It can happen to your kids, too!
In case you have missed the hubbub this week, Miss California has come under fire for two reasons in recent weeks. First, when asked her thoughts on gay marriage, she said she feels marriage is for a man and a woman. I will not blast her view. I think it was bold of her to stand her ground. It is her belief and she stood by it. Carrie Prejean, I applaud you for this.
Round two sees semi-nude photos of a young Carrie surfacing on (drum roll please) the internet. According to an interview with a since dethroned former Miss Nevada 2007, Katie Rees, all Miss USA contestants have to sign a contract in which they are required to state whether there are any nude or semi-nude photos of them floating in cyberspace. She and Prejean both said their weren't. Both were either lying or forgot. Prejean's oversight was forgiven and she retained her title. Rees lost hers. I guess Prejean got lucky. Rees lost something that meant a lot to her.
It is likely Prejean just forgot, but I'm not getting into her morality here. The point I want to make is the permanency of cyberspace. It is so easy to forget that a photo here, a video there, a friend's snapshot of a drunken same-sex smooch at a college party, can and will come back to haunt you.
Ask your child, the one who screams when you accidentally invade their privacy in the bathroom, how they would feel if you, their parent, saw a picture of them naked on the computer? How about the neighbors, the family for whom they babysit, etc? If they give you the standard, "GROSS," don't miss the chance to follow up. Please remind your child that any pictures or videos of them will exist forever. Then also remind them that they may one day have a dispute with the person who retains control of the photos. That person may decide that Facebook, MySpace, or some other such Internet venue if the perfect place to exact their revenge.
Carrie Prejean is lucky for now. Her luck may change. Help keep your kid's luck in the right place.
Enjoy your day!
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