Well, I'm not entirely certain as to what "pre-teen" is. 9-12? But when I was around that age I wasn't really reading books for my age group. Well, except for Sweet Valley High, but it was a guilty pleasure.
If they display an interest in something, let them read it. Regardless of whether it's too advanced for them. Yes, certain themes may be a bit mature (i.e. A Clockwork Orange, American Psycho), but so long as there is no graphic violence, torture, or rape there shouldn't be an issue. Books with political messages should be fine as well, if they catch the references, it can spark an interesting conversation. It's always good when kids think and ask questions.
As far as sci-fi goes specifically, I've always been more of a fantasy chick myself. Loved Dragonlance, it's total fluff but still fun. They even have children's versions of the first trilogy now, although I'm not sure how much easier to read they can make it. It's not exactly difficult reading material to begin with.
Oh! William Gibson. I read Mona Lisa Overdrive, Count Zero, and Neuromancer when I was about 12 and loved it, then explored his other novels. Good stuff. Orson Scott Card is great as well.
Hell, if they're ambitious throw a copy of Cryptonomicon at them and see what happens. If they don't like it, read it yourself, great book. And it's ridiculously long, perfect for road trips or long plane rides.
Doctor Who is great sci-fi. I haven't picked up any of the books yet, but now that I have a two years or so until the next series I may start reading the novels until I can get my fix.;)
All else fails, toss them in the sci-fi section of the library and tell them to look around and read. I suppose it all depends on how much they enjoy reading. Some kids just aren't into it. I was very happy on summer vacations when my parents dumped me at the library.
Well, I'm going to pull a psychoanalytical / psychic explanation out of my ass and say that you're procrastinating for your finals because you're intimidated by the material. You believe that you work best under pressure and you will eventually start studying, but not until the very last minute. You'll end up getting a C on the final because of your inability to focus. Your friends will laugh at you, your significant other (if you have one) will leave you, your parents will be ashamed and then you'll be put on academic probation because you got C's on all of your finals. Eventually you'll get kicked out of school and begin a Web 2.0 company instead of finishing your degree.
It's not interesting. You're just being lazy. Go study.
I can't speak for any other countries, but I don't believe that racism by itself is illegal in the US. This is primarily due to the fact that thoughts aren't illegal, yet. The KKK itself isn't illegal, but when they start lynchings, THAT is illegal.
There's a fine line between sharing an unpopular opinion and hate speech, sometimes those two things are one and the same, but not always. It's a difficult thing to regulate and police as it all comes down to a matter of perception. Personally, I just saw the OP as some dumb kid who's being brainwashed by his church, and/or a dumb kid that enjoys getting a rise out of people here by posting inflammatory comments.
Actually, it's interesting to see the different comments that have sprung up from that one. Incredibly insightful statements about moral relativism, and then of course, the trolls.
Although the statement could have been phrased better, it wasn't overly offensive to the point where it needs to be removed, or the user (in this case an Anonymous Coward) needs to be banned.
Let's not jump the gun here with passing "laws" for slashdot.
I agree completely. I did go a little off point there with my rant, sorry.
It's Zero Tolerance. Whether it's the schools or free speech outside of schools... they aren't taking any chances. Paranoia is taking over reason.
I think the problem with that argument is that it is focusing on placing blame on others. Sadly this is now a staple of modern society. There's a car commercial out where everyone is shouting out why they have certain cars, i.e. the man in the sports car, "I'm overcompensating for my shortcomings", and other people yelling, "because my Daddy doesn't love me" etc. etc. etc. That is a perfect example of just how ingrained this concept is in society.
No one has any sense of accountability. Whether it's terrorists killing people, the underage myspace sluts who sue myspace, or the people who blame all their actions and shortcomings on the failings of their parents. If this kid does end up going on a killing rampage, it's his fault. It's not the schools fault. It's not the parents fault. It's not videogames and it's not Marilyn Manson.
Perhaps the kid is psychologically unstable, perhaps some blame could be placed on the parents or the school for not recommending a psychiatric evaluation, or even the psychiatrist if he/she did not see a risk. But that type of blame can only go so far. No one is psychic. No one can see the future. No one should be held accountable for not knowing what is going to happen in those types of situations.
If the child decided to do something after the suspension, or during the suspension even, it would surely be premeditated. His fault. No one elses.
Then there is the argument about the parents being horrible for supporting their child and embarking on this lawsuit. Frankly, considering how competitive colleges are, if they see that he was kicked out of school for a semester, they probably won't take him. Which means community college and living at home for the kid. The kid sounds like he is probably a giant pain in the ass, so do you really blame the parents for wanting to get the kid out of their hair quicker?
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Well, I'm not entirely certain as to what "pre-teen" is. 9-12? But when I was around that age I wasn't really reading books for my age group. Well, except for Sweet Valley High, but it was a guilty pleasure.
;)
If they display an interest in something, let them read it. Regardless of whether it's too advanced for them. Yes, certain themes may be a bit mature (i.e. A Clockwork Orange, American Psycho), but so long as there is no graphic violence, torture, or rape there shouldn't be an issue. Books with political messages should be fine as well, if they catch the references, it can spark an interesting conversation. It's always good when kids think and ask questions.
As far as sci-fi goes specifically, I've always been more of a fantasy chick myself. Loved Dragonlance, it's total fluff but still fun. They even have children's versions of the first trilogy now, although I'm not sure how much easier to read they can make it. It's not exactly difficult reading material to begin with.
Oh! William Gibson. I read Mona Lisa Overdrive, Count Zero, and Neuromancer when I was about 12 and loved it, then explored his other novels. Good stuff. Orson Scott Card is great as well.
http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersykes/topscifi/lists_books_rank1.html Top 100 Sci-Fi books.
Hell, if they're ambitious throw a copy of Cryptonomicon at them and see what happens. If they don't like it, read it yourself, great book. And it's ridiculously long, perfect for road trips or long plane rides.
Doctor Who is great sci-fi. I haven't picked up any of the books yet, but now that I have a two years or so until the next series I may start reading the novels until I can get my fix.
All else fails, toss them in the sci-fi section of the library and tell them to look around and read. I suppose it all depends on how much they enjoy reading. Some kids just aren't into it. I was very happy on summer vacations when my parents dumped me at the library.
Either that or it's just a ridiculously slow news day.
Not that I'm aware of.
Well, I'm going to pull a psychoanalytical / psychic explanation out of my ass and say that you're procrastinating for your finals because you're intimidated by the material. You believe that you work best under pressure and you will eventually start studying, but not until the very last minute. You'll end up getting a C on the final because of your inability to focus. Your friends will laugh at you, your significant other (if you have one) will leave you, your parents will be ashamed and then you'll be put on academic probation because you got C's on all of your finals. Eventually you'll get kicked out of school and begin a Web 2.0 company instead of finishing your degree.
It's not interesting. You're just being lazy. Go study.
I can't speak for any other countries, but I don't believe that racism by itself is illegal in the US. This is primarily due to the fact that thoughts aren't illegal, yet. The KKK itself isn't illegal, but when they start lynchings, THAT is illegal.
There's a fine line between sharing an unpopular opinion and hate speech, sometimes those two things are one and the same, but not always. It's a difficult thing to regulate and police as it all comes down to a matter of perception. Personally, I just saw the OP as some dumb kid who's being brainwashed by his church, and/or a dumb kid that enjoys getting a rise out of people here by posting inflammatory comments.
Actually, it's interesting to see the different comments that have sprung up from that one. Incredibly insightful statements about moral relativism, and then of course, the trolls.
Although the statement could have been phrased better, it wasn't overly offensive to the point where it needs to be removed, or the user (in this case an Anonymous Coward) needs to be banned. Let's not jump the gun here with passing "laws" for slashdot.
I agree completely. I did go a little off point there with my rant, sorry. It's Zero Tolerance. Whether it's the schools or free speech outside of schools... they aren't taking any chances. Paranoia is taking over reason.
I think the problem with that argument is that it is focusing on placing blame on others. Sadly this is now a staple of modern society. There's a car commercial out where everyone is shouting out why they have certain cars, i.e. the man in the sports car, "I'm overcompensating for my shortcomings", and other people yelling, "because my Daddy doesn't love me" etc. etc. etc. That is a perfect example of just how ingrained this concept is in society.
No one has any sense of accountability. Whether it's terrorists killing people, the underage myspace sluts who sue myspace, or the people who blame all their actions and shortcomings on the failings of their parents. If this kid does end up going on a killing rampage, it's his fault. It's not the schools fault. It's not the parents fault. It's not videogames and it's not Marilyn Manson.
Perhaps the kid is psychologically unstable, perhaps some blame could be placed on the parents or the school for not recommending a psychiatric evaluation, or even the psychiatrist if he/she did not see a risk. But that type of blame can only go so far. No one is psychic. No one can see the future. No one should be held accountable for not knowing what is going to happen in those types of situations.
If the child decided to do something after the suspension, or during the suspension even, it would surely be premeditated. His fault. No one elses.
Then there is the argument about the parents being horrible for supporting their child and embarking on this lawsuit. Frankly, considering how competitive colleges are, if they see that he was kicked out of school for a semester, they probably won't take him. Which means community college and living at home for the kid. The kid sounds like he is probably a giant pain in the ass, so do you really blame the parents for wanting to get the kid out of their hair quicker?