REMINDER: Proceed With Caution in Social Networking!

The following was posted by a friend on Facebook. I’m reposting w/permission as I feel this is a very important message that reminds us to be vigilant:

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Let’s face it, social networking sites have enabled people coming together like never before. I have met many wonderful people. I am appreciative of all the people who have come my way. I have struck up friendship with many fascinating people. I look at each opportunity to get to know each person as an opportunity to broaden my horizons.

I am an optimistic person and I know that I am often more trusting than I should be with people. On a social network for bikers I became acquainted with this guy in Texas. LET ME STRESS THAT I MAKE NO BONES ABOUT BEING MARRIED AND NOT LOOKING FOR ANYTHING BUT FRIENDSHIP. I have not met him in person and really have little desire to go out of my way to meet him, unless I would be in Texas for a reason.

He found me on Myspace and I thought including him in my friend’s list was innocent enough. He was going through a divorce. He said was depressed and distraught. He send me messages he was thinking about ending his life. I felt sorry for him. After a while of communicating with him a few days he shared his email with me and asked me to email him so he “could just talk.” When I developed a Facebook profile he found me there. I thought OK, that still seemed innocent enough.

We talked about innocent stuff. He is a biker also. I mentioned to him one time about dropping my bike. The conversation continued off and on. One time I explained that I was cautious about riding on gravel His reply caught me off guard. He said, “Don’t ride on gravel unless I was there with you.” I immediately thought “What? There with me? What? He is in Texas. I am in Connecticut. I am married!”

That is when I backed off. I didn’t talk with him about it, I didn’t really talk with him about anything after that.

Whenever I signed on to Myspace or Facebook or the biker social network, he was there. I would try to get me into chat. Finally, I had enough. I had explained to my husband all along what was happening. I am grateful I never shared a lot of contact information with him. I have no idea what the motivation is of this guy. It could be purely innocent. I don’t know and I don’t care. I have blocked him everywhere as of this morning, Myspace, Facebook, the biker social network, and email.

His intentions may be innocent, I don’t know. However, I have no desire to find out at this point. I discussed what has happened with my husband and he is supporting my actions 100%.

Remember, if it smells like fish, it usually is fish.

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