Most disturbing.

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   ralwusposted 14 years ago

   I was going through some news this morning and found this article about Sexting, teens sharing nude pictures of one another over their Cell Phones. That is bad enough as it is illegal, but the most disturbing thing is what she says research has revealed of the brains of teens. We are allowing 18 year olds to go to war and their brains are not fully functional and will not be until much older.  We need to stop this. What do you think? I am not feeling well, so share your thoughts. I'll be back. Here is part of her article:
   
   By LIBBY QUAID, AP Education Writer; Sexting
   
   Research shows teenage brains are not quite mature enough to make good decisions consistently. By the mid-teens, the brain's reward centers, the parts involved in emotional arousal, are well-developed, making teens more vulnerable to peer pressure.
   
   But it is not until the early 20s that the brain's frontal cortex, where reasoning connects with emotion, enabling people to weigh consequences, has finished forming.

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      alexandriaruthkposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      oh this research shall be known to the military so that they can increase age of admittance,,,hope you get well soon,

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      lyricsingrayposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I'm with you god damn shit just keeps getting scarier and scarier for our kids, what the hell is next?  How can we stop it - put an age limit like smokes for cell phones but they would just use computer webcams - somethings gotta give.

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   rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

   it is disturbing and research is showing the brain is still developing between 20-24. no wonder so many young people this age have a difficult time adjusting to life, we expect that once they're 18, they have magically reached maturity. wrong.

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   rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

   feel better ralwus~~ hope you're better soon.

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   C.J. Wrightposted 14 years ago

   Not surprising. Even more disturbing is the number of teens we are medicating with physcotropic drugs.

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      sandra rinckposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Or the number of people altogether who take anti-depressants to 'make life better' instead of just dealing with their problems.

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         C.J. Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         True, however giving these things to children when they aren't even tested on children is doubly dangerous.

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   Beth100posted 14 years ago

   CC -- Feel better soon; I'm thinking of you.   Just remember, I fell in love with at first sight too. 
   
   I believe that we, as a society, have our priorities mixed up.  Our young adults require nurturing to develop properly, a responsibility that we have shed in our quest to advance forward faster.  It seems that with every step we take, we take two backwards.

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   SimeyCposted 14 years ago

   Looks like I'm in the minorty here. Children have been playing 'Doctor's and Nurses' or 'show me yours and I'll show you mine' for ages, so this is only an extension of 'sex' games that children and teens have played for centuries.
   
   The problem I see is that the photos get shared - if you can make sure that someone cannot share the photo, or there are severe penalties if they do share without permission then part of the problem goes away.
   
   Heck, people have been sharing polaroid photos and 'photocopies' forever...
   
   I understand that this is considered 'child porn' and it is dangerous if it gets into the wrong hands.......and this is what we should be concerned about...not teenagers experimenting with sex....
   
   ...the problem is, the more you make 'sex' a taboo subject, the more dangerous it becomes....

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   Justine76posted 14 years ago

   yes, disturbing indeed. I saw something on tv some years ago explaning that teens brains are not fully formed, and they really arent trying to be "stupid". I met a boy from Sweden and he was shocked that parents allow their chidlren to go off into the world at such a young age here in America. Dont read the news when your feeling unwell, it doesnt help. Get some rest, sweet dreams.

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   Scott.Lifeposted 14 years ago

   What I find sad is the amount of young women allowing themselves to be photographed and taped while having sex in the middle of a party as if it wasn't bad enough. Just don't understand it or the drive to do it.
   
   I managed a group of female college students two years ago and the things they were getting themselves involved in were mind blowing. These were for all intents good girls, most went to church every week and wouldn't even cuss. Yet time again I would get the phone call at 2am, asking can you come get me, only to arrive at a party miles away to find them drunk, naked and even unaware of what they were doing. Then the next morning it was business as usual. Girls just weren't like that when I was just out of high school.

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      dyonderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Part of it's the times. I was a teen in the 80's in Colorado and the things that were goin on at that time would've embarressed the hippies and the romans combined. I'd try to help those that could be (wanted to be) helped & didn't let the others bother me.

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   dyonderposted 14 years ago

   That's one of the reasons adulthood used to be considered attained at what we consider now-a-days a young age. It cemented the structure of social groups through peer pressure. Growing up in the seventies, with the whole 'me' generation thing really showed me one thing - the power of peer pressure, not necessarily as a bad thing, more as a social force. Sex is sex. I waited til I was almost 18 to engage in sex (thinking I'd marry the first girl). My son knows about things I wish he didn't, but he does. So I communicate with him, guide him, & trust when I'm not around he'll make the right choices (for him) when it comes to sex. I really can't say how other parents handle it; or if their way is right or wrong. It just is.

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    Jeffrey Nealposted 14 years ago

    ralwus, I am not sure how we go about stopping it other than parents being more involved in their children's lives.
    
    I have heard the research showing that reasoning centers of the brain not being fully developed until the 20's, and this explains a lot of the behavior we see.  I think parents have the biggest influence, and they need to make sure that they are present and their wishes are clear.  Of course these young people may still do rebellious things anyway.
    
    The thing that is most disturbing to me and sad, is that they have no control over what happens to these pictures once they are sent, and they could find themselves on the wrong side of the law. If convicted as a sex offender, their lives will be very much different than they could have been seeing as how such a conviction will follow them everywhere.  It will hamper their employment opportunities, deny them privacy, and just cause them a whole host of problems.

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    Jane@CMposted 14 years ago

    Parents MUST be proactive!  When my son got his cell phone, it had internet access & that is the only way to picture share.  I had them disable the internet access on all of our cells (who needs it really)?  So he cannot share photos via his phone.  Nor can he receive photos.
    
    There is enough stuff today that they get their little eyes on.  I hide my Victoria Secret catty - he just doesn't need to see stuff like that at home.  While I can't prevent it while he is out.  I know teen boys will find "sexy pictures" if they want, I'm certainly not immune to it.
    
    Feel better Ralwus!

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       speaseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I agree. It has to be the parents who take control. Your right, they don't need the phone to be anything other than a phone.  The parents have to do what they can to protect the kids and teach them what is right and wrong.  I know it sounds to simplistic. I know you don't want to put them in a box, you need to be able to let them be teenagers.  You have to teach them what is right and wrong.
       
       Hope you feel better.

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    mega1posted 14 years ago

    So all that pot I smoked in my 20s must be the reason I say the things I do! good or bad? jury is still out!

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    Colebabieposted 14 years ago

    Yes it is true that the brain isn't fully developed until the early 20s. But I am 22 and not going to lie, I've "sexted". But its ok legally for me because I'm not a minor so its not illegal. Some girls do it to get attention, some girls do it to please their boyfriend, some girls do it to feel sexy, etc. There are lots of reasons why they would do it. I don't know if I attribute it fully to having an underdeveloped brain.
    
    I agree with most of the posts that say parents must be active in their child's life. But I think my sense of "active" may be a little different. Active meaning teaching from childhood about sexuality. Active meaning giving your children the tools and praise to have a high self esteem. Active meaning teaching the social skills and know-how to determine when a situation is sketchy.
    
    Rebekah- Although the brain isn't finished "growing" or developing until the early 20s, I know 18 year olds that are more mature than 40 year olds. There is always an exception to what is expected
    
    Jane- internet access isn't the only way to send pics. Maybe on your son's phone, but not on mine.

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    ralwusposted 14 years ago

    I don't like the idea  of arresting the kids for this behavior and branding them in such a way as to harm their future. Kids are kids, but they don't really understand what this Sexting thing is really all about. there are some great comments here and I thank you all. One other thing this article is about; most parents are not even aware their kids are doing this. Parental control is imperative and talking of these things to them can be of great help for them. though some will do it regardless because their minds are just not fully functional yet and the pleasure center of the brain rules their judgment. Thanks all. I must lie down for now. See ya later. thanks again.

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    Colebabieposted 14 years ago

    Yes but do you think a teenage girl would tell her dad "Oh daddy, I just sent a picture to John of my boobs, just wanted to let you know!"? And snooping in a teenage girl's phone isn't an option, there goes all the trust.
    
    So rather than snooping, and finding out when teens do it. Giving them the skills, esteem, and information to not do it in the first place is the only option.
    
    
    Feel better ralwus!

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       manlypoetrymanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Wow...Well said...and good points!

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    cosetteposted 14 years ago

    i have seen kids as young as 8 with camera phones. i think until they show that they are responsible enough to merit a cell phone, let alone a camera phone, they shouldn't even have one. children should be given cell phones when they are of an age when they are going out by themselves, at which point it becomes a necessity.
    
    i hope you feel better soon ralwus.

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    manlypoetrymanposted 14 years ago

    Ralwus...Hang in there, buddy...Hope you feel better...the holidays are quickly approaching...and you will be surrounded by your family!
    
    On your topic...The first thing that comes to mind is that research has shown something that older folks common sense has taught them time and time again. I know in my own life...I didn't have enough snap...until at least 24 to break a dried twig. What you say...about the young going to War...even when they have not matured is the greatest sad fact of it all...(But they don't want the older ones...I already tried!). The young are strong, can be trained (to help in their maturing), have phenomenal endurance, and feel like they are indestructible. So sadly...they are the ones chosen for "War"...because of what they are capable of. And ...as you pointed out...they really have not matured...or ie. "lived" to any large degree to aid in their maturity. Tragic.
    
    As far as the sexting goes...I think what Scott.Life wrote says it all...and yet is perplexing....Why it happens. Like he mentioned...these young ones...are good kids...smart thinking...and I gather respectful of having a good future...yet when advanced technology (camera phones)...and Older Adult activities (Parties-wild, wild, unchaperoned Parties) enter the picture...they lose any good judgement...or teaching...or common sense for the moment. Kids of this generation should understand what a powerful tool that electronic imagery is...and can last forever...go to everyone's PC in the world, etc. Yet...in one instance...all that can go out the window...! In other words...I don't understand it...for the life of me.

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    sneakorocksolidposted 14 years ago

    Their brains aren't fully developed until their roughly 24, Hmmmm. You find out thats going on you take the phone and can the boyfriend, then you make it clear we've made a mistake. This is how we'll fix it and limit activities to school and adult supervised outings. You can't let these over-confident kids ruin their lives before they even start. Then you go to the boys parents and unfold the story because the boys have to say no also.

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    Poppa Bluesposted 14 years ago

    Having been a teenager I'm not at all surprised! Somehow most of us survived. Yes 18 year olds are fighting wars, I was 17 when I served in the military. You need them young and not fully developed mentally otherwise they might question authority, and you can't have that in an army!
    
    I think the sexting though is more a function of sexual freedom and the age of technology in combination. Back in the day, we did such things in person but had we the means we would probably have been sexting then too!

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       manlypoetrymanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Poppa: you think so...? (about the picture thing?) I agree that technology took over in combination with new found sexual freedom in their lives...but I was trying to remember...any girl/young lady (even the wild ones)back 20 years ago (plus) who would let you take a Polaroid of her...in any compromising position...? I mean...I know there were a very, very few instances (all ending up badly from what I recall)...and memories change and get cloudy...but I'm thinking that only the strongest boyfriend/girlfriend bonds would there be any kind of Polaroid shots shared with each other. The boyfriend or guys at a party/hanging out/teasing at school would get a "Not going to happen-Period"...'cause with out any trust developed by just casual friends that were boys...the girl had to know you were going to be passing that pic around to all your buddies. Now...with a cellphone...that can be done in .5 of a second.

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          prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Hi manly, how are you?
          
          I think technology brought us ease in life but there are social consequences to it, like it is easier to send thigs like that, or maybe to cheat online...??

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             manlypoetrymanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Hey PDH...but there in lies another puzzle...aren't these kids more understanding of what can get blasted across the internet...and or networked across a "friend"/contact list on a cell phone...with this technology? (Doing well...and you?)

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                prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                I agree well with you, am good today, snow here in Dallas yesterday> how about there, want coffee and lunch, smile smile..

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                   manlypoetrymanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                   Ya'll got snow? We are very close to it...very rare to even hear talk about it for this early into our winter! Ok...lunch sounds good w/ coffee...on my way to the Big "D"!

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                      prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                      YEHEY wlll wait for yah, 34F here yesterday though...

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    manlypoetrymanposted 14 years ago

    
    
    Enjoy the cold blast, PDH...and whatever snow is left!

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       prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       oh lovely, thanks manly, you made me smile

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    B.C. BOUTIQUEposted 14 years ago

    as a mother of a teenager, i find this all interesting, and my child knows many of her peers that do all these things that have been mentioned above...
    
    Im lucky enough to have a good teen with a 4.50 GPA who has tried pot and alcohol, did not like either and is waiting till she is 18 to have sex..she has seen too many of her peers at school go through living heck because of the many temptations out there..and its like she says, her life is stressfull enough, why add to it...
    and I agree teens do have stressfull lives, hormones , their bodies changing, per groups and fitting in, wanting to get into a great college...

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    megs78posted 14 years ago

    I just have to throw something in here; this generation is not the worst.  Yes, disturbing, but mostly because we know about it.  We live in a time of 'too much information'.  Horrible things have been happening throughout the times (think King Herod), but we are now seeing it, being bombarded by it constantly thanks to the technology era.
    
    The things that happened in the Roman era are so completely vile and horrid, that it makes whats happening today, light in comparison.

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