AboutVena McGrath Expertise As the author of a novel about my life online in chat rooms specifically, and a few adventures into online dating, I can answer almost any question anyone could ask about chatting online. The excitement, the adrenalin rush, the manipulation of the mind, the corruption of morals, the danger of stalking and harrassment online and offline, the lies, the secrets. The reality of this `fantasy` is frightening. My book tells a story that hopefully will make anyone who reads it more wary and chatwise than I was when I stumbled upon chat in late 1999 as a naive woman who didn`t have a clue what a chat room on the internet was. I have spent many hours online counselling men and women with broken hearts, wounded pride, and yes, very real fear. My passion is to try to help eradicate the not so good factors out of chat rooms and make them once again fun places where people feel safe.
Experience My experience commenced in June 1999 in international chat rooms and then a move in late September 1999 to chat rooms in Australia. I am still online, have my own chat room, and my first novel titled 'Secrets, Lies & Chat' was published by American-Book Publishing in 2005 and is now available from my website www.secretslieschat.net.au for a very competitive price. I have also released on my website an eBook which is a revised version of Secrets, Lies & Chat and only costs $4.95 5o download in either word or pdf format.
Organizations I belong to many writing organisations online and I belong to the chat room community of BigPond.
Publications Communique - a monthly newspaper produced by the NSW Government Department of Commerce
SMH ICON liftout 'The Net Effect' April 2004
Numerous articles in PoynterOnline
Numerous letters to the editor, SMH
My profile and short stories and articles are all online at AuthorsDen.com and some are posted on my website.
Education/Credentials High School Educated
TAFE Secretarial
Numerous OH&S certificates
Numerous Computer related courses
Expert: Vena McGrath Date: 5/25/2008 Subject: making a myspace
Question I have been thinking about making a myspace for a while now. but, i dont have any friends with myspaces. what would be some ups and downs of making a myspace?
Answer Hi Gabriel
I don't know much at all about myspace... other than knowing it exists and reading a bit of bad press and a bit of good feedback from users.
All I can suggest to you is that you do your research on the Internet and read the pros and cons of the website from people that do use it or have researched it. Bottom line is we all have to make our own choices and decisions about what we get involved in or don't get involved in. Because there have been issues that are extremely questionable about most websites and groups on the Internet, it doesn't mean that you personally will be subjected to negativity if you join any of them.
I blame parents for allowing their children to use the Internet without proper education about where to go and where not to go, how to act, what to say and what not to say. This of course is often a problem because many parents know little or nothing about the Internet and aren't interested in finding out. They, as the primary carers of their children should be interested and should be monitoring what their children are doing when they are online. There has been enough press now over the last couple of years for anyone with half a brain to realise it's not all sweet online.
Do parents allow their children to go out alone at night or with strangers? Do they allow them to visit places they know nothing about? In the majority of cases the answer would be a huge NO. And yet they let them wander aimlessly around the Internet, often following in the footsteps of friends or others without even wondering what they are doing or even knowing why. It's a peer pressure thing that we all experienced as children but in today's world there is a much greater risk of being harmed than there ever was.
I suggest that you have a read of the website I have pasted below. I had a quick scan of the article and I'm too far on the other side to agree too much with what I read. I do not agree that there have always been dire risks to children before the Internet. Sure there were/are occasional really awful happenings involving children, but they were/are of a rare kind and infrequent. With the advent of the Internet those dangers are there 24 hours a day to any child allowed to access the Internet without parental guidance. But I see things through different eyes and as I said before, you have to make your own decisions about what you will do after you weigh up the negatives against the positives.
Only by becoming educated from a few different sources will you be in a position to make a concerted decision about myspace. There is a lot of information on the Internet about the website and you should read some negative reports as well as positive to be fair to yourself.
I wish you luck in whatever road you choose to take. After all, millions of people apparently use the medium successfully and enjoy it. Why shouldn't you be one of those people if you are aware of the pitfalls and make a serious effort to protect yourself and those that you love by ensuring your education is sound before you leap?
