Are astronomy gathering safe for children?

After a recent experience I had on this board I now have to question my
involvement in amateur astronomy at best and weather I can allow my
children to take part at worst.
While checking s.a.a. for on of the first times I made the error of
clicking on a link to what I thought would be images of a members
telescope. I believe we all know where that link led. I also believe we
know how it was greeted with much approval from other posters.
Is this typical of amateur astronomy? What If My Son had been
watching?????????
As I asked in a previous topic is it safe for me to allow my spouse and
children to take part in this hobby? At this point I have to wonder if the
people who take part in it are the sort of people I want my family to
associate with. My wife and I have done our best to install good values in
our children that reflect the values we were brought up by our families and
church. This posting seems to cast some doubt on the wisdom of exposing
them to this hobby.
Thanks Clay

Astronomy is just like any other human activity- 99% of us are regular
normal people and the rest are mutants. Go to a star party and see what kind
of people are there, and then decide. Mostly, astronomy is obsessive geeks.
Written by a man proud to be an obsessive geek!
"CG" wrote in message
...
After a recent experience I had on this board I now have to question my
involvement in amateur astronomy at best and weather I can allow my
children to take part at worst.
While checking s.a.a. for on of the first times I made the error of
clicking on a link to what I thought would be images of a members
telescope. I believe we all know where that link led. I also believe we
know how it was greeted with much approval from other posters.
Is this typical of amateur astronomy? What If My Son had been
watching?????????
As I asked in a previous topic is it safe for me to allow my spouse and
children to take part in this hobby? At this point I have to wonder if the
people who take part in it are the sort of people I want my family to
associate with. My wife and I have done our best to install good values in
our children that reflect the values we were brought up by our families
and
church. This posting seems to cast some doubt on the wisdom of exposing
them to this hobby.
Thanks Clay

Astronomy is just like any other human activity- 99% of us are regular
normal people and the rest are mutants. Go to a star party and see what kind
of people are there, and then decide. Mostly, astronomy is obsessive geeks.
Written by a man proud to be an obsessive geek!
"CG" wrote in message
...
After a recent experience I had on this board I now have to question my
involvement in amateur astronomy at best and weather I can allow my
children to take part at worst.
While checking s.a.a. for on of the first times I made the error of
clicking on a link to what I thought would be images of a members
telescope. I believe we all know where that link led. I also believe we
know how it was greeted with much approval from other posters.
Is this typical of amateur astronomy? What If My Son had been
watching?????????
As I asked in a previous topic is it safe for me to allow my spouse and
children to take part in this hobby? At this point I have to wonder if the
people who take part in it are the sort of people I want my family to
associate with. My wife and I have done our best to install good values in
our children that reflect the values we were brought up by our families
and
church. This posting seems to cast some doubt on the wisdom of exposing
them to this hobby.
Thanks Clay

Astronomy is just like any other human activity- 99% of us are regular
normal people and the rest are mutants. Go to a star party and see what kind
of people are there, and then decide. Mostly, astronomy is obsessive geeks.
Written by a man proud to be an obsessive geek!
"CG" wrote in message
...
After a recent experience I had on this board I now have to question my
involvement in amateur astronomy at best and weather I can allow my
children to take part at worst.
While checking s.a.a. for on of the first times I made the error of
clicking on a link to what I thought would be images of a members
telescope. I believe we all know where that link led. I also believe we
know how it was greeted with much approval from other posters.
Is this typical of amateur astronomy? What If My Son had been
watching?????????
As I asked in a previous topic is it safe for me to allow my spouse and
children to take part in this hobby? At this point I have to wonder if the
people who take part in it are the sort of people I want my family to
associate with. My wife and I have done our best to install good values in
our children that reflect the values we were brought up by our families
and
church. This posting seems to cast some doubt on the wisdom of exposing
them to this hobby.
Thanks Clay

CG wrote:

[snip]

While checking s.a.a. for on of the first times I made the error of
clicking on a link to what I thought would be images of a members
telescope. I believe we all know where that link led. I also believe we
know how it was greeted with much approval from other posters.
Is this typical of amateur astronomy? What If My Son had been
watching?????????

[snip]

Thanks Clay


Hmmm... I smell a troll, but I'll bite.

Actually, Clay, I don't believe I know where that link led to. Was
it porno? That's spam that ALL newsgroups get. Does it have anything to
do with amateur astronomy? Of course not? Did some perverted amateur
astronomer post it? Not likely.

Welcome to the Internet.

--
Kevin

Do you really need to email to reply? Just post it!
Otherwise: 'ah' underscore 'chang' at sign hotmail period com

CG wrote:

[snip]

While checking s.a.a. for on of the first times I made the error of
clicking on a link to what I thought would be images of a members
telescope. I believe we all know where that link led. I also believe we
know how it was greeted with much approval from other posters.
Is this typical of amateur astronomy? What If My Son had been
watching?????????

[snip]

Thanks Clay


Hmmm... I smell a troll, but I'll bite.

Actually, Clay, I don't believe I know where that link led to. Was
it porno? That's spam that ALL newsgroups get. Does it have anything to
do with amateur astronomy? Of course not? Did some perverted amateur
astronomer post it? Not likely.

Welcome to the Internet.

--
Kevin

Do you really need to email to reply? Just post it!
Otherwise: 'ah' underscore 'chang' at sign hotmail period com

CG wrote:

[snip]

While checking s.a.a. for on of the first times I made the error of
clicking on a link to what I thought would be images of a members
telescope. I believe we all know where that link led. I also believe we
know how it was greeted with much approval from other posters.
Is this typical of amateur astronomy? What If My Son had been
watching?????????

[snip]

Thanks Clay


Hmmm... I smell a troll, but I'll bite.

Actually, Clay, I don't believe I know where that link led to. Was
it porno? That's spam that ALL newsgroups get. Does it have anything to
do with amateur astronomy? Of course not? Did some perverted amateur
astronomer post it? Not likely.

Welcome to the Internet.

--
Kevin

Do you really need to email to reply? Just post it!
Otherwise: 'ah' underscore 'chang' at sign hotmail period com

Clay,

In more than 30 years of involvement with amateur astronomy groups I've
never before seen anything like the posting you're referring to. I
don't know about people's reactions since I didn't follow the thread.
But note that there are probably thousands of people lurking here with
various values. The amateurs I've known and the clubs I've been
involved with have always been just fine for my children. I would
suggest you not form an opinion of everyone in the hobby from one thread
on an open forum. Meet your local amateurs and see what the local club
is about and form your opinion there. You'll find that amateur
astronomy attracts a very broad cross-section of the population. That
can include some you may not approve of just in other areas but the
clubs are careful to limit anything that might be inappropriate in order
to protect their membership activities (again, just as in most other
areas of social interaction).

Mike Simmons

CG wrote:

After a recent experience I had on this board I now have to question my
involvement in amateur astronomy at best and weather I can allow my
children to take part at worst.
While checking s.a.a. for on of the first times I made the error of
clicking on a link to what I thought would be images of a members
telescope. I believe we all know where that link led. I also believe we
know how it was greeted with much approval from other posters.
Is this typical of amateur astronomy? What If My Son had been
watching?????????
As I asked in a previous topic is it safe for me to allow my spouse and
children to take part in this hobby? At this point I have to wonder if the
people who take part in it are the sort of people I want my family to
associate with. My wife and I have done our best to install good values in
our children that reflect the values we were brought up by our families and
church. This posting seems to cast some doubt on the wisdom of exposing
them to this hobby.
Thanks Clay

Clay,

In more than 30 years of involvement with amateur astronomy groups I've
never before seen anything like the posting you're referring to. I
don't know about people's reactions since I didn't follow the thread.
But note that there are probably thousands of people lurking here with
various values. The amateurs I've known and the clubs I've been
involved with have always been just fine for my children. I would
suggest you not form an opinion of everyone in the hobby from one thread
on an open forum. Meet your local amateurs and see what the local club
is about and form your opinion there. You'll find that amateur
astronomy attracts a very broad cross-section of the population. That
can include some you may not approve of just in other areas but the
clubs are careful to limit anything that might be inappropriate in order
to protect their membership activities (again, just as in most other
areas of social interaction).

Mike Simmons

CG wrote:

After a recent experience I had on this board I now have to question my
involvement in amateur astronomy at best and weather I can allow my
children to take part at worst.
While checking s.a.a. for on of the first times I made the error of
clicking on a link to what I thought would be images of a members
telescope. I believe we all know where that link led. I also believe we
know how it was greeted with much approval from other posters.
Is this typical of amateur astronomy? What If My Son had been
watching?????????
As I asked in a previous topic is it safe for me to allow my spouse and
children to take part in this hobby? At this point I have to wonder if the
people who take part in it are the sort of people I want my family to
associate with. My wife and I have done our best to install good values in
our children that reflect the values we were brought up by our families and
church. This posting seems to cast some doubt on the wisdom of exposing
them to this hobby.
Thanks Clay

Clay,

In more than 30 years of involvement with amateur astronomy groups I've
never before seen anything like the posting you're referring to. I
don't know about people's reactions since I didn't follow the thread.
But note that there are probably thousands of people lurking here with
various values. The amateurs I've known and the clubs I've been
involved with have always been just fine for my children. I would
suggest you not form an opinion of everyone in the hobby from one thread
on an open forum. Meet your local amateurs and see what the local club
is about and form your opinion there. You'll find that amateur
astronomy attracts a very broad cross-section of the population. That
can include some you may not approve of just in other areas but the
clubs are careful to limit anything that might be inappropriate in order
to protect their membership activities (again, just as in most other
areas of social interaction).

Mike Simmons

CG wrote:

After a recent experience I had on this board I now have to question my
involvement in amateur astronomy at best and weather I can allow my
children to take part at worst.
While checking s.a.a. for on of the first times I made the error of
clicking on a link to what I thought would be images of a members
telescope. I believe we all know where that link led. I also believe we
know how it was greeted with much approval from other posters.
Is this typical of amateur astronomy? What If My Son had been
watching?????????
As I asked in a previous topic is it safe for me to allow my spouse and
children to take part in this hobby? At this point I have to wonder if the
people who take part in it are the sort of people I want my family to
associate with. My wife and I have done our best to install good values in
our children that reflect the values we were brought up by our families and
church. This posting seems to cast some doubt on the wisdom of exposing
them to this hobby.
Thanks Clay