Do you think Yahoo Answers is replacing parents for some kids?

This is a very interesting question.

I sometimes think that we do replace their parents, and that is a bad thing - they could be learning better communication skills and getting closer to their parents if they asked them first. But I always encourage young people to go and talk to their parents, and I remind them that their parents are actually on their side. On the flip side, it can really help to give suggestions on *how* they tell their parents something difficult, as in what kind of wording to use, or whether to ask another family member to be present when they speak to them about whatever it is that's worrying or frightening them. I've even advised a young woman to write her mother a letter explaining the predicament she was in, as she said she was frightened of her reaction.

In summary, I think we are a very good force, like a team of angels nudging the troubled youngsters to take the right course of action, and to give them the confidence they need to take a deep breath and speak to mom or dad.

I was thinking the other day about how I would feel if my teenage daughter came to Yahoo instead of me, and to be honest I know I would feel as if I'd let her down in some way. I'm just good with young people though, so we're lucky in that way - she never goes to anyone else, and most of her friends always come to me before they go to their own moms. I wish all youngsters had that kind of relationship with their parents but the truth is, sometimes they don't, so here we all are, fluffing up our feathers and hopefully making life a little easier for both them, and (unwittingly) their parents.

There, I wrote an essay ; )

I think it's just a fast, easy and anonymous way for kids to find out if they are "normal". Most kids worry that what they are experiencing or feeling is simply something unique to them.

I don't recall asking my parents any of the things which the kids ask online here. I'm sure some of my friends had better relationships with their parents and were able to discuss things openly with them, but I doubt that they were the reigning norm.

When I was in university, I worked as a sex ed and peer group counselor and I was amazed at the number of phone calls which came in from young high school kids. So I guess that the internet replaces the hotlines. It's definitely faster and therefore fits into this generation of "no delay gratification" kids.

I say yes and no. Yes because it gives them a chance to be fearless when asking a question. No because the answers provided here aren't always accurate and so these kids might be getting the absolutely wrong information. It also takes away from the parent to child bonding that was once so important in the older days.

Yes, i dont have any problems asking an embarrassing question here. But, I wouldnt really ask my parents these. Like a while ago i answered a question about someone wanting to get emancipated, and I know they would not ask their mom that.

what is sex?

Hmmm, no. It's google actually that replacing parents for some kids.

If they were curious about sex, they would first visit google instead of YA.

not any more than television