Are there lots of crazy folks on the internet?
From the beginning of time men were the protectors of the young and their women. To quote my favorite super hero movie; Superman... "If you've got me...who's got you"? Who is protecting our guys from the barrage of overly aggressive, slightly imbalanced, "I never knew my daddy" and "all men are dogs" women that hang out on the internet? Are we all easy pray for anyone with a mouse, keyboard and an axe to grind?
No matter what your background, race, nationality or gender when it comes to issues of national security we are all in need of protection. It seems that with the advancement of technology it's become easier for people to assume our identity or in many cases, just mask their own. How do you really know who you are talking to on line? So, you have a web cam, you can see them, how do you know they are in London and not say, oh...next door to you? It seems that my sisters are a lot more cautious with protecting their whereabouts, however, guys, you're not being as careful.
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The experiment...I went on several different dating web sites taking on an ("assumed identity"). In 98% of the cases I was able to get the guys name, city, personal email address and yes, even phone number. Usually this only took me about 2-3 emails to obtain this information. It's my assumption that most guys just feel non-threatened by a lil ‘ole female like me. Well, for the most part I am pretty safe. However, not every woman is. That is if you're even dealing with a real female to begin with.
Guys, I'm not trying to scare you, just make you painfully aware of what dangers are there for you as well. Another case in point... I know someone that subscribed to a free internet dating site after a very bad breakup. Immediately she began to get emails from all kinds of guys of every race and nationality. There was one guy that stood out from the rest. The reason he stood out was because from the first email he was coming on strong and fast. Let's call him Marc. Marc hadn't even seen a picture of her (face), before he gave up his home phone number, place of employment and personal email address. By the third email she told Marc that he needed to slow it down. That he was moving to fast. Needless to say, Marc took this as a brush off and told her to go (fill in the blank) herself.
Maybe it was just that time of the day. Perhaps she was still not quite over that bad breakup and these words triggered some latent memory and it was a breaking point. I don't really know how it happened but this is what happened next. With all the information that she had been given by Marc, it didn't take much to learn his last name, get his address, (he was in a very small town), and proceed to reek chaos in his life. She began with the little things like going to different gay porn websites and posting his picture along with a profile saying that he was looking for well hung and sprung young men. She also included his personal email address and his...you guessed it...home phone number. She signed him up for any and every free internet spam, blog and survey she could find. Including the site dontdatehimgirl.com.
Although she never did anything with his physical home address, she could have. That's scary. At the most she just inconvenienced him with these school girl pranks. Unfortunately, there are some folks out there that take it a lot further and make it a lot more dangerous physically, emotionally and even financially.
The moral of this story is to protect your self at all cost. It's so easy to create a free profile any and every where. If you are truly serious about finding the love of your life, isn't it worth the investment of weeding out the crazy's? The perpetrators? The "I'm just here to waste a little quality time" people. When you become a subscriber you have greater access to a better quality of other subscribers and the opportunity to validate who you're really talking to while maintaining your anonymity. You can email and send instant messages with the satisfaction of knowing that your personal information and details are safe and secure. It's about protecting your time, your investment and yourself. I know that you're worth it. This is Leticia...maybe??!!
Responses to "Are there lots of crazy folks on the internet?"
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dark1ande says:Posted: 03 Feb 08
Not any less safe than giving out your number to a guy you meet in the grocery . Nuts are everywhere.
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Cocokisses says:Posted: 23 Apr 07
I will be the first to say that I have chatted with some really great people, and some not so nice ones. The good thing is that thankfully, the good ones seriously outnumber the bad ones. You have to find the person that best fits your own personality.
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justknowingu says:Posted: 05 Apr 07
good article...anyways...I generally prefer someone who at least talks and is outspoken about things...as opposed to being on the more quiet side--keeping their opinioins and their agendas to themselves....!!!!
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Coco says:Posted: 28 Mar 07
Doesn't matter where you go, the crazy people will be there to meet you. Hide where you will, they will find you :)
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NiceCooLady says:Posted: 04 Feb 07
Women do have to be extra cautious but I've been told there are just as many female "crazies" online as well. We all have that "gut instinct" or inner sense when something just doesn't feel quite right. The trick is to make yourself really tune into that gut instinct and don't ignore it when the red flags do pop up or when you get that "uneasy" feeling about someone, being careful not to confuse that "feeling" with indigestion of course :-) ....
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maishagal says:Posted: 30 Jan 07
Where do u draw the line...seems like if we don't take some risk or leap of faith we could miss opportunities to be with a decent person...???
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Sugababy says:Posted: 21 Jan 07
It is true that you have to be overly cautious when you are dating online...but it’s just the same as when you go out to a club. You just never know who people are nowadays. But I definitely do not make it a practice to give out my personal information. You just have to be careful.
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mossimo36 says:Posted: 19 Jan 07
I have met a few cons on the site as well. Very sad indeed that people have nothing better to do than scam.
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vonny says:Posted: 03 Jan 07
Any1 can be who they want to b online or even in person thats y dating is hard
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TSXSC says:Posted: 19 Dec 06
I have come across a fair share of con artists on this site and found that these people take their job seriously and are very good at it. One just needs to be in tune with how these people act and watch for the red flags.
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charlee1 says:Posted: 17 Dec 06
i can't believe that there are guys on here who try to pass themselves off as girls and vice versa!! what's the point? have these people nothing better to do? it just makes things bad for all the genuine guys and gals on here. just be safe all and be very careful about who you choose to disclose your personal business to. another great article, keep up the good work
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romeoluvs says:Posted: 13 Dec 06
Crazy people can be found everywhere.. Online as well as in real life..
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Fala says:Posted: 12 Dec 06
Crazy folks on the internet, yep, you can see some of them every night in chat. LOL
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Eva says:Posted: 20 Nov 06
Tell me about it. There are a ton of crazies in my town.
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marquez097 says:Posted: 16 Nov 06
I still say there are crazy people off the net too. You just have to keep your eyes open
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Majesticone says:Posted: 06 Nov 06
dang.. i see some ppl answered this one 2x's or more... but thats not my concern. i have met my equal share of nuts loose from a tree... this includes ppl using the chat room as a way to hurt others. i have seen some make mistakes that cna ruin them and i have seen others go after people just to ruin them. they are on all sides.. male & female. games know no sex therefore there are no boundries. i personallythink the effort u put into playing a game, you should do something constructive & productive with your life instead... HOWEVER... if you start out not being right in the head as in all the cables do not connect properly.. um the best we normal and less humanlly challenged people can do is PROTECT ourselves by not saying anything to personal till we meet the person face to face. again i have been fortunate that the few that have my info did not use it for mischevious purposes. yet the one individual that has, and even twisted the information for personal gain, im sure there will be a day that she will learn a hard lesson from what transpired. lets just hope its not so painful she suffers tremendous loss, pain and true sufferring... ;0)
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italianm4uinpa says:Posted: 05 Nov 06
You are so right about the dangers of giving information to someone you barely know but I also this philosophy hinders us truly nice people who are for real and looking to meet that special someone. I have backed out of several meetings as I felt the woman was uncomfortable. I would never want anyone to feel that way. I have met 3 people from this site and all 3 experiences were enjoyable. I still keep in contact with all three. I think you honestly can get a good feel about a person after a couple of weeks and if you keep your expectations low and meet in a neutral setting, things should go off without a hitch most of the time. I did have a woman tell me she wanted to bring a gun to feel safe. I told her that is fine but you wont be meeting me today...go pistol whip some other poor soul. I am still convinced this site works and there are so many lovely people here that it is easy to overlook the undesirables. Just keep the faith and dont give up because of one bad encounter. Learn from it and move on. God bless and Happy hunting :) Just leave your guns at home ladies..HAHA Ciao, Rick
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Fala says:Posted: 01 Nov 06
What a harrowing story Nick. Just be glad that the most your son wasted was his time and the money he spent on the flowers. Till you meet someone in person and spend time with them face to face you should view most of what they say with a certain amount of skepticism.
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arebw4you says:Posted: 27 Oct 06
I think that the men need to be careful when online with us as much as we should with them. I guess because we have the barrier of the whole internet between us we feel we are safe.
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marquez097 says:Posted: 23 Oct 06
There are crazy people everywhere. Hide if you have to but be aware they exisit.
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aantonio says:Posted: 20 Oct 06
Yes, i have met a few crazys in my past. HOwever, when u r meeting people on the interent, you must know the do's and dont's. Yes, i try to be aware on who im talking with. We all should be. ALthought its sad to say, but we can meet crazy people just about almost anywehere, so be alert also outside the internet. god bless
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JADE74 says:Posted: 18 Oct 06
After being harass by crazies on the internet I know there are more out there.
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JADE74 says:Posted: 16 Oct 06
Yes there are some crazy people on the internet..just be aware.
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JADE74 says:Posted: 13 Oct 06
I received an email from someone with no picture that want me to email him at his personal address. He didn't want to send the picture here. I was very suspicious of his additude with communicating with me here and never chat with me.Sorry, I'M not interested.Get to know me, chat,email, communicate to know each other.
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Ann says:Posted: 11 Oct 06
Thank you very much!! Can you imagine this? I just got a phone number to text message because "don't know how to use this site".
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Ann says:Posted: 29 Sep 06
When a man offers me all of his email addresses to soon and ask me to email them, I get suspicious of their intent and ask to communicate on this site for Safe internet dating. It is good to take your time and communicate well. You can tell a lot about a person if you communicate with them a long time.
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Deleriyes says:Posted: 28 Sep 06
I'm glad this article was directed toward men, because most men aren't aware that they can become victims when meeting people online. Most people think the only 'predators' or 'psychos' out there are men. This article really opened my eyes, and I hope, other men's eyes, too.
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PoeticPeach says:Posted: 25 Sep 06
Whoa!! That is just ridiculous. Gots ta be mo careful!
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besweet says:Posted: 24 Sep 06
This is an excellent article , and its a lesson for everybody. If your instincts or "guts" aren't up to par, use extreme caution. Don't ask or give a phone number out in your first few conversations. and try to have a second email address just for chat use and not personal use. I think that these are listed in online dating guidlines , if only the guys would read them and pay attention it would be nice. Just because we dont give out our email and phone right away doesn't mean we aren't interested. We are Just taking Precautions, because Ya neva know !!! And that goes for male or female. works either way.
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ashley says:Posted: 24 Sep 06
Yeah its totally crazy... anyone can say anything.. and most people believe it... thank god i'm a criminal justice student (that means i have access to all the data bases to run background checks)
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urmydestiny says:Posted: 22 Sep 06
There are crazy people out there but don't let them spoil your chances of finding love on the net. It's hard to know what to avoid as these people come in different disguises. Just spend time getting to know new friends on the net before giving out details, and honestly their true colours will emerge and that's the time to use wise judgement
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misotall says:Posted: 18 Sep 06
Great test of gullible men! How come you never called me.........!!LOL
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notshytc says:Posted: 17 Sep 06
I prefer to always see someone live on cam, like in a chat room, as it verifies alot in itself
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JADE74 says:Posted: 17 Sep 06
Be aware of your surrounding,inside, outside,your home, car... We must also be aware of the information that we give out. What a very informative article and comments....
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ebonybeautyj says:Posted: 15 Sep 06
I am more worried about down low than anything!!
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Daphney says:Posted: 15 Sep 06
what's crazy is not being able to trust a person for who they say they are. You don't know if you really are talking to the person in the photo or some serial ........ But you can ask God to give you the guidance to know the difference.
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iceburger says:Posted: 14 Sep 06
I have met a couple of guys online masquerading as females. Its so bad!
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msjanine says:Posted: 13 Sep 06
Very good article, people have to remember if it's to good to be true then it probably is. People need to be cautious when talking with people online but if you plan to meet the meet in a very public and very crowded place.
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bradlee says:Posted: 13 Sep 06
This is so true. Givin away as li'l info as possible is the answer, but if hopin in meeting someone, you need to give away that info...that's the main problem. I've had my stalkers too...thank gods I'm a guy. Girls be careful out there...
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kenyanito says:Posted: 12 Sep 06
Very truthful arcticle but whatever way you look at it, you can be lied to anywhere anytime. The answer is caution because sex doesn't determine who will do this to you. Please be cautious everybody. Kenya
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cocobunny27 says:Posted: 12 Sep 06
I agree...we should all be cautious when we meet someone online
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auroraxxx says:Posted: 09 Sep 06
yes a very interesting artical ....wow franc put up a big one .lol
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Hazeleyes777 says:Posted: 09 Sep 06
Most of the cheaters and fake ads really somehow easily give themselves away; we just have to listen to our inner instincts.
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heartnsoul23 says:Posted: 09 Sep 06
WOW, this article is so true. I have been in a few bad situations, not stemming from the internet, but from people on the outside. A maintance man at my old apartment complex a few years back got the keys to my apartment and would let himself in while I was at work, I would come home and a light would be left on, or a t.v. that I never watch is on, instead of having a 6 pack of bud light, I now only had 2. I thought I was going crazy, I lived by myself and I was the only one with access to my home, or so I thought I was the only one. I was taking a nap on hot summer day and all of a sudden I heard my bathroom light go on cause the switch made a sound when you turn it on. I freaked...I didn't have the phone by me and I was covered with only a sheet....I was literally saying my good byes to everyone I love in my head and all of a sudden he poped his head in my room and said "wake up sleepy head"! Needless to say, I told that mother you know what, that he had 5 seconds to get the heck out of my house....I called the police and then from then on I had to be escorted from work to home every night by an officer because this man was nuts.... So, it is not just the internet, its real life, and it is people you would least expect to have access to your lives. Please be careful, it is really hard to meet a genuine person anymore and it is scary and that really sucks!
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This is so very too. Use caution, even if you're like me and believe the good in someone before you'd believe the bad/ugly. I'm new to the online dating and had the trust thing brought home to me in a hard lesson. I still trust - I'm still dating - but I think twice about my "yes, no, maybe's" and don't hesitate to change a favorite to "no" if I don't feel right about something.