>>30503
>>30503
>Don't be petty. Tell us about this proper response.
[REDACTED]
3h ago
If you want to pass advice to this journalist, here's what [REDACTED] of [REDACTED]
taught [REDACTED], and gave [REDACTED] free rein to use the net from I think about age
[REDACTED], in [REDACTED]. People tell their kids, "Don't talk to strangers!" For
some kids, maybe this is the right answer. For extroverted, curious kids, probably
not. Why not talk to strangers? Just don't grant them any authority. "Talk to
strangers, don't listen to them."
====
(1) Strangers are interesting. Feel free to talk to strangers.
(2) Strangers are not trustworthy sources of information. Feel free to talk to
strangers, but don't listen to them too sincerely.
(3) Strangers never have authority to tell you what to do. If [REDACTED] and I
delegate a stranger to give you a message, it comes with the family password. This
password will never change without all three of us there in person, and anyone who
tells you different is a creep.
(4) Something feels weird, ask us. If you feel uncomfortable asking, that's a bad
sign. Bail out. This is a natural danger signal. Even if it's interesting and
uncomfortable (since, after all, strangers are interesting), bail.
You have a long life ahead of you without the kind of trouble people can heap on you,
but if you are clever, you can have adventures and stay safe.
Just listen carefully to that voice inside about what's right. It's a hero's voice.
It will tell you when you are safe, and when to run, almost perfectly always, and if
you ever get in trouble, just bail as soon as you can and come to us with anything –
anything – and we will help.
====
And it worked. [REDACTED] got to know thousands of amazing people (mostly through
strategy gaming), many of whom had no idea [REDACTED], had incredible adventures,
bailed on a few people who [REDACTED] "didn't like at all," and grew up with an amazing
sense of assessed risk that completely surpasses any of [REDACTED] age peers, plus was
being asked advice, for example, [REDACTED] freshman year at Norwich, on diplomatic
studies papers by upper classmen, partly due to [REDACTED] exposure to so many people
(and our rather extraordinary dinner conversations…).
Helpful? I don't think you can control the environment. But you can teach parents and
children to deal with changing times bravely and in healthy ways.
If a child lives next to the ocean, we can't drain the ocean – but we can teach the
child what the risks of drowning are, and how to swim – even better, how to use a boat
and how to fish, and use a life preserver.
We can say, "Oh, every time, I will go with my child. And I will keep the gate locked
so the ocean can't be reached." But a curious child, once on a boat and knowing that
freedom, will find a way to climb that fence. Far better to teach our children to sail
safely, yes?
If they stay in the garden, it's all the same. If they go to sea, we are still good
parents.
Because regardless, the ocean will be there. It's never ever going away
> I'm interested if only because I'm still not sure what you were asking.
Neither am I, the journalist in question wasn't being all that specific. I think it's more a brainstorming thing.