Having dealt with the online blog issue with several teens in the past several months, I speak from experience when I say that a disturbing trend is developing in regards to blogs. It seems that blogs, let alone being popular, are becoming a way to "get back" at their parents, for whatever reason. Unfortunately, too often, the parents are unaware, or don't take the time to make themselves aware of what their children are blogging.

Too many parents place blind trust in their children, when the appropriate thing to do is to demonstrate their care by showing interest in what their children are blogging. My sister used the excuse of "you don't trust me" when my parents showed interest in her activities, friends, etc., when she was a teen. Unfortunately, because they gave her the space she so desired, she strayed from her upbringing, and it caused heartbreak for the entire family.

We have a sterile cilmate in todays world... we bring into play an extreme amount of computer transfers. Conversation is a click away... and the newer technologies so far past the previous medias the comprehension of future results are unlimited.

Parents are now dumb by placing their kids in front of TV's at 4 years old and failing to understand what it is their kids are exposed to.

To hear a parent say my 4 year old know more about computers than I do ... is unbelievable.. or my 2 year old can use my DVD better than I can... WHATS WRONG HERE!

I'm with KarenB to a certain extent. I do think that a 14-year old girl is usually quite impressionable (and boy crazy) and that David may have taken advantage of this. Fact is, he was atheletic, tall, fairly well built (from the biceps visible under the prison jumpsuit, which my husband even noticed), and from all accounts, seemed pretty nice and charming. Her sister even considered him a friend, according to published reports. In 14-year old girl land, that's scoring a major coup to land a guy like that, right? So a lot of the "relationship" stuff (ie. sex-related stuff) that's coming out is probably driven by 1) her hormones (and his), and 2) her desire to keep his interest.

What I don't agree with is the degree of influence of the internet in David's thoughts and actions. Yes, there is information available on the internet that could be dangerous if the wrong person got ahold of it. However, that person would need to go looking for it -- it's not like it just shows up in your e-mail on its own. If you want to learn about making bombs, you search for that information. If you want to see porn, you look for porn (or, if you're like my husband, you accidentally misspell the website of the zero-turn mower you're interested in and end up barraged with porn ads you weren't expecting -- quite a funny story!). I think the stronger influence would be peer pressure, as in these boys he was hanging around with (Lohr, etc.). Seriously, what good person wouldn't tell a friend who started talking about those night raids, "Hey, this plan to take guns and break into someone's house to slaughter them isn't such a good or normal idea, buddy"? Or at least talk to someone about how this guy is starting to talk wierd and might be dangerous? If you're a good person, you don't go about planning a murder -- you find an alternative solution that doesn't involve killing someone for sport, which is pretty much what this Night Raid video sounds like it was.
Nativeson, who wrote that book "Sheparding Your Child's Heart"? It sounds like it might be worth a read. Thanks.

"Shepherding A Child's Heart" is written by Dr. Tedd Tripp. When a friend of mine discovered his son's activities on the net included viewing porn online, I encouraged him to sell his son on going for the whole package. (Don't take THAT the wrong way) Focusing on becoming a man who's capable of getting an education and into a profession or starting a business that earns enough money to support a family. To experience the richness of courting, committing to a mate for life and enjoying intimacy and sex and raising the kids that usually goes along with that. And helping them have it all too. To cause your maker to look good and serve your fellow man to the point that you'll never be forgotton. Adult fantasies are fun but destructive in that the richness of loving and being loved is lost because the focus was on a fantasy, after all. Instead of trying to shut down a young man's sex drive, appeal to his sense of honor and steer him to do something incredibly wonderful with it. The statistics are that twice as many girls are sexually active as are boys so don't depend on the girls to keep your sons in check. Your sons need solid reasons coming from their own hearts and minds. In the sales profession there's a saying that the best way to overcome objections is to overcome your own. Dad's, let's make sure we don't possess a cynical view of relationships and pass that on to our kids. My $.02.

Thanks for the information -- I'll check around for the book.