When you read reports about teenagers as young as 13 years old having sex with strangers they meet through IRC or the chat lines, do you stop to wonder what is wrong? How do you react when vices like stealing, fighting, lying, having pre-marital sex becomes something common, and nothing unusual for teenagers?

Whose responsibility does it becomes when something happens? Is it the parents' fault for not communicating enough with their kids to know what's going on in their life? Well, it could very well be society’s fault too. Or could it be the teenagers' fault for conforming to peer pressure and for not "knowing how to think?" Then what is "knowing how to think?" The ability to make sound and wise decisions? Being able to distinguish right from wrong? Being morally upright? So what are right morals and wrong morals? Who defines them?

How is it that it is so easy for teenagers to keep their parents in the dark about what they do outside? Is it because the parents don't care enough, are too busy, or because the kid is able to put up such a show that his/her parents are deceived? Perhaps living a double life is not that difficult at all. Other than having to live in the constant fear of being exposed, I guess one can live with that somehow.

So who should assume the responsibility of "enlightening" these unaware parents of the things their children are doing? Teachers? Friends? School counselors? Cg leaders? Or should the parents find out for themselves only when something drastic happens? One can argue that it is a grey area, but surely, there should be a solution?

The bottom line is that "If you don’t help yourself, no one can help you." If one doesn’t attempt to help himself/herself, then no one, no matter how willing that person wants to render assistance can help. Then, what happens to those who can't help themselves?

Staring into the Abyss,