h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.h2g2.com/A492275 This is my guide entry about Chatrooms

Feedback is very welcome

Thanks Leanne

Is this a result of personal experience?

Did he have a moist upper lip, back jowls and blue tinted glasses?

No its not an experience I have had but my 13 year old cousin was send emails etc from a person claiming to be 15!

I dont think this is a joke! there are a lot of young teenagers that go on to chat sites and dont actually think that giving out their mobile numbers and email addresses will matter.

Hmm - I think we have a recc'd entry on Internet Dating - This entry would make a worthwhile addition to it, I think. Let me find it, and then you can tell me what you think...

myre - "You don't have to be a peer to help review Peer Review!"

PS) like my sig says: there are lots of people here in Peer Review dying for feedback - if you've enjoyed have comments from others, why not share that feeling with others here?

here it is - whatdya think - would it go as part of this entry?
http://www.h2g2.com/A394463

myre - "You don't have to be a peer to help review Peer Review!"

I think that entry was more about dating on the web whereas mine is more of safety and common sense so I dont think it would go well with this entry

That's fair enough - I think you may well be right. Though when dating on the web words such as yours are of course relevant.

myre - "Spread the love comment on five entries in peer review today"

I do think, though, it could do with being broadened - at the moment it is quite narrow and short - I think there's more that could be said about safety on the web...

For example, what about real-life experiences of this? You could mention some of the cases which have made it into the newspapers, for example. Your own experience with your sister could also be worth mentioning.

{by the by - did you find out that the guy claiming to be 15 wasn't 15? What happened?}

Have you met someone from online successfully? What precautions did you take, besides those mentioned? What other precautions can be taken? For example, I like to use phone contact as a means of ascertaining that the person I am speaking to is a real person - and sent .WAV files can do the same thing. Similarly a digital camera and a request for a particular pose can serve as a demonstration of reality, if not normality.

I think you unbalance it by mentioning it only as a threat for women - yes, men have less of a problem with rape (though still some of course}, but murder and theft are still issues. Stalking, again, is more of an issue for women.

I also think it's rather unduly negative - risks there are, but the risks *are* small - and are no greater than picking someone up in a bar or suchlike. I personally feel people overplay the dangers, yes common sense is good, but the number of incidents is very small, and paranoia can be overdone.

It helps to have relatives who make it quite clear that in the event of stalking or harrassment they WILL hunt down the person responsible, and they WILL make sure they suffer, law be damned.

myre - "I reviewed yours: have you reviewed mine? What have you reviewed?"

I have added some cases that made it to the papers and my own experiences

Britwannabe gave me some information on an inncedent that happened in his home town where they thought that the victim was murdered by her online lover but after questioning him they now believe it to be two local people and unfortunatly the case is still unsolved. He also sent me news paper articles which I have linked to the entry.

Hey, Leanne!

First, I think this one might be better retitled something like "Safety and Internet Chat Rooms" or the like -- the current title isn't all that descriptive.

Second, I agree with Lucinda that (at present) this is a little unbalanced.


Mikey

Hi,

I like the article and think it's quite good.

1. I think a major title change in in order. Something that will make sure this is only an aspect to take into considaration. something like "Possible risks on internet chats" only better (That's what I could come up with in the few seconds I thought about it).
and also maybe add a paragraph sayng something nice about those chats and that this is only to warn and a precaution thing.

2. I don't know if you heard, but there was a story like this here in Israel. An arab girl seduced an israely boy to meet her and led him to a place where he was murdered by palestinian terrorists.

Yours,

Dancer

I fully agree. It's good and the only thing to be nitty about is the first person pieces here and there. Shouldn't be a problem to rewrite these sentences

Bossel (Scout)

Yep, Bossel, agreeing too.

Saludos,
HELL


Remark: Leane has not been active for quite a while now...

Yepp
She didn't even remove the 'Scout' from her name although she's no longer in the roster...

I'd like to move that this one be flea-marketed. Any seconders?

-- Mikey

*raises hand*

I second.


Dancer

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Peer Review' to 'The Flea Market'.

...because the author appears to have 'left the building'.