More on MySpace -- Pretty Long!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
More on MySpace -- Pretty Long!
5
Thu, 02-09-2006 - 5:53pm

Iin response to a post from indigo_poet regarding MySpace, I mentioned a meeting in our area regarding the very same as well as a link to an NBC article about internet predators, etc. The following just came from the chairman of the "School Cares' organization at DD's school who attended the lecture presented by Dr. Christopher Carstens, a local adolescent psychologist.

It's a bit lengthy, and I didn't copy the entire thing here. I think it might be something to let the teens that are active on MySpace read it and see how easy it is to give out information to potential predators without realizing it. I apologize for the length, but it does a good job of making its point.

Footsteps On Line

Shannon could hear the footsteps behind her as she walked toward home. The thought of being followed made her heart beat faster. "You're being silly," she told herself, "no one is following you."

To be safe, she began to walk faster, but the footsteps kept up with her pace. She was afraid to look back and she was glad she was almost home.

Shannon said a quick prayer, "God please get me home safe." She saw the porch light burning and she leaned against the door for a moment, relieved to be in the safety of her home. She glanced out the window to see if anyone was there. The sidewalk was empty.

After tossing her books on the sofa, she decided to grab a snack and get on-line.~

She logged on under her screen name ByAngel213.

She checked her Buddy List and saw GoTo123 was on.

She sent him an instant message:

*****

By Angel213:
Hi. I'm glad you are on! I thought someone was following me home today. It was really weird!

GoTo123:
LOL You watch too much TV. Why would someone be following you? Don'tyou live in a safe neighborhood?

ByAngel213:
Of course I do. LOL I guess it was my imagination cuz' I didn't see anybody when I looked out.

GoTo123:
Unless you gave your name out on-line. You haven't done that have you?

ByAngel213:
Of course not. I'm not stupid you know.

GoTo123:
Did you have a softball game after school today?

ByAngel213:
Yes and we won!!

GoTo123:
That's great! Who did you play?

ByAngel213:
We played the Hornets. LOL. Their uniforms are so gross! They look like bees. LOL

GoTo123:
What is your team called?

ByAngel213:
We are the Canton Cats. We have tiger paws on our uniforms. They are really cool.

GoTo123:
Did you pitch?

ByAngel213:
No I play second base. I got to go. My homework has to be done before my parents get home. I don't want them mad at me. Bye!


GoTo123:
Catch you later. Bye

*****

Meanwhile......GoTo123 went to the member menu and began to search for her profile. When it came up, he highlighted it and printed it out. He took out a pen and began to write down what he knew about Angel so far.

Her name: Shannon
Birthday: Jan. 3, 1985
Age:13
State where she lived: North Carolina
Hobbies: softball, chorus, skating and going to the mall.

Besides this information, he knew she lived in Canton because she had just told him.

He knew she stayed by herself until 6:30 p.m. every afternoon until her parents came home from work.

He knew she played softball on Thursday afternoons on the school team,and the team was named the Canton Cats.

Her favorite number 7 was printed on her jersey.

He knew she was in the eight grade at the Canton Junior High School.

She had told him all this in the conversations they had on-line. He had enough information to find her now.

Shannon didn't tell her parents about the incident on the way home from the ball park that day. She didn't want them to make a scene and stop her from walking home from the softball games.

Parents were always overreacting and hers were the worst. It made her wish she was not an only child. Maybe if she had brothers and sisters, her parents wouldn't be so overprotective.

By Thursday, Shannon had forgotten about the footsteps following her.

Her game was in full swing when suddenly she felt someone staring at her. It was then that the memory came back. She glanced up from her second base position to see a man watching her closely.

He was leaning against the fence behind first base and he smiled when she looked at him. He didn't look scary and she quickly dismissed the fear she had felt.

After the game, he sat on a bleacher while she talked to the coach. She noticed his smile once again as she walked past him. He nodded and she smiled back.

He noticed her name on the back of her shirt. He knew he had found her.

Quietly, he walked a safe distance behind her. It was only a few blocks to Shannon's home, and once he saw where she lived he quickly returned to the park to get his car.


Now he had to wait. He decided to get a bite to eat until the time came to go to Shannon's house. He drove to a fast food restaurant and sat there until time to make his move.





Edited 2/9/2006 5:59 pm ET by julesnalpine
Avatar for momtb4
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 02-09-2006 - 8:20pm
Isn't it amazing what they give out without realizing it. But, the way that story ends isn't what you'd think, since her "stalker" is a cop or something. He never actually harms her, as you might believe would happen, but rather, scares the crap out of her and her "over reacting" parents, and she changes how she handles online friends.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Thu, 02-09-2006 - 8:23pm

Oh! Is this an old story? I just got it today via e-mail from my DD's high school. There's been so much about MySpace here, I thought I'd share it.

Since it was already so long, I left the ending about the cop part out.

I'm sorry if this is ancient stuff!




Edited 2/9/2006 8:24 pm ET by julesnalpine
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2000
Thu, 02-09-2006 - 9:19pm
It is an 'old story' as you call it but it serves as a good reminder.
Pam
Avatar for momtb4
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 02-10-2006 - 1:15am
I agree, I think the first time I read that story was before the birth of my 3rd child who is 5 now. But still, it's a very good story and lends itself easily to how preditors go about finding prey. She so innocently told someone she thought she could trust things she never thought would be used against her. Favorite number, team name, field position, all seem so innocent.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Fri, 02-10-2006 - 10:42am

Huh. I've never seen it before; maybe there are others out there who haven't either.

I thought the piece made quite a nice point of illustrating how much personal and telling information can be gleaned from a seemingly innocent conversation.

I doubt if I'd be clever enough to pick up the clues, but obviously, there are people out there who can and do.