Curious about young women and Myspace

[bliss_eternal]

I was seeking out information on when a band I like will play again locally. In the process, I found they had some information on myspace. While there I encountered their fan club led by a young woman. I was VERY disturbed by her blog.

The young lady had things written on her blog, I would have a tough time writing in my private journal.:blush: I couldn't believe what I was reading. She provided pictures of personal family and friends, their names--what they do, where they work, where she attends school, works, intimate details of her...ahem...love live :blush:. I'm not even a myspace member and I could easily access all of this information.

While this woman is legal and "of age" I'm still concerned. Do young women these days just feel they are somehow immune to cyber stalkers and others that would seek to manipulate them, after seeing such personal details (and learning what makes them tick)?

I hope I don't sound like an over-cautious prude, but it just seemed she (and others) are taking unnecessary risks by being so candid on their myspace blogs. Is it just me?

Thoughts?

[MuseRider]

1. It scares me.

My sons girlfriend had one that she invited me to look at. I am not a Myspace member either so I did not know what to expect. I looked at it(she wanted me to see her dog pictures) and found some things out about my son that I had no business knowing and did not want to know. I told her that I would not be going back to read and that I was concerned for much of the same reasons you are. She was recently infiltrated by someone who sent porn to all her friends and signed her name to it etc. She now has it blocked.

I can't imagine putting all of that on the Internet. I do not even know what the motivation would be to put all of that out there. I am over cautious but am not a prude either but damn, that is some very personal stuff out there.

[bliss_eternal]

2. Me too, Muserider...

it just seems to be making them so vulnerable, it also seems rather unnecessary. I don't know why young women aren't being more cautious or concerned about their private lives, personal information, feelings, etc.

It sounds like you handled the personal situation quite well, at least in a calm manner. I don't know if I would have been as nice as you were about being made privy to such information. Yikes! I think I may have freaked out, at least a bit. lol.

I don't know if this is a result of all the ridiculous reality shows, that give people a false sense of "reality" (showing women in compromising positions). Or if this is just a natural result of the "cyber age." Whatever it is, it's starting to make me mad. Seriously. I'm concerned and angry that young women are buying into this bullshit (i.e. everyone has a blog like this, everyone does pics like that...) :wtf:

:hi: Muserider!

[ismnotwasm]

3. Maybe it's the unreality of the whole thing

And the "Everybody does it" thought. I hope if feminism can reach anyone, it's these young women who feel free, but have no idea how the bondage of sexism and misogyny puts them at risk.
Just look at that disgusting show, what is it Dateline or something? The one that sets up internet stings for men cruising for VERY young girls. (I find it disgusting because it's gratuitous and practically a fuckin reality show)

I work with a lot of young women and I've seen a few of their Myspace websites. The ones I've seen are appropriate and safe as possible. I know there are a lot of young women without the savvy, or the boundaries they need to be safe.


Because I work with young--and not so young women-- feminism is one topic I bring up as often as possible. Feminism is also about safety for women as far as I'm concerned. They are NOT safe, putting too personal information out there.
As a matter of fact, they aren't safe from the day they were born female and that's the world we live in. I don't think it has anything to do with being a prude, Bliss. I can talk about safety and boundaries and the right to orgasm in the next sentence if I have too.

[bliss_eternal]

4. Hi ismnotwasm...

Your posts are always so honest, and such a comfort. Thank you! :hug:

I saw someone posting a while back in the main forums about myspace, and I didn't think anything of voicing my concerns about the dangers that exist there. Unfortunately a few of DU's usual suspects came along to flame me and insinuate that I was somehow "prudish" for saying so. :eyes:

Of course when I called them on their remarks and attempts at bullying me, they didn't have a damn thing to say in response. ;)

I believe that is an essay or feminist book that needs to be written--women on reality shows and the affects it's had on younger women, the women's movement, etc. From The Bachelor to Wife Swap, the Howard Stern show, Dateline, Survivor and those hideous Girls Gone Wild commercials--this era has not been a good one in terms of showing strong women assert their strength in positive ways, without utilizing their sexuality, etc.

Oh a bit off topic, this is probably horrible of me but I saw a (possibly Dateline) report on the guy that created Girls Gone Wild. He was apparently beat up and robbed at gun point in his home. The robber also forced him into a simulated rape position to create a videotape. I didn't feel sorry for him, and I did take a bit of pleasure in hearing about this happening to him. ;)