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TO MUCH BAD PRESS? The Heaven's Gate Cult, the many stories about people being attacked by people they met on the Internet....examples of the bad press the world online has gotten in the last few years. it's on the news, in magazines. I once flipped through a copy of Cosmopolitan at work and read a story about a women who was raped by someone she met in a chat room. At the end of the article, it had a list of things to avoid when meeting someone in person for the first time. I was appalled by the statements that were made. It insinuated the same biased opinion that a lot of people in society believe, that most people use the Internet are devious individuals looking for someone to manipulate in some shape or form. my parents are of the many people who believe that all people who are online are crazy, socio-paths who look on the net for their next victim. They seem to ignore the fact that both of their children are net junkies. I for one love the people I have met online. They seem to care much more than the people I personally interact with on a daily basis. I noticed that if a person in a chat room starts insulting someone else, everyone will go and stick up for them, a trait that most people in real life won't do. They are willing to listen to what you have to say, and seem a lot more open minded to new ideas. I have been lucky enough to meet three people face to face that I have met on the computer, all wonderful and fun individuals. I hope to meet more as time goes on. This writer does agree that there are some individuals out there that have created a bad name for the rest of us, and should be met with some caution. But, that goes for anyone that a person meets. There are terrible people everywhere on this vast earth unfortunately. We meet them in everyday life, in school, work, through other friends. They are not just on the computer. Perhaps everyone who believes this awful stereotype should spend one night in a chat room and see why the rest of us are so addicted. :-) Serena |