Again and again, we learn of the dangers of giving out personal information on the internet and in games. The dangers of Addiction to the internet, games and most importantly, online relationships and love affairs can not be over stated. It occurs to me, that if you are sharing your personal details, with virtual strangers, while having children and family living with you, you are not just taking personal risk - but putting your loved ones at risk also. The truth is you have NO IDEA who the real person is, behind the avatar.
"http://host.madison.com/wsj/article_683959a0-8a02-591d-a32b-0071ea3d1d92...
Posted: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 8:40 pm
Trevor L. Lucas, 21, of Gloucester, Mass., is accused of driving to Madison last week looking for a 17-year-old boy he met in an online game. Police say Lucas had an arsenal of weapons, restraints and rubber gloves in his vehicle.
A Massachusetts man who police say drove to Madison last week looking for a 17-year-old boy he met in an online game had an arsenal of weapons, restraints and rubber gloves in his vehicle when he was arrested Friday, Massachusetts State Police said.
"We feel extremely lucky that we've avoided a homicide," Madison police spokesman Joel DeSpain said Wednesday.
Police also are crediting the boy's mother, whom DeSpain said "played a significant role in preventing her son from being victimized, injured or killed."
The son was 16 when he met Trevor L. Lucas, 21, of Gloucester playing the popular online role-playing game World of Warcraft, DeSpain said.
According to a criminal complaint, about a year ago, Lucas asked the son for nude photos of himself. The son notified Madison police and put Lucas on an "ignore list" for the game. The complaint said Lucas then sent the son messages threatening to hurt him if he didn't pay back money Lucas claimed to have spent on him in the game.
When Lucas came to her Madison home Aug. 26, according to the complaint, Lucas told the mother he was with the National Security Recruiting Department and needed to speak with her son. She then asked for identification, and called police while Lucas went to his vehicle.
While police were en route, DeSpain said, Lucas returned to the house and pulled a gun on the woman, then fled when she pushed the door closed and screamed.
On Friday, Lucas was charged in Dane County Circuit Court with second-degree recklessly endangering safety and impersonating a peace officer to aid in the commission of a crime, both felonies.
Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Michael Popovics said Lucas had four semi-automatic hand guns - two of which were loaded - along with four loaded, large-capacity magazines, two stun guns, three pepper spray containers, two assault knives, two expandable police batons and seven sets of handcuffs when he was arrested on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Weston, about 10 minutes outside of Boston, Friday afternoon.
Lucas also had two rolls of duct tape, a large number of plastic tie wraps that could be used as restraints, a set of professional lock-picking tools, a compass and two flashlights, along with rubber gloves and a large number of plastic bags, Popovics said.
Lucas was out on bail for several felony firearms and ammunition violations in Massachusetts, where this week he was charged with additional weapons violations.
Madison police will be meeting with federal authorities to determine if federal charges will be filed, DeSpain said. "
Now that is scary!
The question is....will you be able/courageous/adult enough to sacrifice that which merely pleases you...for that which will truly fulfill you? That is the question of personal growth.
~~~Dem518
~~~wow-free since 8/22/09
Holy crap!!!
Whenever I find mself in a conversation with someone that is younger about the Internnet, I try to stress the importance of not sharing personal information and possible dangers. For example, I like to advise people not to even not use email addresses that contain their real/full name.
They should probably start doing some education on this in schools if they're not already. It's the new "don't talk to strangers".
The only winning move is not to play.
Cypher,
Yes, but there are a lot of adults that need that education as well- maybe more so!
I was thinking about all of this today, and some of our members here who have talked about their relationships/falling in love in games. I do worry about them.
I am not saying it is true in all cases, but I would argue that the majority of people who are engaging in cyber sex/falling in love relationships in games etc., are not playing with a full deck to start with. Now I am not saying they are all crazy, but surely it is fair to say there are emotional and mental issues of some description. So, we need to look within ourselves first to examine why on earth we would do such a thing?
There is also another thing that puzzles me. Let's say a 42 year old woman mother of 3 tells a fellow gamer, I have a crush on you/ in love with you/ dream of you.... wouldn't that be like a red flare? There is something lacking in that woman's life- something serious, that should make you run like the hammers of hell, and never look back? if she is spending hour after hour playing games flirting, and worse, obviously her children are losing out on something along the way- b/c she is otherwise engaged. Why would you value someone like that?
What about when the relationship turns sour? You have divulged all this information with what will turn out to be an angry stranger! What if they want revenge- not even to the extent of "The Travelling Murderer" in the attached story- but what if they are recording every single thing you do, say, write and engage in with them and decide to tell your wife, your job, or just basically ruin your reputation. What if they decide to show murky details to your children?
It is seriously risky behaviour, and this is what puts the internet and gaming addiction on par with other addictions- the risks taken by many of the addicts.
Just my humble opinion.