Several points to address:
Oomis – think dormitory and camp. In fact, things got so out of habnd in one camp (with boys staying awake until dawn) that they forbade mid-day naps (which is what the boys were doing, to have the strenght to stay awake). The senior staff (being heads of household) made night at 11:30 or so, and shortly there after, the boys were free to roam.
SJS – OK, maybe the pistol is too harsh a comparison. Lets go with what R’ Matisyahu Solomon said,
“We understnd the need to drive a car. But society understands then need to regulate this. That’s why there are age limits, speed limits, lane restrictions, ect. Internet needs the same control.
My wife / boss help to keep my web habits in check. Who controls my kids habits? Answer: Parents. Will he / she eventualy be self-monitored? Of course. But in the meantime, I need to set limits
the payphone option is not nearly as practical or private as a cell phone in your pocket. And while I trust my kids not to drive down to Atlantic City, beacuse they can weight the risk / reward ratio (just like we adults do) putting web / texting in their pocket, is way too tempting. And trust me, at 2:00am, men are not thinking rationaly. The web is a vital part of daily life, but it needs control.
Mamash – My son said hello to someone in shul (lets call him Duvie) who I did not know. When asked, he said, he knows him from the Thursday Nite cholent bar, thru his roommate who was in camp with him. This camp was 100s of miles from where we live, and now he knows someone I never met. Now, all of Duvie’s friends just became my sons friends. How? via texting.. from the comfort of his dorm or bus or waiting in the dentist’s office.
Today’s kids have a social network we adults can’t even fathom.