Slashdot Mirror

A friend of mine wrote a short story for 12th-grade English which featured a pact with the devil that made a guy gut himself with a sword every night and bathe in his own blood. He got an A on the story, and a lot of concerned "Are you feeling okay today?"'s from the teacher for the following month.

Luckily for him this was pre-WAVEamerica.

You must be too new to remember the Pinkerton post-columbine "Turn in your depressed friends before they hurt someone" initiative.

Ther're still dirty.

Yeah, I read that book. There's a page about it with a lot of detail-- one interesting point that I didn't realise before is that it was based on a true story. The teacher in question (Ron Jones) wanted to show the untruth in "it couldn't happen here"-- the students had opted for security and conformity at the loss of freedom and the human rights of their peers without realising they were slipping into it. Indeed, much of the impetus towards fascism seems to have come from the students themselves.

Eerie, isn't it?

M

What it does encourage you to report:

• Serious physical fighting with peers or family members.
• Severe destruction of property.
• Severe rage for seemingly minor reasons.
• Detailed threats of lethal violence.
• Unlawful possession and/or use of firearms and other weapons.
• Other self-injurious behaviors or threats of suicide.

WAVE Promise as seen on www.waveamerica.com They need to change the background picture, "HAIL HITLER!"

It seems to me that one of the major objections Slashdotters have to the WAVE program is that neither the Pickerton Services Group nor the anonymous reporters are subject to any form of accountability. I offer the following suggestions as an attempted remedy:

Accountablity of Pinkerton through appointment of an ombudsperson.
Universities like the University of Western Ontario and media groups like Brill's Content appoint an individual to act as a neutral third party to investigate complaints. In Brill's Content's case, the individual is given a multi-year contract with protective clauses to allow him/her to write a monthly column without fear of reprisal. I suggest that Pinkerton do the same.

Acountability of anonymous reporters through transparency
According to the WAVE America webpage, care is taken to ensure that reporters remain anonymous by omitting names and identifying details from the WAVE Line reports that are sent to schools. I suggest that these reports be available for scrutiny by outsiders, either through the WAVE America website or though a request of the ombudsperson.

Does anyone read Slashdot after the 731st post?

However, the Pinkerton decision-makers have to realize that children live very different lives from the rest of us. In real life, legal protection is subordinate to common practice. Thus, a middle school student who is verbally or physically abused by peers is, by the laws of the schoolyard that prevail, not entitled to any protection from teachers, police, or the court system.

Now, this snippet of argument might lead one to think that I support the idea of adding the authority of a third (private, disinterested) party into the Schoolyard Corpus of Law.

But I do not. At least, I do not support Pinkerton's current version of the law. I think Pinkerton has been seduced by sunny blond girls and boys* linking hands, praying, weeping, singing songs about the violence in schools, vowing to fight intolerance and embrace all students. But the reality is this:

While the popular boys and girls may feel a grain of love and tolerance for their fellow students in the face of monstrous crimes, they fall, soon enough, into their old patterns, which range from simple exclusion by these sunny blond people to the commission of absolute atrocities against the rest of the schoolyard.

Haven't you wondered why you only ever saw cheerleaders linking hands with other cheerleaders in these media pictures? It's because the goths, geeks, and nerds know that the above italicised paragraph is a truism that cannot be affected by any number of Anti-Violence Singalongs. Diversity in the workplace has no analog in schools.

So, what is the solution? W.A.V.E. America is not the solution, in its current form. Here is a list of my concerns about this program.

1. In one breath, the Pinkerton site speaks of "responsibility", and in the next, allows children to duck responsibility by calling anonymous tips in on their fellow students.
   • Pro: If there were a danger to the student of being injured somehow if their name was released in conjunction with an investigation into a fellow student, then anonymity protects them.
   • Con: The right to know and face one's accuser is critical! The accuser's right to safety does not outweigh the rights of the accused. This has been proven over and over in our system of justice. If the student who calls the W.A.V.E. line believes they are in danger, then they are entitled to protection, not anonymity. Pinkerton probably has a division that could protect them (you know, razor for free, charge for the blades and all that). Students need to call the police, not W.A.V.E., if they are in so much danger that they cannot give their name.
2. What happens as the result of a call? A report is sent to school administrators. The school then has the responsibility to act on all tips -- anonymous or otherwise.
   • Pro: At least we don't have a corporation deciding which kids are troublemakers and which kids are being unfairly reported. Theoretically, the school administrators should be informed enough to gauge the difference and act fairly.
   • Con: Yeah right. W.A.V.E. strengthens the status quo by putting the power right back in the hands of the people that enforce a pecking order. What will the school do if a goth calls in and reports that the quarterback has been leaving dead animals in her locker again? Same as always - nothing at all, because school administrators virtually never act against the interests of the powerful or the popular**. When the opposite occurs, and the quarterback's girlfriend calls in to say the goth is threatening to blow away the football team, all hell will break loose. Maybe Pinkerton should be given a mandate to protect the innocent, even the freaky. (Yes I know -- it would be against every mandate in this country to hand over power/justice to a company whose responsibility is to make money. Not that there's anything wrong with that. The Pinkerton officials just need to be aware that a corporation absolutely cannot maximize profits and justice at the same time.)
3. Resolve, Respect, and Responsibility***. You mean, as defined by Pinkerton. Or as defined by your teachers. Or as defined by your local police. You probably don't mean, as defined by yourself, after much critical thinking and reading. For example:
   • Responsibility in the context of W.A.V.E. probably includes upholding the law of the land without ever questioning its fitness or justice.
   • Resolve means that when someone makes fun of your breasts, you tell an adult, preferably someone in charge like an administrator. When the administrator does nothing, you call W.A.V.E., who sends a report to the administrator. What do you do after that? *shrug* Beats me. Besides, W.A.V.E. might not even take your call if all you have to report is a silly little bit of sexual harassment.
   • Respect means knowing where you stand in the school hierarchy, and not stepping out of line in your daily interactions with other students. It probably doesn't mean demanding that 17 year old felons be put in jail regardless of their athletic scholarship.

There is just so much more I could address. If there'd been more notice, I would have asked Pinkerton if I could fly out as well. For instance, the mission statement that states that they are dedicated to "tomorrow's workforce" implies exclusion on their part -- poets and beatniks be damned, we're just protecting the future cubicle occupiers because as a company it would be irresponsible of us to protect anything beyond our own interests.

Anyway...to anyone that has read this far...thanks for listening to my admittedly long opinion on this matter!!

-- Amanda

*I bear no responsibility for the Aryan resemblance to Hitler youth. Associating violent jock gangs with Hitler youth might be valid, but it's still cheap and self-serving.
** Dissecting Columbine's Cult of the Athlete
***From the Pinkerton site

----------

• loss of temper on a daily basis
  
• frequent physical fighting
  
• significant vandalism or property damage
  
• increase in use of drugs or alcohol
  
• increase in risk-taking behavior
  
• detailed plans to commit acts of violence
  
• announcing threats or plans for hurting others
  
• enjoying hurting animals
  
• carrying a weapon
  

• loss of temper on a daily basis
  
• frequent physical fighting
  
• significant vandalism or property damage
  
• increase in use of drugs or alcohol
  
• increase in risk-taking behavior
  
• detailed plans to commit acts of violence
  
• announcing threats or plans for hurting others
  
• enjoying hurting animals
  
• carrying a weapon
  

• loss of temper on a daily basis
  
• frequent physical fighting
  
• significant vandalism or property damage
  
• increase in use of drugs or alcohol
  
• increase in risk-taking behavior
  
• detailed plans to commit acts of violence
  
• announcing threats or plans for hurting others
  
• enjoying hurting animals
  
• carrying a weapon
  

• loss of temper on a daily basis
  
• frequent physical fighting
  
• significant vandalism or property damage
  
• increase in use of drugs or alcohol
  
• increase in risk-taking behavior
  
• detailed plans to commit acts of violence
  
• announcing threats or plans for hurting others
  
• enjoying hurting animals
  
• carrying a weapon
  

Your Partner's Page mentions the following:

The administrators of WAVE America, Pinkerton Services Group, have created and implemented similar programs for more than 800 corporate clients representing over six million employees in 75,000 locations worldwide. The WAVE America Program reflects this expertise, experience and commitment to ethics in its strategy and implementation.

Do these programs you created for corporations include the anonymous tip line/reward model or do you identify potential risk employees by covert observation with hidden cameras, listening devices, net traffic snooping, etc?

I don't believe I've heard of this (anonymous tip line/rewards program) happening in the private sector.

After your call, the WAVE Line prepares a written report and sends it to the responsible person at your school for review. If you choose to remain anonymous, great care is taken to ensure that neither your name nor any identifying details are included in this report. Your school handles reports received from the WAVE Line in the same manner that they handle reports received through other direct communication channels.

After your call, the WAVE Line prepares a written report and sends it to the responsible person at your school for review. If you choose to remain anonymous, great care is taken to ensure that neither your name nor any identifying details are included in this report. Your school handles reports received from the WAVE Line in the same manner that they handle reports received through other direct communication channels.

More disturbing was "Conveys violence in writings and/or drawings." Lot of room there. I guess kids shouldn't draw battles or scenes from their favorite movies; God knows what will be reported about them.

While still capable of being misinterpreted, I think the Imminent Warning Signs they list are a bit more on-target.

Totally worthless, IMHO, is the Why Call The WAVE Line page and it's purpose. It urges newly-hatched WAVE drones to call the line if they wish to anonymously report drug/alcohol abuse, vandalism and suicide threats -- valid cases I suppose -- along with aggressive behavior, harassment, intolerant attitudes and "Anything Else Harmful to You or Your School".

Gee, could I call the WAVE line to report that WAVE is harmful to me and my school?

Any of you high-school gratuates out there remember not experiencing some kind of agressive behavior, harassment or intolerant atttudes during those years?

I'm so damn glad my school days are long past; high school was stressful enough without worrying about the Stasi looking over my shoulder every minute.
Online gaming for motivated, sportsmanlike players: www.steelmaelstrom.org.

More disturbing was "Conveys violence in writings and/or drawings." Lot of room there. I guess kids shouldn't draw battles or scenes from their favorite movies; God knows what will be reported about them.

While still capable of being misinterpreted, I think the Imminent Warning Signs they list are a bit more on-target.

Totally worthless, IMHO, is the Why Call The WAVE Line page and it's purpose. It urges newly-hatched WAVE drones to call the line if they wish to anonymously report drug/alcohol abuse, vandalism and suicide threats -- valid cases I suppose -- along with aggressive behavior, harassment, intolerant attitudes and "Anything Else Harmful to You or Your School".

Gee, could I call the WAVE line to report that WAVE is harmful to me and my school?

Any of you high-school gratuates out there remember not experiencing some kind of agressive behavior, harassment or intolerant atttudes during those years?

I'm so damn glad my school days are long past; high school was stressful enough without worrying about the Stasi looking over my shoulder every minute.
Online gaming for motivated, sportsmanlike players: www.steelmaelstrom.org.

More disturbing was "Conveys violence in writings and/or drawings." Lot of room there. I guess kids shouldn't draw battles or scenes from their favorite movies; God knows what will be reported about them.

While still capable of being misinterpreted, I think the Imminent Warning Signs they list are a bit more on-target.

Totally worthless, IMHO, is the Why Call The WAVE Line page and it's purpose. It urges newly-hatched WAVE drones to call the line if they wish to anonymously report drug/alcohol abuse, vandalism and suicide threats -- valid cases I suppose -- along with aggressive behavior, harassment, intolerant attitudes and "Anything Else Harmful to You or Your School".

Gee, could I call the WAVE line to report that WAVE is harmful to me and my school?

Any of you high-school gratuates out there remember not experiencing some kind of agressive behavior, harassment or intolerant atttudes during those years?

I'm so damn glad my school days are long past; high school was stressful enough without worrying about the Stasi looking over my shoulder every minute.
Online gaming for motivated, sportsmanlike players: www.steelmaelstrom.org.

I would probably agree with what Katz is saying if the website, http://www.waveamerica.com/, even remotely resembled the program he describes. However, the website does not promote "turning in" depressed kids or kids obsessed with computer games or the internet.

The website does mention some warning signs of violent behaviour. All of which are fairly obvious (i.e. Hits or bullies others, Expresses uncontrolled anger, makes threats, etc...) However, it is careful to state:

"However, it?s extremely important to know that this is not a ?checklist? to be used to stereotype anyone. These early warning signs need to be viewed in the appropriate context. They are not to be seen as individual indicators, but when exhibited in combination, are cause for concern."

The website also suggests that if a child observes these warning signs they should talk to a trusted adult (Not report it to their website, contrary to what Katz implies). This is an entirely reasonable course of action.

The WAVE program does provide a hot-line for reporting problems, but it encourages children to speak to a teacher or other trusted adult rather than use the hot-line. Calls reported to the hot-line will be reported to the appropriate authorities (i.e. school officials or law enforcement agencies) for further investigation not logged in a database as implied by Katz.

Frankly, the WAVE website appears to encourage children to take a reasonable amount of responsibility for their own safety and to work with their friends, classmates and teachers to ensure a safer environment. It does not encourage an Orwellian Big Brother Mentallity or encourage children to turn each other in for "thought crimes". While it is certainly true that parts of the program could be abused, I have seen no evidence for many of the concerns that Katz raises (i.e. there is no Violent Kids Database, Kids are not taught to look for "Geek" behaviour,etc.)

Perhaps I am missing something, but please don't take Katz's word for it. Look at the website and judge for yourself. I am afraid the Katz has stepped well beyond the realm of good journalism and into the realm of alarmist propaganda.

Privacy Policy
Pinkerton Services Group has created this "Privacy Statement" to demonstrate our firm commitment to privacy. This statement outlines our information gathering and sharing practices for this website.

Privacy Policy
Pinkerton Services Group has created this "Privacy Statement" to demonstrate our firm commitment to privacy. This statement outlines our information gathering and sharing practices for this website.

I know that many people today have touched on the disturbing and frightening symbolism (i.e. the W.A.V.E name and "The Wave" movie, 1984, Nazi Germany), but the most interesting cliche that I found was on the front page of the Wave's website. They wrapped five children up in the American flag as if the United States has to resort to fascism to protect its children! The symbolism is outrageous and personally disgusting. "Protect the children!", wrap yourself in the flag, it makes me sick how people can take their personal agendas and think that they can hide behind them! People are better than this. If not, God help us all.

Let's subject them to a little bit of their own medicine, and turn them in to their own task force! I am highly concerned that their actions are a danger to themselves and others, and they must be dealt with immediately in a harsh and brutal manner. Let's begin with:

* Jack Trlica, Pinkerton Director of Marketing

* North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt, Jr.

* James M. Powell, III, PSG Senior Vice President

Everybody call the WAVE toll-free tip line (1-888-960-9600) and make sure these sick people are brainwa^H^H^H^H^H^H helped!!

Or, submit through the web here!

Anyone know which schools their kids attend???

I reported Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and for good measure, Stephen Hawking.

There's also a section of the form where you can enter in what concerns prompted your report--why not fill it up with reasons why you don't like them? Or just paste in a bunch of text to fill up the database.

Vive la resistance!

• On top of the fact that WAVE Card looks cool and gives you invaluable access to the WAVE Line, there's m o r e.
• The incredible WAVE Card is going to make your life very fun. Here's what we have planned -- coming soon. We are going to get your favorite restaurants, clothing stores, computer places and other fantastic retailers to give you discounts and f r e e stuff. Yes, I'm sure it is hard to contain the absolute excitement you are feeling right now upon learning about the benefits of the WAVE Card.
• We are working hard to get you the stuff you really want. So be sure to visit our website on a regular basis (lots and lots of times) to check out what great deals and free stuff the WAVE Card is going to get you. In the near future, you will simply click the WAVE Card and you'll discover how much the WAVE Card is worth to you (big money, big money). Remember, we're going to be constantly updating the WAVE Card offerings, so did we mention that you will want to visit us lots and lots of times.

So that's the plan. It's a marketing gimmick. A scheme to get kids to buy from their affiliated merchants, build web traffic, and get click-throughs. Maybe to position Pinkertons as an "Internet company", and WAVE as a "portal".

Oh, and you'd think a site intended for kids would have a strong privacy policy? No, it doesn't.

• On top of the fact that WAVE Card looks cool and gives you invaluable access to the WAVE Line, there's m o r e.
• The incredible WAVE Card is going to make your life very fun. Here's what we have planned -- coming soon. We are going to get your favorite restaurants, clothing stores, computer places and other fantastic retailers to give you discounts and f r e e stuff. Yes, I'm sure it is hard to contain the absolute excitement you are feeling right now upon learning about the benefits of the WAVE Card.
• We are working hard to get you the stuff you really want. So be sure to visit our website on a regular basis (lots and lots of times) to check out what great deals and free stuff the WAVE Card is going to get you. In the near future, you will simply click the WAVE Card and you'll discover how much the WAVE Card is worth to you (big money, big money). Remember, we're going to be constantly updating the WAVE Card offerings, so did we mention that you will want to visit us lots and lots of times.

So that's the plan. It's a marketing gimmick. A scheme to get kids to buy from their affiliated merchants, build web traffic, and get click-throughs. Maybe to position Pinkertons as an "Internet company", and WAVE as a "portal".

Oh, and you'd think a site intended for kids would have a strong privacy policy? No, it doesn't.

Actually, you might be on to something. The best way to handle these folks is a meatspace DOS attack. If everyone turned themselves in the system would reach saturation. If we could get every student in NC to step up and say "I'm Spartacus", this program would be overwhelmed. We could take it to the next level, where someone turns in five people, who then turn in five people and so on. That would be a pretty solid way of Making (less) Money Fast for Pinkerton. Once the money dries up, Wave goodbye to WAVE.

I just do not understand the application of small-time, short sighted solutions to the problem of teen violence. These kids aren't violent because of a video game, the seeds of violence are sown at home. You cannot stop a lifetime of growing up in the midst of addiction, abuse and poverty with a pledge and a discount card. Pinkerton is shameless.

These kids need to sit down and talk to trained counselors. Really talk, not be "threat profiled" and go through the risk assessment BS. To do that they need to feel like they can trust someone. A for-profit tip line that offers a sweepstakes toWin a Free Computer for signing up isn't going to win any trust. Kids know what is real and where peoples motives are. If you dont have a relationship with them, forget about helping on a personal level. All that WAVE does is drive a wedge of mistrust between already disconnected relationships. If the kids felt like they could speak frankly to an adult on campus who really cares, maybe violence would become less of an issue overall.
-BW

Actually, you might be on to something. The best way to handle these folks is a meatspace DOS attack. If everyone turned themselves in the system would reach saturation. If we could get every student in NC to step up and say "I'm Spartacus", this program would be overwhelmed. We could take it to the next level, where someone turns in five people, who then turn in five people and so on. That would be a pretty solid way of Making (less) Money Fast for Pinkerton. Once the money dries up, Wave goodbye to WAVE.

I just do not understand the application of small-time, short sighted solutions to the problem of teen violence. These kids aren't violent because of a video game, the seeds of violence are sown at home. You cannot stop a lifetime of growing up in the midst of addiction, abuse and poverty with a pledge and a discount card. Pinkerton is shameless.

These kids need to sit down and talk to trained counselors. Really talk, not be "threat profiled" and go through the risk assessment BS. To do that they need to feel like they can trust someone. A for-profit tip line that offers a sweepstakes toWin a Free Computer for signing up isn't going to win any trust. Kids know what is real and where peoples motives are. If you dont have a relationship with them, forget about helping on a personal level. All that WAVE does is drive a wedge of mistrust between already disconnected relationships. If the kids felt like they could speak frankly to an adult on campus who really cares, maybe violence would become less of an issue overall.
-BW

I used to be all "kill amazon.com" and "patents are stupid" until i read Jeff Beezos' answer to all the patent gunk going around.

Jeff explained how the amazon.com patent was not just "one click shopping", but rather it was a patent of the whole look and feel of amazon's website (which i have to admit, B&N was copying rather closely).

In addition, Jeff did say that he felt internet patents should carry different weight than "regular" patents - and be of much shorter length - he sugested 1-2 years, if i remember correctly, which is enough time for a company to establish themselves as the sole user of this software and to get their name associated with whatever it is they patent. And then considering the growth of the internet (3000% on the www from 92-96) 1-2 years is plenty of time for the patent, when it runs out, its fair game. Jeff noted that this fair game scenario is what has kept the internet growth what it is.

Jeff also (much to my delight) endorsed the cluetrain manifesto, which is something all business should get a hold of and read.

All this is to say that this USC thing is a move in the right direction, and probably has the support of the "enemy" in the case - amazon.com.

Completely unrelated - sign up with W.A.V.E. america and get a free mail.waveamerica.com email address - here
and sorry - i already took trenchcoatmafia@waveamerica.com
~zero
God what a stupid login name - i should get a new one, but it'll be 6 months till I moderate again.

So in short it appears to me to be a campaign to let people know how do deal with being bullyed, get them to not bully others and generally get through adolescence undamaged. The "Big Brother" bit seems to be spin by suspicious journalists. Here in Britain there's a (gasp) toll-free number called ChildLine for kids to ring to report abuse, bullying etc etc. Dark Instrument of the state's Legions of Terror? Hardly. By all accounts it 's been very useful for child victims of violence.

So in short it appears to me to be a campaign to let people know how do deal with being bullyed, get them to not bully others and generally get through adolescence undamaged. The "Big Brother" bit seems to be spin by suspicious journalists. Here in Britain there's a (gasp) toll-free number called ChildLine for kids to ring to report abuse, bullying etc etc. Dark Instrument of the state's Legions of Terror? Hardly. By all accounts it 's been very useful for child victims of violence.

So in short it appears to me to be a campaign to let people know how do deal with being bullyed, get them to not bully others and generally get through adolescence undamaged. The "Big Brother" bit seems to be spin by suspicious journalists. Here in Britain there's a (gasp) toll-free number called ChildLine for kids to ring to report abuse, bullying etc etc. Dark Instrument of the state's Legions of Terror? Hardly. By all accounts it 's been very useful for child victims of violence.

Isn't this a bit like putting a carrot in front of a horse?

I also found it odd that they're giving away a computer.
<Sarcastic>
I thought that...

"81% of Americans thought the Internet caused the Columbine shooting"

if they believe that then aren't they contributing to the problem? Wouldn't it be easy enough to put Doom/half-life/cstrike/UT etc. on the computer, thus contributing to the problem further?
</Sarcastic>

A new tool of repressive society. If you don't understand something - get rid of it (or at least put it on prozak)

I am sorry for the kids and even for their parents who think (if there is a capacity to think left in them) that this form of repression will benefit their children.
I am sorry for those kids who are already depressed and now someone will make their lives even more miserable.

The worst possible type of slavery is slavery taken with gratitude.

Do you really want to live in the society where it becomes dangerous to draw dark pictures? to be depressed (for now don't worry about the reasons as to why you can get depressed in such a society)?
Here is how you will know whether I am a danger to your society: Early Signs of violence
Here is where you can submit your concerns about me: Rep ort a fellow student here!
Here is what you will get if you report me in: See what you can win if you sign up!

Is this life worth living? Does W.A.V.E. make it more so? What happened to the snitches in the World War II? What happened to their concience?

What will become of a person whose morals are based on a simple notion that being different is bad for the society and that all such behavior must be reported and altered? Is such an individual truly healthy? Does it matter?

What will become of a person who is different and who is percieved as dangerous to the society and whose behavior must be altered? Will he remain human after the alteration? Any power conflicts? Is it worth going on, if you are a danger? Are you ok with them altering your behavior? Should you be treated as a criminal because you think differently?

I want to escape reality, I want to only exist virtually for some time

A new tool of repressive society. If you don't understand something - get rid of it (or at least put it on prozak)

I am sorry for the kids and even for their parents who think (if there is a capacity to think left in them) that this form of repression will benefit their children.
I am sorry for those kids who are already depressed and now someone will make their lives even more miserable.

The worst possible type of slavery is slavery taken with gratitude.

Do you really want to live in the society where it becomes dangerous to draw dark pictures? to be depressed (for now don't worry about the reasons as to why you can get depressed in such a society)?
Here is how you will know whether I am a danger to your society: Early Signs of violence
Here is where you can submit your concerns about me: Rep ort a fellow student here!
Here is what you will get if you report me in: See what you can win if you sign up!

Is this life worth living? Does W.A.V.E. make it more so? What happened to the snitches in the World War II? What happened to their concience?

What will become of a person whose morals are based on a simple notion that being different is bad for the society and that all such behavior must be reported and altered? Is such an individual truly healthy? Does it matter?

What will become of a person who is different and who is percieved as dangerous to the society and whose behavior must be altered? Will he remain human after the alteration? Any power conflicts? Is it worth going on, if you are a danger? Are you ok with them altering your behavior? Should you be treated as a criminal because you think differently?

I want to escape reality, I want to only exist virtually for some time

A new tool of repressive society. If you don't understand something - get rid of it (or at least put it on prozak)

I am sorry for the kids and even for their parents who think (if there is a capacity to think left in them) that this form of repression will benefit their children.
I am sorry for those kids who are already depressed and now someone will make their lives even more miserable.

The worst possible type of slavery is slavery taken with gratitude.

Do you really want to live in the society where it becomes dangerous to draw dark pictures? to be depressed (for now don't worry about the reasons as to why you can get depressed in such a society)?
Here is how you will know whether I am a danger to your society: Early Signs of violence
Here is where you can submit your concerns about me: Rep ort a fellow student here!
Here is what you will get if you report me in: See what you can win if you sign up!

Is this life worth living? Does W.A.V.E. make it more so? What happened to the snitches in the World War II? What happened to their concience?

What will become of a person whose morals are based on a simple notion that being different is bad for the society and that all such behavior must be reported and altered? Is such an individual truly healthy? Does it matter?

What will become of a person who is different and who is percieved as dangerous to the society and whose behavior must be altered? Will he remain human after the alteration? Any power conflicts? Is it worth going on, if you are a danger? Are you ok with them altering your behavior? Should you be treated as a criminal because you think differently?

I want to escape reality, I want to only exist virtually for some time

The inferences and conclusions I made from the referenced material is wrong. See, the governor of North Carolina did indeed start the Working Against Violence Everywhere (WAVE) program. The press release announcing it is here, and was made February 10 of this year. The actual description of the program is very close to where I already listed, and can be found at this site. Which means, of course, that it's my credibility, not Jon's, which leaves something to be desired.

Sorry for the misleading information and the impugning of Jon's professionalism.

Now I'm not reccomending spam here, but if anyone wants to voice their opinion directly to wave, try one of these:

• waveline@waveamerica.com
• publicrelations@waveamerica.com
• suggestions@waveamerica.com

From www.waveamerica.com/contactus/co ntactus.htm

Now I'm not reccomending spam here, but if anyone wants to voice their opinion directly to wave, try one of these:

• waveline@waveamerica.com
• publicrelations@waveamerica.com
• suggestions@waveamerica.com

From www.waveamerica.com/contactus/co ntactus.htm

Now I'm not reccomending spam here, but if anyone wants to voice their opinion directly to wave, try one of these:

• waveline@waveamerica.com
• publicrelations@waveamerica.com
• suggestions@waveamerica.com

From www.waveamerica.com/contactus/co ntactus.htm

Now I'm not reccomending spam here, but if anyone wants to voice their opinion directly to wave, try one of these:

• waveline@waveamerica.com
• publicrelations@waveamerica.com
• suggestions@waveamerica.com

From www.waveamerica.com/contactus/co ntactus.htm

The Pinkerton Inc. Website

The Commission's Website

Their Final Report

The Center For the Prevention of Youth Violence, one of the brainchildren behind the idea

and of course

W.A.V.E.'s site.

http://www.waveamerica.com/misc/privacy .htm

It's a real program read it from their site: Waveamerica

Little Billy is keeping a gun in his locker.
Little Janey sees the gun.
Is it wrong for her to report him?
Of course not.
Do we need the help of a 350 billion in revenue company and a social-formatting scheme to help her do this?
God I hope not.
And did you see this incredibly frightening site? WAVE
There are many organizations in existence that have should no business existing. But, since the people who get MADD are too afraid to do anything directly yo solve the problems in *thier* lives, they decide that as good americans, they should go about making laws and starting organizations to completely restructure societies attitudes to fit their fears so they can sleep better at night.
I'm sorry, but an entire population should not be suffering for the foolishness and cowardice of the pathetically shipped burbanites and boomers that feel they have the right to pull the entire world around by their leash of morality.
Whatever happened to "If there's a problem, fix it". No, it's more like, "if there's a problem, call the senator, create a law, raise the age limit and hire stinkertons to solve all my fears"
America was not founded on picking up after idiots. So why has that become the ruling notion?

if you don't believe the reporting, why not check out the website, instead?!?!

WAVE = "Working against violence anywhere." This reminds me of when D. Gates of the LAPD said basically that DARE was to get kids to submit to cops.
Press Release
Official Site

Here's the Official Promise (facists!):

This is my school, my space. I want it to be a safe place. I know that violence prevention begins with me. So that's why to this promise I agree. I will... Resolve conflicts peacefully. Talk about problems openly. Treat others with respect. Walk away from a fight. Take all threats and warning signs seriously. Talk to a parent, counselor or other adult about my concerns.

CREEPY!!! Why doesn't everyone scour their site for interesting tidbits!

http://www.waveamerica.com/.

Now, gimme the moderation this incredibly Informative (hint-hint) posting deserves! ;-)