First off, let me say Facebook was cool and fun. But there were things going on I didn’t know about until later. See, once you put yourself out on the internet, and you’re young like us. It’s going attract bad people and creeps. I was totally locked down, only people I added was people we know. And dad says I still got like six or seven people trying to follow me that he said looked very scary. (That was weekly.)

So when they disabled it, it was because they were doing a random age check, to see how old I am and asking a lot of questions. They were super nice, but the more information they wanted, the more dad and Jenny was like this is not a good idea.(She never liked me to have one, now I understand more why.)  So they sat me down and explained things to me and why they felt it was a good idea for me to not have one any longer. At first I admit, I wanted to fight back and say I want to keep it. I mean I gave up the forums, now this? But I am always thinking of you guys, so I agreed it was best I just have Twitter and my journal. People still try to follow me on twitter, but only been two so far.

Susie called me a role model. I still don’t feel like I am, I am always just me and do what I feel is good and right and what dad and Jenny say of course. But I can’t just think of myself if I am a role model, I have to think of others. I want you guys to have fun, but I want you guys to be safe too.

So I hope I can give you some tips on the internet and also talk about not getting everything you might want and why that’s a good thing.

First off, our parents have the hardest job ever. I mean think about it for a second. No one knows how to raise us kids, I mean there is just no manual, no one person that has all the answers, no web site to go to. When Dad first adopted me he sat me down and said, I have no idea what I am doing. I never raised a kid before, so you are going to have to help me out here. Don’t be afraid to come to me with anything and never be afraid to tell me anything. Together we can make this work. And know what? We have been doing that ever since. Now Jenny is the same way, she never had kids before. All she ever had was a sister. So she has a different approach with me. We are like sister’s sorta, but she can punish me and yell if needed so she’s still the mom. So I guess parenting is really a lot of guess work. That’s what Grandpa tells me, you fall back on how you were raised by your parents, and you try things to see what works.

So we have to help them out by obeying them and trying to be good. Not always easy, but that’s growing up. Everyone makes mistakes, they did; so we will too. And surprise, parents know that. Sometimes they even tell you they made the same mistakes.

Okay getting back to the facebook thing. I love the internet, I use it a lot for research on books and movies and in school. I love to look stuff up. I also like to play games on popcap, play Champions on Line and send emails. The internet is huge and fun. But because it is huge, it comes with a lot of danger as well. As you already read above. And I got a email from a adult that said they got people trying to follow them that scares them as well.

So bottom line? Even if your friends at school has it, or your best friends? I’d say stay away from it. Just because something looks cool and shiny, doesn’t make it so.  Just too many weirdos out there. I don’t want to scare you guys, but maybe I do a bit too. I want to be honest most of all.

If you get on the internet, ALWAYS have a adult or parent around. And if anything makes you feel bad or uncomfortable let them know! RIGHT THEN.

And listen, if you have friends you just GOT to talk to; call them up or go visit. If they live somewhere else, email. (I email a lot!)

Our parents have a hard job, and they might tell us no or make us do stuff we don’t like. But they do it all because they love us and want us safe.

Love you guys, I’ll do my best to be a good role model for ya.

Darcy

The link to the Chip-in site for their current expenses can be found in the column to the right here – you can also post the Chip-in widget on your own site!

Thank you all for any support you can give to Tee and Sonic Boom in their time of need.

Tee, our hearts go out to you and SB. We love you!

Susie, Amanda, John and Kevin

Update: The podcast is recorded and I just need to reconfigure my FTP client to let me upload it. It will be up ASAP!

Hi guys,

I promise a new episode is coming soon – just got slowed down by a sick Kevin and a Windows 7 upgrade. But both are improving, so you will get something soon! I intend to cover “Hidden Talents and Halloween”, so feel free to voicemail in your stories of either! 206-202-7309!

Susie

I’ll talk to you next week!

Susie

There won’t be a show this week due to us heading out for a little vacation for Spring Break.

Have a great week, and we will talk to you soon!

Susie

Congrats to all of you!

Yeps i know, I know. I been slacking in my postings again. Well….get ready for a Darcy flood!!! hehe, Yeps, i will do a movie review, a couple dvd reviews, a game review and this topic to make you think.

Over on the Farpoint forums, Chris the Fixed Kitty wrote about girls and women role in the media. And how the media has it all wrong. And I agree, she’s totally right.

Here is what she wrote:

” What girls can expect, via media msgs – Posted At: 05-29-2008 06:14 PM

1. Only cute/sexy gals will be the hero’s girlfriend, heroine, or villain. Not cute or sexy? Doomed to obscurity, pathetic sidekick-hood, or psychotic vengeance on the cheerleaders (non sympathetic villain).

2. Films with mainly male characters have lots of exciting stuff happening, and may not contain any named female characters (maybe some love interests). Films with mainly female characters will not be action-packed, mainly about emotional trauma about males or health issues *lifetime TV*, and pack hierarchy struggles over one’s standing within the bitch pack and access to the prime males. This often convinces girl geeks not to like pink, purple, or to identify positively with mainstream girliness.

3. Actresses have to be way hotter than the average non-obese female, much more so than male actors compared to the average non-obese male. Also younger. All your ability to act in the world ends with age or loss of hotness.

4. An active woman will find being “tamed” part of falling in love, apparently. This is true in most SF and all bodice-rippers.

5. All girls the age of ~10 should receive the “Hero and the Crown” and “the Blue Sword” by Robin McKinley to counter most of the above. They truly saved me from lots of pressure to lose my personality at that age.”

Okay I agree that we get stereotyped a lot in tv programs and movies, even some books. But look there for what girls should be and choose as a role model? No way! Now i like some shows and movies, and I love actresses like Dakota Fanning, Sandra Bullock, Queen Latifa (she’s my fav! She does it all and keeps it real.) And I also like Katherine Hepburn, yea that’s right I like old school too. Okay let’s look at her a minute, she was very pretty, but she was also strong willed and not afraid at all to stand up for herself. Yea she made some really bad choices and wasn’t perfect. But she was human like everyone else. And I think she rocked hehe.

So here is what i wrote back today. And the original post was close to a year ago, but it is still important today.

“RE: What girls can expect, via media msgs – Posted At: Today 07:00 PM
Maybe things are changing. We just got home from seeing the new street fighter movie, and it’s main character is a very strong women. And one that girls could get into. She was kind to people, strong willed, and stood up for herself and her beliefs. over all the movie was good. Sure, it was a popcorn movie but still.

Another great movie and book was the secret life of bees, that was all about strong women.

But seriously, if you are looking at media for heroes, role models, or a picture of what girls or women should be you are wasting your time. Real heroes and role models are people in the real world, not some made up character some actress is playing. Or a character someone wrote about in a book.

Here, check this out:

http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=150

This a non photo shopped image of a woman fighting for her home. There is someone I feel sad for, but still have to admire. She isn’t willing to just move aside, and is probably protecting her children.

I turned 14, and I am in high school now. They teach us every day about the world around us and how hard things are and will be when I get older. But I have also learned who the real people are to look up to and admire around us. It’s the every day person.

We girls get a bum rap, seriously. Sure we like Jonas Brothers, shopping, boys, and things. And yea we are given Barbie dolls to play with and pretend with. But sooner or later, we grow up. We see what’s important and whats not. (okay some of us do, some like Paris Hilton never will. Tongue)

All i am saying is I agree with what you are saying, and disagree too. Maybe we shouldn’t look for the media to do anything more than entertain us.

Darcy

Pretty fly for a person getting a C in math, huh? hehehe”

The media is fun and sometimes there are good things there. But we can’t use it to choose how we should be or run or lives. There are heroes and strong people all around us, we just need to look. Parents would be a good place to start.

Okay, let me know what you guys think. You can comment to anything on here anytime.

darcy

Love ya,

Susie

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. You can also see our super cute t-shirts, mugs and bags at our Zazzle store link, if you are interested. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter!

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Thanks for all the love and kind wishes.

Love ya!

Susan

Have great holidays, and I will be talking to you soon!

Love,

Susie

Anyway, I was very happy to be an American yesterday, and for the first time in a long time, I think we are looking at becoming a more positive country. I would love to hear your comments, feelings and reactions, especially your kids’ reactions!

Talk to you all soon!

Susie

Please check it out!