Thank you, Brumby - no Wet Blanket Award given by me, I promise.
Yes - perverted, sick fantasies online, facilitated by the anonymity and cloak of authority and string-pulling that the internet affords, are a growing concern.
People are tending to use their online time as "hidden time". No one in their "real life" is supposed to interfere or check on them, due to issues of privacy. The so-called friends they make online are never checked out by family, parents, friends, because of this secretiveness issue. Most people who are left with the devastating fallout of a family member getting too deeply involved in something online (leading to suicide or leading to a fatal meeting) haven't any idea of what's going on.
What is the answer? Perhaps doing away with the secrecy culture is a start, especially for teens. The old adage is true: if you'd be ashamed or worried about introducing an online friend to your parents or family or other friends, you need to ask yourself whether this is signalling a problem with that online friend.
I am proud to say I'd be pleased to introduce any of you to my family and other friends. No secrets there - in fact, I've often quoted hilarious things from here to my best friend (fellow singer).
