Online turned Real Life Harassment

[Shouko]

You NEVER do this, NEVER EVER. I'm a 51 year old, average to not very attractive, thin enough, male; So I'm pretty darn "stalker proof", just by default. I STILL never do this.

I would not even give your discord/whatever. I don't do anything in "public", connected to games like this or Wow. That is to say, they can't find me or my IP address from just the game alone.

I leave everything "friend" in game. Sure, we can be friends in game. This is for my protection, as well as yours.

This isn't always the case, it really depends on the situation.

There are people who've gotten married in game and then after years finally started dating then finally married and have kids. One of my good friends irl met another guy and they got to be friends, he was going to come up to hang out with him but it didn't happen due car trouble.

[TaranTatsuuchi]

I don't use my rl info online.
I was taught that way....


But now a days people are encouraged, or in some cases required by tos, to use your real info.

I know better than that.
But many don't.

[raela]

I remember in school, there were lots of warnings of never everrr giving out aaaany personal information, including first name, because then the bad people will find you a do terrible things. That was ridiculous. That level of paranoia was unnecessary.

Jumping too quick into exchanging personal details is bad, but I don't have a problem meeting people from the internet. I've met more than 10 friends over the years, whether it be local, driving a few hours to them, them flying to me, or even me flying to another country to them. I've had an easier time making friends online, so why not meet up eventually? Hell, I found out about the job I have now from a person I knew online..

But I feel like with apps like Tinder becoming so popular, internet stranger danger isn't as much of a worry now to the general public. There are bad people that live close, too, so sticking local won't necessarily protect you from stalkers and the like.

[MisterSpamtastic]

But I feel like with apps like Tinder becoming so popular, internet stranger danger isn't as much of a worry now to the general public.

you reminded me of a comedian i watched recently. they did a bit on when they were younger they were told to never trust people on the internet, and never get into a strangers car and nowadays you literally use an app on your phone to contact internet strangers specifically to get into their cars (uber and lyft joke). times are changing but always use your brain and take things slowly.