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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Apok" data-source="post: 491058" data-attributes="member: 1969">In regards to Ben Stein's decisions in this matter...None of us know (unless some of you guys are omnipotent and never told me) exactly what Mr. Stein went through with his kid prior to him shipping him off to boarding school.  He very well may have taken time off from his job (whatever it is that he does) and other things to be with his son and try & correct the problem.  Just because he doesn't mention it specifically in the interview doesn't mean he didn't do it, so don't try to cut'n'paste snippets.So, with this in mind, I side with jaerdaph only in the sense that I feel that many parents don't feel a terrible ammount of responsibility for raising their children.  We have alot of working parents in this country who are trying to balance a career, a mortgage (sp?), car payments, food, clothing, and raising 2.5 children to be productive members of society.  I feel that many of them tend to "pass the buck" off to others to take care of/watch their children for them so they can do other things that are important to them.  This kinda goes along with jaerdaph's mention of the 70's "Me" mentality.  Because of this, I feel that some parents have grown lazy and complacant and want to nerf the rest of the world so they can leave their child by himself and not worry about his personal, physical, and mental saftey.  These are unrealistic expectations.HOWEVER,I also think that, while it is good for a parent to put his own personal wants and needs aside for his child, especially if it's to help him out of some kind of crisis (much like Ben's own son was suffering), I think it takes even more courage for such a parent to admit that he can't do it on his own, that he needs help.  Ben Stein admitted that he couldn't help his child himself and he needed help.  Go Ben.  So, as ByronD was (I think) trying to imply, there are some things that a parent just can't handle and they need to realize this and know when to ask for the help of others.  Now, did Ben make the right decision in keeping his son in this school for a period of several years?  I don't know.  I don't know just how bad his condition was and I doubt anyone here does either because we don't know Ben's son.  Maybe Ben was just overreacting or maybe he wasn't.  I think the point I'm trying to make is that we shouldn't jump to conclusions or point fingers at anyone without knowing more about the situation.  Lets face it, people, all we know is what was posted in that interview/news blurb, and I'd hardly call that a triple-cited scientific resarch document, so don't read so much into it.  By the way, I also think that Mr. Stein's comment about the "demon in everquest" was uncalled for.  There's nothing wrong with the game, Ben, the problem is with the kids who play it.</blockquote>

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