Why is it that when a female is on the WWW, many many many men seem to believe that the woman is "looking" for love, single (possibly), and available?
As indicated in my first blog, I've been at this internet thing for a long time. I've even been thru the single's scene, and in the early years of "American Singles", I think it was an okay place to be....WHEN SINGLE. Thinking about it in the year 2005? No...I don't have the same belief.
When I WAS single, I noticed an alarming trend as the computer on-line world began to increase in population expodentially. I noticed that the on-line behavior of people became more and more crass, forward, and objectionable. I also noticed that the ability to trust that a person on the net was actually who they claimed to be also became more and more unlikely.
The eyeopener was many years ago when I was "automatically" logging into an internet messenger. I was very busy doing research for a dissertation, and I relied heavily on the wonderful ability to access reliable information in libraries and elsewhere. I would log on thru my "dial up" and spend either early morning hours or late night hours finding information for the literature review of my dissertation. During these times utter strangers would start IMing me. My own reason for having IM was to correspond with family and friends instantly..avoiding the long distance phone call. Well, these interrupting IM's were men looking for sexual encounters. Now in 2005, I would say that 98.9% of all of the "random" IM's seem to be of this genre.
My example today is one from Yahoo Messenger. I recently signed back up for that. Haven't used it in years. I just left YM open...and those of you using such know that it makes your Icon be "available for chat". Well, my computer was on late into the night. Late night...here comes the "random" chatter, male, who has not clicked on my "profile". (Probably because few seem to fill out one for identity reasons). I have the option to igore this person, but for the heck of it I say hello. Its like...online pickup lines: "Hi" "How are you?" "Where do you live?" "Do you have a cam?" "Do you have a pic?" I was stilted in replying. I respond with "no cam". This seems to be an oddity? I mention I'm married. Annon man is suprised...but not daunted....although there is an "Ok" with a long pause in the chat. I end the chat.
Probably the strangest thing I can say about this is that the next morning, I'm away from my computer for awhile and find an IM from the same man. Its a Bluemountain Love Poem. What? I am thinking...is this guy crazy? Is he confused? What is the deal?
So...I decided to change my online nickname. I did this. A few days later, same guy IM's me. Fact is, I'm not sure he even knew the new nickname was me. Once again the question: "Do you have a cam?" My response, "NO". I mention something about my husband in a sentence, and its "Your married?" I'm thinking "Oh Duh"....do we have a short attention span? Does ANYONE READ the profile?
So today's ramblings are that random IM's annoy me. I will have to change the settings on my YM....stealth mode ALWAYS.
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Sadly, there is a large majority of dumb & un-motivated people who waste a large amount of time on the internet. I think there are also thousands (if not millions) of porn addicts who stalk the internet, not even realizing the REAL potential the internet has for improving their lives or eliminating their boredom.
I also receive random IM's from women and sometimes men harrassing me for similar reasons as you stated. My game is to think up the wackiest character and roleplay. For some reason, people are turned off by my "serial killer in prison" IM persona or my super-geek persona. he he...
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