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Cyberstalking…
A few hard facts There are several
types of stalkers; however, the common motivation of each is to
exert control of some form over their victims. The fact that cyberstalking
does not involve physical contact may lead to the misconception
that it is less dangerous than real life stalking. The reality
is that on-line stalking can readily lead to an off-line attack
if the situation is not properly dealt with as soon as possible.
The relative danger that a cyberstalker may present depends on several
variables, but the most critical circumstance is that the person
may learn enough of your personal information to contact you in
real-life. Many stalkers
will say that they know where you live in an attempt to instill
as much fear as possible in their victims. Unless this person knows
you in real life or this information has been inadvertently divulged,
it is not likely that this could be true. However, with the investigative
resources now available on the 'Net', even the smallest amount of
the right personal facts can be pieced together to provide detailed
location information. For example,
every e-mail you send may be attached to a considerable amount of
information about you, your friends and your computer; the software
you use etc. Coupled with other bits of information, they make it
easy for a cyberstalker to piece together a reasonably close picture
of you. Are
you an addict? Make no mistake
about it, Internet addiction is real, and chances are good that
someone you know has it. It is becoming common to know of someone,
or have heard of someone, who has become enamoured with on-line
activity to the point that they ignore important personal responsibilities. Broken marriages,
lost jobs, failing exams in school and forgetting to eat are just
some of the reported consequences of being addicted to the Internet.
It is the social aspect of computer assisted communication, the
interpersonal exchange with others that is so stimulating and reinforcing
that some people are finding it hard to know when to stop. Cyberspace
communications offer people an opportunity to experience a form
of social contact, with no real social presence. The significant
difference between cyberspace relationships and ones maintained
by other existing technologies like telephone or snail-mail is that
the new culture values of Internet virtual communities have social
norms that allow and even encourage contact with relative strangers.
One might think of the Internet as a cold place but nothing could
be further from the truth. In the isolation amidst large cities
where people often live separated from their families and relatives,
the Net can become a substitute social-life and a vital source of
interpersonal contact despite its non-physical nature. Because cyberspace
does not offer a means to monitor others non-verbal responses to
your communications it could lead to grave misunderstandings and
even conflicts. A critical factor as to how text based communication
can lead some people to experience such serious consequences, is
the lack of interactivity that is essential in normal human communication.
Judgements of others in this virtual social setting are made without
the normal sensual clues. This could make those who are addicted
to the Internet also act in a similar fashion and to express themselves
without verbal or emotional restraint in their "off-line world"
as well. So it could be another socially visible symptom of an Internet
addict. Do you fall into this category? Maybe one of your friends is showing signs of on-line addiction? Are you the manager of a company and your employees are spending too much time on-line? What can you do about it? Those who are addicted to the Internet can conquer this problem through understanding and talking about Internet addiction, and by adhering to a few basic guidelines. If you find that you are addicted to the Internet, you should find a mental health professional who can help you conquer your addiction. The
law In simple terms,
foreign citizens and businesses are now being subjected to copyright,
speech, consumer protection and other laws enacted by governments
in countries where they've had no voice. Though these
international tensions seem to have existed long before the Net
came into existence, the global network's growth has clearly intensified
them. In Italy, two men are reported to be under investigation for
allegedly running sites that combined pornographic pictures with
offensive statements about 'the' Madonna. They are now about to
face blasphemy, computer fraud and other charges that could result
in fines and up to three years in prison. The interesting
fact is that the sites were hosted by U.S. companies. Authorities
in Italy used a suspect's computer and password to reach across
the ocean and replace the offending images with the logo of the
special police unit that tracked him down. It is time to assess our stand on this issue as Sri Lankans, considering that we are living in a country that is engulfed by piracy and plagiarism. We welcome your views on this issue, so write in to <technopage_lk@yahoo.com>. Readers'
Corner At every updating
I hope to include new information and enhance it with different
designs. Nufayl Razick. Readers are
welcome to visit Nufayl's site and write in with their views. |
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