internet not really dangerous

Well like so much of the social sciences, it has finally been proven what so many have already know—the internet isn’t really that dangerous for children after all. Child predators aren’t lurking around every proverbial html corner, waiting to snatch every child which clicks on a link for free candy & cute kittens and puppies.

A task force representing 49 state attorneys generals was made up to find a solution to the problem of online sexual solicitation, but found that there wasn’t really a large problem at all. They found the internet is mostly like the real world, there are mostly good people out there. The larger problem is online & offline bullying—a problem that has probably been around since Adam & Eve had children.

Hopefully this report can put to news media like NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” series. I always hated that show; I feel like it was always entrapment. There are probably a lot of men out there who struggle with this stuff, but coning them like they is like dragging your alcoholic friend to a bar, drinking in front of him and then getting mad at him when he wants to drink too.

I feel like what they were doing on that show, was plain sinful. Paul talks about this in his letter to the Romans, the strong & the weak, not causing your weaker brother (or sister) to stumble because of your actions, even if they are justified through Christ. Paul is talking about rather benign stuff, eating, drinking, and Sabbath practices; how much worse would this be considered?

Here is a link to slashdot, where I found the article.

Here is a link to the NYTimes, which as an article on it.