The internet is crossing boundries

The internet is enabling people to come closer to a color/ethnic blind society. A post can be viewed based solely on the content that is written. One does not take in race, creed or color. It does not matter to the reader if the poster is handicapped, disfigured, or obese. It levels the playing field for everyone to have an equal voice. This is where the true anonymity of the internet in its purest form. Some use the anonymity to deceive, con, and hurt others but that is a perversion of the true intent of the internet. At its best the internet is available to everyone to share information, learn, and entertain themselves across all racial and economic boundaries. The obscurity that veils the identity of a user is what we strive for in everyday life. To take the information based on the information alone and not on “face value”.

A Gamers Identity

Gamers Identity Online

Gaming in multiplayer online games has exploded in the last few years. Women have become a large part of the people playing online in what was once a male dominated activity. Many people join these games to be a part of a group, to feel included, and to socialize in a safe environment. It promotes a feeling of contribution and teamwork. Many people become so involved in the multiplayer games and the persona’s they create that their real lives can take second place to their pristine fantasy world. The fantasy role that is created often represent what they feel are their best qualities. The danger is that they will play to long, become too immersed in their online lives and forget to live their lives. Fantasy gaming is fine in a small compartment region of their lives.


http://www.uiowa.edu/~grpproc/crisp/crisp.3.1.htm

Online Dating Identities

Dating can be fun or it can be a hazard filled journey. The ups and downs have made many people swear off dating. Internet dating services have taken the singles world by storm as one can sit in the comfort of their own homes and peruse thousands of pictures and short profiles. Sometimes these dating services can lead one to their soul mate but other times it can lead to heartbreak. The dangers of dating people that are met online include people being untruthful about themselves, being married, con artists, and in extreme cases criminals. For example, Baltimore police reported a woman killed by a man she met online. This is the extreme case but one should take every precaution when meeting someone for the first time after meeting them online. 1) Meet in a public place. 2) Meet only when you feel comfortable. 3) Look for warning signs, trust your gut reaction. 4) Be careful.

http://www.dangersofinternetdating.com/
http://www.friendsonmyspace.com/2006/02/warning_danger_myspace_aol.html

Self Exploration Online

Often people will conceal or inflate certain aspects their identity on-line to explore their true personalities without fear of ridicule or consequence. People that are taking their first steps in coming out may use gay/lesbian websites to discuss their feelings in a safe environment. It also allows teenagers to play with different persona’s to see which fits the most comfortably. Many times people will use their home pages for self-presentation, showcase aspects of their personalities and interests that are not readily acknowledged, as well as exploring certain characteristics that they are not sure will be well received in their day to day life’s. The Internet can create a safe place to explore one’s identity and give them the confidence to integrate those characteristics into their daily lives.

Gender, Identity, and Language Use in Teenage Blogs
David A. Huffaker
Sandra L. Calvert
Children's Digital Media Center, 1 Georgetown University

Charles Cheung Identity Self Construction an Self Presentation on Personal Homepages; Emancipatory Constraints

Pedophiles lying about whom they are Online

Parents used to be concerned who was talking to their children when they were on their way to school, in the park, or playing outside. Now parents have the new worry of who is talking to their children on-line. Many pedophiles and sexual deviants are trolling the internet in relative anonymity searching for vulnerable children while hiding their true age, gender, and motives. In chat rooms and myspace it is very easy for a predator to collect personal information about their victim. Then the predator starts to groom their victim. “Grooming involves a clever process of manipulation, typically initiated through a nonsexual approach, which is designed to entice a victim into a sexual encounter. The inhibitions of a child are lowered through active engagement, desensitization, power and control. It is often characterized as a seduction, involving a slow and gradual process of learning about a child and building trust.” (Berson, Grooming Cybervictims). Not only has the crime rate for child exploitation rates increase online but also the heinous crime of child pornography swapping between pedophiles who have found a support network on-line. Police officers have started to launch sting operations to catch these criminals and bring them to justice.

Sources
Grooming Cybervictims: The Psychosocial Effects of Online
Exploitation for Youth
Ilene R. Berson, Ph.D.
University of South Florida
http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~john/NetSafe/I.Berson.pdf

PROFILING CYBERSEX ADDICTION AND TRUE ONLINE
PEDOPHILIA AMONG VIRTUAL SEX OFFENDERS
Dr. Kimberly S. Young
Director, Center for Online Addiction
http://www.netaddiction.com/articles/eia_pedophilia_profile.pdf

Who am I on-line?

It is east to hide behind the anonymity of the Internet to explore different facets of one's identity. You can become who ever you want to be without face to face consequences in you daily life. This is especially true for teenagers who are just learning who they are.