Virtual Parents for soldiers' kids

[rasoforos]

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...-and-dads.html

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

T IS a poor substitute for the real thing, but the US government is hoping a "virtual parent" could provide emotional support for the children of servicemen and women while they are away on active duty.

The Department of Defense is soliciting proposals for a computer program that would enable young children to interact with a virtual version of their parent. Officials hope it could provide reassurance and general chat when phone or internet contact is not possible.

The DoD believes that "the stresses of deployment might be softened if spouses and especially children could conduct simple conversations with their loved ones in immediate times of stress or prolonged absence".

More than 155,000 kids have at least one parent deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan on military duty.

I think its tragic they are even considering this...

When you are out there dying (for sometimes dubious reasons), what could be worse than something that looks like you pretending to be you to your own children?

Also, I believe that it would be extremely prone to abuse. An open portal for the government to put 'state sanctioned' ideas to the kids' heads by (ab)using a figure they trust...

...it really puts George Orwell to shame, Big Brother is history, the Big Father is here.

[Guildenstern]

One of the comments below the article you cited is interesting.

They should create virtual parents to fight in wars and leave the real ones at home with the children.

[Husar]

One of the comments below the article you cited is interesting.

They should create virtual parents to fight in wars and leave the real ones at home with the children.

[HoreTore]

One of the comments below the article you cited is interesting.

They should create virtual parents to fight in wars and leave the real ones at home with the children.

....Or they could realize that war is a stupid thing not worthy of our time, and quit it altogether

[Andres]

A virtual parent? Really...

There are actually people being paid to come up with that kind of ideas?

That's hilarious

[Caius]

What would those parents say?

I'd imagine sometihng like: Hello son, I killed 2 enemy soldiers. I know this is disgusting, but I had to do it for ... more useless propaganda, so, how are you?

[Guildenstern]

I think such an idea is also abusive towards the children. Children should be raised in a real world, not in a virtual one. They should establish bonds of affection with real people, not computer programs. What about the child's emotional development? What kind of adult will this type of "interaction" produce? An emotionally healthy one? I think not. Unhealthy emotions are one of the causes of mental illness.

[Vladimir]

Horrible. That's why they have family support groups.