These days, we all tell our children not to speak to strangers. A couple of years ago, I was at a concert....sitting beside another single lady - she invited me for a drink afterwards (with her partner who was not at the concert) - when the pub shut, I invited the two of them back to my house. My kids - they thought I'd lost it.........................so to speak. Next morning - each made some announcement re how the computer and telly were still there - I asked how they had become so negative - and the reply I got was 'Mum, who taught us never to talk to strangers - and what did you do - brought them home' The internet is different though.................we can't see people - their expressions - things can be said that are mis-understood/represented/interpreted. The internet/meeting people/personal security...................it's such a mix - we see so much every day that tells us to be so careful. How would you feel/deal with someone who was so nice that they could give you a number to call which wouldn't cost you anything - someome who would copy things and send them to you free of charge - would you wonder a bit - would you be downright suspicious - would you be scared. The thing is....................there really and trully are some nice people left in the world - some with no other motives. Should we all be running scared from everything that happens us. Back when I was in college, my father, he caught a run of mackeral down in Glengariff................arrived up in Cork with all these fish in a trailer........gave them to my sister and myself - easy offloading for him :-). Anyway, that was over 20 years ago, I gutted all the fish - a bathful - and my sister and myself went out knocking on doors to give them away. It was no easy matter..............I remember being so shocked and amazed that people wouldn't answer their doors after 7pm........those that did - they wanted to know how much money we wanted - couldn't beleive that we just wanted to give them away. Personally - I've not had a bad experience re the net..............I've chatted to people by email...........and then when I've met them, it's been as if I knew them before - well, pretty much - but nothing bad. This is not genealogy per se - but it is distantly related to genealogy - for those who meet others through genealogy lists What are your experiences? - Anyone want to speak of them? Do you think that there are still nice people in the world who will do something for nothing? (besides Padraig that was :-)) - Just have to stick that one in!!!! Please and thanks Jane

From the Pacific Northwest of the United States: We still endeavor to practice Random Acts of Kindness. I have given and I have received. That said, I would not invite a person I just met that day back to my home. No way, Jose! When I get one of those letters that says my bank needs to verify my account information and to please e-mail them back, I report it to the Federal Trade Commission www.spam@uce.gov . There is a difference between gullible and trusting. Practice that. Judy Dear -----Original Message----- From: Dr. Jane Lyons [mailto:sniliaghin@iol.ie] Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 4:49 PM To: IRL-GALWAY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [GALWAY] Internet security - personal - not computer These days, we all tell our children not to speak to strangers. A couple of years ago, I was at a concert....sitting beside another single lady - she invited me for a drink afterwards (with her partner who was not at the concert) - when the pub shut, I invited the two of them back to my house. My kids - they thought I'd lost it.........................so to speak. Next morning - each made some announcement re how the computer and telly were still there - I asked how they had become so negative - and the reply I got was 'Mum, who taught us never to talk to strangers - and what did you do - brought them home' The internet is different though.................we can't see people - their expressions - things can be said that are mis-understood/represented/interpreted. The internet/meeting people/personal security...................it's such a mix - we see so much every day that tells us to be so careful. How would you feel/deal with someone who was so nice that they could give you a number to call which wouldn't cost you anything - someome who would copy things and send them to you free of charge - would you wonder a bit - would you be downright suspicious - would you be scared. The thing is....................there really and trully are some nice people left in the world - some with no other motives. Should we all be running scared from everything that happens us. Back when I was in college, my father, he caught a run of mackeral down in Glengariff................arrived up in Cork with all these fish in a trailer........gave them to my sister and myself - easy offloading for him :-). Anyway, that was over 20 years ago, I gutted all the fish - a bathful - and my sister and myself went out knocking on doors to give them away. It was no easy matter..............I remember being so shocked and amazed that people wouldn't answer their doors after 7pm........those that did - they wanted to know how much money we wanted - couldn't beleive that we just wanted to give them away. Personally - I've not had a bad experience re the net..............I've chatted to people by email...........and then when I've met them, it's been as if I knew them before - well, pretty much - but nothing bad. This is not genealogy per se - but it is distantly related to genealogy - for those who meet others through genealogy lists What are your experiences? - Anyone want to speak of them? Do you think that there are still nice people in the world who will do something for nothing? (besides Padraig that was :-)) - Just have to stick that one in!!!! Please and thanks Jane ==== IRL-GALWAY Mailing List ==== Have you traveled or are you planning to travel to Ireland??? http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Eire_Travel/ To unsub or change your Irl-Galway mailing mode: http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/IRL/IRL-GALWAY.html ============================== New! Family Tree Maker 2005. Build your tree and search for your ancestors at the same time. Share your tree with family and friends. Learn more: http://landing.ancestry.com/familytreemaker/2005/tour.aspx?sourceid=14599&ta rgetid=5429

Jane, You really should be more careful... :-) The hand of friendship can be disquised, and I have met in-person only a handful of people from the Internet, all were with no problems. Some I have met on-line only - a few were wolves in sheeps clothings, whose sole purpose was to toy with you, embarrass and humiliate you. Remember when you talk to someone on line, you cannot even tell if you are speaking with a M/F, old or young person. [In America very bad things have happened to some children that have been taken advantage of by adults they met on-line.] But, every person I have met through a gen forum or gen list has been great, and would not hesitate to do that again. The first person I met was this little red haired girl... (starting to sound a bit like Charlie Brown), that had the nerve to meet a Yank from halfway around the world. We had been friends only a short time before we met, and ever since. So will just say, in these times I can only recommend you trust your instincts, and trust your fellow gen associates. Best regards, Jim McNamara <SNIPPED> --- "Dr. Jane Lyons" <sniliaghin@iol.ie> wrote: > These days, we all tell our children not to speak to strangers. > > A couple of years ago, I was at a concert....sitting beside another single > lady - she invited me for a drink afterwards (with her partner who was not > at the concert) - when the pub shut, I invited the two of them back to my > house. > > My kids - they thought I'd lost it.........................so to speak. ===== Jim McNamara Searching: McNAMARA-McGRATH, CLEARY-CONWAY, HANNA(H)-BRADY-McCORMICK-THOMPSON-CAIN-WAUGH-DAVIS-HUNTER __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250