The intriguing world of internet chat rooms has attracted the attention of many who have vowed not to engage in a conversation with a stranger. But with the promise of not being discovered or having their identity revealed, many succumb to the temptation to “talk dirty” or seek friends in what they think are in the right places. When it comes to chat rooms, there is a high percentage of users who want to remain anonymous. There have been many reports of stalkers tracking the whereabouts of someone they had the opportunity to meet online and the meetings have not been pleasant.
You have to watch your steps when walking through a virtual conversation. There are people lurking around every corner who want to take advantage of this anonymity. For those who crave company, there are devious scammers. For fun-seeking high school girls, there are pedophiles and deranged people. In this case, it doesn’t hurt to become a wallflower and listen to something that happens in a chat room that interests you. Then you can decide whether or not you want to participate in the festivities.
You will learn a lot about the atmosphere of a chat room just by watching the flow. You will be able to identify the loudmouths, the political debaters, the friendly welcome committee, as well as the rude crowd. Sometimes it helps to ask a friend who has had experience with online chat for advice. They may be able to point you in the right direction for some sites with which you can have a safe conversation.
Chat rooms serve more purposes than just making friends and meeting the next Mr. or Mrs. Right. There are specific chat rooms of interest to explore. If you’re into gardening, this is a great way to find tips on how to make those roses bloom. Some chat rooms offer support for those dealing with diseases or conditions, such as cancer and diabetes. This is when it is completely beneficial to take advantage of the knowledge and support of the chat room users.
Then there is the ugly side. The side that is full of predators and mentally restless individuals who will take advantage of anyone on the internet, regardless of age, race, or gender. This is why it is important to establish some safety rules for yourself when you are interested in chatting.
For starters, don’t use your real name. An alias will prevent someone from getting your life history from Google. It is quite easy to link real names with addresses and other data. However, when you have the possibility that your identity will not be revealed, you may feel more open to express yourself through chat. Do not include your email address when chatting. Again, real names and addresses are easily linked with email addresses. The more you reveal about yourself, the easier it will be for people to track you down. Do not tell others what city you live in or where you work. Sometimes revealing your age is not even recommended. Every bit of information you tell someone about yourself is a puzzle piece that can be easily linked with other details to create a clearer picture of who you are.
If you are an adult and have a teenager or even a younger child at home, you should emphasize these safety rules with them to protect not only them, but the rest of your family as well.
