Most of the time, I focus on the scammers, who, If i had anything at all good to say about them, it would be their non-discrimination policy. They will take anybody's money and all of it if they could. However, this post is not about scammers as predators or about non-discrimination, it is worse. It is one thing to lose your money to the net fraudsters, but quite a different story to lose your children to the power of the internet.
Nowadays, we can use the net for almost everything, social networking, instant messaging, etc for almost any purpose, make friends, make money, giveaways,social good, training, etc. So many friends can be made nearly instantly. but of course, not everyone is who they pretend to be.
One lady recently sent me a question from a social site - Yedda something about internet dating. I didn't reply; however, when you think about it before cams became so accessible, popular and cheaper, anyone could post any picture or send any message. Men could be young girls or females to befriend other males. Females, of course, have the same options.Older men and women could pretend to be young again, and unfortunately, the underage can also pretend to be older. So If I was young enough to date, I would only use the webcam to cut through the deceit and lies.
For sure sex is probably a best seller on the net, but I wonder why when there is so much free, anything you may want to see, why pay? So with technology like the webcam we also have underage cammers.
Perhaps many wives and husbands, boyfriends and girlfriends may worry about their partners who may be a frequent net users, but those of us as parents do we know what our children are doing?. How many of us use the parental tools online, and how many children know how to remove them. In many cases the the children are more internet savvy than we are. Hell, we cannot even get rid of the pharmacy ads.
I am particularly concerned about our children and what may happen to them as a result of their internet experience. I was abused as small boy around 5 for over a year; so I am acutely aware of what happened to me. I am sure it is much worse for a girl. No thanks, I too old for sympathy and that is not my objective,
I want you to be aware that with the internet such crimes may be on the increase, If not, then we are certainly more aware of them as so many things have come out of the closet. Do you know what your children are doing on the internet whether censored or un-censored. Are they making friends, are they making plans or are they going to meet someone. Just because a webcam may show us there person, and the person may appear to be normal and of a reasonable age, it cannot tell us the motive of the person or for the encounter.
My morning paper started me off today, no actually, I start work long before the paper to watch the Forex markets.
Headline: Victim met rapist on the web. (Star, 3/12/10 Malaysia)
Abstract: a 15 year old girl left home to visit a friend she met through a social networking website. She was held captive for several days and gang-raped by at least 15 teenagers in an apartment. .. before the police were tipped off by neighbors and rescued her. She had a hearing disorder.
This could have just as easily have been your morning paper from any city or suburb, in any country. We all looking for something in life and often, we turn to the internet. How terrible and tragic for this girl.
Do we know what our children are doing on the Internet. It is Another Sad Day for the Ugly Side of the Internet - The Predators.
Another sad day for social networking. Worse, another day this girl will remember the events of recent days and will never forget. May she be blessed to ease her pain.
Take care my friends and children
