A Quick Video From the Fremont Street Experience
How Much Should Children Be Exposed on the Internet?
Have you ever had a time when something just opens up so you decide to take a quick video of it? Last night was like that. I’m back to hustling money on Grubhub deliveries. I asked my 11 year old daughter if she wanted to come along and she did.
During the Covid lockdowns in Las Vegas during March-May of 2020 the only thing the girls could do to get out of the house was go on food deliveries with me. I enjoyed those times as many conversations opened up while driving around with them. I’m sure taking my girls out in this manner was against the God forsaken expert advice of the time. I worried more about my daughters’ psychological health being stuck at home. It was surreal to drive around the completely vacant Las Vegas Strip back then.
So last night I had a food pickup from the White Castle on Fremont Street. There was a loading unloading zone spot that I knew about but as I manuvered on 4th Street a security guard closed the gate right in front of me with me as the first car idling in line.
“We’ll be closed for about 15 minutes for the Fremont Street Experience.” The guard told us.
“Hey can I keep my car parked here and show my daughter it?” I asked. The guard said that would be fine. So we kept the car parked on 4th and I took this video.
I was able to pick up the food delivery and get back to the car just as the guard was opening the gate again. “Perfect timing.” She commented. “You got food too?”
“It’s not for me. It’s a delivery.” I said.
I’m not for John Crawford’s idea of a digital purdah for women, mostly becuse he seems to be conflating Instahoe fueled competition to build a use case for all females of all ages on the Internet. I’ve had the conversation with several mothers regarding whether it is appropriate to show your child’s face at all on online. It’s a hotly debated question but I tend to cherish the memories and like to share milestones as appropriate. It blows me away how fast they grow and evolve.
Beyond that photographs and videos emerge in other places, from the feeds of friends to school and ID pictures. Government agencies and the power the people inside them have been given, in my opinion, are a greater threat than a truely random Internet stalker. Beyond that I’ve argued if my children were ever to heaven forbid go missing I would think having recent photos and videos of them would draw greater attention and sympathy to the cause of finding them.
All of it is a deeply personal choice.
I’m glad I was able to make a memory yesterday…Cherish the ones you have..