Law Enforcement officials to patrol chatrooms in search of terrorists, and pedophiles

[Mitchell]

I just read an article on AOL which stated that law enforcement officals intend to step up patrols in public internet chat rooms in search of terrorists and pedophiles. The article claimed that law enoforcement has been doing so for years.
I think I posted on here before how when I was a newbie to TMF in October, 2002, I began talking to a girl without asking age. This was in the old old TMF insecure chat. The next thing I knew, a "cop" came on telling me that I was in trouble because I had talked to an underage girl about tickling, who I was told was 17. The way the conversation went, I was convinced that I had been nailed and it was real. The "cop" told me to get a lawyer, and such. Luckily, later that day, after conferencing about it with Myriads, I was told it had happened to others, and that it was a fake, nothing more then one of the trolls who used to haunt the old old room. I figured that it was real, because I thought that especially after 9-11, police might be patroling the internet. Since then, I have been extremely careful, and will always ask age before I talk to anyone on here. I have on a couple of occasions left chats on here with girls who told me they were underage, and told the mods, as none of us need the legal issues that go along with that. This article I read today re enforced the point of what happened to me two years ago, and made it known that we have to be wary in chat rooms. The only other chat I go into besides TMF is the baseball chat on AOL, so I dont think it would be a problem if I shoot the breeze with someone about baseball, even if they arent 18, as long as nothing sexual or propostioning happens, which it never does. After that incident, I have been extremely careful.
Anyone who has AOL might find that article informative. I just thought it worthy of posting, after the experience I had.

Mitch

 

[ShadowTklr]

There are two real dangers in dealing with minors on the internet. The first is seeking to meet them. Might as well pack your toothbrush for that meeting, because you have a good chance of being arrested upon arrival.

The second way is to mail, or email pornographic or explicitly sexual material to minors. That action becomes the jurisdiction of the FBI because it breaches a Federal law that prohibits the transfer of such materials to minors across state lines.

It's best to stay with adults.

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

There are self-appointed internet police who pose as such to try to scare away predators. As long as they don't press the issue and report incidents to the proper authorities when they find things, I have no problems with them. But, be assured that law enforcement has been and will continue to be involved in internet stings. The basic rule... When it comes to adult issues (and issues of sexuality is definitely one), keep it between adults.

My practice over the years, as minors sneak into my sites or write me to talk about things is to advise them that they are not of age to be coming there. If they have a simple question and/or are confused about their sexuality, I may give them a little encouragement. But, it's never in the realm of inviting them to continue coming/writing. It's always along the lines of, "This is the way I see things. I hope you can deal with it. Find a trustworthy adult to talk with. I care about your wellbeing. But, don't return to the site." They usually get the message.

Ann

 

[BigJim]

The internet arm of British law enforcement, the Internet Watch Foundation, is VERY active about following up links to law breakers and child abusers.

I find it hard to believe that individual officers are going to be spending time in individual chat room though. I can see the viability of them posing as minors, but not otherwise. If it helps nail more kiddie fiddlers though, so much the better.

 

[Mitchell]

I do agree with you about cops posing as minors. What may happen would be that a cop would pose as a minor, and then if propositioned by someone to set up a meeting for sex or something, either nail the person at the meeting, or somehow nail them through their ISP for sex talk with a minor. I'm not sure how it would work. This scenario will always have me asking age, as I have since I've been here, and if anyone tells me they are under 18, I will avoid them.

Mitch

 

[BigJim]

It's best going for tickling contacts working through sites like this. It's a rule of joining here that you're 18 or over, and it has been enforced when underage members have been discovered (Once I was the one who reported it).


I have been worried about some posts on Tickle Theater though. One had a guy proudly claiming how much he wanted to tickle the bare feet of Emma Watson (the 14 year old actress who plays Hermione Granger in Harry Potter) and a clip that was posted (and left up) showed a 15 or 16 year old actress in a clip from a show where she put her bare feet on the table. Several posters mentioned this, but I don't think anything was done as regards moving it.

Of course, I didn't stick around that thread for more than five minutes myself, so I may be wrong.