I think the previous post was a bit uncalled for.

It can be seen quite clearly in which manner the original statement was made, and I see zero invective, incitement, least of all an attempt to maliciously "spread fear".

As I see it, he was stating some facts or making some assumptions and used both examples highlighted to indicate where he is coming from.

It may be so that 95% of child abuse occurs within the family and if that is a statistical fact then I honour that fact.

However, I would also say that there is a growing trend to use the internet in order to ensnare young children - this can be seen from all the recent paedophile rings that have been brought to court in the last few years.

On what basis are you arguing that:

a)The media is "hyping" or maybe overexaggerating the truth of the phaedophilia situation?

b)"because children are the biggest threat"?

c) and thus this is done to "control children"?

Are these your own assumptions, your own experience, or do you have some fact and substantiated information of some kind to back up this statement?

And there is also a general trend to "ensnare" adults as well, male and female, all of which are people that are generally vulnerable.

The fact is, is that the internet can lend itself to the entrappment of the vulnerable.

WR

JT

Child predetors can use the Net to lure and kidnap children. And this actually isn't limited to children, there are Internet seriel killers who lure men or women into similar traps.

Please don't spread disinfo and fear. 95% of child abuse occur within the family. If the media are hyping the amount of predators on the net (and everyone repeats this as if it was the Truth, even if only very few highly-publized cases occured), it's to keep children controlled. Children are the biggest threat to the system. You may know that, because of this whole online predator thing, millions of families and schools have installed softwares to filter access to websites. And guess what? These softwares also block conspiracy sites and other sites which are dangerous for the system.

Anyway I agree with aaron and seeker. Loads of people use Internet as an escape and I have done so for several years as well. Many people spend days and nights superficially chatting with strangers, downloading stuff they don't need or defending their opinions on forums. It's important to keep a balance. As usual it's about how we choose to use the technology.

Like I said in another thread, "deserves got nothin' to do with it." !

However, while my little brother was visiting (he's 12 now), i watched him use the Internet and he would simply type a word that had to do with something he was interested in (i.e. Pokemon) between www and .com to come up with random websites. Most of the websites, either because he spelled them wrong, or because the official website was under a different URL, he would get directed to porn sites.

Child predetors can use the Net to lure and kidnap children. And this actually isn't limited to children, there are Internet seriel killers who lure men or women into similar traps.

Also, as far as society manipulators go, even above politicians are the corporations and the Internet was originally used only by large corporations to help centralize operations (after the military released it for public use).  And that now, if the Internet collapsed so would most of the world's economy.

I can say without a doubt that the internet has done more good for humanity than bad. People are able to access much more information about the world and learn more and become MORE AWARE of what's going on in this world. I'm willing to bet many truth-seekers like ourselves would still feel quite alone if it weren't for the ability to create a network of ideas on the internet.

However, there ARE downsides to the internet, in particular two that are quite prevalent. ONE is that the internet has become somewhat of a cultural wasteland... hell, the internet is its own culture. Think of all the jokes and mannerisms that came from the internet. The problem is that  people get caught up in using the internet as their main source of entertainment... it becomes a DISTRACTION. This distraction is then fueled by ADDICTION. Some people I know literally spend their whole day surfing the web for kicks. The SECOND big downside is that while the internet tends to bring people together, at the same time it drives them apart. This is generally true of any advanced technology. Why go to a shop where you have to interact with real people when you can order anything you want online? Why make friends on the street when you can make them in chatrooms? Why meet with family to catch up on each other when you can just shoot them an email? The internet SEEMS to bring people together when it really does the opposite.

Lately my patience with the internet is dwindling. It no longer fulfills my entertainment and information needs like it used to. My time spent online has become a fraction of what it was months ago. This seems to be because of changes within me, possibly metaphysical. These days I'm more satisfied with entertainment from real live things and people, and my intuition and "inner knowing" seems to provide me with more information lately than any internet news or forum.

I didnt know that the "What is the Internet" post existed or I would have posted there too :-D

Yes, I think the Internet has grown somewhat to represent mankinds subconcious mind.

The article above is interesting insofar as it covers both the discernment of information and truths as well as the networked matrix aspect to the internet. Our mental fields and emotional fields surrounding us often resound with whatever we are focusing our awareness on as well as expressing the sum of our mental and emotional content - we literally are "Plugged In", in this respect, when sat at a PC.

A few hundred years ago, we would probably not have ventured very far from our villages - our potential for "experience" was limited back then, compared to what is experienced today.

I am not denying the quality of experiences or the nature of experiences that were had "back then", but in the life of your average serf I dont imagine his cage was rattled very often.

The average human being in 2004 probably is exposed to, and experiences, more "stuff" in 1 year, than his or her equivilent/counterpart of ages old.

This effect took a huge leap with the advent of the internet, thats for sure.

I also believe that the Internet has an unquantifiable potential for good.

WR

JT

I came across this article earlier and wanted to recommend it:

The Great Matrix Revealed - But Who Will Notice!

http://www.rense.com/general53/great.htm

WR

JT