Although the vast majority (estimated at between 90 and 97%) of the Internet is terrific, a portion of it can be considered dangerous to adults and to children. There are two kinds of bad things in cyberspace for adults: information and actions. Information cannot hurt an adult, but certain actions might. Why?:
1. information, which really can't hurt any adult who can use critical thinking. Adults can make their own decisions about hate groups, advertising, alcohol and drug endorsements. Sex and other content which some people find objectionable. There is no reason to filter information, which is otherwise legal for adults.
2. actions, which can hurt and scare people online and off. Certain people are empowered online, they behave in ways and do things they would ordinarily never do face-to-face. They think they are anonymous sitting behind their monitor. They think they are not accountable.
These people may harass others online. They may stalk them online, following them from chat to chat, from discussion are to discussion area...sending them e-mail that may be threatening or just obsessive. Their message may or may not be sexual in nature.
These people may also take the online stalking into real life, trying to find the person offline and pursue them there as well.
Some of these actions may be illegal. They certainly violate the terms of service of your online or Internet service provider, and those of the stalkers.
If you think you are the victim of a stalker online, report it to your service provider immediately. Make a copy of the offending communications, either by printing them out, or by copying them onto a disc or your hard drive. Make sure you provide a copy of the harassing communication to your provider, so they can take the appropriate action.
If it doesn't stop, contact us or one of the stalking resources at our site, or your local law enforcement. Make sure that you send copies of the offending communications as well.
DON'T, confront the harasser yourself. It will only escalate the problem. ↓
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