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posted by Fnord666 on Monday August 28 2017, @07:24PM   Printer-friendly
from the get-their-attention dept.

Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:

Kids have always been a little difficult.

Technology may have made things worse, as the young tend to know more about tech than their parents do.

They know, for example, how to ignore mom and dad and do whatever they like.

Nick Herbert found this a touch frustrating.

Kids have a habit of simply not replying to texts. Not because they're bad kids, but, well, they're doing something more interesting on the phone -- like playing a game.

So, as CBS News reports, Herbert conceived ReplyASAP. This is an app (currently available only on Android) that forces your child to address your texts.

By annoying the living hell out of them.

[...] Herbert insists that ReplyASAP is meant to be used only in emergencies. This isn't about annoying your kids all the time, however tempting that might be.

Indeed, he told me that it's not about forcing your child to reply. Instead, he said: "It is simply a means of getting an important message to the child, even when they have their phone on silent, and for the parent to know they have seen it."

[Ed Note - Updated Google Play link to correct a typo]

-- submitted from IRC


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  • (Score: 2) by pkrasimirov on Tuesday August 29 2017, @07:35AM

    by pkrasimirov (3358) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday August 29 2017, @07:35AM (#560706)

    I generally agree with the sanctioned "break DnD" approach. My take is: text (SMS) is FYI not requiring a response or confirmation. Phone call is for questions and guaranteed delivery. Think UDP and TCP.

    > if someone died, I'd just have them paged through the office.
    The apropriate approach would be a proper face to face conversation. Yes, it is not urgent. A person in a hospital, on other hand, might be, but still a phone call would be my choice. The emotional feedback from my child, if any, is important to receive.

    > [...] the neighbor is picking them up a bit earlier [...] my kids [...] just haven't looked at their phone yet.
    Again, I'm just sharing my approach here, not claiming to be the definitive guide. And I'm talking 12+ y.o. kids. I'd call them (each of them!) and get confirmation they understood and agreed. Skipping the second part is easy but unfair. What if some kid doesn't want to go home then and opt for the bus instead? Neither the neighbour should wait nor the kid should feel guilty. If I want to mandate the returning hour that's a reason for a dialogue. And last, if nobody picked the call (a single one), I'd shoot a text FYI. If they want to argue about it it's their initiative now. In any case I'd warn the neighbour to wait no longer than 5 min, after it is a favor and I don't want to abuse their time. If any kid didn't show in time, well, bus/walk time for them. Makes them bear the consequences for their behavior.

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