William ChopsWestfield wrote:

>>> You don't have children who use the internet, do you?  The fear is
>>> not identity theft, but actual physical danger.
>>
>> This is silly.  He isn't some child home alone.
> 
> How do you know that?  

Sometimes it's good to go back to the origins... From the OP's first post
on this thread:

> And just in case you might wonder just what I am doing, let me just say
> that my college education got interupted when the family grew
> unexpectedly, and that now I am an associate manager at a place that
> does a lot of business around lunchtime.  But I have a little corner of
> the bedroom in the apartment that I can use for a workshop, and by
> agreement with my wife the time between 8 PM (after the baby goes to
> sleep) and midnight (when I go to sleep) is mine to further my
> self-education.

Doesn't sound like a child home alone... interrupted college education,
growing family, wife and kid (not to speak of the style)  :)


>> If you're really that paranoid, get a PO box.
> 
> Not doable by 'kids.'

But usually kids have parents, at least as long as they are considered
kids. These can get PO boxes or other delivery addresses. Or use an address
from a friend, neighbor, relative.


> Now, the easiest thing to do is invoke parental cooperation, and GET the
> necessary permission, or have them do things for you.  But that can be
> easier said than done (or at least it can appear easier said than done
> to 12y-olds...)

I'm not sure I get it either. Olin is not some anonymous guy out there.
I've never met him, and can't vouch for any of his personal traits, but I
know I would buy a programmer from him any time if I needed one that
matches one that he sells. So what is exactly the difference between a kid
that starts with electronics or robotics buying a programmer (from Olin or
from Digikey, probably through their parents) and that kid getting one for
free from Olin (or from Digikey)? 

Or are you saying parents with kids shouldn't buy stuff for their kids?
It's not that obvious with a PIC programmer, but it's quite obvious with
toys. Anyone who wants a database of addresses with kids just needs a temp
job at Toys'r'Us or something similar.


So what is the problem here? Giving out your address may be a problem, but
you do that in /many/ occasions -- for example, whenever you buy something
and have it delivered to you. What's the difference between someone buying
a robotics kit for kids online and have it shipped to his place and giving
Olin his address for him to send a free programmer?

Gerhard

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