It's come to the media's attention lately that personal website communities like Myspace.com are breeding grounds for teenage gossip and gold mines for sexual predators. News stories of stalkers, deaths, and internet harassment have been popping up everywhere.

Who's in danger?

The main problems are children who aren't supposed to be using myspace are using it. Girls as young as 10 use it to post pictures and personal information, amongst other things. Obviously, these young children are being stalked and predated by pedophiles and creeps because myspace is so easy to use and access. Many schools don't allow access to myspace and some have even tried to encourage parents to block it at home as well because it's such a breeding ground of rumors and gossip and obviously . . . the stalkers.

Don't get me wrong, it's not just young kids, but everyone. A girl on my floor in my dorm was being harassed by some dude who simply found her by search for women. He wouldn't leave her alone until I ****ed him out online. He's given up bothering her, but it was annoying and creepy as hell when it was going on.

Should it be closed?

A lot of people want to see it shut down because of all the dangers it poses. The internet has always been criticized as a great way for other to steal information fairly easily. Myspace enables users to put some of that desired information right out in the open. Myspace is meant to be a social website (an oxymoron, I know) where people can chat with others through a page-to-page interface. It's the ease of it that makes it so dangerous. AOL Instant Messenger still gets fire for the countless stories of hook-ups where a young child meets an older person and get killed/gets raped/is kidnapped.

In my opinion, I think that it should remain opened. I have a myspace page and I like it because it's a way I can keep in touch with people I can't while I'm at school. It enables me to portray myself to others because I am a quiet person and I don't always speak clearly. Myspace is a great medium for keeping in touch with friends and meeting new ones. What parents need to do is to monitor what their kids are doing, especially if they are constantly surfing myspace and are under the age of 14 (the youngest the site allows). You can't just close myspace, because the internet itself is much more of a threat than just one site. It's awareness and making sure that kids know what they're getting into, or making sure that they don't get into it at all. I'm sick of these parenting groups ****ing (that's all they do anyways) about how their children are in danger. You're the parent, take the first step and do something about it, don't always go to the government with your problems.

Some possible questions to Central Fusion are: Do you have a myspace? Have you or a friend been stalked before? Should myspace be shut down?

I had Myspace before, my friend Mike just made me get it again, but I'm not using it. Older adults are limited to what age limit they can view, searches dont count for girls under 18, but some still lie about there age so older men can view their profiles. I dont think it needs to be shut down, people just need to keep a better eye on their children.

I dont do the whole MySpace thing. The closest I get is Facebook, which is safer becaue a valid college email address is required. I have had a few female friends that have been "harassed" via facebook, but it was very mild compared to some **** that happens.

I do not think that these websites should be closed down. It may sound harsh, but people that are dumb enough to put valuable/private/important information on the internet need some sense smacked into them. If anything is going to be done, there should be some sort of safety measures implemented on these type of sites.

I agree. I mean, it's easy to register and be able to see others' myspace pages. If you're going to take a risk of posting a picture and information of yourself, you have to be prepared as to what may happen as a result of it becuase let's face it, the freaks are out there and they're hunting.

I just recently got a myspace account. I think that all that too many teenagers try to take advantage of the site for finding a mate. But it all really depends on the situtation. I think they should have MODs like we do, that would help things.

I dont see how MODs would really do anything, except make sure nobody posts porn, and I beleive they already have people that do that.

i think Males are safe, no matter what age(im 12, omg im underaged), Males dont stalk males do they? (unless they gay)

Yes males do stalk males, that is what pedophiles do, if you have your profile visible, assuming you have Myspace, then it wouldnt suprise me if members of NAMBLA have looked it, they tend to be everywhere and in secret. Either way the point is males do stalk males, and it happens quite often.

I"m sure males DO stalk males, but it's just not as common.

Maybe kids who are younger don't know enough about the dangers of posting personal information to public places like the Internet. If friends are the main people looking at them, they shouldn't need personal info at all. I think some people just don't realize the dangers, no matter how high the risks are.

As I stated before, males do stalk males, especially younger boys, not so much older males.