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Ask HN: How can I make YouTube load very slow and buffer a lot?

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Re: Ask HN: How can I make YouTube load very slow and buffer a lot?

#11

Post by Snowalker »

davismwfl wrote: post #8
Snowalker wrote: post #6

I tried an honest conversation but he is back to his old habits. I like to see him happy and I like him to feel unrestricted but he watches these teenagers everyday and some of them speak pretty bad and do bad stuff. All I want to keep him away from this.

I have an 18yo boy and 2 pre-teen daughters. Kids will do what you allow them to do, youtube isn't the issue cause he'd just find a different site/game etc. I am no yard stick for anyone to measure to, but I would suggest that your desire to have him feel unrestricted is the issue. Kids need boundaries, they need restrictions, they need discipline (not beatings, just rules and limits). Do they complain about it? Sure…

Thanks for putting so much in your comment, I really appreciate it especially since is coming from a parent.

Limiting him to electronics creates however another issue, it will get him bored - we have only one kid, what is he supposed to do?

I like seeing him happy and having fun but I also think he spends too much time in front of the computer though playing games will still be better than watching countless hours of Youtube since will help him think more instead of being passive starring at the screen.

Me and my wife we are always busy with something and this may be our mistake too.

Re: Ask HN: How can I make YouTube load very slow and buffer a lot?

#12

Post by Snowalker »

tkinom wrote: post #7

I setup the wifi AP to block youtube for his computer for certain time period. Also, I reward him with game time / RC air plane building project time with me if he did certain % of Khan Academy each weekend. He's 4th grade and finished 35% of 6th grade math himself and did some javascript program course on Khan Academy.

Interesting, my son is in the same grade, 4. Would you mind sharing the Khan courses your son follows? Maybe I can get him do some coding. I'm a coder myself and I know this can be fun. Thanks.

Re: Ask HN: How can I make YouTube load very slow and buffer a lot?

#13

Post by davismwfl »

Snowalker wrote: post #11
davismwfl wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have an 18yo boy and 2 pre-teen daughters. Kids will do what you allow them to do, youtube isn't the issue cause he'd just find a different site/game etc. I am no yard stick for anyone to measure to, but I would suggest that your desire to have him feel unrestricted is the issue. Kids need boundaries, they need restrictions, they need discipline (not beatings, just rules and limits). Do they complain about it? Sure…

Thanks for putting so much in your comment, I really appreciate it especially since is coming from a parent. Limiting him to electronics creates however another issue, it will get him bored - we have only one kid, what is he supposed to do? I like seeing him happy and having fun but I also think he spends too much time in front of the computer though playing games will still be better than watching countless hours of…

Your welcome. There isn't always a one size fits all answer for kids. My oldest and I joke because I call him my practice kid, sad but funny and true.

It sounds like you maybe need to get your son involved with a group activity, sport, robotics, swimming or something. My son tried sports but never excelled, tried boy scouts etc but what finally clicked for him was we got him into a robotics/programming program and he has excelled. So you have to find what works. My wife and I are very busy too and it does help that the kids have siblings, but that isn't enough to keep them happy or to prevent them from killing each other. So we get the girls into sports, art classes, drama camps/clubs and one is doing a programming camp this summer.

My wife and I generally have a busy evening and weekend schedule working on a home projects or another property or whatever. We take the kids with us and make them learn and try stuff. I always let them bring something else to do too, cause it isn't fair in my eyes for a kid to work more then play, but they need a balance of both.

In the end, there is no wrong answer except to do nothing if you recognize it is an issue. You get only one shot at molding the human being growing up in your house. You'll figure it out, the fact you are concerned and asking the question shows you want to and care to make it better. Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: How can I make YouTube load very slow and buffer a lot?

#14

Post by noobie »

davismwfl wrote: post #8
Snowalker wrote: post #6

I tried an honest conversation but he is back to his old habits. I like to see him happy and I like him to feel unrestricted but he watches these teenagers everyday and some of them speak pretty bad and do bad stuff. All I want to keep him away from this.

I have an 18yo boy and 2 pre-teen daughters. Kids will do what you allow them to do, youtube isn't the issue cause he'd just find a different site/game etc. I am no yard stick for anyone to measure to, but I would suggest that your desire to have him feel unrestricted is the issue. Kids need boundaries, they need restrictions, they need discipline (not beatings, just rules and limits). Do they complain about it? Sure…

I am not trying to tell you how to raise your children of course but here my two cents.

I am 21 and growing up my parents also limited my siblings and I's computer time. They'd go as far as hiding the mouse or the power cords. I don't blame them BUT at the time (14-18) I used the computer to experiment with programming and it seems like my peers who did the same but had "unlimited" access to a computer had a great headstart.

So I think the time kids spend on the computer should factor in what they use it for. I'd secretly monitor their activity to determine that.

Re: Ask HN: How can I make YouTube load very slow and buffer a lot?

#15

Post by noobie »

I am on the phone so I haven't tested these.

http://www.net-peeker.com

https://www.netlimiter.com

http://freenet.mcnabhosting.com/python/pyshaper/

Like others have pointed out if this is just a symptom of another problem you'll only be teaching him how to be more patient and thus result in more wasted hours.

Re: Ask HN: How can I make YouTube load very slow and buffer a lot?

#16

Post by davismwfl »

noobie wrote: post #14
davismwfl wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have an 18yo boy and 2 pre-teen daughters. Kids will do what you allow them to do, youtube isn't the issue cause he'd just find a different site/game etc. I am no yard stick for anyone to measure to, but I would suggest that your desire to have him feel unrestricted is the issue. Kids need boundaries, they need restrictions, they need discipline (not beatings, just rules and limits). Do they complain about it? Sure…

I am not trying to tell you how to raise your children of course but here my two cents. I am 21 and growing up my parents also limited my siblings and I's computer time. They'd go as far as hiding the mouse or the power cords. I don't blame them BUT at the time (14-18) I used the computer to experiment with programming and it seems like my peers who did the same but had "unlimited" access to a computer had a great he…

It is a fair point which is why I allow them to use it for research or learning without many limits.

But honestly even if they started programming and doing that type of activity I'd still pull the plug on them daily at some point. I did to my son until he hit around 16-17.

Everything in moderation is generally ok or neutral. Anything to excess almost always comes at a price not worth paying.

Just my opinion of course but a computer can't teach you to deal with adversity or people. Sure you can read about it but doing is always a better teacher.

Re: Ask HN: How can I make YouTube load very slow and buffer a lot?

#17

Post by danieltiIlett »

davismwfl wrote: post #8
Snowalker wrote: post #6

I tried an honest conversation but he is back to his old habits. I like to see him happy and I like him to feel unrestricted but he watches these teenagers everyday and some of them speak pretty bad and do bad stuff. All I want to keep him away from this.

I have an 18yo boy and 2 pre-teen daughters. Kids will do what you allow them to do, youtube isn't the issue cause he'd just find a different site/game etc. I am no yard stick for anyone to measure to, but I would suggest that your desire to have him feel unrestricted is the issue. Kids need boundaries, they need restrictions, they need discipline (not beatings, just rules and limits). Do they complain about it? Sure…

>Kids need boundaries, they need restrictions, they need discipline. Do they complain about it? Sure, they do. But they crave it, because without it there is no guidance to show them what is right and what is wrong.

This approach just taught me to be paranoid, skilled at lying, and good at maintaining appearances.

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