"SOmetimes it's just nice to have people to talk to that are in no way related to the daily stresses of life."
Absolutely.
As long as you use common sense (stay in public places, trust your instincts if something feels wrong), meeting Internet friends is generally safe. Of course, my mom has read too many of the horror stories to ever believe that.
"My mom is freaky about it. I hate using the computer at their house because she still comes in and is like "WHOOOOO ya talkin to?" And peering over my shoulder at the screen."
My mom does that all.the.time. It's gotten to the point where I'm afraid to go on AIM when I'm at home because I know it will go something like this:
*Internet friend IMs me*
Mom: Who are you talking to?
Me: One of my friends.
Mom: Who?
Me: Oh, just someone from school. You wouldn't know the name.
Mom: Well, tell me about this friend. I don't like not knowing about who you're friends with.
Me: Why do you need to know who every single one of my friends is? I'm 19. I'm away at college for most of the year. I'm not a little kid anymore
Mom: I really don't like this. I'm your mother, I'm supposed to know everything that's going on with you. Are you hiding something from me?
*loud angry fighting ensues. Guilt trips and hurtful remarks are flung about. Internet friend is left wondering why I never responded to her IM*
"There was this one time an alarm went off - it was in the middle of '24.' That's just wrong. Everyone knows everyone was watching '24' at that time."
--NYU student quoted in the Washington Square News about students ignoring the frequent fire alarms in dorms
Updated On: 1/15/06 at 12:22 AM