Dark Side of the Internet

 I love the internet. The internet has enriched my life. The information and communication tools available have the potential to change the world into what only utopians hoped for in previous centuries.

Without the internet would the Iron Curtain have fallen, would China have opened, and India become a modern economic power house. If not, not as rapidly or to the extent they have.
There are countless stories of people whose lives have been saved as they searched for remedies for life threatening diseases. Children separated from their birth mothers and siblings separated seventy years ago in war torn Europe have been reunited.

Unfortunately a dark side has emerged. Photographs of a personal nature are posted by ex-lovers. Cameras are placed in changing rooms, toilets, the toes of shoes, in bedroom windows and the videos of the victims posted on pornography sites. Laws are weak and enforcement is difficult. The victims carry the shame and feel powerless. Pedophiles seem free to publish the most horrendous atrocities committed against our children with little to stop them.

In our ordinary lives we can capture a fairly accurately judgment of those people with who we interact. We get a three dimensional view. We experience their energy. We exchange the same air space. We smell their breath. We hear the tone of their voices. We interact with other who can bolster their bona fides. We get to see if they are walking their talk.

The internet offers the opportunity to fabricate a persona that is a false representation of the writer. A person of little accomplishment and limited skill can present themselves as a highly competent and success person. We don’t see their truth only their carefully crafted internet representation.
Great harm can be cast upon the innocent by the vengeful. The mean spirited and cowardly can use the internet to attack anyone; a spouse; ex-boyfriend or girlfriend; work mate of business partner.

The attack does not have to name you but given the information that is available on the internet it won’t take much of an investigation to discover the intended victim. Aside from the third party approach, lack of names and specifics the accusations are clear as is the target.

As the target you will experience disbelief, anger, rage and powerlessness.

What are you to do?

How do you take the high road?

How do you keep to your own integrity when you want to strike out?

Do you just suck it up watch your attacker continue to enforce their corrupt image?

What would you do?

Who is really behind the image on your screen?