Why to know who your kids are talking to online..

[linuxgeek]

Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 11:20:32 -0800
From: Bryant Harper - CodeAmber <codeamber@topica.email-publisher.com>
Subject: Amber Alert --- Urgent -- Amber Alert

**** ALERT FOLLOWS **********************
Amber Alert Issued for 15 Year Old Texas Girl
Posted: Wednesday November 17 12:44 PM CT


The Harris County Sheriff's office issued the Amber Alert on Wednesday afternoon after the girl was reported missing from her home. The girl apparently left with an individual she met in an Internet Chat room.


Cynthia Amaya, 15 yrs. Hispanic female, 5'5", 170 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. She is believed to be wearing a black t-shirt, blue jeans, and black converse tennis shoes.


She had been in contact with (Walter) on an Internet chat room. On 11-16-04 (Walter) came to Houston, met with Cynthia, and the two left for an unknown destination in Virginia.


(Walter) is believed to be an alias, as he is believed to be an El Salvadoran National approximately 22 years old. No further description is available.


No vehicle information is available.


Anyone with information is asked to call the Harris County Sheriff's office at 281-376-3472 or dial 911.


Visit http://codeamber.c.topica.com/maacSfZabbOwCcfsWTgbafpLR8/ for more information


**** END OF ALERT **********************************

 

[JerseyBoy]

Do they have Amber alerts for girls who leave on their own free will?

It's tougher to find someone who doesn't want to be found

 

[melligrl]

I think this is the second one in this area in the last month.

edited: to add the link. This is the second case of this kind lately

http://www.click2houston.com/news/3859563/detail.html

 

[MilkManDan007]

She broke a major rule:
If you meet someone, make sure you bring friends. Make sure you meet in a public place with other people around. Make sure said friends know a signal from you that means trouble. Make sure said friends have cell-phone.

And if possible, make sure one of said friends has concealed weapons permit, is 6'6, 290lbs, a former linebacker, and is named "Big Jim," "Rocko" or other appropriate name.

 

[linuxgeek]

Do they have Amber alerts for girls who leave on their own free will?

It's tougher to find someone who doesn't want to be found

I'm guessing at 15, they are consider coerced. May also have been because of what LE found in the chat logs.

 

[nitengale]

Damn predators.

 

[linuxgeek]

She broke a major rule:
If you meet someone, make sure you bring friends. Make sure you meet in a public place with other people around. Make sure said friends know a signal from you that means trouble. Make sure said friends have cell-phone.

And if possible, make sure one of said friends has concealed weapons permit, is 6'6, 290lbs, a former linebacker, and is named "Big Jim," "Rocko" or other appropriate name.

Yeah well, the problem is starting around 12, kids think they know it all. This psychosis persists until around 25 on average.

 

[melligrl]

Yeah well, the problem is starting around 12, kids think they know it all. This psychosis persists until around 25 on average.

The first story I heard the girl was 13 . . . seems to me a few more parents need to know what is going on with their kids.

Also I'm only 24, but I think I outgrew that psychosis already

 

[MilkManDan007]

Yeah well, the problem is starting around 12, kids think they know it all. This psychosis persists until around 25 on average.

Yeah, being 24, I know exactly what you are talking about. I went through that stage, as did just about everyone I know.

However, I have moved on to the stage where I think I know just enough to get me into trouble. Not everything, but enough to get me in hot water from time to time.

But at 15, the parents should have a little more involvement.

 

[linuxgeek]

yeah, 25yo seems to be the average. I've known people who matured past it before 20 and I know people who are in their late 30's who have yet to mature past the psychosis.

 

[linuxgeek]

seemed worth a bump to the top

 

[Nora]

Yeah well, the problem is starting around 12, kids think they know it all. This psychosis persists until around 25 on average.

See, this kind of warning always bears repeating. Good work, as always, Geekster!

 

[linuxgeek]

See, this kind of warning always bears repeating. Good work, as always, Geekster!

I think this is one of those warning a person doesn't completely believe until they have to deal with it.

 

[Nora]

I think this is one of those warning a person doesn't completely believe until they have to deal with it.

Or 'til they're 30 and look back in mortification of how stupid they really were.

 

[linuxgeek]

Or 'til they're 30 and look back in mortification of how stupid they really were.

Yeah, some may. The lucky ones get a chance to tell their parents that they realized it.

 

[Nora]

Yeah, some may. The lucky ones get a chance to tell their parents that they realized it.

Among others.

 

[linuxgeek]

Among others.

Hopefully this kid will at least get that lucky

 

[gypsywitch]

So not a word yet about her huh... whata shame.

 

[Bridget69]

Or 'til they're 30 and look back in mortification of how stupid they really were.

Well, some are still stupid when they reach 30. LOL!

 

[Calamity Jane]

I don't understand why parents need to be told that kids shouldn't be chatting unsupervised.

My parents never would have let me call up a random stranger on the phone... they never even let me go out with friends if they didn't know the kids and their parents.

I can't imagine letting my kids get online and talk to anyone I didn't actually know.

 

[linuxgeek]

So not a word yet about her huh... whata shame.

I figure the TX folks are hearing more on this directly than I will. However, I haven't seen a cancelation of the alert yet.

 

[linuxgeek]

I don't understand why parents need to be told that kids shouldn't be chatting unsupervised.

My parents never would have let me call up a random stranger on the phone... they never even let me go out with friends if they didn't know the kids and their parents.

I can't imagine letting my kids get online and talk to anyone I didn't actually know.

Look at the thing people will put on the internet about themselves. If they don't understand the possible dangers to themselves, they aren't going to see the possible dangers to their kids.

 

[It'sasecret]

Dr. Phil had a good show about internet pedophiles today. I felt bad for the poor kids that were on.

 

[linuxgeek]

With the work I've done so far on the graduate computer forensics certificate, gotten to talk to the local sherrif office's computer crimes & sex crimes divisions. It is amasing the number of naive victims they help.

 

[Forever_Gemini]

Sometimes, just sometimes I find it dangerous to post as an adult (in these neck of the woods, anyways )