad state, indeed.

Brother, you are setting yourself up for potential heartache.

Just this past week, one of my best friends on AFF sent one of my sons a friendship request on a social network. My friend did this innocently.

But I have taught my kids to never chat online with adults they are not related to. My son (15) came and told me about the request. I told him he could not accept it.

It's not that I was worried about something bad happening with my friend toward my son.


I was.showing my son a principle. Internet communication can be harmful.

This seems especially true with Everyone's Apostolic.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Brother, you are setting yourself up for potential heartache.

Just this past week, one of my best friends on AFF sent one of my sons a friendship request on a social network. My friend did this innocently.

But I have taught my kids to never chat online with adults they are not related to. My son (15) came and told me about the request. I told him he could not accept it.

It's not that I was worried about something bad happening with my friend toward my son.


I was.showing my son a principle. Internet communication can be harmful.

This seems especially true with Everyone's Apostolic.

I think some of the problem of understand this is because WE don't think that way we don't realize others do.

I've seen perfectly innocent people be "turned on" and it wasn't pretty. Their conversations were friendly and above reproach, but once the other party decided to make "more of it all" and accuse the person - it was very, very hard to defend.

Just have to be really careful.

[Ferd]

I am and always have been very leery of these things. Myspace, EA or any other seems to be frought with oppurtunity for preditors.

i realize that responsible people can participate (generally) without fear, however, no child can really be considered "responsible" fully so long as they are children...


any time there is a mixture of kids and adults on line, i worry.

personally as my boys get older, I suspect I will be really really tight on what they can do online.

[DividedThigh]

Originally Posted by Ferd

I am and always have been very leery of these things. Myspace, EA or any other seems to be frought with oppurtunity for preditors.

i realize that responsible people can participate (generally) without fear, however, no child can really be considered "responsible" fully so long as they are children...


any time there is a mixture of kids and adults on line, i worry.

personally as my boys get older, I suspect I will be really really tight on what they can do online.

i can see papa bear rising up, right behind you bro been there, done that, doing it again, lol

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by Ferd

I am and always have been very leery of these things. Myspace, EA or any other seems to be frought with oppurtunity for preditors.

i realize that responsible people can participate (generally) without fear, however, no child can really be considered "responsible" fully so long as they are children...


any time there is a mixture of kids and adults on line, i worry.

personally as my boys get older, I suspect I will be really really tight on what they can do online.

We have allowed our son to have a Myspace and Facebook account. We have his password and we check it regularly. We have not allowed him to have certain friends online, and whenever we see a problem they are gone. If he doesn’t want us to have his password then he doesn’t have to give it to us…but he doesn’t get to have an account on those pages either.

[Nahum]

This conversation took an odd turn! My original concern was social engineering though information mining.

Does that sound like cult activity to you?

Oh well, I'm probably just paronoid.