"This function could be used to see if the nanny was beating your kid while you were at work..."

May 30, 2000 8:05 AM

"This function could be used to see if the nanny was beating your kid while you were at work..."

Just "another cool thing that webcam software could do," at least according to Jimmy's Webcams Resource Center.

Um. I don't know about you guys, but that's not really one of the reasons I decided to buy one. How about the rest of you?
posted by lia (8 comments total)

Just because cybersex is driving sales doesn't mean it's the only reason to have one. ;-)

Really, don't underestimate the hand-that-rocks-the-cradle problem from a parent's perspective. Some of them are not only completely paranoid, they believe it's rational to be paranoid. Besides, you can find out if the dirt-poor Guatemalan immigrant you hire to sit in your splendiforous manse all day is pilfering the family silver one by one.
posted by dhartung at 8:59 AM on May 30, 2000

Damn, now all kid-beating nannies will know to shift their violence to a non-webcammed room. Unless, of course, they want to stream their criminal activities on NannyWhack.com.
posted by holgate at 9:00 AM on May 30, 2000

what's funny is this. if you dont feel comfortable leaving your child at home with a "nanny" then don't. simple. setting up a camera will not prevent someone from beating your kid, it will only call your attention to it. in conclusion, your kid still gets abused. problem solved with webcam? nothing.

and ive bought all mine just because im vain and bored.
posted by sikk at 9:39 AM on May 30, 2000

Yeah, but where can you buy the kids and the nannies to go with your webcam? That's what I want to know.
posted by holgate at 9:45 AM on May 30, 2000

A feature of my new answering machine (built into phone) is to listen to what's happening in the room where the phone is, by calling from somewhere else. Great to check and see if any noisy robbers are in my place.
posted by milhous at 11:03 AM on May 30, 2000

I liked the "Malcom in the Middle" episode about this.
posted by sonofsamiam at 11:38 AM on May 30, 2000

No kids, but I've considered setting my cam up to figure out which of my cats likes to get into the kitchen trash.
posted by Sapphireblue at 1:44 PM on May 30, 2000

my cam is so that I can look at myself while working, get horrified at how slackjawed I look, and say "geez kid, you need to get out more...."
posted by jessamyn at 3:14 PM on May 30, 2000