Alleged sex predator masquerades as parent blogger
February 20th 2008 by Megan Bayliss in Child Safety & ProtectionWhat’s the time Mr Wolf? The warnings are there in early childhood games and nursery rhymes. Not all is as it may initially seem. While Web 2.0 initiatives have developed a geek streak in many mummy and daddy bloggers, has it also bought sex predators into our lounge room and closer to our children?
My Space and similar teen social networking sites have been the bane of many child/parent arguments. Scared parents struggle to keep their kids offline and away from cyber bulling, cyber sex and bottom dwelling cyber predators. But, with the advent of parent bloggers, parents pleased that they have mastered geekdom and learnt how to maneuver blog platforms, tweak themes and the etiquette of social network sites (what has happened at Bumpzee - that was my all time favorite), sex predators have been invited in through the front door of our home.
Never mind just who’s chatting to your kids, who are you talking to? I have recently followed through on a disclosure about a particular family blogger - a blogger whose avatar I have seen on many Australian sites that I frequent. Allegedly, the blogger has served a four year jail sentence for crimes that included sexual assaults against children. Allegedly, that same blogger has told someone in the know that they are now changed and will never do that sort of thing again.
Ummm…do sex predators change their predatory behaviour or do they just find new ways to hunt their victims. The jury is out on this debate but I am not taking the chance. I have reported to the internet police, even though there has been no grooming behaviour spotted by me. To work professionally with children we require suitability cards (aka Blue Card) - police checks that confirm we have not committed any offences involving or against children in our state of employment. There are no such checks for bloggers. Should we perhaps have them?
Be careful who you open your front door to. Take me seriously when and if I let you know that a particular avatar on your site has raised me cause for alarm.
Stumble it!
February 20th, 2008 at 9:30 am
I find that quite scary. I am glad there are people in the know to raise the alarm. Thanks Megan.
February 20th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I agree - how scary is THAT. That is the problem with predators - far more sneaky than the average parent.
I would love to live in la-la land and believe that everyone was full of sunshine and believe in the good. It is so unfortunate that we truly DO have to be on the alert at all times.
I think that is why education is so important - for parents as it is for children - on being on guard so we can be comfortable at a certain level.
February 22nd, 2008 at 3:36 am
Oh My GOD Megan! I don’t know why I’m shocked to now learn that there are sex offender bloggers out there, but I am. The AUDACITY of such scum makes my skin crawl! It is very disturbing to me personally, having gone through this as a child.
I’m so glad that you have taken active steps to report this blogger. It makes me sick to think and now know that sex offender’s will try ANYTHING to get to our children. I’m so angry to hear about this, but grateful that you have pointed this out to all of us. I’m simply disgusted.
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:06 am
Hi Megan; What to do? Thank you for staying alert and catching stuff like this. Sounds increasingly like Australia does a better job on all things related to child abuses… not withstanding horrors against aboriginal children. In the USA there are so many places where no laws even require background checks for employees in places for children’s activities. “Freedom” isn’t always the easiest thing in the world to justify…especially when it protects those who prey on the most vulnerable! When individuals are responsible for protecting themsleves from all the evils of the world the burden gets damned heavy. When those individuals are children who may or may not have adults actively protecting them it’s worse than scary in my opinion…it’s downright criminal. So thank you again, for all you do to protect the children of Australia, and for the rest of us by extension.
A Child is Waiting.
Take care…be aware,
Nancy
February 23rd, 2008 at 4:15 am
Thanks for your thoughts women. Just wanted to let you know that the police have been in contact and that something appears to be happening. Please remember that if ever you are suscipious about predatory online behaviour toward children then it is your responsibility to report to either your internet provider or to the police - child abuse happens because predators have access to kids - we are not going to take away computers from our kids so let’s take away the ability for the predators to sneakily access our kids.
Vigilance does not mean paranoia - there are plenty of watchful eyes on the internet (evidenced by the few women who have responded here), all sensible and willing to pass on information rather than react inappropriately.
Thank you to the police for acting on this one.
If any of you have concerns, you can report anonymously through the virtual global task force. It is not your job to prove, rather, to report.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:16 am
Thank you sharing this child safety information