Alright guys, I think he's heard what people are saying, whichever way he chooses to feel about it. Anything more just starts to sound like preaching.
Hell, I've said my piece to him a number of times over the time he's been here. He can choose to act whichever way he chooses, but at least I said what I felt I needed to say. But you know, I like LMA. I find him to be a good kid who's got plenty of intelligence, but who is a product of his environment (and yes, I'm afraid for the youth of America too). It's by and large a wasteland of apathy and anger and disillusionment. I'm pretty sure that after this year's over and he goes off to college, things will start to fall into place and he'll look back and, if he's still here, we'll see a change, and he'll see a change. This is life.
One thing I know for sure is that if you really want to help someone, you need to try to see something from their perspective. The best way to make a lasting impression is to try to offer advice free of judgment. He's a lot more likely to listen to what I said tonight because I took the time to try to understand his perspective, and I offered advice (as opposed to enforcing advice).
It's also important not to turn your advice into ego-stroking, also known as elitism. Yeah, I find the way he types most stuff to be annoying. But it's the way the kids are communicating online these days. It doesn't have any bearing on his intelligence. It COULD if you see someone typing that way, but to assume that it does (and then to turn it into insults) is not only counterproductive, it's hurtful and shortsighted. If nothing else, why would you ever expect someone to take a word of what you say to heart if you're calling them an idiot? What was even the point of posting it then? Just to hurt someone's feelings?
I've seen over the years a number of posters begin as children and become great posters. And in several cases in particular, they've ended up thanking us for the guidance we've given. LMA's made a lot of progress already. He's a good kid so like I said before, there's nothing wrong with disagreeing or stating your opinion or offering honest advice or warnings. But taking it to preaching or especially to personal attacks is just simply not cool, and only makes things worse.
