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April 9, 2009
Rebel Alliance Starts Free 'Other Park Slope Parents' List
Last week's news that the popular Park Slope Parents list and website was considering charging members a $25 annual fee elicited a wide range of response from its users and others (see the poll we ran here) as well as plenty of news coverage. And now there's another response: A band of dissenters has started a new free list targeting parents in the Park Slope area called The Other Park Slope Parents list. The group describes itself as "Fall off of parents who were a part of the Park Slope Parents list and believe that community lists should be FREE." For now, moderation is "light" and they're hoping that people "think twice before you post on a potentially flammable subject (ie vaccinations)." This should be interesting.
Majority of Park Slope Parents Won't Pay to Play [Brownstoner]
Park Slope Parents to Start Charging for Membership [Brownstoner]
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Comments
What a joke this whole thing is.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2009 9:49 AM
Yes, but it's funnier than the PSP has been lately.
Posted by: Heather at April 9, 2009 9:58 AM
I just registered and added my 2 cents to the Legal Age question. I'm sure I'll become a welcomed poster there.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2009 10:04 AM
whatever happened to the days when parents actually figured stuff out on their own and didnt need lists and the internet to tell them what they should be doing with their kids and how they should be doing it? sheeple much!?
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 10:06 AM
Why would vaccinations be considered an inflammatory subject?
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 10:06 AM
Perhaps we should take it over... I would welcome your parenting advice!
Posted by: Heather at April 9, 2009 10:06 AM
DIBS- you are spot on. It's a bit repelling, actually.
Posted by: Fjorder at April 9, 2009 10:07 AM
heather, my parenting advice would be to get a cat. Cheaper, quieter, no diapers- although the hairballs can be an issue. :-)
kidding of course. I adore kids and was very involved with my niece and nephew growing up.
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 10:09 AM
I give the best parenting advice because I'm not burdened by having any children.
Have your children learn Spanish or Mandarin in high school!!!
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2009 10:09 AM
Vaccinations are infammitory because there is a small, but militant movement of parents who believe vaccinations are the casue of Autism in children. There has NEVER been any scientific proof to this, but they believe it. As such, they refuse to get their children vaccinanted and hence open them up to be infected with such oldies but goodies like Polio. These parents are totaly ignorant and are causing their children a great inservice, not to mention the possibilty of a horrible disease. Park Slope is just the type of place that would breed these types of idiots.
Posted by: james_bong at April 9, 2009 10:11 AM
Ah, bxgirl, if I may begin to answer that question...
Because there's a school of thought, (in New York it's sort of under the cult guidance of this guy called Palovsky or something like that, who is an MD opposed to vaccinations), that they're Bad, and that the risk of brain damage outweighs any social responsibility one might feel about infecting others. Also, at least according to one PSP poster back when the list was more fun, things like whooping cough are just natural expressions of our immune systems and, really, not that dangerous at all! (Unless you're an infant, but surely if you breastfeed your snowflake should be just fine.)
Plus, you know, corporate Big Pharma and all of that.
Note: I may be a little biased.
Posted by: Heather at April 9, 2009 10:12 AM
they should just rename the list Park Slope Helecopter Parents cuz that is essentially what it is. there is soon to be an entire generation to come of whiney bratty entitled adults (not that there isnt that already but it will get worse!)
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 10:13 AM
I just answered another one..."Is this to (sic) young to a family (sic)?"
I think I gave pretty compelling advice.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2009 10:14 AM
Or, to put it more even-handedly, periodically someone posts something about how vaccines are poisoning our children and posters like me and james bong go terminator on their ass.
Posted by: Heather at April 9, 2009 10:17 AM
What's wrong with vaccinations?
My whole generation had them(born in the 70's) and none of us have the levels of autism that kids today seem to
I personally think it's all the anti-bacterial crap people today overly use that may cause autism
*please note I am not a dr or parent, but just have my opinons*
Wow - I think that's funny there is now an "Other" Park Slope parent website - good stuff!
Posted by: gemini10 at April 9, 2009 10:21 AM
um i have a degree in psychology (shocking i know) but like 90 percent of mild autism diagnoses today are just labels for well, not so bright kids. there's been not so bright kids since the dawn of man, but parents these days will just not accept that. levels of autism have NOT increased, just the willingness to give a label and place blame for why little dakota and cody aren't in the top 1 percent of their class.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 10:25 AM
I blame Nutrasweet.
Posted by: SnarkSlope at April 9, 2009 10:27 AM
Is it just that we recognize and diagnose autism better? Or is it really on the rise?
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 10:30 AM
Rob - I dunno
I remember growing up and we had maybe 1-2 "no so bright" kids that went to "Resource Room" when we all went to other classes. It just seems to me now the autism levels are out of control, I mean 1 in 4 - that's insane to me
I could be totally wrong - and I know this and you might be right - it could be we just are into "labeling".
Posted by: gemini10 at April 9, 2009 10:32 AM
Go to the site and scroll through the answers that people are posting. I've never seen so much bad advice in my life. The vast majority of these people have no business raising childrem, IMHO.
rob's right about the incidence levels of autism. Parents just want their C or D-level child to be labelled with something so they can give them a pill.
And, children should be spanked.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2009 10:32 AM
Well, gemini, the nay-sayers would tell you that kids today get more vaccines for more stuff earlier than ever before. And that's sort of true -- vaccinating for Heb B at birth does seem a bit overkill. (Although my joke about how my infant wasn't dating iv drug users yet was totally lost on the maternity nurse.) Also, there have been some vaccine recalls -- rotavirus, most recently, I think. And there are kids who really do have bad reactions, or who have compromised immune systems who shouldn't be vaccinated.
Of course, that's all the more reason for the rest of the healthy population to keep current on their vaccinations.
To see a completely insane send-up of the topic, and the effect of a heavily moderated message board community, go to mothering.com. Those women, while well-intentioned, are completely batshit insane.
Posted by: Heather at April 9, 2009 10:34 AM
The blame lies with McDonalds and Pizza Hut.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2009 10:34 AM
Dave I know you're upset right now but there's no need to say something like that!
Posted by: infinitejester at April 9, 2009 10:38 AM
i dont think so dave. i was pretty much raised on mcdonalds and pizza hut.
oh wait a minute
*roB*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 10:39 AM
dave, learn how to navigate yahoo, please. those questions are from yahoo's general parenting section of yahoo answers. has nothing to do with the new group...of which i'm not a member, so i have no idea whether their questions or answers are any more intelligent. just sayin'.
Posted by: i disagree at April 9, 2009 10:40 AM
Heather
ahh - interesting b/c here I am thinking ah man these kids are just getting your usual Dipteria/whooping cough and polio vaccines like I did
So are you saying that nowawdays kids get even more vaccines then before(sorry am not a parent, so I have no clue)
and I agree I think if you need to go on the interet DAILY to get advice on parenting, you are totally lost then. I mean all our parents did it and were fine!
Posted by: gemini10 at April 9, 2009 10:41 AM
I like the sausage biscuit.
I don't really care where the questions are from. They show a very poor grasp of how to raise children.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2009 10:43 AM
good for you, but it has zero to do with park slope, or park slope parents, or the "other" park slope parents.
Posted by: i disagree at April 9, 2009 10:46 AM
good for you, but it has zero to do with park slope, or park slope parents, or the "other" park slope parents.
Posted by: i disagree at April 9, 2009 10:46 AM
Neither does your comment as thread monitor.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2009 10:52 AM
This is just anecdotal, but it seems to me that more upper income kids have severe allergies to things that never affected my generation as kids. Yes, I know we barely had emerged from the caves then, but in my entire elementary school years, none of my classmates was allergic to peanuts, wheat, dust, perfume, the whole environment, and a whole host of exotic things some kids are allergic to now. And while poorer kids now have a higher degree of asthma, they don't seem to have such allergies either. What is it? Having kids later in life, overexposure to organic food, lack of McDonald's and junk, or too much doctoring and fussing?
Posted by: Montrose Morris at April 9, 2009 10:56 AM
I have two children now. I remember before I had children telling my sister who has two children all kids of advice and told her my opinions of raising children. Well, now that I have two kids, I wish I could get superman to spin the world around to go back in time so she could slap me in the face at those moments of my pontificating.
You will change your mind about some things when raising children, once and if you actually have them. And you may actually find yourself worrying about vacinations, fast food and gas emmisions.
Posted by: italiana71 at April 9, 2009 11:02 AM
I think alot of the asthma is because of parents who smoke, although mine did and none of us have asthma.
The mollycoddling and lack of exposure to the world hightens the incidence of allergies. Let them play outside and eat dirt every once in awhile.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2009 11:03 AM
I really wanted to reply to the question about the clothing for a baby but not so much that I could be bothered to sign up for an account.
Baby the baby and you end up with a baby for life.
Posted by: the chicken at April 9, 2009 11:05 AM
A few years ago there was a report that we are too obsessed with cleanliness. that we are so frantic to be totaly germ free kids don't develop immunities like they should and that's why there are higher rates of asthma and allergies today. Is this still the case?
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 11:06 AM
MM - you summed up my thinking exactly!
I just find it realllly strange. None of the kids I grew up with had many issues and it seems to be a very American thing, no?
This is why I want to buy that book, "Why dirt is good".
Posted by: gemini10 at April 9, 2009 11:07 AM
Before the internet how the heck did parents raise kids?
Posted by: bayridgegirl at April 9, 2009 11:09 AM
They bought Dr. Spock's book.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2009 11:11 AM
quote:
Having kids later in life
who knows but i agree with you. but on the topic of having kids later in life, ive always noticed that kids who were made from older eggs (like 30+ are mad weird and have strange mannerisms and not as hearty). the healthiest people and most well adjusted seem to come from eggs of women who are about 15-25.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 11:12 AM
Or they asked their parents on how to raise kids!
Posted by: gemini10 at April 9, 2009 11:13 AM
15?
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2009 11:14 AM
or they talked to their friends who also had kids.
Are we that sheltered as a society that we talk about important issues with total strangers on the internet?
Posted by: bayridgegirl at April 9, 2009 11:16 AM
Rob - gee! - thanks
am 33 - hahahaha I guess b/c my eggs are old - my kid's gonna be MAD WEIRD! -hahaha
I don't think thats true
Posted by: gemini10 at April 9, 2009 11:18 AM
My mother had me in her 40's...I guess according to Rob, that speaks volumes about me!
Posted by: bayridgegirl at April 9, 2009 11:19 AM
rob, sometimes I think you are flat out, out of your mind. I let your "research" on autism go (90% ??? of kids diagnosed with autism or placed on the autistic spectrum are simply mentally disabled or, in your words "slow") but this is just too much.
The most well-adjusted and healthiest people come from eggs of women who are 15 to 25? In what nugget of research did you pick up THIS one? Good lord.
Posted by: Nokilissa at April 9, 2009 11:21 AM
italiana71- very true. But since most of us- even those like me without kids- were kids once (except for DIBS who sprang full blown from the brow of Zeus), we still have experience to draw upon. And even childless folk are impacted by other people's kids, as family members, friends, community members and even as taxpayers. I've done probably more than my share of parental pontificating to my own sister (who has finally forgiven me) but I'm one of the first people she'll call with parenting issues when she feels she can't see things objectively as a parent and wants another viewpoint.
People within groups bounded by common issues or cultures seem to increase a sense of self-validation. Even in marriages- I'm sure we all know married couples who have skewed viewpoints that each of them keep validating to the other. So sometimes fresh eyes ( like dave's, even) can be helpful.
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 11:24 AM
sorry. my old egg theory always seems to ruffle feathers :(
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 11:29 AM
"most of us- even those like me without kids- were kids once (except for DIBS who sprang full blown from the brow of Zeus)"
QOTD. No need to look further folks!
Posted by: the chicken at April 9, 2009 11:31 AM
dave, just pointing out that your superior attitude about the terribleness of the opsp site was badly misplaced. i'm not trying to monitor anything -- i would never presume to try to stop this incredibly useful dialogue of non-parents discussing child-rearing approaches with other non-parents!
rob, did you know that schizophrenia, autism and lower IQs are correlated with older fathers, and that children with older mothers generally performed higher on the cognitive measures? http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/health/10dads.html
Posted by: i disagree at April 9, 2009 11:31 AM
My parents had my sister and I when they were in their 40's. Yes there is research that says parents in the 40's may have a higher incidence of babies with problems. They also seem to give birth to kids with very high IQ's, proportionately more often. I don't really know if that's biological or a function of their greater life experiences.
On the other hand, I have yet to see any proof that the most well-adjusted and healthy kids come from younger mothers. Younger, and less experienced isn't a plus in raising a child. Love, dedication and caring are.
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 11:33 AM
quote:
children with older mothers generally performed higher on the cognitive measures?
yeah but they're still mad weird. seriously!
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 11:33 AM
(Head in hands, rocking gently back and forth...)
rob!
Posted by: Nokilissa at April 9, 2009 11:35 AM
quote:
. They also seem to give birth to kids with very high IQ's,
no. they just THINK their babies have very high IQ's. big diff!!
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 11:38 AM
oh dear, i disagree. I had an older mother and an older father. That must explain it :-)
But I think there are useful things to be said by us non parental units. None of us live in a vacuum so it's in everyone's best interest to hear each other out, I think.
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 11:39 AM
Nokilissa, he seems pretty well adjusted when you meet him in person at the brownstoner get togethers.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2009 11:39 AM
i dont know how to place myself in the old egg thingie and the whole nature versus nurture issue. i came from a teenage egg but was raised by and old woman lol
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 11:40 AM
I like the parent with the bumpersticker:
"My high school kid can beat up yours."
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2009 11:40 AM
I live near Packer and I see what I think are Grandparents dropping off small children and then I hear the say "Dad" or "Mom" - I must say it freaks me out. Full disclousure I am a parent in my 30's.
Posted by: james_bong at April 9, 2009 11:41 AM
rob- since you are the poster child for shallow and unfocused I hardly think you're in any position to point fingers. Or make neurological pronouncements.
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 11:41 AM
ITS ABOUT DIRT FOLKS!
NOT AGE OF PARENTS!
my father was 42, my mother was 32 - and I am fine!
bxgrl - she's fine too!
Posted by: gemini10 at April 9, 2009 11:41 AM
kisses, gemini.thanks.
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 11:42 AM
32 is borderline gemini so of course some people will emerge okay and some will not.
*rob*
okay lunchies time!!! wendy's watered down chili again!
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 11:44 AM
"sorry. my old egg theory always seems to ruffle feathers :(
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 11:29 AM"
Sorry Rob, your "theory" appears to have come out of the same place as my eggs.
http://www.biotechnews.com.au/article/279610/old_mum_good_old_dad_bad
Posted by: the chicken at April 9, 2009 11:45 AM
wow, those park slope parents sure are ridiculous. how dare they use the internet to share information about schools, babysitters, doctors, etc.? look at them wasting all that effort on the worthless goal of doing what's best for their kids.
for a better example of how the internet should be used, everyone should check out the open thread, where you can post comments all day discussing comments that are being posted elsewhere on brownstoner! now THAT'S getting the most out of the internet!
Posted by: z at April 9, 2009 11:48 AM
what do they call someone who graduates last in their class in med school?
Answer: Doctor.
What do they call someone who got a psych degree?
Answer: rob, luv ya man but take on for the team. Jesus Christ.
Posted by: infinitejester at April 9, 2009 11:49 AM
the teenage egg you came from was obviously borderline, rob. That could explain you because most well adjusted and healthy are not adjectives I'd use to describe you. But that's just my mother's old eggs talking, I guess.
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 11:49 AM
Z - that's actually funny - touche'
Rob - gimme a break! 32 is borderline?
Man you crazeeeeeeeeee!
Posted by: gemini10 at April 9, 2009 11:50 AM
he can't, infinitejester. His ego always outguns his capabilities.
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 11:52 AM
Perhaps Rob means that women's bodies are better at birthing babies before the age of 30 - which is in fact true. Everything is younger etc etc
but to say that babies from older parents come out "mad weird" is plain crazy
Posted by: gemini10 at April 9, 2009 11:57 AM
Every time I read something *Rob* posts I hear *just Jack* (Will&Grace) saying it.
Are they the same person?
Posted by: rukiddingme at April 9, 2009 12:01 PM
rob makes pronouncments on anything and everything. He veers from gross stupidity to extremely intelligent but lately he seems very much in love with the sound of his own opinion and I find his commentary on older parents insulting and ignorant. Not to belabor the point my iq is close to 150. My sister's around 130. I have other friends with older parents whose iq's are 160. Yes, its easier for a younger woman to give birth but inane commentary from a guy with a degree in psychology from Blather Online University is hardly in a position to pretend to be a biogeneticist.
Rant over- sorry gemini.
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 12:04 PM
pretty close, rukiddingme :-)
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 12:08 PM
You guys make me laugh. You are all currently using brownstoner.com to get information from experienced home owners, share the horrors of owning or renting in NY, recommend contractors, gardeners, plumbers, trade used items, look for good places to eat, get info about crime in your area, etc. Our parents did just fine owing a home or renting without the help of brownstoner.com and yet ya'll still come looking here practially every day for info on how to get by living in Brooklyn.
-Exactly what the Park Slope Parents are doing on their website except its about parenting.
You're all a bunch of hypocrites.
BTW - when I lived in PS I never used the PSP website. I did just fine.
Posted by: italiana71 at April 9, 2009 12:09 PM
hahahahhahaha bxgrl -
I like Rob's posts most of the time b/c they are blunt and funny - but this one ruffled me up b/c I don't think that's the reason why we have more kids with autism and other auto-immune diseases
how do you find out your IQ?
Posted by: gemini10 at April 9, 2009 12:09 PM
quote:
my iq is close to 150
alol. stop it, youre killing me bxgirl!
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 12:14 PM
i never said being an old egg causes any of that. all i did was state that in my 32 years as a human being on the planet Earth, everyone i've encountered who came from an old egg had something slightly off about that. and that "off" covers a lot of stuff btw. it doesnt mean they dont have outlandishly high iqs like bxgirl (lol) or they arent well adjusted people (hells i KNOW that more kids from teenage parents wind up being screw-ups), that's not my point, some of you completely missed my point, which is fine cuz half the time i have no idea what some of you are talking about either.
here's the thing. eggs are finite and the egg you came from has been inside of a woman since birth. the longer that egg has been around the more amount of psychic energy and various other phenomena affect it. physical, mental, psychological, yes even psychic and paranormal, but i dont wanna get all x files or anything here.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 12:19 PM
The schools did the tests. They don't tell you the numbers but a friend of mine worked in the principlas office and he sneaked a look at the records. My tests put my parents in a tailspin because my grades were poor and it was the ifrst time people realized my hearing was bad. I couldn't hear in class.
---------------------------
italiana- what's up with that? What do you think blogs are for? I don't think we actually come looking for advice- feedback is more like it. It would be pretty foolish to make decisions based on what's posted here and most of us know it. We do try to get different viewpoints. We do it for fun-that's all it is. What made you so upset and call us hypocrites?
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 12:21 PM
oh wow bxgirl, twinsies! im actually more than half deaf in my right ear. i had a few surgeries as a kid but it didnt seem to do much. my hearing was very bad as a kid then it seemed normal for a while. then in 8th grade i had another operation and i dont think it did anything. (not even sure what they did tho). oddly i went completely deaf in my one ear right after i graduated college, it was seriously scary. then it came back partially after a few weeks. i probably made it worse cuz as a kid i used to always stick things in my right ear when i was upset. (wow that sounds strange saying it out loud!)
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 12:25 PM
keep laughing rob. Mine's documented and in the triple digits. I'd assess you at- to be kind- 100. Maybe 155 but certainly just average. FYI- 150 is not outlandish. 160- 180 is. But you wouldn't know that because well... because you're you. Sitck to what you know- your posts yesterday on K-Y jelly is about right for you.
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 12:30 PM
Rob- how did you damage your ear? Busted eardrums will do that, sometimes if you swim in deep water. Is it still bad? You could try out a hearing aid- you like music, and I know loss of hearing in one ear seriously affects that.
(see- we can be civilized :-)
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 12:33 PM
145 would be three standard deviations above the mean on the IQ scare. there is no way you are well above three standard deviations above the mean. that would put you in like the .01 top percentile of the kind of intelligence the iq test measures. i simply cannot accept it. i think someone was pulling your leg when they just "happened to come across some files."
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at April 9, 2009 12:36 PM
BREAKING NEWS—
The “original” group just posted that there is yet ANOTHER group!
The Free Park Slope Parents
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFREEParkSlopeParents/
To subscribe, send a blank message to: TheFREEParkSlopeParents-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Posted by: brokemother at April 9, 2009 12:36 PM
bxgril, feedback,advice - same difference. People post questions asking for advice and others will respond with advise or share their experiences. Same goes with these parenting webistes. Its the same thing no matter how you slice it.
As for name calling - one good insult deserves another. When you allude to the fact in your early posts that parents don't know what their doing today, as a parent it can be a little insulting. But hey we're New Yorkers here, whats a good argument without a little mud slinging :>. But I offer my appoligies if I insulted you.
Just for the record - when I lived in PS I used to hang around a group of moms that whenever someone did something over the top we would say "stop being such a park slope mom" The funny thing is many of them still live in the slope and still say that and find the stereotypical Park Slope mom annoying. So not all PS moms are bad.
Posted by: italiana71 at April 9, 2009 12:36 PM
rob- we need to take this to the open thread. Someone posted complaining that there isn't enough angst on there today.
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 12:36 PM
italiana- I alluded to no such thing. Nor did I sling mud (except at rob). I have no idea what you are referring to but i didn't take what you said as an insult. I was just wondering why you got so annoyed with the blog in general.
-------------------------------------
rob- I can't account for your ignorance- I can only attest to it. In fact, the principal called my parents in for a consultation about it. Since you don't know me or anything about me, let me just say i don't waste my time or intelligence on people like you. Frankly, in looking at your posts these past months I can hardly credit you with having a degree in anything except self puffery and mental diarrhea.
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 12:44 PM
You didn't allude to it but others did. It just sounded so hypocritical because we're doing the same thing on this board as what the park slope parents are doing their board - just different topics. But honestly I really could care less because I don't really take to heart comments about parenting from people who never had children.
The same way a person who owns dogs should not take any comments I make about dogs too seriously because I have never owned a dog in my life. And believe me dog owners can be just as bad as parents - yoga for dogs, organic food for dogs, strollers for dogs, psychotherapy for dogs, doggie day care, doggie school, etc. I find a lot of it ridiculous, but who am to say - I've never owned a dog.
Posted by: italiana71 at April 9, 2009 12:57 PM
me either, but I'm looking for a good cat analyst, if you know one. :-)
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 1:07 PM
Is everyone from park slope a fucking moron?
Posted by: Xander Crews at April 9, 2009 1:26 PM
I got my laugh of the day here. Once again, people spouting off to hear the sound of their own voices.
Posted by: tiptoe at April 9, 2009 1:56 PM
The Rebel Alliance? Does that make the original pay-to-play PSP group the Death Star? Who are the Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine (sp?) of this galactic battle?
Posted by: sixyearsandcounting at April 9, 2009 2:27 PM
Coming to this thread late in the day.
I have to say that it reads worse than the PSP itself.
No joke.
Italiana71 sounds right on to me.
Posted by: 11217 at April 9, 2009 2:40 PM
Rob: tsk tsk, you should have known better than to insult older parents in New York City. To quote George Carlin, that's like walking into the headquarters of the National Organization for Women and yelling, "hey, which one of you cupcakes wants to come home with me, cook me a steak, and give me a BJ?" You kind of asked for it Rob. (early to mid 30s parent here, by way of full disclosure)
And the IQ obsession just cracks me up. It comes from the same place as the infinite supply of "gifted" kids around here. IQ scores are regularly used for social validation by white people across the Northeastern United States (and parts of California). They are also almost impossible to verify, which makes them very subject to grade inflation (how many times did you have to take that online test to get 150, bxgrl?). I love watching insecure idiots buy expensive things that promise to raise their kids' IQs.
In case anyone missed by judgmental posts the other day about how to raise kids, here's a recap:
- Stop thinking your kids are gifted. Chances are they are no more gifted than you are (although your parents may have started the chain by lying to you and telling you that you are gifted). Your kids are probably normal. Get over it. You might be able to help yourself adjust by teaching them to beat up kids who have been convinced by their parents that they are gifted.
- DIBS is right. Let your kids eat dirt.
- You kid does not want to learn French. You want your kid to learn French because you are an obnoxious social climber. Your kid wants to jump in mud puddles and eat cookies.
- Hey hippie - I vaccinated your kid when you weren't looking.
- Whether your kids' elementary school has great "academics" will probably have no impact on whether they grow up to be happy and healthy and well adjusted adults. When your kid grows up he will remember whether you taught him how to bait a fish hook or balance a check book or throw a baseball or whittle a stick or bake a potato. He will clearly remember if you just loved him for who he is. But he will also remember (perhaps over and over again on a therapist's couch) if you pushed him too hard in academics and made him feel dumb because you are an obnoxious social climber who insists on holding your child out to the world as academically gifted.
Posted by: lechacal at April 9, 2009 3:09 PM
Lech - spot on man and I don't have kids - but when I do, I will probably think mine are the bestest!
let em eat dirt and eat cookies - hopefully together and you are right - I thank my mother for teaching me how to cook and drive and sorta resent her for pushing me to take French Horn Lessons as a fat kid growing up - not a good look!
haha!
Posted by: gemini10 at April 9, 2009 3:16 PM
lol at all this.
Next week, let's have the thread where people who don't have dogs tell dog owners how to take care of their pooch.
Posted by: northsloperenter at April 9, 2009 3:38 PM
no lechacal, I got my score legitmately but good of you to snipe. Real smart. And the only reason I even mentioned it was to make a point to rob, and for no other reason. I always assumed most posters on brownstoner are in the same iq ballpark or higher so I was in no way bragging.
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 4:02 PM
"I always assumed most posters on brownstoner are in the same iq ballpark or higher so I was in no way bragging.
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 4:02 PM"
that is not an assumption that someone with a 150+ iq would make. mwahahaha....
Posted by: the chicken at April 9, 2009 4:35 PM
Well, actually I did say close to 150 -I'm not over the 150 mark :-)
Posted by: bxgrl at April 9, 2009 4:40 PM
Hey lechacal - again, not sure you're still reading, but wanted to send my congrats on the new baby. Wonderful news!
I think I share your parenting style (I have little ones as well). I'm not into the whole "gifted and talented" thing, and I believe kids need plenty of unstructured time (though limits & discipline too of course), and mainly lots of love, more than any kind of fancy academics or extra-curricular activities. The whole craze to get them on the Harvard track from age 2 (if not in utero) is ridiculous, if not sad. And I think a bit of dirt boosts the immune system!
Posted by: Miss Muffett at April 9, 2009 8:48 PM
Oh, and I believe in vaccinations, as a matter of public health. Though I will stick my neck out and say that, while I did not do this, I respect those who may wish to space the vaccinations out for what can be good reasons. Alas, I do think the vaccination schedule (not the vaccinations themselves, which are very important) are more a function of our screwed up public health system than what is optimal for kids. I can see why someone would want to have some time between some of the heavier duty shots (esp hep) though I just put my kids through the standard schedule.
Posted by: Miss Muffett at April 9, 2009 9:22 PM
Lechacal, I think I remember disagreeing with you on real estate, but on parenting, you've got all the right infoz.
Now, word to the wise: all that time you have while precious unique snowflake naps? Don't spend it looking up kid stuff on the internets, even if bored. Trust me, no good can come from it.
(And that is also the answer to why people use the internet for parenting information: it's there, it's free and it's easy and you live your life in ten-minute increments for like the first two years.)
Posted by: Heather at April 9, 2009 9:29 PM
There are actually three splinter groups already. Good luck to them!
Posted by: mrswynn at April 10, 2009 8:37 AM
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Manna
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Miracle Grill
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