Brad Paisley is one of my favorite artists. His song "Online," though meant for comedic value, does a good job of showing how the internet can sometimes serve as an escape and a disguise for people. The song describes a man who is unhappy with his life so he creates a better, improved version of himself. One of the lines in the song is "...but I grow another foot and I lose a bunch of weight every time I log in." Now, though this song and video tell the story of a fictional, harmless character, I believe it's important to remember that because the internet provides people with a way to disguise their true identity, very real dangers can come from (and have come) from these types of situations.
Here is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE6iAjEv9dQ&ob=av2e
What are your thoughts about this video? It really highlights the fact that you don't always really know what you're getting when you meet somebody online!!!
This song actually highlights some of the scary parts of the internet to me. You never know if people are who they really say they are online. I was watching this one show on TV about all these people in online relationships and how when they went to go find their partner in real life they turned out to be completely different. One lady even used pictures of her daughter as pictures of herself to show her online boyfriend! It was shocking and scary.
ReplyDeleteDan, that is shocking and scary, and unfortunately, it can get even worse. Not only do people lie to make themselves look better for potential dates, they also do it to become sexual predators. I know a few people who have established great and lasting relationships through online dating services, but one always has to be very weary and cautious of its possible consequences.
DeleteI always thought about this too, even with online dating websites that seem pretty legit. You really never know who is telling you the truth when you meet someone online. I personally know people who have met their significant others through online dating networks and have either been together for years or are engaged. I'm glad it works out in many cases, but I am still a bit skeptical about it just because (as you're saying) people sometimes take advantage of this type of shield and see an opportunity to post false information.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I hear of a friend that has become a member of an online dating website, or has met a prospective significant other, I can't help but having a negative reaction. I suppose that it is because we always hear more of the negative situations! Our society has become so sensationalist...and most always because of unpleasant events. I'm sure that many healthy relationships have resulted because of online dating, but as a mother, I would warn my children to be extremely cautious about meeting anyone in person that they have come to know on such a site. Even sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter can be open doors to individuals who are only looking to cause harm.
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