POLLY ANN
<a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis-sponsor/index.
- Joined
- Oct 4, 1999
I read this and it made me absolutely sick. I don't think I ever want my kids to learn how to use the computer. 
This story should be every parent's wake up call.
> > > > Shannon could hear the footsteps behind her as she
> > > walked
> > > > toward home. The thought of being followed made
> > > her heart
> > > > beat faster. "You're being silly," she told
> > > herself, "no
> > > > one is following you" To be safe, she began to
> > > walk
> > > > faster, but the footsteps kept up with her pace.
> > > She was
> > > > afraid to look back and she was glad she was
> > > almost home.
> > > > Shannon said a quick prayer, "God please get me
> > > home
> > > > safe"
> > > > She saw the porch light burning and she leaned
> > > against
> > > > the door for a moment, relieved to be in the
> > > safety of
> > > > her home. She glanced out the win! down to see if
> > > anyone
> > > > was there. The sidewalk was empty. After tossing
> > > her
> > > > books on the sofa, she decided to grab a snack and
> > > get
> > > > on-line.
> > > >
> > > > She logged on under her screen name ByAngel213.
> > > She
> > > > checked her Buddy List and saw GoTo123 was on.
> > > She sent
> > > > him an instant message:
> > > >
> > > > ByAngel213:
> > > > Hi. I'm glad you are on! I thought someone was
> > > following
> > > > me home today. It was really weird!
> > > >
> > > > GoTo123:
> > > > LOL You watch too much TV. Why would someone be
> > > > following you? Don't you live in a safe
> > > neighborhood?
> > > >
> > > > ByAngel213:
> > > > Of course I do. LOL I guess! it was my
> > > imagination cuz'
> > > > I didn't see anybody when I looked out.
> > > >
> > > > GoTo123:
> > > > Unless you gave your name out on-line. You
> > > haven't done
> > > > that have you?
> > > >
> > > > ByAngel213:
> > > > Of course not. I'm not stupid you know.
> > > >
> > > > GoTo123:
> > > > Did you have a softball game after school today?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ByAngel213:
> > > > Yes and we won!!
> > > >
> > > > GoTo123:
> > > > That's great! Who did you play?
> > > >
> > > > ByAngel213:
> > > > We played the Hornets. LOL. Their uniforms are
> > > so
> > > > gross! They look like bees. LOL
> > > >
> > > > GoTo123:
> > > > What is your team called?
> > > >
> > > > ByAngel213:
> > > > We are the Canton Cats. We have tiger paws on our
> > > > uniforms. They are really cool.
> > > >
> > > > GoTo123:
> > > > Did you pitch?
> > > >
> > > > ByAngel213:
> > > > No I play second base. I got to go. My homework
> > > has to
> > > > be done before my parents get home. I don't want!
> > > them
> > > > mad at me. Bye!
> > > >
> > > > GoTo123:
> > > > Catch you later. Bye
> > > >
> > > > Meanwhile...GoTo123 went to the member menu and
> > > began to
> > > > search for her profile. When it came up, he
> > > highlighted
> > > > it and printed it out. He took out a pen and
> > > began to
> > > > write down what he knew about Angel so far. Her
> > > name:
> > > > Shannon Birthday: Jan. 3, 1985 Age: 13. State
> > > where she
> > > > lived: North Carolina Hobbies: softball, chorus,
> > > skating
> > > > and going to the mall. Besides this information,
> > > he knew
> > > > she lived in Canton because she had just told him.
> > > He
> > > > knew she stayed by herself until 6:30 p.m. every
> > > > afternoon until! her parents came home from work.
> > > He
> > > > knew she played softball on Thursday afternoons on
> > > the
> > > > school team, and the team was named the Canton
> > > Cats. Her
> > > > favorite number 7 was printed on her jersey. He
> > > knew she
> > > > was in the seventh grade at the Canton Junior High
> > > > School. She had told him all this In the
> > > conversations
> > > > they had on- line. He had enough information to
> > > find her
> > > > now.
> > > >
> > > > Shannon didn't tell her parents about the incident
> > > on the
> > > > way home from the ball park that day. She didn't
> > > want
> > > > them to make a scene and stop her from walking
> > > home from
> > > > the softball games. Parents were always
> > > overreacting and!
> > > > hers were the worst. It made her wish she were
> > > not an
> > > > only child. Maybe if she had brothers and sisters,
> > > her
> > > > parents wouldn't be so overprotective.
> > > >
> > > > By Thursday, Shannon had forgotten about the
> > > footsteps
> > > > following her. Her game was in full swing when
> > > suddenly
> > > > she felt someone staring at her. It was then that
> > > the
> > > > memory came back. She glanced up from her second
> > > base
> > > > position to see a man watching her closely. He
> > > was
> > > > leaning against the fence behind first base and he
> > > smiled
> > > > when she looked at him. He didn't look scary and
> > > she
> > > > quickly dismissed the fear she had felt. After
> > > the game,
> > > > he sat on a bleach! er while she talked to the
> > > coach.
> > > > She noticed his smile once again as she walked
> > > past him.
> > > > He nodded and she smiled back. He noticed her name
> > > on the
> > > > back of her shirt. He knew he had found her.
> > > >
> > > > Quietly, he walked a safe distance behind her. It
> > > was
> > > > only a few blocks to Shannon's home, and once he
> > > saw
> > > > where she lived he quickly returned to the park to
> > > get
> > > > his car. Now he had to wait. He decided to get a
> > > bite
> > > > to eat until the time came to go to Shannon's
> > > house. He
> > > > drove to a fast food restaurant and sat there
> > > until time
> > > > to make his move. Shannon was in her room later
> > > that
> > > > evening when she heard voices in the living room.
> > > >
> > > > "Shannon, come here, please?? her father called.
> > > He
> > > > sounded upset and she couldn't imagine why. She
> > > went
> > > > into the room to see the man from the ballpark
> > > sitting on
> > > > the sofa. "Sit down" her father began, "this man
> > > has
> > > > just told us a most interesting story about you."
> > > >
> > > > Shannon sat back. How could he tell her parents
> > > > anything? She had never seen him before today!
> > > >
> > > > "Do you know who I am, Shannon?" the man asked.
> > > >
> > > > "No" Shannon answered.
> > > >
> > > > "I am a police officer and your online friend,
> > > GoTo123."
> > > >
> > > > Shannon was stunned. "That's impossible! GoTo is
> > > a kid
> > > > my age! He's 14 and he lives in Michigan!"
> > > >
> > > > The man smiled. "I know I told you all that, but
> > > it
> > > > wasn't true. You see, Shannon, there are people
> > > on-line
> > > > who pretend to be kids; I was one of them. But
> > > while
> > > > others do it to find kids and hurt them, I belong
> > > to a
> > > > group of parents who do it to protect
> > > > kids from predators. I came here to find you to
> > > teach you
> > > > how dangerous it is to give out too much
> > > information to
> > > > people on-line. You told me enough about yourself
> > > to
> > > > make it easy for me to find you. Your name, the
> > > school
> > > > you went to, the name of your ball tea! m and the
> > > > position you played. The number and name on your
> > > jersey
> > > > just made finding you a breeze."
> > > >
> > > > Shannon was stunned. "You mean you don't live in
> > > > Michigan?"
> > > >
> > > > He laughed. "No, I live in Raleigh. It made you
> > > feel
> > > > safe to think I was so far away, didn't it?"
> > > >
> > > > She nodded.
> > > >
> > > > "I had a friend whose daughter was like you. Only
> > > she
> > > > wasn't as lucky. The guy found her and murdered
> > > her while
> > > > she was home alone. Kids are taught not to tell
> > > anyone
> > > > when they are alone, yet they do it all the time
> > > on-line.
> > > > The wrong people trick you into giving out
> > > information a
> > > > little here and there on-line. Before you know
> > > it, you
> > > > have told them enough for them to find you without
> > > even
> > > > realizing you have done it. I hope you've learned
> > > a
> > > > lesson from this and won't do it again".
> > > >
> > > > "Tell others about this so they will be safe too?"
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "It's a promise!"
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Shannon and her dad and Mom were very thankful for
> > > > protecting Shannon from what could have been a
> > > tragic
> > > > situation.
> > > >
> > > > *****NOW*****
> > > >
> > > > Please send this to as many people as you can to
> > > teach
> > > > them not to give any information about themselves.
> > > This
> > > > world we live in today is too dangerous to even
> > > give out
> > > > your age, let alone anything else.
> > > >
> > > > Kids are abducted from their bedrooms ---- watch
> > > the
> > > > news!
> > > >
> > > > EVEN FORWARD THIS TO PEOPLE WITHOUT KIDS SO THEY
> > > CAN SEND
> > > > IT TO FRIENDS THAT DO
This story should be every parent's wake up call.
> > > > Shannon could hear the footsteps behind her as she
> > > walked
> > > > toward home. The thought of being followed made
> > > her heart
> > > > beat faster. "You're being silly," she told
> > > herself, "no
> > > > one is following you" To be safe, she began to
> > > walk
> > > > faster, but the footsteps kept up with her pace.
> > > She was
> > > > afraid to look back and she was glad she was
> > > almost home.
> > > > Shannon said a quick prayer, "God please get me
> > > home
> > > > safe"
> > > > She saw the porch light burning and she leaned
> > > against
> > > > the door for a moment, relieved to be in the
> > > safety of
> > > > her home. She glanced out the win! down to see if
> > > anyone
> > > > was there. The sidewalk was empty. After tossing
> > > her
> > > > books on the sofa, she decided to grab a snack and
> > > get
> > > > on-line.
> > > >
> > > > She logged on under her screen name ByAngel213.
> > > She
> > > > checked her Buddy List and saw GoTo123 was on.
> > > She sent
> > > > him an instant message:
> > > >
> > > > ByAngel213:
> > > > Hi. I'm glad you are on! I thought someone was
> > > following
> > > > me home today. It was really weird!
> > > >
> > > > GoTo123:
> > > > LOL You watch too much TV. Why would someone be
> > > > following you? Don't you live in a safe
> > > neighborhood?
> > > >
> > > > ByAngel213:
> > > > Of course I do. LOL I guess! it was my
> > > imagination cuz'
> > > > I didn't see anybody when I looked out.
> > > >
> > > > GoTo123:
> > > > Unless you gave your name out on-line. You
> > > haven't done
> > > > that have you?
> > > >
> > > > ByAngel213:
> > > > Of course not. I'm not stupid you know.
> > > >
> > > > GoTo123:
> > > > Did you have a softball game after school today?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ByAngel213:
> > > > Yes and we won!!
> > > >
> > > > GoTo123:
> > > > That's great! Who did you play?
> > > >
> > > > ByAngel213:
> > > > We played the Hornets. LOL. Their uniforms are
> > > so
> > > > gross! They look like bees. LOL
> > > >
> > > > GoTo123:
> > > > What is your team called?
> > > >
> > > > ByAngel213:
> > > > We are the Canton Cats. We have tiger paws on our
> > > > uniforms. They are really cool.
> > > >
> > > > GoTo123:
> > > > Did you pitch?
> > > >
> > > > ByAngel213:
> > > > No I play second base. I got to go. My homework
> > > has to
> > > > be done before my parents get home. I don't want!
> > > them
> > > > mad at me. Bye!
> > > >
> > > > GoTo123:
> > > > Catch you later. Bye
> > > >
> > > > Meanwhile...GoTo123 went to the member menu and
> > > began to
> > > > search for her profile. When it came up, he
> > > highlighted
> > > > it and printed it out. He took out a pen and
> > > began to
> > > > write down what he knew about Angel so far. Her
> > > name:
> > > > Shannon Birthday: Jan. 3, 1985 Age: 13. State
> > > where she
> > > > lived: North Carolina Hobbies: softball, chorus,
> > > skating
> > > > and going to the mall. Besides this information,
> > > he knew
> > > > she lived in Canton because she had just told him.
> > > He
> > > > knew she stayed by herself until 6:30 p.m. every
> > > > afternoon until! her parents came home from work.
> > > He
> > > > knew she played softball on Thursday afternoons on
> > > the
> > > > school team, and the team was named the Canton
> > > Cats. Her
> > > > favorite number 7 was printed on her jersey. He
> > > knew she
> > > > was in the seventh grade at the Canton Junior High
> > > > School. She had told him all this In the
> > > conversations
> > > > they had on- line. He had enough information to
> > > find her
> > > > now.
> > > >
> > > > Shannon didn't tell her parents about the incident
> > > on the
> > > > way home from the ball park that day. She didn't
> > > want
> > > > them to make a scene and stop her from walking
> > > home from
> > > > the softball games. Parents were always
> > > overreacting and!
> > > > hers were the worst. It made her wish she were
> > > not an
> > > > only child. Maybe if she had brothers and sisters,
> > > her
> > > > parents wouldn't be so overprotective.
> > > >
> > > > By Thursday, Shannon had forgotten about the
> > > footsteps
> > > > following her. Her game was in full swing when
> > > suddenly
> > > > she felt someone staring at her. It was then that
> > > the
> > > > memory came back. She glanced up from her second
> > > base
> > > > position to see a man watching her closely. He
> > > was
> > > > leaning against the fence behind first base and he
> > > smiled
> > > > when she looked at him. He didn't look scary and
> > > she
> > > > quickly dismissed the fear she had felt. After
> > > the game,
> > > > he sat on a bleach! er while she talked to the
> > > coach.
> > > > She noticed his smile once again as she walked
> > > past him.
> > > > He nodded and she smiled back. He noticed her name
> > > on the
> > > > back of her shirt. He knew he had found her.
> > > >
> > > > Quietly, he walked a safe distance behind her. It
> > > was
> > > > only a few blocks to Shannon's home, and once he
> > > saw
> > > > where she lived he quickly returned to the park to
> > > get
> > > > his car. Now he had to wait. He decided to get a
> > > bite
> > > > to eat until the time came to go to Shannon's
> > > house. He
> > > > drove to a fast food restaurant and sat there
> > > until time
> > > > to make his move. Shannon was in her room later
> > > that
> > > > evening when she heard voices in the living room.
> > > >
> > > > "Shannon, come here, please?? her father called.
> > > He
> > > > sounded upset and she couldn't imagine why. She
> > > went
> > > > into the room to see the man from the ballpark
> > > sitting on
> > > > the sofa. "Sit down" her father began, "this man
> > > has
> > > > just told us a most interesting story about you."
> > > >
> > > > Shannon sat back. How could he tell her parents
> > > > anything? She had never seen him before today!
> > > >
> > > > "Do you know who I am, Shannon?" the man asked.
> > > >
> > > > "No" Shannon answered.
> > > >
> > > > "I am a police officer and your online friend,
> > > GoTo123."
> > > >
> > > > Shannon was stunned. "That's impossible! GoTo is
> > > a kid
> > > > my age! He's 14 and he lives in Michigan!"
> > > >
> > > > The man smiled. "I know I told you all that, but
> > > it
> > > > wasn't true. You see, Shannon, there are people
> > > on-line
> > > > who pretend to be kids; I was one of them. But
> > > while
> > > > others do it to find kids and hurt them, I belong
> > > to a
> > > > group of parents who do it to protect
> > > > kids from predators. I came here to find you to
> > > teach you
> > > > how dangerous it is to give out too much
> > > information to
> > > > people on-line. You told me enough about yourself
> > > to
> > > > make it easy for me to find you. Your name, the
> > > school
> > > > you went to, the name of your ball tea! m and the
> > > > position you played. The number and name on your
> > > jersey
> > > > just made finding you a breeze."
> > > >
> > > > Shannon was stunned. "You mean you don't live in
> > > > Michigan?"
> > > >
> > > > He laughed. "No, I live in Raleigh. It made you
> > > feel
> > > > safe to think I was so far away, didn't it?"
> > > >
> > > > She nodded.
> > > >
> > > > "I had a friend whose daughter was like you. Only
> > > she
> > > > wasn't as lucky. The guy found her and murdered
> > > her while
> > > > she was home alone. Kids are taught not to tell
> > > anyone
> > > > when they are alone, yet they do it all the time
> > > on-line.
> > > > The wrong people trick you into giving out
> > > information a
> > > > little here and there on-line. Before you know
> > > it, you
> > > > have told them enough for them to find you without
> > > even
> > > > realizing you have done it. I hope you've learned
> > > a
> > > > lesson from this and won't do it again".
> > > >
> > > > "Tell others about this so they will be safe too?"
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "It's a promise!"
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Shannon and her dad and Mom were very thankful for
> > > > protecting Shannon from what could have been a
> > > tragic
> > > > situation.
> > > >
> > > > *****NOW*****
> > > >
> > > > Please send this to as many people as you can to
> > > teach
> > > > them not to give any information about themselves.
> > > This
> > > > world we live in today is too dangerous to even
> > > give out
> > > > your age, let alone anything else.
> > > >
> > > > Kids are abducted from their bedrooms ---- watch
> > > the
> > > > news!
> > > >
> > > > EVEN FORWARD THIS TO PEOPLE WITHOUT KIDS SO THEY
> > > CAN SEND
> > > > IT TO FRIENDS THAT DO
