An Ounce of Prevention

My father raised us on the maxim, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Though few will disagree with this proverb, we’re smothering the greatest concerns of our day with cure and leaving the bottle of prevention untouched on the shelf. I’m talking about internet safety.

My greatest childhood memories were learning to do dangerous things in a safe way. When my dad taught me to mow the lawn, he made sure that I understood not to put my hands or feet down near the blades. When he taught me how to use the edger, I had to wear protective eye-wear. When he taught me how to drive a motorboat, I learned to prop up the engine before pulling the boat out. Our most entertaining family nights were when we pulled out the old plastic rope ladder and practiced our back-up fire plan of climbing out the second-story window.

Unfortunately, despite parents best hopes to protect their children, some of the greatest dangers, those of the internet, go largely unaddressed. We put the computer in an public place, we install filters, we check browser histories, but these things are all cures, not preventions. It would be like taking the time to program 9-1-1 into your speed dial for when your child chops his hand up in the lawn mower rather than taking the time to warn of the danger itself.

Don’t get me wrong, cures are important. But prevention is better. Learning about the internet and teaching children of its dangers is the most important practice we can employ to steer clear of online mishaps. Before reaching for the bottle of cure, let’s use a little more prevention.