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Monday, May 7, 2007
Lurking Predators
Reference: The Sunday Times. "You're 13? What's your bust size?" dated 6/5/2007
The reporter had posed as a 13 year old schoolgirl on chatrooms and received various "indecent proposals" from men in the chatrooms.
This article therefore shows the danger that lurks in the chatrooms that you and me and most teenagers log on. We may call this the teenager chatrooms, however men of all ages will still prowl and prey on the young girls in all these chatrooms. In the chatrooms and virtual reality, the men put on a facade. They fake their identity, they fake their age and even fake their own personality. All these are done to persuade the girls to accept their "indecent proposals". They are like predators, searching for their prey to satisfy their hunger and needs. Hence teenagers, girls especially, have to be constantly on alert in the chatrooms. The girls must know how to protect themselves online. They must not reveal too much of their own information. This may sound common-sensical or you have heard this over and over again, but seldom, girls do all these "common sense" precautions. This is why there is an ever rising chatrooms crime rates. If the girls and teenagers do not try to make this effort to protect their own self, no amount of protection from external factors can help them.
This does not mean there's nothing that the rest of the community can do. There are still actions and measures that could be taken by the parents, school and the community. The parents should try to keep a watch over the websites, most importantly the chatrooms,that their children go on to. If parents should spot for any suspicious or indecent websites, they should advise their children to stop going to these chatrooms and websites. This does not imply that parents can override the privacy of their children, but just to take notice of what activities their children are doing online. This can reduce the risk of their children unknowingly engaging in some dangerous and indecent activities with strangers met online.
The school, on the hand, can conduct internet safety lessons for their students, using interesting ways to convey their message. By engaging the students, the students will then keep all these precautions fresh in their head and would most probably use them in such situations. The chatrooms should put an age limit to the entry of the youth chatrooms. The use of filter can also filter off the indecent and obscene characters from the chatrooms, to keep the chatrooms safe for teenagers. However, all these measures are not fool proof, there are no hundred percent guarantee too all situations, however would greatly reduce the risks that the teenagers are being exposed to. Only with all factors working closely together will we be able to eliminate this risk.
Beware, the 'predator' still lurks around, looking for girls. Be on alert, protect yourself.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Freedom or safety?
The massacre of the Virginia Tech University was a great tragedy not only to the United States, but to the whole world as well. It brought the attention of the whole world to this particular state of America.
Mass shootings seem to be the common sight of America. It is not the first time that a mass shootings happened in school. In 1999, in Columbine High School, 12 students and a teacher were shot dead. This would have been a warning sign to the country that something must be done it restrictions on guns. However, the gun controls are not any stricter now.
Now, it happened again. The massacre in the university. The killer was slightly autistic and mentally disturbed. YET, he was able to get hold of the guns he used in the massacre. I believe to stop all these massacres and mass shootings in schools and public areas, strict gun controls should be implemented. With guns easily available around, everybody could get a gun by just paying some money, regardless whether they are in a sound state of mind. Some may give the buyers some forms to fill in their particulars and current state of mind for precautions. However who can guarantee that they would be truthful about their current pschological conditions or they may be so mentally confused that they do not even know that they are not in the right state of mind. Then, how can you be sure that the guns will be used appropriately? I do believe, that strict laws over guns should be implemented in America to stop all these tragedies from happening.
Some may say that all the civilians and citizens in America have the rights and freedom to do what they like, however when this freedom is infringed and it endangers the safety of others, restrictions should be placed. Freedom could be given to the people, freedom of speech and so on, however freedom over having guns by your side or sale of guns to civilians should be reconsidered. Think about the people who died in all these tragedies. For the good of everyone in the state, this area of freedom should be sacrificed. The safety of people far outweighs the freedom of having guns. Furthermore, how will the guns help you in daily lives? Promoting violence or what else? To keep you safe? To me, guns have not much use for us in our society and daily lives, neither does it make me feel any safer. It should be controlled strictly from being sold publicly and made easily available to the people.
Some may say, the sale of guns to civilians is to help them to protect themselves from external threat, however, in my opinion, the guns does not give you the sense of security and safety at all. In fact, i believe, it creates more distrust and fear in people. Who knows when will you be shot down one day by a passerby? Are you going to live day by day getting suspicious with the people around you? Hence, in order to build a safer and more trusting society, strict gun controls should be implemented. We should learn to solve prolems not by violence and guns but using persuasion and generation of ideas. Having guns does not mean that problems can be solved. Safety or freedom, this is your choice.
Monday, March 19, 2007
speak up!
from now on this will be the place where i will be voicing my thoughts on serious issues. so i shall learn to speak up as what my blog title is. speak up!
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