A lot of people have been worried lately that MySpace has become a playground for sexual predators. And a lot of these worried people blame the technology itself for affording sexual predators an opportunity they might not otherwise have. As is often the case with a new, scary technology, an even newer version of that technology turns out to be an antidote. That, at least, is the idea behind the MySpace Guardian toolbar: “Users can search a database of registered sex offenders in a selected radius around their location or by name, alias, height, age and any combination thereof. The result is a display of photos of the registered sex offenders and other pertinent information. Users can also notify authorities directly form the toolbar if they suspect that they have been contacted by a sexual predator.” (Hat tip: Mary Johnson)
When the Disease Is Also the Cure
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The Guardian tool, while a good idea, I believe will be ineffectual because sexual predators are rarely correctly located. There have been reports of dozens of sexual offenders registered in one location. And reporting of new contacts will lead overburden and desensitize the system (think false reporting). It’s better than nothing but it won’t put much of a dent in the abuses. In a way I’m more worried about the new sexual predators that will arise in the MySpace playground that are undetectable by any tracking methods.
The whole MySpace debacle is just the next generation of chatroom predation. You’d think we’d have learned and taught others by now but for some reason the desire to be ‘known’ outweighs any sort of common sense.
The best prevention is abstinence. Do not physically meet online acquaintances under any circumstances. If your curiousity still gets the better of you it’s your fault. At least do yourself the favor of telling everyone you know where you’ll be, who you are meeting, and take some people with you. If you are doing it in secrecy then a fool’s reward you’ll surely gain.
I hate how society has to constantly create solutions for our iniquities. More effort should be spent developing the wisdom to prevent these problems in the first place.
The Guardian tool, while a good idea, I believe will be ineffectual because sexual predators are rarely correctly located. There have been reports of dozens of sexual offenders registered in one location. And reporting of new contacts will lead overburden and desensitize the system (think false reporting). It’s better than nothing but it won’t put much of a dent in the abuses. In a way I’m more worried about the new sexual predators that will arise in the MySpace playground that are undetectable by any tracking methods.
The whole MySpace debacle is just the next generation of chatroom predation. You’d think we’d have learned and taught others by now but for some reason the desire to be ‘known’ outweighs any sort of common sense.
The best prevention is abstinence. Do not physically meet online acquaintances under any circumstances. If your curiousity still gets the better of you it’s your fault. At least do yourself the favor of telling everyone you know where you’ll be, who you are meeting, and take some people with you. If you are doing it in secrecy then a fool’s reward you’ll surely gain.
I hate how society has to constantly create solutions for our iniquities. More effort should be spent developing the wisdom to prevent these problems in the first place.
well , the fact that myspace guardian toolbar does have good intentions , it’s more or less ineffective.for basically , anybody can lie about their height , age etc just to gain physical contact.
no java-programmed tool can ever be a foolprof shield – artificial intelligence is void against genuine stupidity
well , the fact that myspace guardian toolbar does have good intentions , it’s more or less ineffective.for basically , anybody can lie about their height , age etc just to gain physical contact.
no java-programmed tool can ever be a foolprof shield – artificial intelligence is void against genuine stupidity
And the most obvious point: not all sex offenders have been caught and registered, etc.
And the most obvious point: not all sex offenders have been caught and registered, etc.
What a great idea! As soon as a registered sex offender signs up to MySpace with his real name, age, commonly used alias, and an actual photo of himself, the toolbar will have him nailed!
At last, I can finally stop teaching my kids about Internet safety.
What a great idea! As soon as a registered sex offender signs up to MySpace with his real name, age, commonly used alias, and an actual photo of himself, the toolbar will have him nailed!
At last, I can finally stop teaching my kids about Internet safety.