[Vicki]

Do you suppose lots of theses wierdos go to that and “pick” victims?

I have long thought this. It's like a perverts online shopping center. If you have not been to myspace, you should check it out.

I registered just to "keep up" with my kids and they are in their twenties.

[Orange1998]

If you have not been to myspace, you should check it out. I registered just to "keep up" with my kids and they are in their twenties.

Nothing like mother hen watching out for them.

[warsaw44]

heres a web site for you: mycrimespace.com. It is a very well run blog of sorts which tracks crimes which originate from the Internet, mostly myspace. He backs up stories with links, follow ups etc. Anyone with children or teenagers who allows their kids on the net should check it out.

[Thinkin' Gal]

It's like a perverts online shopping center.

Yep. And kids aren't going to think of that angle because they don't know any better. A predator may have lived in a town for 20 years, but never acted out because public stalking behavior is too risky. Now these freaks can stalk from the privacy of their own homes, and appear in a public place only long enough to snatch the predetermined victim. Plus, the pool of stalkers has expanded out to as far as they are willing to drive.

I've explained this stuff to my kids, and I think it has really helped curtail the teen tendency of "knowing" everything about the world. They realize that the world can be a weird, hostile place and mom's knowledge is very useful. They don't care much for the internet anyway, as they have better things to do.