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I can definitely see the benefits. But my question is, do I trust the government enough not to abuse something like this?

Imagine being arrested because you made the mistake of picking a restaurant that is known for political dissenters.

@Kukushka: I see what you are saying about the gov possibly being able to use it as a tool to invade our lives, but in my oppinion I think this is one of those things were the pros out weigh the cons in my oppinion that is.

@wotfan: I also see what your saying and I think that password and such would also be a great idea to ensure like you saod that only family can track down the child. However what happens if its one of the childs parents that kidnappes them? Wouldnt they then be able to somehow chage the pw so you couldnt trake them down?



@everyone: Since the chip would have to go under the skin do you think that there is a surten sge that this would have to be done by that is if the parents chose to have their child chiped?

I don't buy into the ubergovernment conspiracies. I mean really, there's more strigent things than a simple microchip. I'm sure plenty of us have cell phones.

I think society is overfreaked about kidnappings, molestations, etc., it's all about the availability heuristic. What about the safe and good things occuring? I'm more worried about other people abusing this versus the government. It is confusing how one is angry when agencies want to put cameras on every corner and cross the lines of liberty and freedom, but it's okay to do this to our kids when it's the same thing.

I think your information is incorrect. I'm not sure about the techology of human microchip, but I think you are mixing up the technology used in pets and GPS systems. They are just used IF the lost dog is taken to a vet and scanned, not tracked down with a GPS used in the wild on, say, dolphins to track their travelling patterns. Not to mention how big that thing would be on a child to work effectively compared to their body sizes? In order to track down a pet like this, they do make GPS collars, but those aren't very small.



As for certain age, it really depends on the technology used. But why stop there? The military is working on a new body armor that is lightweight and can transmit body details (BP, temp, etc.) to a receiver and can also adjust to point blank bullet impact and distant ones. Why not put that on every child? I know a man who will not ride in any car without a helmet.
Where does the line of safety get drawn?

Well, I know they all ready are experimenting with the true microchips (without GPS) to contain medical information for those with allergies and the like. There's a lot of iffy things with it and really I think the pros and cons weigh about the same.

I do like the idea of the information being able to accessed in case of emergencies, but I wonder about the ease of abuse as well. I have a hard time equating microchips in children to, say, vaccines which is much more likely to occur.

No offense, but you don't know what goes through my head. wink Just because I don't think along the same lines doesn't mean I haven't thought of it or I'm a heartles b*****d, but I learned a long time ago, I can't let fear rule my life.

You're talking chips with GPS devices. I'm not an idiot, I'm aware this is a "whatif" scenario. If it wasn't, this whole conversation would be moot, of course. Yeah, I used to be that overanxious, overparanoid mom, but good common sense and teaching your children the same things go a LONG way. And your examples are really overexaggerated as well. Check out the statistics, the VAST majority of abductions are from family members and someone you know. It's not the brooding stranger in the night. I know my son's school, you have to be on a list and ALWAYS show ID when picking up and dropping your child off. I have alarm systems in my house. Unless the person has the SOLE purpose of taking my child, it's going to be a pretty damn hard thing to do. And if you're going to be freaked out over something that slim, what about the other dangers? Why not cover your child in Microban so they don't get sick? Silly, isn't it?

And the kidnappings/molestations, while it's sad and they do occur, they occur LESS than they did years ago. It's just the media has more attention on negative news. Check out the statistics. It's also not hard to neutralize GPS systems either. If someone is going to take the time and effort to kidnap your child in this extreme circumstance, they'll do their homework.

Yes, I think the information on a chip is a good idea, but the GPS thing is a bit silly, and you did ask for opinions. Availability heuristic, I tell ya. Common sense and teaching your kids safety is the best thing you can do. It's like those idiots who put their kids name, school, and activity on their car. They'd be the ones to get a chip and not teach their kid safety. If the arguement "If it saves one child, it's worth it" well what about other extreme measures?

@lunashock: I can see were your coming form and I made no attempet to say I could read your mind. However all I am saying is that if we have the tecnology to do these things why not? I am by no means saying that I would do it to my kids, I do think however that if we as a socity have the means to do this it should atleast be offered. Point blank if we can do it for our pets why not our kids?

@Designated Panda: I never once said that this chip could protect a kid from being molested because the only thing that can save a child from that expirence is haveing aware adults around them that want to keep them safe who are willing to look for the signs. I also understand your point about someone being able to remove the chip but just stop for a minute and think about it if you chiped your son who all would know about it?

I completely agree =3 You took the words right off my keyboard.