UK kid sees porn in Apple Store, mum freaks
Store personnel say that there’s little they can do to prevent little Suzy or Johnny from being potentially exposed to graphic representations of the very acts that were part or parcel of their conception. The hand wringing mother in question is shocked and demands the company implement a nanny policy.
Echo News reports Helen Goodman, 37, said her daughter, Eleanor, was left shocked after innocently looking at an iPod touch on display at the Apple store. Apparently, another store patron called up the content and left it running or otherwise on display for anyone to find and be irreparably scarred for life by.
“She picked up one of the demo models and it was playing pornographic material,” said Mrs Goodman. “I called to complain, and was told matter of factly by staff this happens a lot as people come in and download it for a laugh.
“I don’t find it funny and all my friends think it’s disgusting, but Apple say there is nothing they can do to stop it.”
Thereupon, the miffed mum said that if Apple cannot guaranty 100 percent internet safety, they should institute a policy requiring minors be supervised while using the internet while in the Apple Store.
Be considerate and flush after using…
Apparently, irony isn’t Mrs. Goodman’s strong suit as Eleanor’s safety is her responsibility both inside and outside the home. Thereupon, if mum can’t be relied upon to supervise her child what expectation can she have that Apple can or should, really?
This is a case that can be likened to lewd images and/or suggestions written, painted or carved onto the walls of a public bathroom. Management and parental vigilance just aren’t gonna be enough to secure the bathroom stalls or the internet, let alone the whole planet from perves and pranksters.
There’s also the issue of what constitutes pornographic material, which is definitely an “eye of the beholder” judgment that varies greatly between nations and regions, not to mention the dog’s breakfast of religionists walking the street in any given place.
What do you think Apple’s responsibility is in this case? Perhaps devices that reset after a user walks away or are left unattended for a few moments in much the same way auto-flushing toilets don’t give people the chance to forget…
What’s your take?
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September 21st, 2009
This is so funny.
I think this sums it up nicely though
“Apparently, irony isn’t Mrs. Goodman’s strong suit as Eleanor’s safety is her responsibility both inside and outside the home. Thereupon, if mum can’t be relied upon to supervise her child what expectation can she have that Apple will?”
I don’t exactly know what she expects apple to do though. I mean if they have parental controls turned on people can turn them off (unless they’re locked by admins)
September 22nd, 2009
Actually, it’s pretty easy. Configure the devices for the store’s WiFi and put in a proxy/gateway device like Webwasher (now owned by McAfee) that restricts questionable content.
I agree about the irony, but in generally I don’t see why the store employees couldn’t reset the devices between customers. That would work on all but the busiest of days.
September 23rd, 2009
Even childrens’ toys have a “demo mode” that is used while the product is on display in the store. Surely Apple could easily program a “demo mode” which flushes content and resets after motion detector remains still for a set length of time and requires an admin password to switch it on/off.
As parents, we can’t strap our kids to our hip. Especially when they get to be 10+ years old. Society should be watching out for all of our kids and a business that knows this is a problem should, at a minimum, post a sign alerting parents that unrestricted internet content is available on these devices. Some parents just aren’t savvy enough to know that a little hand held device is a full-blown internet browser.
And yes, restricting web access isn’t that difficult. I would think that one of the biggest computer companies in the world could figure it out.
October 4th, 2009
Parents,
Stop relying on other people to police your kids. It’s a job you volunteered for when you had them. Despite what some of you say to yourselves, no, it is not a duty, or unpreventable. It is a choice.
Those of us who have chosen not to have kids chose not to volunteer for the ‘nanny police’ job. We sure as hell won’t be forced into it by you not doing your job.
October 4th, 2009
I understand wanting to ‘protect’ your children being a father of three… but you also have to use common sense and think in a practical manner. We can’t (nor should we) keep our children in protective plastic bubbles… thus we should create strong, smart, thoughtful children who understand context and boundaries and personal responsibility and that the world is an imperfect place… and that it’s OK that it is.
October 4th, 2009
PeopleSearches.com
October 4th, 2009
Thanks for pointing out what should have been obvious, the irony. Yes, yes, yes… isn’t it just like some to blame others for what they themselves are guilty of.
October 4th, 2009
Apple store patrons are apparently pervs. She should have gone to a family friendly store.
Now that would be a good Microsoft “Laptop Hunters” advertisement.
October 4th, 2009
Rich,
Per your logic, there would be no standards for the public arena.
That would be an interesting world to live in. I am sure that there are items that you would be happy not to encounter walking down the street.
October 4th, 2009
Apple is not the problem, the situation is a symptom of the larger problem of porn on the internet being readily accessible by children. This is a problem that could easily be prevented, but the international community has jointly decided to ignore it.
The mother is absolutely right, kids should not have easy and unrestricted access to porn whenever they are not right by her side. Those who fault the mother as being somehow irresponsible for having the expectation that she should not have to follow all or her children around wherever they go until they are 18 so that she can stop the bombardment of porn are idiots.