Do you think talking online is as dangerous as people think

You can't say talking online is dangerous. Because for people who protect themselves, it isn't. If people are stupid enough to give their name, phone number, address, age, school, etc..., to a stranger on AIM or MSN or YIM, then, yes, it COULD be dangerous. But people also make it out like: 'Everybody you don't know for a fact is someone you know personally is a middle-aged stalker rapist' which also isn't true.

I talk to loads of people online.
But Id never never never ever go and meet someone.
Too many horror stories.

actually, no, i dont think its dangerous! i talk online all the time ... havent been kidnapped or anything! im fine... seriously, my parents are all like, 'NO MEGAN! don't go and talk online ... then people will know where u live and try and hurt you!' hehe... as long as i dont give away TOO personal info, like my phone number and street address, im fine... my parents dont trust me, and they think the whole world is a bunch of crazy ppl coming to get me or something - they watch the news too much...

*meggy72*wants2bminority:

actually, no, i dont think its dangerous! i talk online all the time ... havent been kidnapped or anything! im fine... seriously, my parents are all like, 'NO MEGAN! don't go and talk online ... then people will know where u live and try and hurt you!' hehe... as long as i dont give away TOO personal info, like my phone number and street address, im fine... my parents dont trust me, and they think the whole world is a bunch of crazy ppl coming to get me or something - they watch the news too much...

Actually, it can be VERY dangerous.
Not everybody who talks online is kidnapped or stalked, if that were the case, every human between the ages of 11-25 with a computer would have been kidnapped or something else.
Actually, if someone wanted to, you wouldn't be fine. All you have to do is hack to get someones number, address, etc...,
There's a difference between trust and protection.
And lastly, the world is a bunch of crazy P-E-O-P-L-E. No human being is sane, and lots of people are REALLY fucked up, so it's not really an issue to be taking as lightly as you're taking it.

I honestly think it's ok to chat online, you just have to be careful and not give out to much personal information.

Well it matters on what site and it matters on a lot of stuff. But you should always be aware of your surroundings.

And its really dangerous, too. But all of you should know that...right?

No I don't think it's dangerous just talking to them..
but as soon as you feel that the other person is crossing a line, then it's sertainly uncomfortable..

Well it depends on if you stupd enough to meet the person... sure if its a friend friend... but not just someone who says there this and that...

It can be. I was stalked online by an online predator and I was extremely messed up at the time and gave out my personal information. So, I know first hand that it can go down the wrong lane.

However, I have lots of people I talk to online and I give out typical bland information, like 'I live in Nebraska', 'my town is small', that sort of thing

I have a really good friend online who has sent me his phone number and we've talked on the phone, but that's a decision you have to be mature enough to make. We've known each other for over six months and there's never been a single inconsistensy or character change in anything he's said, so I trust him.

Just use common sense online and if something's too good to be true, it might be.

I think you just have to be careful.

My friend talked to a boy online a lot, he is a very shy and doesn't find it that easy to talk to other people at school so when this guy befriended him he told him all these things, then this guy told him that he went into chatrooms, posed as a girl, and got boys to do things on webcam for him.

But then again I have another friend who met a boy in a chatroom, she gave him her mobile number and they spoke loads over the period of about 2-3 weeks then she met him, and he was such a nice guy.

Of course you should be aware that people do this sort of thing, but don't think everyone is going to be a pervert.

It can be okay. I'm relaxed if I have seen photos and such, but I do know that they may not actually be them, but it does decrease the chances. I sometimes don't like speaking to people from Aberdeen [where I live] as they are more like "Where you going this Saturday?" and I think they may actually turn up. I'd rather speak to someone far away.

Don't give out any important details about yourself (duh) and I think it can be quite safe. I mean, I've been on this site 5 months and nothing dangerous has happened.
But some people are smart. They can hack well and will access your info without you even knowing.
This could just be me being paranoid. I'm good at it. But better safe than sorry.

Sites like these are fine, and most people are smart enough to handle talking to strangers. But do any of you have a Nexopia account?! Some people on there have a picture, name, DOB, city and school. So really someone could find you so easily when you're stupid enough to put that kind of information out into the web.

She123:

Sites like these are fine, and most people are smart enough to handle talking to strangers. But do any of you have a Nexopia account?! Some people on there have a picture, name, DOB, city and school. So really someone could find you so easily when you're stupid enough to put that kind of information out into the web.

i have one.
man that place is wack.
people are crazy there, and the meanest i've EVER talked to.
so anyway taht place is dangerous so dnt ever give out any exploitatious material.

If people are stupid enough to give their details out to strangers, then ha ha @ them.

*unwanted*:

No I don't think it's dangerous just talking to them..
but as soon as you feel that the other person is crossing a line, then it's sertainly uncomfortable..

I agree

I don't think it is, if you're in danger then changes are you put yourself in the position. If you're dumb enough to ignore all the warnings about giving out your address and meeting up with people then its not no ones fault but your own.

Nine_Inch_Nails:

good answer

Incubus:

Nine_Inch_Nails:

good answer

I know