WHAT DO YOU really think ABOUT ONLINE PREDATORS?
489481
I think that many more people fantasize about illegal acts than actually do those things. In this, the Internet seems like a safe place to allow those fantasies some room. But for some of those people 'playing' at it, it starts to seem more and more possible. And their fantasies start to cross the line from mental games to actual crimes.\n\nI don't think it should be a crime for some poor slob who is otherwise a straight arrow to flirt with a 45 year old vigilante posing as a 13 year old. And I do think any 13 year old who actually flirts with an on-line predator has some measure of guilt also.
280342
Yep! That is it, keep in mind this is the world wide web (ya know the famous www. thing) When you are dealing with world wide you are going to get all kinds. You will meet up with people who are genuinely sincere and very kind and who want to be your friend and who truly care, you are going to meet up with stalkers and murderers and all sorts unfortunately we cannot stop it because our world is FULL OF THEM
215074
I don't like that statement! I feel there are plenty of "good" people, and good people to chat with. You just seem to run into the cocky ones. But it's true, everyone does act alittle more cocky and annoying on the internet, than in real person, just because their identity is hidden!
628930
Unsafe Internet predator!!! Kids need to beware of this creep.
580219
people fall in love with the illusion they are being fed.  Becuse they have no idea who or what is on the other end of the computer lines.  This is the main reason why I don't get deep online with anyone.  It is always in my head that its all an illusion.
134237
I think that it is absolutely disguisting!!! As a matter of fact, I have a personal experience because of myspace involving my mom's friend's daughter, who is now 13. She met some guy off of there, thinking that he was a 15 year old little boy, and was sexually assaulted and raped because of it... That's sad, yes... We just finished court with that and he is now serving 2 life sentences for 2 different rapes and 200+ counts of child pornography, but I agree with some of the other people here... \n\nIt is definitely the parents' responsibility to watch and monitor their child's actions on the computer, but if they choose not to, they need to filter and put parental controls to ensure that their child does not have access to places that are not "age appropriate" for them. If a 13 year old can go to myspace and lie and say that she is 16, then someone is definitely not doing their job...\n\nPlease... please... PLEASE... don't let this happen to your children...
1060511
you are absolutely right and there should be a separate page maybe you should email yahoo about it.predators are on the rise and you should never meet or call anyone you do not know. parents also should their job by monitoring what their children are doing on the net.THIS IS NOT INVADING YOUR PRIVACY\njust making sure their children are safe.
1050339
Careful what you ask for here. How can you know for sure that the people who may want to be your "friend" are really your age? There are so many predators online just waiting for a chance to get in contact with a child. Please be careful as to what you say to anyone here or anywhere online for that matter. I swear you kids on here worry me. God bless and keep you safe.
781307
Awww that's so sweet honey!! I think that it's easy for people to dismiss the validity of others in cyberspace....but at the other end of the computer is a human being, I think it's perfectly sweet that you think of your YA friends.  I have met some fantastic people on here and I don't count them as less valuable because it's the internet.  (((((hug)))))
790051
I always thought the same kind of people used them, until one day I got curious.  I met the most amazing person online and now we live together, very happily, I might add!  You just have to be REALLY careful about who you give your personal info to, and how much of it to share until you know the other person is OK.  Use good judgement, that's all.
222441
If society was not so F'd and persons clung to honesty and truths without distortions and personas and the like, the web would be an excelent place for meeting person/s from the broader sphere.  Alas, how sad, predators abound (male and female alike) and deciet runs thick and deep.  I know I am okay since I work at being okay every single day, but I am atypical since I exist in exile and value asexuality too and I'm old and simply avoid interacting with many people and this reduces the liabilities encountered from slime and the like.  Hi and hello are pleasing events whenever I do venture to town for purchasing essential supplies but I restrict my possible visitors to no more than five persons total and prefer one-with-one interactions for sake of having quality time with that individual with topics focused on things of merit and not the run of sands-through-the-hour-glass seeped with trivias and the like which all go to nowhere quickly.  Mind wasters suck and distance from that kind is sought.  If not meaty topics are to be discussed, what is in it for me?  Anyhow, answered an e-mail the other day and was involved with what was represented as a female and after some discussion the person told me she was a male and I just carried on our e-mail exchange, no sweat.  But since I was not persuing any sexual interaction/s s/he decided it was time to go to bed and after his/her bye-bye s/he returned on the web for e-mail exchanges with somebody else.  You see, how to overlook two falsities when they make a liar true?  Not I to garbage my time.  I judge by honesty, and yes, seems the web is laden with abundant phonies and distorting persons and if I were ever to plan on meeting someone from this source I would excecise extreme caution and I think I wouldn't even bother with it.  If I sought any interpersonal relationship it would have to based in priciple and not persona.  I fairly loath wink, blink, and nodders.  Have a nice day.
648539
Hey girl i think its not ok and it is ok. Because there is a lot of cons/procons of having them online. Here is my answer i think its ok to have one but if you wanted to meet them i think you should first find out alot of info first on them like if there are who there say thereand if they have any criminal record ect ect. Any ways i found my boyfriend online and we live together now so hey. So it really depends on what you think.
508114
You can't and that's why they are dangerous. They seek out troubled young people and become their "friends". They gain the trust of people needing to be able to trust or talk to someone & then they will destroy the lives of those they impact when the time is right. Don't ever give out your personal information to anyone and never, never be afraid to tell an adult "NO" if you feel something's wrong. You should assume everyone is a predator and take nothing for granted ever. Young people are trusting and obediant by nature and the predators know that.
287219
Works for me!  There are some really sorry people online.  And remember, computers don't hurt people, people hurt people.
679978
With so much going on on the Internet now days it's hard not to form strong bonds with people you've met or even only known on line. Meeting people on line is interesting. There are some that see the Internet as a media to be whomever they've always wanted to be. Others use the Internet to truly be themselves, either way talking to people on line seems to be without the barriers that you find in the real world..which understandably leads to strong feelings at times. Unfortunately I've found that heartbreak on line is just as common if not more so than heartbreak in the real world.
553507
The first and most important thing you need to realize about the Internet is that you can find anything and anyone on the Internet that you can find in the real world.  The only difference is that in the Internet you have a greater deal of anonymity that you get in the real world.\n\nCan chat rooms be dangerous?  Most definitely.  Particularly channels that clearly are catering to younger children.  Pedophiles go where the kids are, and that is just as true on the Internet as in the "real world".\n\nDoes that mean you should avoid all chat channels? Not at all.  Just be aware of what you are doing and saying, and if you have small children, be sure to monitor their activity on the Internet.\n\nThere are several programs, as I recall, that allow parents to track what their children are seeing and doing while on-line.
210579
They only think that they're anonymous.\n\nBut beware!! Not all forums give anonymity to the users.