Just introducing myself, fellow Dad of 4 kids. I have a 3, 9, and 12 year
old Boy, and recently discovered via 23andme that I have a 26 year old
Daughter .. yes, I'm 48. So .. love the Dad topic and hope to learn from the pro's while also just sharing cool experiences.

Lots of great moments this past summer: My 12 year old started BMX'ing -- absolutely NOT influenced by a nostalgic BBS dad (coughing). My 7 year old
off training wheels. My 2 almost 3 year old officially out of diapers.
Great moments! This year I have them on a cool ap called Busy Kid. I can assign them daily chores with a cents value per chore. I then can assign how much they must save, can spend, and if how much to donate. They can even invest in fractional stocks. Payday is every Friday, and they have Visa Pay Cards they can spend online. It's a pretty cool thing and all purchases are monitored so as they get older I can shut the shit down if porn is purchased, then take their PC's and watch them. Other then that I'm not sure of the purpose of this group but glad that theres a place to talk about fatherhood
-- it's the best part of me -- my kids.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Windows/32)
* Origin: The Underground BBS (1:227/702)

Doug Cooper wrote to All <=-

Just introducing myself, fellow Dad of 4 kids. I have a 3, 9, and 12
year old Boy, and recently discovered via 23andme that I have a 26 year old Daughter .. yes, I'm 48. So .. love the Dad topic and hope to
learn from the pro's while also just sharing cool experiences.

Lots of great moments this past summer: My 12 year old started BMX'ing
-- absolutely NOT influenced by a nostalgic BBS dad (coughing). My 7
year old off training wheels. My 2 almost 3 year old officially out of diapers. Great moments! This year I have them on a cool ap called Busy Kid. I can assign them daily chores with a cents value per chore. I
then can assign how much they must save, can spend, and if how much to donate. They can even invest in fractional stocks. Payday is every Friday, and they have Visa Pay Cards they can spend online. It's a
pretty cool thing and all purchases are monitored so as they get older
I can shut the shit down if porn is purchased, then take their PC's and watch them. Other then that I'm not sure of the purpose of this group
but glad that theres a place to talk about fatherhood -- it's the best part of me -- my kids.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Windows/32)
* Origin: The Underground BBS (1:227/702)

Hi Doug,

I'm new here too, partly for reasons of nostalgia and partly because it seems to make more sense than Facebook, which I don't trust nor like. I have two girls, 5 and 7. We have a pocket money system for them too, but they haven't quite learned the value of money. That is to say, they don't quite get that when it runs out, you stop getting things you like. Perhaps a better lesson is to suggest they save up for something big they like, so that there is a goal to achieve and work towards.

I'm not quite sure the purpose, if there even supposed to be one. But its good to be somewhere where it isn't "noisy", as many other places on the Internet are.

... Dennis Katsonis
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
* Origin: Mind's Eye BBS - mindseye.ddns.net - Australia (3:633/416)

have two girls, 5 and 7. We have a pocket money system for them too,
but they haven't quite learned the value of money. That is to say, they don't quite get that when it runs out, you stop getting things you like. Perhaps a better lesson is to suggest they save up for something big
they like, so that there is a goal to achieve and work towards.

Growing up my single mom, and remarried dad, only had enough money to buy me things on my Birthday and Christmas. All other times, I had to save if I wanted anything. It's hard to get the wife to quit buying them things just "because," but when they ask me, I would assigna chore. The problem was, I would forget how much I told them I'd give them, or since I don't carry cash, I'd forget to pay them. So .. they'd get something much more valuable then what was earned as a result. So the chore ap is great. The Busy Kid ap, specifically, allows the parent to set a "save percent," which is great. My boys will ask me to transfer money out so they can buy "RoBucks" all the
time. I just say now. One day they'll want a $80 game and I'll ask them to look at their ap. They'll likely have it in there and have earned it. I
have had to tweak "who does what" based on age, as my 8 year old hasn't been diligent with the weeds in the flower beds, but the 12 year old kicks butt at them; conversely, the 8 year old picks up the dog doo just fine daily. It's been a life saver and the kids are all over the ap daily. It has a lot of preloaded chores that I wouldn't have thought of that are very helpful, all
the way down to "brush your teeth," so I'm not the helicopter dad constantly reminding them.

I agree with you on Facebook. I don't trust their tracking, I don't like
that the second I walk into a store, Facebook ads are appearing of the store
I had just visited. I also don't like employers snooping social media to see if my political views, page likes, etc.. match their "culture." I'm old
enough to keep my mouth shut when I don't agree with someone, and smart
enough not to share political memes, but I might like Fox News over CNN, and don't like the idea of an employer not hiring as a result of something so trivial. Lastly, I don't get facebook frankly ... It was designed to connect friends and family that wouldn't otherwise see one another. If it had stayed in that lane, I'd be content with it. My family has switched to Marco Polo
for that purpose, it's like Video Texting and much better then seeing static photos of my nephews ...

Glad to meet you, where are you from? I'm in Carmel Indiana.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Windows/32)
* Origin: The Underground BBS (1:227/702)

Doug Cooper wrote to Dennisk <=-

have two girls, 5 and 7. We have a pocket money system for them too,
but they haven't quite learned the value of money. That is to say, they don't quite get that when it runs out, you stop getting things you like. Perhaps a better lesson is to suggest they save up for something big
they like, so that there is a goal to achieve and work towards.

Growing up my single mom, and remarried dad, only had enough money to
buy me things on my Birthday and Christmas. All other times, I had to save if I wanted anything. It's hard to get the wife to quit buying
them things just "because," but when they ask me, I would assigna
chore. The problem was, I would forget how much I told them I'd give them, or since I don't carry cash, I'd forget to pay them. So ..
they'd get something much more valuable then what was earned as a
result. So the chore ap is great. The Busy Kid ap, specifically,
allows the parent to set a "save percent," which is great. My boys
will ask me to transfer money out so they can buy "RoBucks" all the
time. I just say now. One day they'll want a $80 game and I'll ask
them to look at their ap. They'll likely have it in there and have
earned it. I have had to tweak "who does what" based on age, as my 8
year old hasn't been diligent with the weeds in the flower beds, but
the 12 year old kicks butt at them; conversely, the 8 year old picks up the dog doo just fine daily. It's been a life saver and the kids are
all over the ap daily. It has a lot of preloaded chores that I
wouldn't have thought of that are very helpful, all the way down to
"brush your teeth," so I'm not the helicopter dad constantly reminding them.

I agree with you on Facebook. I don't trust their tracking, I don't
like that the second I walk into a store, Facebook ads are appearing of the store I had just visited. I also don't like employers snooping
social media to see if my political views, page likes, etc.. match
their "culture." I'm old enough to keep my mouth shut when I don't
agree with someone, and smart enough not to share political memes, but
I might like Fox News over CNN, and don't like the idea of an employer
not hiring as a result of something so trivial. Lastly, I don't get facebook frankly ... It was designed to connect friends and family that wouldn't otherwise see one another. If it had stayed in that lane, I'd
be content with it. My family has switched to Marco Polo for that purpose, it's like Video Texting and much better then seeing static
photos of my nephews ...

Glad to meet you, where are you from? I'm in Carmel Indiana.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Windows/32)
* Origin: The Underground BBS (1:227/702)

I am from Melbourne, Australia. The money I had growing up was what I got for my Birthday or Christmas, I didn't have pocket money, despite asking. But my grandparents would buy a lot of stuff from garage sales, so we often had second hand stuff dumped on us. So the first few computers I had were bought by my mum for very little, but they were way out of date. An XT system didn't get you far in 1993, but it only cost $30 AUD. That reminds me, I have to find where it is. I never got rid of it.

My wife doesn't like the kids using tech that much, so no apps I'm afraid (she is the only one with a phone that could run it anyway).

The lesson I want to teach my children isn't just about money, but resources. Not to be wasteful, that even if you can afford to buy something, you should think twice about whether you really need it. Plastic toys may be cheap and affordable, but consider that they end up in the trash, or the oceans. Think about whether that toy will really give you enjoyment, or whether it is just shiny plastic blobs where you have to collect 100 of them.


... Dennis Katsonis
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
* Origin: Mind's Eye BBS - mindseye.ddns.net - Australia (3:633/416)

out of date. An XT system didn't get you far in 1993, but it only cost $30 AUD. That reminds me, I have to find where it is. I never got rid
of it.

Yeah I think I got rid of my XT around that time, however it was a great computer for BBS'ing back in the day, but by 93 the "Clone Wars" was
beginning within the computer business and prices were unbelievably cheap. I worked for a company called Ultimate Electronics, and we'd sell them
literally out of a truck (Truck load sale,) as the buiness we were doing on
our custom made close brand was insane. Thats the time I upgraded to a Pentium. At 13 I had my first job at a carwash. I worked a few hours each
day after school. I saved for almost a year and bought myself a Diamond Back Pro Series BMX bike. My parents also never had money nor gave it when asked, asside from 10 cents to "check in" while out riding bikes with my friends,
for the payphone haha!

in the trash, or the oceans. Think about whether that toy will really give you enjoyment, or whether it is just shiny plastic blobs where you have to collect 100 of them.

Thats a tough sale but a great spin! We didn't accomplish that so ... so now
I really emphasize donating to a food pantry locally here that also has clothing and toys/household items. Those in poverty can apply and get free food. While there, they can grab whatever toys and clothing is there.
We've volunteered there a few times, and did a cub scout tour of the place
when I lead the den. So at least once every few months we have a purge
party, and collect a minimum of two boxes of toys per kid, and take them to
the pantry.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Windows/32)
* Origin: The Underground BBS (1:227/702)

Doug Cooper wrote to Dennisk <=-

out of date. An XT system didn't get you far in 1993, but it only cost $30 AUD. That reminds me, I have to find where it is. I never got rid
of it.

Yeah I think I got rid of my XT around that time, however it was a
great computer for BBS'ing back in the day, but by 93 the "Clone Wars"
was beginning within the computer business and prices were unbelievably cheap. I worked for a company called Ultimate Electronics, and we'd
sell them literally out of a truck (Truck load sale,) as the buiness we were doing on our custom made close brand was insane. Thats the time I upgraded to a Pentium. At 13 I had my first job at a carwash. I
worked a few hours each day after school. I saved for almost a year
and bought myself a Diamond Back Pro Series BMX bike. My parents also never had money nor gave it when asked, asside from 10 cents to "check
in" while out riding bikes with my friends, for the payphone haha!

The XT is the "classic car" of the PC world. Such a nice looking machine, at least to me it is. My mum didn't really want me taking up a part time job (I wanted one to buy a 386), because it would apparently detract from my studies. At that time, I was in my final years of high school. I was loaned a 386 instead by my uncle.

in the trash, or the oceans. Think about whether that toy will really give you enjoyment, or whether it is just shiny plastic blobs where you have to collect 100 of them.

Thats a tough sale but a great spin! We didn't accomplish that so ...
so now I really emphasize donating to a food pantry locally here that
also has clothing and toys/household items. Those in poverty can apply and get free food. While there, they can grab whatever toys and
clothing is there. We've volunteered there a few times, and did a cub scout tour of the place when I lead the den. So at least once every
few months we have a purge party, and collect a minimum of two boxes of toys per kid, and take them to the pantry.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Windows/32)
* Origin: The Underground BBS (1:227/702)

An incredibly tough sale! Actually impossible really, unless you put your foot down and flat out say "no". No need to feel bad about it, within a day or two, they've forgotten they ever wanted it!

Donating to the food pantry sounds like a great idea. My wife has suggested quite a few times we should during christmas, donate old toys and go help/volunteer, but it hasn't actually happened yet. Need to step up here.

Just out of interest, why are you in Fidonet?


... Dennis Katsonis
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
* Origin: Mind's Eye BBS - mindseye.ddns.net - Australia (3:633/416)

An incredibly tough sale! Actually impossible really, unless you put
your foot down and flat out say "no". No need to feel bad about it, within a day or two, they've forgotten they ever wanted it!

Haha, that works too ... After 4 kids, 3 I've raised, I'm numb to the
tantrums or disappoitning looks they stomp away with. No often is the only answer they must learn as they'll hear it moreoften then not as an adult.

Donating to the food pantry sounds like a great idea. My wife has suggested quite a few times we should during christmas, donate old toys and go help/volunteer, but it hasn't actually happened yet. Need to
step up here.

I don't know about where you are, but here not all pantries take toys and clothees, so if you do it, you'll wanna call around. I avoid giving to Goodwill as they mark them up to and sell them. I prefer the pantries as
they give them to kids 100% free. They are funded by our city government via grants and public donations.

Just out of interest, why are you in Fidonet?

Should I not be? lol! I joined FidoNet for diversity of topics to discuss
as opposed to many networks that only focus on SysOp support and or Computer tech topics. While I do subscribe to other networks, Fido is the only I have that has seperate categories of conversation to keep the people relatively on track. I would be open to others as well. I really want to start an
National Football League echo, but I'm unclear on how to add it in mystic.
So ... until I figure that out, I'm reading recipes, this dad board, and a
few others.

You?

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Windows/32)
* Origin: The Underground BBS (1:227/702)

Doug Cooper wrote to Dennisk <=-

Haha, that works too ... After 4 kids, 3 I've raised, I'm numb to the tantrums or disappoitning looks they stomp away with. No often is the only answer they must learn as they'll hear it moreoften then not as an adult.

Donating to the food pantry sounds like a great idea. My wife has suggested quite a few times we should during christmas, donate old toys and go help/volunteer, but it hasn't actually happened yet. Need to
step up here.

I don't know about where you are, but here not all pantries take toys
and clothees, so if you do it, you'll wanna call around. I avoid
giving to Goodwill as they mark them up to and sell them. I prefer the pantries as they give them to kids 100% free. They are funded by our
city government via grants and public donations.

Melbourne is a pretty big city, geographically speaking, but I don't think there is much like that around my part. There are toy libraries and charity run second hand stores, and there are charities which act like a food bank, but I don't know of any that take food and toys and other items. I don't think things like that are as established in Australia. Perhaps there is less of a need. I have noted that there are far more homeless in the city centre camped out at night, bit in the capitals you don't see the tent cities and poverty like you see in the USA.

Just out of interest, why are you in Fidonet?

Should I not be? lol! I joined FidoNet for diversity of topics to discuss as opposed to many networks that only focus on SysOp support
and or Computer tech topics. While I do subscribe to other networks,
Fido is the only I have that has seperate categories of conversation to keep the people relatively on track. I would be open to others as
well. I really want to start an National Football League echo, but I'm unclear on how to add it in mystic. So ... until I figure that out, I'm reading recipes, this dad board, and a few others.

You?

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A45 2020/02/18 (Windows/32)
* Origin: The Underground BBS (1:227/702)

A few reasons. Firstly, it's kind of cool to still be able to use BBSs on a 486, and I like simple technology with few demands and requirements.

Secondly, I had known about FidoNet for ages, but when I was using dial up BBS's I never really considered it. They never used it and maybe I thought it was some subscription deal.

Thirdly, I dislike so called social media and the way that these Californian companies act and thing. They act reprehensibly, it is often toxic and discussion is too noisy and shallow and the platform sucks. There are alternatives like Minds, but the solution is still flawed. I know that BBS's are redundant, there is still value in the model. A simple technology that anyone can deploy and own, with a very low barrier of entry, that can serve a community. A system that the community can own, and be moderated by people held accountable. So in part I'm here to use a model I advocate. I think Diaspora was trying to do something like this.

Lastly, I figured there would be more shared interests here, than on say, Tik Tok.


... Dennis Katsonis
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
* Origin: Mind's Eye BBS - mindseye.ddns.net - Australia (3:633/416)

On Mon 11-May-2020 10:25a, Dennisk@3:633/416.0 said to Doug Cooper:

A simple tech that
anyone can deploy and own, with a very low barrier of entry, that can
serve a
community. A system that the community can own, and be moderated by
people
held accountable. So in part I'm here to use a model I advocate. I think Diaspora was trying to do something like this.

Lastly, I figured there would be more shared interests here, than on say, Tik
Tok.

Dennis (Dennisk), this is exactly what we want folks to know again, about BBS's. A simpler naturally inclusive platform to socalizing on-line.

Oh, and I'm on Tic Tok, and it's...... stupid. :-)

Mick

*<<<--- Tradewars 2002 - CentralOntarioRemote.com:2002 --->>>*
*\\\--- C.O.R. IRC - CentralOntarioRemote.com 6667 ---///*
--- CNet/5
* Origin: Central Ontario Remote CNet (1:249/307.1)

Mickey wrote to Dennisk <=-

On Mon 11-May-2020 10:25a, Dennisk@3:633/416.0 said to Doug Cooper:

A simple tech that
anyone can deploy and own, with a very low barrier of entry, that can
serve a
community. A system that the community can own, and be moderated by
people
held accountable. So in part I'm here to use a model I advocate. I think Diaspora was trying to do something like this.

Lastly, I figured there would be more shared interests here, than on say, Tik
Tok.

Dennis (Dennisk), this is exactly what we want folks to know again,
about BBS's. A simpler naturally inclusive platform to socalizing
on-line.

Oh, and I'm on Tic Tok, and it's...... stupid. :-)

Mick

*<<<--- Tradewars 2002 - CentralOntarioRemote.com:2002 --->>>*
*\\\--- C.O.R. IRC - CentralOntarioRemote.com 6667 ---///*
--- CNet/5
* Origin: Central Ontario Remote CNet (1:249/307.1)

That is what Social Media tried to do, but the problem is you have one organisation, one site which rules it all. It's one entity, and that is where it fails. With BBSs, its multiple, independent entities.

... Dennis Katsonis
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
* Origin: Mind's Eye BBS - mindseye.ddns.net - Australia (3:633/416)

On 11 May 2020, Mickey said the following...

Oh, and I'm on Tic Tok, and it's...... stupid. :-)

Very stupid. And once you (I) get on it's difficult to stop looking.

-=>Richard Miles<=-
-=>Captain Obvious<=-
-=>bbs.shadowscope.com<=-

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/04/17 (Windows/32)
* Origin: Shadowscope BBS | bbs.shadowscope.com | Temple, GA (1:3634/24)

On Wed 13-May-2020 9:03p, Richard Miles@1:3634/24.0 said to Mickey:

On 11 May 2020, Mickey said the following...

Oh, and I'm on Tic Tok, and it's...... stupid. :-)

Very stupid. And once you (I) get on it's difficult to stop looking.

HA HA At first I found it nearly impossible to stop looking at it, but I've found that after a while it has become easier. STOP Don't touch me there.

<grin>

Mick

*<<<--- Tradewars 2002 - CentralOntarioRemote.com:2002 --->>>*
*\\\--- C.O.R. IRC - CentralOntarioRemote.com 6667 ---///*
--- CNet/5
* Origin: Central Ontario Remote CNet (1:249/307.1)