CYBERSPACE

Technology has without question changed the world. For one thing, it’s made the world smaller. We get news and views from peeps all over the planet in a flash and even see ourselves from outer space on Google Earth. I can email my moans to Claire without even getting out of bed. How cool is that?  

Social networking sites are a lifeline for many peeps. We can talk to mates we would not otherwise be in touch with. Find new peeps who are funny and kind and informative and who make us think about stuff we would never have considered before. That’s great. If I hadn’t been on Facebook Ali wouldn’t have found me and I wouldn’t have been able to link her up with Biker Babe. They were long lost fiends. Now they are back in touch. I feel like the Fairy Godmother. “That’ll be the day” I hear John Wayne saying in my ear.

As with all things, cyberspace is only as good, or bad, as the users. There are bad peeps out there. Sharks! Dangerous freaks who surf the waves and chat rooms looking for the vulnerable. They seek out children they can groom for unimaginable abuse. They search dating sites for vulnerable women looking for friendship and love so they can get them to send their life’s savings to help them rescue an imaginary child or pay for a ticket home.

Surfing the net and stealing peeps identity is the new pickpocketing. Cyber fraud is the new way to rob peeps. We are so naïve in so many ways.

Kids post all sorts of pictures of themselves on nights out. They don’t realise that in later years they may well regret that. As far as I know no one took a picture of me with my dress tucked into my knickers back in the distant past, but nowadays mobile phones allow peeps to take snap shots and videos of mates going mental. Some of the pics are great craic … some are not. Underage drinking. Vandalism. Happy slapping! Some kids tell stories about sexual exploits that should be kept close to one’s chest and not shared with every man and his dog. Kids don’t know the dangers of being sucked into a surreal world.

Gaming machines are a big thing; extremely desirable and extremely addictive. Parents want to give their kids the things they most desire. The hardware, software and chips peas and gravy of life.

Then are there cyber geeks who enjoy creating computer viruses that damage and destroy systems. What’s that all about?

The internet is a tool. How we use it is up to us. It’s virtually impossible to police it; although government listening stations monitor cyberspace for key words that could signal subversion or danger. It’s a pity their idea of danger and mine are different.