Internet Predators

It's been a big issue, especially with Myspace.
There's this show on NBC, or maybe it's a different channel, it's called "How to Catch a Predator."

Very interesting.

What's your guys' take on the whole issue?

My mom thinks everyone on the internet is out to get me.

Queen of Apology:

My mom thinks everyone on the internet is out to get me.

Same here. But it's different with some people because you can really tell that they are real.

I hate people with thaty attitude like 'OMG THE WHOLE INTERNET IS GOING TO RAPE ME!!!!!' It's ridiculous.

I'm REALLY careful about who I add on Myspace. I don't tell anyone where I live, what school I go to or what my phone number is or any of that. The most you'll know about my location is that I live in Ontario, Canada.

I know. If you are careful, then you will be fine.

Nikki.:

I hate how everyone only blames Myspace for having pedophiles. Most of the victims are the girls taking photos of themselves half-naked and making kissy-faces. It's disgusting. Pedophiles can be EVERYWHERE. Hell, we could even have one on INO.

Exactly the reason why I don't take pictures like that of myself.

My mom's scared that I'm probably "selling my body to 40 year old foreign predators on MySpace."

I don't give out any info on myself, and I never post pictures of myself. I have a myspace, but I'm never on and I mostly have one to just add bands, and all my friends on myspace are just bands and people I actually know.

I guess I'm a tad guilty of giving away info.

Home & cell phone numbers.
Address.
Passwords.

But, I do trust these people. & I do keep an eye on who I add on myspace.

Nikki.:

I hate how everyone only blames Myspace for having pedophiles. Most of the victims are the girls taking photos of themselves half-naked and making kissy-faces. It's disgusting. Pedophiles can be EVERYWHERE. Hell, we could even have one on INO.

Exactly. When my mom found out I had a Myspace, she freaked out and made my sister give my dad the phone. She demanded I delete it, but my dad told her he had it under control and not to worry about it. He didn't make me.

Queen of Apology:

My mom thinks everyone on the internet is out to get me.

Yup. And the problem is that I found someone I'd actually like to meet, but I probably never will, because I can't figure out a way that I'd be comfortable with.
It's pretty likely she's real though, because there have been threads on the forum she's on asking for photos of people with signs, and she's made them, and it would be pretty hard to fake.

But whatever. I'll probably not meet her, because I'd rather be cautious.

It feels so weird, because I was sure there'd never be anyone I wanted to meet who lived near me.

And do I sound stupid about this?

I've met people off the net. The admins of an old fourm I was on. They came to my house and met my parents too.

Queen of Apology:

My mom thinks everyone on the internet is out to get me.

My dad use to be that way, but he changed along the line somewhere.

There are pedaphials out there, but you gotta be smarter than the penis they think with.

A couple weeks ago I was thinking about calling the local police department and seeing if I could get a job busting internet pedaphials, but then I realized that I'm only 17 and they'd probably say no. But, I am going to call them as soon as I remember it.

You've gotta be carefull out there, and if you choose to meet someone over the net ... bring friends with you or meet in a public place. NEVER EVER meet them at their house or at your house when your parents are gone. It ends badly ... you ask how do I know? Simple answer: I've learnt the hard way.

My mom watches the Date-Line special every time it's on (I think it's Wedensdays or something) and as soon as she turns it on I have to get off the computer 'cause she starts freaking out
"SAM, WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO!? TELL ME NOW!!"
and like I'll ask her if I can go on the computer and she'll be like
"WHY? WHO DO YOU HAVE TO TALK TO!?"
My sister got her agaisnt MySpace but I didn't want one anyway...she is coming pretty close to making me stop going on the message boards though. I belong to like 5 or 6 and she flips out every time she sees me on one.
It is disgusting though. One guy on the Date-Line thing took off all of his clothes at the door to go meet and have sex with a 14 year old girl. Another sicko brought his 5-year-old son with him to meet a 13 year old and he had condoms in his pocket.
It makes me sick every time I watch it.

my mum wouoldnt buy me a webcam due to a story she heard about a 12 yr old boy who got sent money for taking his shirt off on webcam!!
ppfftt as if i d ever do that! its just so stupid!!

sam is the avalanche;:

My mom is so cool with Internet friends;
she knows I have sense.

I wish my mom was that way.
I wish for it so much.
:/

xThankyou_For_The_Venomx:

my mum wouoldnt buy me a webcam due to a story she heard about a 12 yr old boy who got sent money for taking his shirt off on webcam!!
ppfftt as if i d ever do that! its just so stupid!!

Just because you say you wouldn't now ... eventually down the road someone would end up talking you into it and unless you've gotta good sense of no means no, then u'd be screwed. Almost literally. It's a scary world out there and I love it when a guy or chick asks me to go cam to cam with them ... I reply with one simple answer: "I'm not that kind of girl." I have a digital camera that I can use as a cam, but I rarely go on it ... and when I do only my friends are allowed to view me. Some of the people on the internet are pervs, but not all. Parents shouldn't freak out as much as some do, but they care about us and our safety. It's the only reasons they do what they do. No matter how much it pisses us off now, it could be the reason we're still alive. Ya know?