So the title is just to get everyone's attention and I wanted to perhaps continue our discussion about privacy/social networking/meeting stranges on the internet in one concise place. Maybe no one wants to discuss this but I want to know everyone's opinion on meeting new people on the internet.
There seem to be many here, or at least a few, who would gasp at the idea of going on a site, finding someone, e-mailing or messaging them and introducing yourself. People who may take the attitude "the internet is for me to maintain my local friends or friends that I know in person." Psh! I say "no way" to that. Certainly it can and does help with that. But I am under the impression and have always used the internet to MEET NEW PEOPLE, meet new people with similar interests, who can help me get ahead, who can give me advice, who I can ask for advice, who I can ask for a place to stay when I am in their neck of the woods.
GASP...I know right. Anyway, what are you all's thoughts about this? Do you guys meet "strangers" on the internet? Give out your information, etc. Personally, I have met tons of great people over the internet, some that I talk to at least twice a week. As typical as this sounds....one of my really good friends on the internet is a 46 year old gay man from New York. So yes, I am an 18 year old college student talking to a 46 year old gay man and I don't feel threatened, scared, intimidated, or nervous. Am I naive? Stupid? Young? Also, let me throw this in. Does it make a difference that I am guy? Is there a gender double standard when it comes to meeting people online? I would argue yes. Discuss!
Also, here is a video that pretty much sums up my view on this. Vaynerchuk style!
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I think this is the kind of topic where there's so much to say it's kind of difficult to do in writing, but I'm going to try :)
ReplyDeleteI say both hell to the yes and hell to the no on this particular topic and I think a lot of it is a gender double standard (or rather a difference because I think there is a reason for it which the term "double standard" doesn't quite support). As a girl in the internet age I've grown up learning to not give out too much information. Don't talk to anyone that messages you on MySpace. Pass this e-mail chains citing the tell tale signs of an online creeper to every woman you care about in your life. And it's not like it's unwarranted. The guys that send those creepy messages on MySpace, yeah, they really are that creepy. To Catch a Predator is exhibit A. I realize this is totally beating it to death, but I feel like guys don’t have nearly as much emphasis put on the dangers of putting their information out on the internet. What is it that freaks guys out about putting information out there? Or does it freak them out? I mean I thought my parents were completely overreacting when they asked to see if my home address/social security number/favorite color were emblazed in my MySpace headline, but at the same time some of their caution has rubbed off on me. I tend to write off those people that send internet messages just saying hi because of this.
However, I do like the idea of communities on the internet rather than more private social networking websites like facebook and MySpace when it comes to meeting new people. I can't really account for the difference, other than the fact that I feel like there's some sense of common interest. I feel much freer to post and discuss, not to mention get to know people, on livejournal, chat rooms of websites I visit regularly and blogs I follow. This is all opposed to a random person that direct messages me in anyone of these same settings. I can't say I've made any lasting friendships like yours with Gary, but that doesn't mean it's not possible. I’m actually very curious about how your friendships have been built (vlogging, chat rooms, forums, comments, e-mails, etc). I would definitely be more comfortable with someone with internet credibility (verging on e-celebrity territory now…), but I don’t think that’s exactly what you mean. I do find it interesting that this is the direction the world is headed and at one point the stigma of making friends online will diminish, but at this point in time it does exist and not without some merit.
PS: Since when is MySpace a word on Word?
So you make a very interesting and important point which is again illustrated in the video, that meeting people on the internet is the new social networking and mingling. The world is turning to the internet for so many other aspects of life, why is socializing not a part of it? Businesses can operate completely out of video chat and conference calls to the point of business partners never having to meet face to face. So why does it seem so weird that friends can't be the same way.
ReplyDeleteI especially like the way the video describes mingling at a social event. You go up to complete strangers and strike up conversation and don't find it weird because there's a reason you're all at the same event together. Some sort of glue holding you together, common interest, work related, school, etc. So you think it is perfectly fine to talk to whoever at this event. Well how is that any different than finding anybody online. If anything you’re more likely to meet someone with exactly the same interests or hobbies as you’ve searched for them.
I personally don’t have friends from online because like everyone else I myself was scared about the “stranger” aspect and you only hear all the horror stories. But I think our world has to adjust to this new idea of social networking. We have to adapt as times and technology change. Whether we like it or not online social networking is upon us and we have to accept it.
I think its the type of thing where you just have to have a heightened sense of judgement. There is definitely a large number of creepy people out there on the internet, and I don't see it as a water that people should test. Its like how your parents tell you to not talk to strangers when you're younger. Carry that on a little later into your life. I think WHERE you meet the person also carries some weight. If you go on something like eHarmony or whatever, there are going to, most likely, be a larger legitimate group of people who are out with the same goal in mind. But when it comes to places like myspace or facebook, where I constantly get adds from random people wanting me to be their friend so they have a higher friendcount... It doesn't make sense.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the main reasons most of us feel safe talking to strangers online is because we are in the comforts of our own home. We have a false sense of security. And the anonymous nature of the internet doesn't help things. Many people pretend to be one thing on the internet, gaining our trust, when in real life they turn out to be something else entirely. That's why I would say go ahead and meet strangers online, just don't meet them in person, and don't give them any personal information. Of course, with about a third of the people online using classifieds or dating services, not many seem to be heeding that advice.
ReplyDeleteThis video really changed my perspective on the Internet. Twitter and Facebook have become forums for advertising in order to share information in regards to business. I have been stalked on Facebook before and I think people do have the right to feel a little bit creeped out that people can follow you on Facebook and Twitter but in reality it is up to you to disclose as much information as you want in order to protect your privacy. There are limits to things that you can provide to the Internet. You can change your privacy settings in order to keep information from being spread across the internet. In the end it is up to the people on how much information they want to share.
ReplyDelete@Harrison
ReplyDelete@Jordon
Haha. You guys both get me nervous when reading your comments. "Don't meet strangers in person." "I have been stalked on Facebook" When I read things like this...I almost change my whole attitude regarding the internet. I almost become the polar opposite and will become the total McGruff Internet Safety man.
Reference: [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McGruff_the_Crime_Dog]McGruff[/url]
I don't know why...but I have this true sense of trust in people in person and online. I have yet to be "stalked", I have yet to meet someone in person who I had met online that I was scared of or apprehensive about. Maybe I have been lucky? To me, the internet is just a big conference room. And I am not going to be scared to go meet someone and ask them if they want to get together outside of that conference room. Eh.