Chatroom and Forum Safety
Jennifer Koch

"Whatever subject you are interested in or want to find out more about, you can bet there is a discussion about it somewhere online."

When the first 'global network' concepts made their debut in the late sixties, the technology that would eventually make the Internet a reality was still little more than a dream. In those days, contacting someone outside the community by telephone was likely to incur a long-distance charge, and chatting idly for hours with friends overseas was a privilege reserved for those with the money to pay for hefty phone bills.

Now, computers are a fixture in most homes and the uncharted territories of the Internet are as close as a double-click. As chatrooms and forums become commonplace, stories of identity theft, stalking, harassment, and alarming or disturbing web content reach us and make us wonder…is anywhere safe?

Yes, Virginia, there are strange folks out there on the Internet. But there's no reason to yank the cable hookup just yet. By using the same common sense that you use every day to protect yourself and your family, you can navigate the World Wide Web safely, and teach your children to do the same.

Keep your personal information confidential!

You can find places on the Internet to discuss everything from rose gardening to science fiction television series with other enthusiasts. But when you join a discussion group, be sure that none of your real personal information is available for other people to view. Most forums require you to give some basic personal information when you sign up for the first time, but in most circumstances (and be sure to read the privacy agreement before you join!) this information is not released.

Don't use your real name in any public forum. As an Internet user with five years of experience in various chatrooms and forums, I use a one-word alias that has absolutely no relation to my real name. Continue to use the same alias from place to place if you like - I recommend this - but refrain from using any variation on your first name and never give out your last name.

Don't make addresses and phone numbers publicly available, neither in the information other people can access about you nor in any replies you give during a discussion. Try not to give out your birthdate. Responses in a chatroom are periodically deleted, but posts in a forum can be archived for months, even years, and many are accessible without requiring a password.

Be wary!

Remember that text defines the Internet. Because the communication is not face to face, users can develop a persona and pretend to be someone wildly different from who they are in reality. Don't assume that someone you've just met on the Internet is telling you the truth. Not all Internet predators fit the classic horror movie stereotype, and you may not be immediately able to tell.

Stay on topic!

There is nothing wrong with having fun on a discussion forum, but do your best to keep your fun within the parameters of the main subject. You joined the forum for a reason. Staying on the topic will keep you from straying away into more personal discussions.

Follow the Rules!

Most forums come with a terms of service agreement - these rules on how you should behave aren't there just to weigh the server down! Rules imposed on forum users are designed to protect everyone on the site and make sure that the discussions stay orderly and fun.

In addition, follow the Netiquette Rules. You can find these anywhere with a simple Google search. http://www.dtcc.edu/cs/rfc1855.html is a good place to start. These rules include basic safety as well as good manners - make sure that what you say is taken the way you meant it!

In a nutshell, treat the Internet as one would treat a large, unfamiliar city. Would you immediately trust someone who approached you on the sidewalk? Would you hand them your business card? Follow your common sense, and if your common sense says no, listen to it.

Other references on forum safety:

http://www.wiredsafety.org/safety/chat_safety/online_discussion_safety - More information about how to stay safe while chatting online. Also includes a helpful list of terminology that you will be likely to see.

For more information about online discussion groups:

http://groups.yahoo.com/ - Yahoo! Groups Home
One of the easiest, most diverse areas to search for a discussion group. Groups are separated by topic; use the links or the "Find A Group" search bar to locate a community to your taste. Using Yahoo! Groups requires a Yahoo! ID, which is free to obtain.

http://groups.msn.com/ - MSN Groups Home
The MSN version of Yahoo! Groups, formerly known as MSN Communities. Again, use the links for guidance or the "Search this Site" tool to find groups about books, movies, bands, etc. Using MSN Groups requires an MSN ID, very similar to Yahoo!, which is also free.

http://groups.google.com/ Google Groups Home
Another mailing list, very similar to Yahoo! Groups. To find a discussion board about a particular topic, use the powerful Google Search and select the "Groups" tab.

http://ezboard.com/ - EZBoard Forums Home
Obtain a free EZBoard sign-in name and password, then use the search bar to locate forums by topic of interest.