judasmachine
Diamond Member
- Sep 15, 2002
- 8,515
- 3
- 81
My son and I alked about it this morning. He's 9, so it's out of the age group you're asking about, but his answer is relavant I believe.
At first, I didn't really want him to know too much about it. Then I realized how niave it was of me to think that is even remotely possible. We don't watch the news anyway, so I did hope he wouldn't be too exposed. However, with EVERYONE talking about this, including his friends and teachers at school I'm sure, it would have been lacking as a parent if I didn't talk to him about it.
We watch the Sunday morning news together almost every Sunday morning. It's the one decent news show that covers "non sensational" topics. It's a show I'm not afraid to let him watch. Of course the did a segment on VT, albeit in a decent and respectful manner.
We watched it, and I asked him afterwards what his thoughts were on the issue. He said he wasn't too concerned about that happening around im because "that sort of thing only seems to happen in high school and college.". I had to explain to him, without causing him to worry too much, that events like that aren't confined to certain grade levels or types of schools. It can really happen anywhere, and at anytime.
I explained to him that there are a lot of unstable people out there that see the attention the guy is getting from this and will idolize him and/or try to "one up him" one day. I told him that these "bad guys" can't be identified on the outside (unless they're toting a gun obviously) and that their words and actions are what he should watch out for.
I went into this conversation with him in the mindset that it's not "if" this will happen near or around him, but "when" it will happen and what he can do to prepare for such an event.
For starters I think I'm going to get my son a cell phone, one which he WON'T use, unless it's an emergency, period. It's not for chatting with friends.
My reasoning behind that is an event that happened at a local middle school and elementary school (both next door to each other) not too long ago. To make a long story short a teacher saw some teenaged kid in camo carrying a gun on school grounds. Police locked both schools down (thier response was swift and well executed thankfully), but the problem was there were a few hours of no communication what so ever while police sorted things out. All parents knew was that there was a guy spotted with a gun. They knew nothing more and, rightfully so, went into a panic. A massive crowd of parents gathered outside of the school and were made to wait there for hours while every worst case scenario rn through their minds I'm sure.
In the end, it was some stupid kid who walked back up there with a paintball or airsoft gun to emeet his friend to play with. But with the current climate tday it could have just as easily been someting far worse.
Parents were furious at not knowing the status of their child, but relieved in the end.
I never want to be in that position. I will teach (and have been doing so) my son to defend himself to the best of his ability.
He has a basic knowledge of guns, gun safety, and a healthy respect for them. I've taught him all along the rules of handling a weapon but reinforced he is never to handle one himself. Even as a smaller child, if he had a cap gun and pointed it at someone, he lost it for good. Our old neighbor gave his 8 year old kid a BB with NO instruction on how to ue it at all. I saw a group of them playing and this kid pointing the BB gun at another kid. I tok that kid and my son up to that kids father, explained what I saw, and also explained that my sn wuld not be allowed to play with him ever again if I sw im with that BB gun or any other type of weapon (the kid and his father were idiots anyway). You might think I'm over reacting, but what if that kid, who's not taught the proper way to handle that BB gun, got ahold of his Dad's loaded handgun and did the same thing? Potentially a dead kid, so no, I don't think I over reacted in the slightest.
My son is half way to his black belt, and has taken 1st place in his division at the NC state championship. He knows how to defend himself to the best of his ability with what he's got.
Now I need to teach him about what he will feel and experience put in a situation similar to what happened at VT. I need to teach im about knowing where his exits are, how to size up the situation, how to even play dead given the right circumstances. I know that sounds morbid, but what's the outcome if I don't prepare him. I lose him, and that, I cannot afford to do, period.
At first, I didn't really want him to know too much about it. Then I realized how niave it was of me to think that is even remotely possible. We don't watch the news anyway, so I did hope he wouldn't be too exposed. However, with EVERYONE talking about this, including his friends and teachers at school I'm sure, it would have been lacking as a parent if I didn't talk to him about it.
We watch the Sunday morning news together almost every Sunday morning. It's the one decent news show that covers "non sensational" topics. It's a show I'm not afraid to let him watch. Of course the did a segment on VT, albeit in a decent and respectful manner.
We watched it, and I asked him afterwards what his thoughts were on the issue. He said he wasn't too concerned about that happening around im because "that sort of thing only seems to happen in high school and college.". I had to explain to him, without causing him to worry too much, that events like that aren't confined to certain grade levels or types of schools. It can really happen anywhere, and at anytime.
I explained to him that there are a lot of unstable people out there that see the attention the guy is getting from this and will idolize him and/or try to "one up him" one day. I told him that these "bad guys" can't be identified on the outside (unless they're toting a gun obviously) and that their words and actions are what he should watch out for.
I went into this conversation with him in the mindset that it's not "if" this will happen near or around him, but "when" it will happen and what he can do to prepare for such an event.
For starters I think I'm going to get my son a cell phone, one which he WON'T use, unless it's an emergency, period. It's not for chatting with friends.
My reasoning behind that is an event that happened at a local middle school and elementary school (both next door to each other) not too long ago. To make a long story short a teacher saw some teenaged kid in camo carrying a gun on school grounds. Police locked both schools down (thier response was swift and well executed thankfully), but the problem was there were a few hours of no communication what so ever while police sorted things out. All parents knew was that there was a guy spotted with a gun. They knew nothing more and, rightfully so, went into a panic. A massive crowd of parents gathered outside of the school and were made to wait there for hours while every worst case scenario rn through their minds I'm sure.
In the end, it was some stupid kid who walked back up there with a paintball or airsoft gun to emeet his friend to play with. But with the current climate tday it could have just as easily been someting far worse.
Parents were furious at not knowing the status of their child, but relieved in the end.
I never want to be in that position. I will teach (and have been doing so) my son to defend himself to the best of his ability.
He has a basic knowledge of guns, gun safety, and a healthy respect for them. I've taught him all along the rules of handling a weapon but reinforced he is never to handle one himself. Even as a smaller child, if he had a cap gun and pointed it at someone, he lost it for good. Our old neighbor gave his 8 year old kid a BB with NO instruction on how to ue it at all. I saw a group of them playing and this kid pointing the BB gun at another kid. I tok that kid and my son up to that kids father, explained what I saw, and also explained that my sn wuld not be allowed to play with him ever again if I sw im with that BB gun or any other type of weapon (the kid and his father were idiots anyway). You might think I'm over reacting, but what if that kid, who's not taught the proper way to handle that BB gun, got ahold of his Dad's loaded handgun and did the same thing? Potentially a dead kid, so no, I don't think I over reacted in the slightest.
My son is half way to his black belt, and has taken 1st place in his division at the NC state championship. He knows how to defend himself to the best of his ability with what he's got.
Now I need to teach him about what he will feel and experience put in a situation similar to what happened at VT. I need to teach im about knowing where his exits are, how to size up the situation, how to even play dead given the right circumstances. I know that sounds morbid, but what's the outcome if I don't prepare him. I lose him, and that, I cannot afford to do, period.
DrPizza
Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
DrPizza
Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
"All parents knew was that there was a guy spotted with a gun. They knew nothing more and, rightfully so, went into a panic. A massive crowd of parents gathered outside of the school and were made to wait there for hours while every worst case scenario rn through their minds I'm sure.
In the end, it was some stupid kid who walked back up there with a paintball or airsoft gun to emeet his friend to play with. But with the current climate tday it could have just as easily been someting far worse.
Parents were furious at not knowing the status of their child, but relieved in the end. "
I'm glad it worked out okay. But what today's climate really seems to be is that people over-react to these stories. There's a huge difference between perceived risks and real risks. Our society makes a lot of rules based on an exaggerated perception of risks, while ignoring real risks. As ida said, this is simply a random event. But, I'm sure there there will continue to be a reaction to it... Some schools will now retrofit every classroom door with new doors that can be locked from the inside by the teacher.
In the end, it was some stupid kid who walked back up there with a paintball or airsoft gun to emeet his friend to play with. But with the current climate tday it could have just as easily been someting far worse.
Parents were furious at not knowing the status of their child, but relieved in the end. "
I'm glad it worked out okay. But what today's climate really seems to be is that people over-react to these stories. There's a huge difference between perceived risks and real risks. Our society makes a lot of rules based on an exaggerated perception of risks, while ignoring real risks. As ida said, this is simply a random event. But, I'm sure there there will continue to be a reaction to it... Some schools will now retrofit every classroom door with new doors that can be locked from the inside by the teacher.
I know that wasn't directed at me, but my son takes Tae Kwon Do, so I want to say something to that.
A good self defense teacher will teach you what needs to be known to defend your self if you CANNOT get out of the situation.
My son's instructor and me as well have oth told him that it's best to get out of a situation like that first and foremost. NOT to stand there and think you can take the maniac with a gun on if you have a ay out.
Even then, I'm a realist. I know my son stands little chance against a grown man with a gun, but if anything I can do or help him learn gives him even the slightest edge then it's worth it in y opinion.
Sure, if a psycho has a gun to my son's head his odds aren't good, but how much lower are his odds if he doesn't know how to possibly disarm or cripple the guy long enough to get away.
ANY chance in that situation is better than freezing in unprepared fear.
Besides, you'd be surprised what a small child can do to an adult if they know which pressure points to hit, twist, pinch, punch, kick or bite,
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