Social networking sites have taken over as the new neighborhood block parties; except these parties are global and the most we can do in terms of a party is that of a virtual toast being made. Craigslist, Facebook, MySpace…they all have their draws. I have a better time of keeping up with my son through our Facebook accounts than I do in our daily ‘real’ lives. I just found out he got yet another speeding ticket…except I didn’t find out because he willingly volunteered this information; he just forgot I keep a close eye on his page. Needless to say, he’s about to embark on a few less than pleasant conversations. This, of course, is the lighter side (for some who manage to avoid speeding tickets, anyway) of these social networks. It’s the darker sides that are hitting the news.

This time, Craigslist is on the hot seat. With the recently dubbed “Craigslist Killer” finally being captured after having solicited women off of the popular site only to kill them in and around Boston, the spotlight’s now on the high number of ’sex for sell’ ads that seem to be plaguing its want ads. The problem is that Craigslist’s founders and their lawyers insist there’s no way to possibly monitor the millions of additions made to the site on a daily basis and further, they are in no way responsible for what people try buy or sell on their site, thanks to state laws. Besides, they say, they’re too busy scrambling to keep those who participate in human trafficking and crimes against children off of their sites.

In a recent post, there was a similar controversy involving a young woman who was auctioning off her virginity as a way to pay for her education. At first glance, one might wonder why it’s OK to auction off one’s first sexual act while it’s not OK to offer similar sexual services on another site. The difference is the woman auctioned her virginity within the state lines of Nevada, where prostitution is legal. Missouri’s not Nevada and these attempts to force Craigslist to rein in its ad monitoring (or lack of) is sure to become a legal quagmire like none other. A federal judge has been asked to step in and force Craigslist’s founders to completely eliminate its erotic sections. This request has resulted in a meeting with Missouri’s attorney general.

It’s yet to be seen what Craigslist will be required to do, if anything, to clean up its site to the satisfaction of those who disagree with its policies. The first meeting was scheduled for today, although there’ve not been any reports on any outcomes at the time of this writing.

Nebraska has had twenty children dropped off at hospitals since July, when their safe haven law took effect. Sadly, some of the abandoned kids are teenagers whose parents either don’t want them or can’t take care of them because they’re “problem kids”. Earlier this week, a woman drove from Georgia to Nebraska to drop off her 12 year old son because she said he was troubled. What awaits these older kids, who clearly know they’re not wanted and will forever carry the knowledge that they were abandoned by their parents - parents they’ve known for years - remains to be seen. Many of these abandoned kids aren’t newborns or even toddlers who have the luxury of not remembering being left on the steps of a hospital. Further, Nebraska’s loophole is putting state officials and medical personnel in a tough position. They don’t know what to do with these older kids, so those who have come from two other states, Missouri and Iowa, have been returned to their home states. Try to put yourself into the mind of a 17 year old whose mother insisted he get into the car, probably with very few of his possessions and possibly with only the clothes he’s wearing. Imagine sitting next to the one person you’re supposed to trust to take care of you and never abandon you for a four hour drive, knowing the destination is the end of the line. You know you will likely never see your parents or siblings again, and you know you’re being dropped off on the street in a city and state you’ve never been to. And then, after getting out of the vehicle, you watch what little safety you’ve known drive away. And then what? Most seventeen year olds would bolt and make a run for a better life. This particular teenager, probably scared to make a run for it to strike out on his own, walked into the hospital and told a hospital official he’d just been abandoned and had nowhere to go. After being the topic of several discussions, the decision is made to return him to his home state. So, once again, he’s on a road trip, having no idea what awaits him but knowing he’ll be once again dropped off with strangers who will determine his immediate future. Because of the way the legislature worded its state safe have laws, the parents can’t be prosecuted. So, in January, state officials are planning to meet and revise the law to apply only to newborns less than three days old.

In the case of the child dropped off this week from Georgia, he was suspended in the first grade and had his own probation officer by the time he was in fifth grade. Something tells me this kid didn’t have a chance. For a probation officer to be involved at such a young age, I’m thinking this “problem child” is a result of a “problem adult”. Hopefully, even though there won’t be any repercussions in Nebraska, there will be consequences in the mother’s home state of Georgia.

Unfortunately, this happens all too often every day with different results, but with a ribbon of heartbreak weaved through each case. In the meantime, Nebraska will be deciding what to do with the twelve year old boy from Georgia.