Reply To: Cell phones for children (or parents)

SJS,

More kids and adults have used cell phones and their personal private internet devices for no good than you may think or care to believe. I myself don’t carry a cell phone and have never missed it. I have children of all ages and not one of them ever had a cell phone NOR EVER COMPLAINED they were missing out on something. They were never taught by parents example in my case to feel the “need” to have one.

to say have a loving, trusting relationship with your kids and then give them a device of unlimited temptations is ridicules. If a kid has a phone with all the bells and whistles (or even a plain cell phone) the natural curiosity and possibilities will be explored. Why do this to your kids? What do you as a parent hope to gain from putting your children in the path of problems, addictions, perverseness and dangers?

Why is it going too far to suggest that adults not carry cell phones with them? since when did growing up mean that an adult has no temptations or yetzer hora’s? since when did becoming an adult mean that one can openly defy avoiding nisyonos? Why is it ok for adults (parents and rebbeim and teachers) to not make a good example of themselves and at least not use the cell phone in public. Owning a cell phone is openly saying “I can hide myself in a bathroom anytime I want and go on the internet and surf every pritzusdik site I want plus privately contact anyone I want without reservations”. The very possibility of this is unacceptable for a ben torah or his family.