RE: Re: chat logs

["Beauford, Jason" <jbeauford () EightInOnePet com>]

I've been watching this thread since the beginning.  I have held back
from commenting because most comments have been fairly reasonable.

This one below is rediculous.  While of course I understand the right to
privacy, aren't we forgetting that the children are using resources
bought and paid for by the parents.  The parents essentially own those
resources and can do what they like with them.  But that's not the issue
I want to focus on here.  The below mentioned response states that we
"are all overreacting" and that "this type of action might be warranted
had an actual bomb been found, or went off."  This is TOTALLY the wrong
attitude.  "Anyone remember J Edgar Hoover?", what is this about?
Anyone remember COLUMBINE or 9/11.  We are talking about ensuring the
safety of our children and our community.  If we have the potential to
avoid a major catastrophe or violent act (especially when we have a
clue, i.e. threats on students and the school) the we should do whatever
we can to investigate.  These are our childrens lives at stake.  I see
nothing wrong in poking around in a computer I purchased for my child to
make sure they are not the culprit.  There is a problem in our (US)
Society today where children are raised to raise themselves.  The
economy often requires that both parents work to make ends meet and
provide for their family.  This leaves the children home to do what they
please.  With the plethora of information on the internet regarding bomb
making, home made guns, etc., it's easy for children/young adults to get
into trouble.  (Heck, I once found an Al Queida manual online).  They
often don't realize the consequences of their actions. Anyway.  The
point I am trying to get across is that if you can stop any violent act
simply by reading some chat logs the by all means do so.  It will be too
late when you read them after your kid is dead.

$.02 deposited.

Probably time to end this thread as it's getting OT.

-JMB

-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Stiavetti [mailto:stiavetti () rentoneonline com] 
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2005 5:05 PM
To: Melissa Fischer; security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: Re: Re: chat logs


I think you are all overreacting, this type of action might be
warranted, 
had an actual bomb been found, or went off. You are talking about
invading 
the privacy of a group of people, based on the actions of one or 2 
(possible) members of that group, and quite possibly nobody in the group
is 
involved at all. The kids who did made the threats did it for attention,
and 
now you feel the need to get even.

Just because the technical ability to perform the search (anyone doing 
anything seriously illegal is going to cover their tracks anyways) does
not 
give you the right or moral authority to do so. Sounds like the
witch-hunt 
is an excuse to invade, not a cause.

How many parents will only find out their kids are sexually active, on 
drugs, gay, or just hate them. Most things private are best left private
for 
all involved.

To give the excuse "if they are doing nothing wrong, they have nothing
to 
hide" is a common phrase that stands out to characterize the mentality 
involved. This has little to do with security, agreed. It's abuse of
power. 
Everyone has things best left private (which is ill equated with "to
hide") 
it's usually the ones peeking who have the most secrets.  Anyone
remember J 
Edgar Hoover? go figure..

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Melissa Fischer" <Melissa.Fischer () NorthMemorial com>
To: <security-basics () securityfocus com>
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2005 8:50 AM
Subject: Fwd: Re: chat logs