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Internet harassment Internet users are only connected through phone lines and are usually miles apart, so one might assume there is no real danger. Cyberspace is really a safe place that really is nothing like real society, right? Julian Dibbell writes a very interesting story of how realistic the cyberworld can actually be. In My Tiny Life, Dibbell describes a setting that makes the world of the Internet amazingly realistic. Everything seems to fit together. There are all kinds of different people, just like in real society. And the people in the society communicate and interact just as in real society. Also just like in real society, wrongdoings do occur. In the story by Dibbell, a mysterious character named Mr. Bungle forces others into acts they don’t want to do with the aid of a voodoo doll. He forces one character, legba, to "sexually service him in a variety of ... ways.” In addition, he forces legba into acts with others. Mr. Bungled becomes progressively violent in dealing with others and forces legba to “eat his/her own pubic hair.” Finally, Mr. Bungle forces a character named Starsinger to “violate herself with a piece of kitchen cutlery.” The very eerie story paints a fairly accurate picture of the reality of the cyberworld. But sometimes such awful occurrences can crossover from cyberspace into the real world. While some relationships through the Internet are very successful, they can be very disastrous for the same reasons. The reality of “cyberpredators” is startling. Silver Chips Online reports the case of an actual rape victim by the name of “Annie.” She came to know a man on the Internet and decided to meet him in person, whereupon he allegedly raped her. In the article, Annie says that the man exaggerated his physical attractiveness. This is one problem presented by cyber relationships. In addition, the man used the Internet as a way to attract the girl and then to take advantage of her. In addition, it is not too uncommon for an older person to lure a person of a younger age into “cybersex.” A few cases of this are reported at Fathering Magazine. In many of the instances, the older person uses this to extend the relationship into the real world. Another form of sexual crime that the Internet can be a breeding ground for is stalking. While one problem is Internet stalking – a form of hacking in an obsessive way, but according to Channel 3000 News, one man went even further. He posted e-mail messages in a women’s name saying that she wanted to be raped. While the Internet can create good relationships, it can also be very dangerous. It is not advisable to give out real names, phone numbers or addresses. In addition, the trickery of the Internet does not stop there. Take a look at some of the other links.