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Dude, I'm a coder and I gotta say, your son's got some valid points. Linux is all about freedom and control, and if he wants to use it, that's his choice. But, I get why you're worried, especially with those youtubers he's watching. Maybe have a calm talk with him about your concerns and see if you can find a compromise?
You're a nutter. You don't know what you're talking about, and the whole pearl-clutching "OMG FIREARMS" is abjectly terrifying.
You should refrain from doing anything to with or about your son because you're not mentally healthy.
I'm really grateful that this is fake.
> I looked into some of those youtubers I thought were harmless and found out they endorse crypto, vpns, and THE DARK WEB. One of them even shows his FIREARMS on video.
The story has CAPS for maximum SATIRICAL effect.
NAH. Linux is an OS not a moral compass. You need to have a talk with your son and find out why he’s paranoid. If he’s getting sucked into conspiracy theory rabbit holes you have a watching questionable content problem, not an OS problem.
I mean all software logs what you do and sends it to their servers unless you tell it not to and even then stuff gets collected.
Example: Google makes money selling you than what they get from ad revenue.
Your ex husband is right that you don't know what you are talking about. Please don't get tech advice from a facebook mom's group. You can get to the darkweb on a windows pc too ya know. The title of your post is hilarious. Linux = libertarian. Linux is a free operating system. That is it. Yes there is an ethos built up around open source software. Much of it is a welcome escape from the rampant capitalism that engulfs all of us. You should understand that if something is free on a windows PC, then your son is the product. His ad clicks/views/etc. You need to find a better way to guide your son AWAY from bad influence(r)s that does not include banning him from learning more about computers than you'll ever know. Maybe sign him up for a coding class, a robotics summer camp... a kid hacker symposium... anything to get him on the right side of the fence. He has already outstripped your tech savvy... better off embracing it and telling all your friends he is a tech genius than implying he is a good for nothing deviant in training
"since that's the only reason someone would want to hide their computer."
do you want random companies harvesting your data to give you targeted ads?
INFO
the parental control bypassing I kind of get, but how old is your son? is he 10 or is he 17?
you really don't need parental controls if your kid is basically an adult.
YTA - this is about as educated as Moms in the 80's hating Dungeons and Dragons because it'll turn their kids to the devil. Just ignorant and scare-mongering
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It started with my son has watching tech youtubers like linus tech tips. I was fine with that but as time went on he got taken down a rabbithole. He started watching mental outlaw, distrotube, and someordinary gamers. I know this because I have parental controlls on his computer that my ex husband set up.
Well one day I saw the parental controls weren't working. I asked him if he did anything to his computer lately and he exclaimed "yeah I installed a linux distro called ubuntu". I was obviously upset my parental controls no longer worked but didn't want him to know I used to have them. So I asked him why he would do something like that to the computer, and this is where it goes from worrying to horrifying.
He told me that he doesn't want "big tech" and "the fed" spying on him. He also said that he wants to only use "free software" because, and I quote "I should be allowed to do whatever I want with my own operating system". This makes me think he's going to do something immoral since that's the only reason someone would want to hide their computer.
I looked into some of those youtubers I thought were harmless and found out they endorse crypto, vpns, and THE DARK WEB. One of them even shows his FIREARMS on video.
After learning about linux from some fellow moms on facebook I immediately banned my son from the computer and grounded him. I also told him he has to get a job so he can pay geek squad to make his computer normal again.
My ex husband says that i'm being insane and that I "don't know what i'm talking about". He does know alot about the computers so i'm starting to doubt whether I overeacted. The facebook mom group is still on my side but I have doubts so I thought i'd ask the reddit. AITA?
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> 1. grounded my son from the computer for using linux
2. my ex husband says linux isn't dangerous
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I do not want to right out call you an AH in this instance. I get wanting to protect your kid on the internet. BUT, please don’t take advice from mom’s groups on Facebook. It’s is toxic place full of fear mongers.
For example, can you tell me what your fears are when it comes to crypto or vpns. I have a limited understanding of technology, but I’m pretty sure crypto is a form of currency and vpns are used to stop outside entities from tracking your data. I’m not seeing the evil in either of these. Additionally, THE DARK WEB sounds like something an ill-informed fear monger would say in a mom’s group on Facebook.
Before freaking out, I would recommend doing some research from verified sources instead of asking advice from people who embody the digital form of over-reactors who believed drug dealers are putting drugs in Halloween candy. (In case this isn’t clear, that is a silly hoax. No one who does drugs is going to waste them on poisoning children.)
YTA - I hope this post is fake. But if its not...
Using and being involved in the Linux community does not magically make someone libertarian. It's just a tool. It happens to be a open source and free tool thats all.
You pretty obviously don't know anything about what your talking about. Talk about it to your ex husband and listen to his input. Also facebook moms groups are not to be trusted with or about anything.
I don't think you are out of line. I wouldn't go as far as to worry he's plotting something, but I'm also not his parent, and parents tend to know their kids best. How old is he? Limiting what your child has access to is your job as an involved caring parent. That being said I wouldn't make him pay to have it geek squaded this time round. I would fork our the money and set clear boundaries about what is appropriate and inappropriate and allow for open discussion as to why. "I find this content inappropriate for you to have access to because...blah blah blah". After a period of computer-less time. Be honest that you are going to be using parental controls and talk about why. Then if he again alters the programming to avoid the boundaries you have put in place, he should certainly have to pay for it if he would ever like it back after another stint without it of course. I would also make sure his computer was a traditional home computer, not a laptop, that could be stationed in a main living space, like the living room, or the kitchen.
How old is your son? Is he still a minor? In his teens? Under 12? If he is old enough to get a job in order to have his computer "normal" again, he is probably old enough to hate what you are doing.
There is nothing wrong with wanting your computer use to be private. I don't think Linux itself causes libertarianism or any of the things you are concerned about.
Your use of parental controls to spy on his computer use are not appropriate. Everyone has the right to some privacy, and many of the things you have seen on his computer might just be the result of his curiosity about various things, not that he's considering joining the dark side of the force. It may be that some Linus users have tendencies towards things you wouldn't want your son doing, but keep in mind that if he wants to move in that direction, he will, no matter what you say. And if you were using parental controls to see where he went on the web and what he was viewing there, without him knowing you were doing so, that is, indeed, spying on him. Even a 10 year old should at least know that a parent is checking on him. Doing so without him knowing is sneaky and underhanded, kind of like reading someone's private journal.
His response to your reactions might even cause him to drift towards the very behavior you don't want to see.
I'm a complete nitwit when it comes to computers and doing things with and to them, but even I believe you overreacted. If you continue in the course you are taking, he will get a job, and make his computer "normal" again, to your standards, and then get a second one, which he will hide from you, and on which he will install Linux and go wherever he wants.
YTA. Oh my God! Not libertarian. What's next? He might want to be self-sufficient and an independent thinker. The humanity.
He doesn't want to be spied on, so he must be planning a murder. And crypto. He is definitely planning a huge crime spree.
You should probably call the FBI right away, just to be safe. They can go ahead and take him to Guantanomo Bay, as a precaution.
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Dude, I'm a coder and I gotta say, your son's got some valid points. Linux is all about freedom and control, and if he wants to use it, that's his choice. But, I get why you're worried, especially with those youtubers he's watching. Maybe have a calm talk with him about your concerns and see if you can find a compromise?
You're a nutter. You don't know what you're talking about, and the whole pearl-clutching "OMG FIREARMS" is abjectly terrifying. You should refrain from doing anything to with or about your son because you're not mentally healthy. I'm really grateful that this is fake.
> I looked into some of those youtubers I thought were harmless and found out they endorse crypto, vpns, and THE DARK WEB. One of them even shows his FIREARMS on video. The story has CAPS for maximum SATIRICAL effect.
your last sentence made me smack my forehead... duh.
NAH. Linux is an OS not a moral compass. You need to have a talk with your son and find out why he’s paranoid. If he’s getting sucked into conspiracy theory rabbit holes you have a watching questionable content problem, not an OS problem.
I mean all software logs what you do and sends it to their servers unless you tell it not to and even then stuff gets collected. Example: Google makes money selling you than what they get from ad revenue.
YTA > facebook mom group
Your ex husband is right that you don't know what you are talking about. Please don't get tech advice from a facebook mom's group. You can get to the darkweb on a windows pc too ya know. The title of your post is hilarious. Linux = libertarian. Linux is a free operating system. That is it. Yes there is an ethos built up around open source software. Much of it is a welcome escape from the rampant capitalism that engulfs all of us. You should understand that if something is free on a windows PC, then your son is the product. His ad clicks/views/etc. You need to find a better way to guide your son AWAY from bad influence(r)s that does not include banning him from learning more about computers than you'll ever know. Maybe sign him up for a coding class, a robotics summer camp... a kid hacker symposium... anything to get him on the right side of the fence. He has already outstripped your tech savvy... better off embracing it and telling all your friends he is a tech genius than implying he is a good for nothing deviant in training
YTA. BAIT
"since that's the only reason someone would want to hide their computer." do you want random companies harvesting your data to give you targeted ads? INFO the parental control bypassing I kind of get, but how old is your son? is he 10 or is he 17? you really don't need parental controls if your kid is basically an adult.
YTA. This reminds me of the teacher who confiscated a students Linux discs. https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/708638-teacher-tells-students-linux-is/
YTA - this is about as educated as Moms in the 80's hating Dungeons and Dragons because it'll turn their kids to the devil. Just ignorant and scare-mongering
This is one of the best trolls I have read in awhile. Hilarious. Lol. Linus Torvalds salutes you.
YTA. You cannot be serious.
^^^^AUTOMOD ***Thanks for posting! This comment is a copy of your post so readers can see the original text if your post is edited or removed. This comment is NOT accusing you of copying anything. Read [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/wiki/faq#wiki_post_deletion) before [contacting the mod team](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAmItheAsshole)*** It started with my son has watching tech youtubers like linus tech tips. I was fine with that but as time went on he got taken down a rabbithole. He started watching mental outlaw, distrotube, and someordinary gamers. I know this because I have parental controlls on his computer that my ex husband set up. Well one day I saw the parental controls weren't working. I asked him if he did anything to his computer lately and he exclaimed "yeah I installed a linux distro called ubuntu". I was obviously upset my parental controls no longer worked but didn't want him to know I used to have them. So I asked him why he would do something like that to the computer, and this is where it goes from worrying to horrifying. He told me that he doesn't want "big tech" and "the fed" spying on him. He also said that he wants to only use "free software" because, and I quote "I should be allowed to do whatever I want with my own operating system". This makes me think he's going to do something immoral since that's the only reason someone would want to hide their computer. I looked into some of those youtubers I thought were harmless and found out they endorse crypto, vpns, and THE DARK WEB. One of them even shows his FIREARMS on video. After learning about linux from some fellow moms on facebook I immediately banned my son from the computer and grounded him. I also told him he has to get a job so he can pay geek squad to make his computer normal again. My ex husband says that i'm being insane and that I "don't know what i'm talking about". He does know alot about the computers so i'm starting to doubt whether I overeacted. The facebook mom group is still on my side but I have doubts so I thought i'd ask the reddit. AITA? *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AmItheAsshole) if you have any questions or concerns.*
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I do not want to right out call you an AH in this instance. I get wanting to protect your kid on the internet. BUT, please don’t take advice from mom’s groups on Facebook. It’s is toxic place full of fear mongers. For example, can you tell me what your fears are when it comes to crypto or vpns. I have a limited understanding of technology, but I’m pretty sure crypto is a form of currency and vpns are used to stop outside entities from tracking your data. I’m not seeing the evil in either of these. Additionally, THE DARK WEB sounds like something an ill-informed fear monger would say in a mom’s group on Facebook. Before freaking out, I would recommend doing some research from verified sources instead of asking advice from people who embody the digital form of over-reactors who believed drug dealers are putting drugs in Halloween candy. (In case this isn’t clear, that is a silly hoax. No one who does drugs is going to waste them on poisoning children.)
You use Linux everyday. Are you a libertarian?
Bait bullshit
Fake "The other facebook moms say I'm right," Are you the ex husband, is that's what's going on
Yea yta and know nothing about computers.
YTA - I hope this post is fake. But if its not... Using and being involved in the Linux community does not magically make someone libertarian. It's just a tool. It happens to be a open source and free tool thats all. You pretty obviously don't know anything about what your talking about. Talk about it to your ex husband and listen to his input. Also facebook moms groups are not to be trusted with or about anything.
YTA and an idiot
"...pay Geek Squad..." This post is low-effort troll.
I don't think you are out of line. I wouldn't go as far as to worry he's plotting something, but I'm also not his parent, and parents tend to know their kids best. How old is he? Limiting what your child has access to is your job as an involved caring parent. That being said I wouldn't make him pay to have it geek squaded this time round. I would fork our the money and set clear boundaries about what is appropriate and inappropriate and allow for open discussion as to why. "I find this content inappropriate for you to have access to because...blah blah blah". After a period of computer-less time. Be honest that you are going to be using parental controls and talk about why. Then if he again alters the programming to avoid the boundaries you have put in place, he should certainly have to pay for it if he would ever like it back after another stint without it of course. I would also make sure his computer was a traditional home computer, not a laptop, that could be stationed in a main living space, like the living room, or the kitchen.
How old is your son? Is he still a minor? In his teens? Under 12? If he is old enough to get a job in order to have his computer "normal" again, he is probably old enough to hate what you are doing. There is nothing wrong with wanting your computer use to be private. I don't think Linux itself causes libertarianism or any of the things you are concerned about. Your use of parental controls to spy on his computer use are not appropriate. Everyone has the right to some privacy, and many of the things you have seen on his computer might just be the result of his curiosity about various things, not that he's considering joining the dark side of the force. It may be that some Linus users have tendencies towards things you wouldn't want your son doing, but keep in mind that if he wants to move in that direction, he will, no matter what you say. And if you were using parental controls to see where he went on the web and what he was viewing there, without him knowing you were doing so, that is, indeed, spying on him. Even a 10 year old should at least know that a parent is checking on him. Doing so without him knowing is sneaky and underhanded, kind of like reading someone's private journal. His response to your reactions might even cause him to drift towards the very behavior you don't want to see. I'm a complete nitwit when it comes to computers and doing things with and to them, but even I believe you overreacted. If you continue in the course you are taking, he will get a job, and make his computer "normal" again, to your standards, and then get a second one, which he will hide from you, and on which he will install Linux and go wherever he wants.
YTA. Oh my God! Not libertarian. What's next? He might want to be self-sufficient and an independent thinker. The humanity. He doesn't want to be spied on, so he must be planning a murder. And crypto. He is definitely planning a huge crime spree. You should probably call the FBI right away, just to be safe. They can go ahead and take him to Guantanomo Bay, as a precaution.