Can it be dangerous to send someone your pictures?

[littletune]

Well I don't know if i should ask this.... i know its stupid... and maybe i will just delete it later... but im really kinda confused about something for some time already... and i dont know who i could ask. I really shouldnt even ask anyone cause its kinda a secret...  but then i thought maybe i would ask anyway  and i can still delete it later.... well i think its kinda hard to explain everything just...  me and my cousin have this secret youtube account... and we were just uploading some stupid videos and then once we uploaded a video from summer when we were at the pool and we even had underwater camera and we thought it was sooo cool. and then really soon that video had like 1000 views in a few days (and other videos had just like 10 or something) and we got a lot of subscribers and we were really surprised and we thought that it was because of something we wrote in the description or the title or something... but then we figured out it was just because some guys want to watch videos of girls at the pool. and first we thought it was really cool but then some guys started to send us messages with some weird video requests like that we should do handstands in swimsuits on our bed and bellydance and just breath for two minutes and some stupid weird things and were talking some weird stuff and some were saying we have to ask for a webcam for Christmas and of course we didnt and we dont wanna do the stupid vids and we dont even know if we should keep that youtube account anymore... But then there's also this guy that seems really nice and he sends a lot of emails and never says anything weird and bad and talks about music and snow and things like that... but once he said if we could help him with something he said we dont have to if we dont want to. he said if we would make some funny pictures... and we like making funny and stupid pictures and we make them all the time so we said we would. And then he said exactly how we should do the pictures. And its nothing like that , just ... we should do really a lot of those pictures. and we should be in short pants and t-shirt and with nothing on our feet and we should sit on the floor and turn just a bit for every picture (and make something like 9 pictures like that with turning just a bit) and then we should also make some pictures lying on the floor and some other like close ups of our feet and hands.  And i just started thinking what if thats weird... i mean why would he want all those pictures  . He said its for some kind of game or something and that the winner gets money for that and he could buy a piano and some things for recording and something. And he never says we HAVE  to do it he is always saying we dont have to if we dont want to but then after that he just keeps talking the rest of the email what we should do and that we have to be careful to be completely in the picture and thats is really getting urgent and if we can do the pictures soon. So thats why i think its kinda weird. why would some stupid pictures be so important. And i really don't wanna do that anymore. but i promissed... and i dont wanna make him angry or something. and he is always really nice so i really dont wanna say i dont want to do that. and my cousin already sent some pictures and also some other things like she had to read some texts or something. Does anyone think that is weird?? Does anyone think it could be something dangerous? Or is it really just a stupid game and its no big deal? should i do the pictures? i know im probably just stupid and i have too much imagination but i just imagine what if he puts all the pictures together and makes videos or something because the pictures we should do just seem to me like a film if u would put them together really quickly. I dont know...... im really confused and i dont know what to do... At first i was really happy when he wanted to talk to me and he seemed really nice and cool and i liked that someone wants to talk to me and is so interessted in me and wants my pictures and needs my help with something, but now i dont know anymore....  well.... that was a really long question if it was even a question.... oh well... i just thought just if someone thinks this could be something dangerous or weird if they could tell me... But I wrote sooo much i dont really think anyone will even read it

[john11inc]

He sounds like a total pervert.  Usually isn't it the serial killer types that want pictures like that?  I would definitely say no.  He probably wants to upload them to some foot fetish site or something.

[thalbergmad]

I think it would be wise to tell your parents.

Thal

[lostinidlewonder]

You really shouldn't have to be told that this is not safe, the only reason why these people contacted you was because they probably stripped you bare with their eyes already. You should learn to say NO and learn to delete and block people who do not respect that, why are you so worried about offending a stranger, why is your opinion about what you choose to do less important?

I remember watching a documentary of a young boy who bought a webcam and started to do videos for people online. They first asked him to do all these innocent things, like flex a muscle, or take the shirt off and they would pay him! Then after a few months it developed into much more lewd acts. The boys parents didn't know that their own son was being paid like a adult performer to satisfy degenerates desires in his own bedroom. To some people this might be like a frog in boiling water, the predator ever so slowly turns up the heat and before you know it you will be boiled to death never actually thinking you have to escape.

The boy said that he felt there was nothing wrong with it because it was only a video and he never actually had to do anything with someone in person. The problem with this is that it is real, and it is as if that person was in the room with you. The worse problem is that this person only wants to treat you like a piece of meat.

[thalbergmad]

That sounds horrific.

[pies]

a

[go12_3]

In my opinion, I wonder why such young people do so much in the Internet with
so many forums, games and YouTube, etc...  Can get into a lot of trouble and problems....
Littletune needs to stop communicating with this person and talk to the parents.  
Set limitations on what she can and cannot do online....there's a lot of weirdos
out there lurking around for young people.  

[mrba1979]

You are not stupid.  You are confused.  This person is a predator and you do not realize the severity of the situation you and your cousin have found yourself in.  You need to do exactly as the others have suggested.  Your parents need to know, your cousins parents need to know, all communication with said person needs to be terminated immediately.  Though the person technically may not have broken any laws with you it may still be worth bringing the matter to the police.  Let them decided.  I would also imagine this is not the first offense and this person has possible perpetrated far worse towards others.

Also you have no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed.  This is how a predator works.  They play off your trust. Though he may seem caring and nice it is just an act.  Would you have started communication with him if he were mean?  So please understand this in not your fault, but you are in an extremely serious situation.   

[littletune]

Thank you everybody for reading my long question and for answering. I didn't think it was that bad and serious as everybody are saying. Well i already deleted some of my things and i told my cousin we should delete that whole youtube account. but she is not so happy about it  . Should i just delete the account by myself anyway? Im 11 and a half and she is 13. And do I really HAVE  to tell my parents about it? Even if we delete the account and never talk to those people again? I don't even know what to say  and my mum really trusts me and what if she wont trust me anymore then? And what if i never talk to that guy again and he gets angry and finds me somehow... well i hope thats not possible. i mean he doesnt even live in the same country. And I really don't want to talk to any people like that anymore. And im sooo happy i found pianostreet because before i was just talking to those people and i didn't really like talking to them very much but i really wanted to talk to someone and i thought that only those people would wanna talk to me anyway. But now im really soooo happy i can be here on this forum even if i feel really stupid sometimes because everybody are so smart here and know so many things and know sooooo much about music! But i don't care at all if im the dumbest person here and don't know anything that others know I just wanna be here on pianostreet Thanks everybody!

[thalbergmad]

And do I really HAVE  to tell my parents about it?

YES.

You need a little bit of education here. You have done nothing wrong, but you need it explained why you should not do it again. I think you are very young to be surfing the internet unsupervised. Some of the stuff that gets discussed here is not appropriate for someone of your age.

I still tell my mum what i do and i am 44

Thal

[oxy60]

This is very serious.

Tonight most of the students of Poway High School and a lot of the residents of Poway, California will be holding candlelight vigil to support the parents of the victim of a heinous crime. A suspect has been arrested and could be tied to another terrible crime in the same area.

This is a matter for the police.

[go12_3]

Littletune, just quit posting about this and DO something like telling your parents
before things get real serious and you'll have more problems...as if the youth has
problems enough to deal with at school....

[ahinton]

Yes, it can. Firstly, never do this unless you are sending pictures to which you have consented and you also know and can trust the person to whom you are sending them; secondly, try as best you can to avoid being photographed by anyone whom you do not know and trust.

I think that the advice already given to you by other forum members largely concurs with this - so I think that you should have gotten the message by now. I hope so, anyway, otherwise the consequences could indeed be quite serious for you.

Best,

Alistair

[littletune]

I told my mum... well actually I told my cousin - not that cousin- but another cousin who is a grownup and he said he would tell my mum... but we havent talked very much about this with my mum yet because i have been sick this week and i was in such a pain that first all i could do was cry and then sleep . But now im better And my cousin (the grownup one) told me about some internet safety sites and he said its really bad if I didn't know any of them that i shouldnt be on the internet AT ALL if i dont know anything about that. So i read a lot about that yesterday and today and watched some videos about that. (And on the thinkuknow site theres something for kids 5-7 and 8-10 and 11-16 - so im in the oldest group! so im not such a baby that i couldnt be on the internet at all! ). Well i will tell my mum now about everything i do on the internet, well i told her about most thinks before too, just not about the secret... well my cousin (the 13yearold) doesnt like me very much anymore because i told, but well... I hope everything will be ok now

[richard black]

Well, the guy asking for the pictures is clearly a nutter, he's probably a harmless nutter but the thing with nutters is: don't encourage them because that's when a harmless one can turn into a real pain. The internet didn't invent nutters, of course, but it does seem to have made it easier for them to operate. Just walk away (I suppose on the internet you navigate away or something) from them when they start getting even the least bit weird and you'll keep out of trouble, worry and embarrassment.

And the other thing is, Littletune, you're obviously (as you say) not such a baby because you can spot a weirdo when you see one and ask sensible questions about what to do. So now you know. Your mum will probably be a bit upset because that's what parents do but you're clearly all right so problem avoided. No point dwelling on bad things that might have happened. Something happened to me today that could easily have killed me, but it didn't, so I've just learned one more thing to look out for....

[Bob]

It wouldn't be the smartest thing to do would it?  The person you send that to could be a nut.  You never know.

[oxy60]

The young lady has encountered her first nut but we can all tell her that she will, like all of us, meet a lot more in her lifetime.

She will also find out that there are grades of nuts.

This one is obvious.

The lesson here is to spot the ones that aren't so obvious. The ones that start off quite normal, then slowly become nutty over time are the ones that will become a real pain in your life. Spotting those is very tricky.

Even after MANY years of life I am always surprised as someone who I thought was normal becomes weird. Now as I look back, I see the seeds now that should have seen then.

[littletune]

Thanks again everyone! I feel a lot better now that i've told and i dont have to worry about what I should do anymore (Im not even sure why i thought i should do everything that some people i dont even know wanted me to do )
Thanks

[pianowolfi]

Thanks again everyone! I feel a lot better now that i've told and i dont have to worry about what I should do anymore (Im not even sure why i thought i should do everything that some people i dont even know wanted me to do )
Thanks

I'm glad you're out of that thing

[ahinton]

At the risk of encouraging consideration of some variation on the theme of the topic, can it likewise be dangerous to send someone your music? Discuss.

Best,

Alistair

[pianowolfi]

At the risk of encouraging consideration of some variation on the theme of the topic, can it likewise be dangerous to send someone your music? Discuss.

Best,

Alistair

Well as we all in life are permanently surrounded by dangers I would guess yes it can be dangerous. Be it that your music might get stolen (in the sense of copyright infringement) or that your music is so intense that it brings someone else into danger, be it whatever....

[csharp_minor]

Sorry to bring up this topic but I just read this post, very sinister. I just had to add to it too, to warn you.

I’m really happy you are not in contact with those people anymore. The internet is full of different people some good and others really weird, creepy or dangerous. Always be very careful of what you decide to put on the internet, especially photos and videos, and all ways treat everyone you talk to online with a bit of suspicion. Don’t let anyone take advantage of you.

Yes, always talk to your parents if you are unsure about things, don’t keep things a secret from them it’s good to talk to them, they will offer good advice even if they do get a littel cross about things. (we all get told off by our parents! )

[littletune]

Sorry to bring up this topic but I just read this post, very sinister. I just had to add to it too, to warn you.

I’m really happy you are not in contact with those people anymore. The internet is full of different people some good and others really weird, creepy or dangerous. Always be very careful of what you decide to put on the internet, especially photos and videos, and all ways treat everyone you talk to online with a bit of suspicion. Don’t let anyone take advantage of you.

Yes, always talk to your parents if you are unsure about things, don’t keep things a secret from them it’s good to talk to them, they will offer good advice even if they do get a littel cross about things. (we all get told off by our parents! )

I'm glad you're out of that thing

Thank you yes I'm happy im not talking to those people anymore too first I thought i would miss talking to them at least a bit but I don't really those people are really boring anyway they just keep talking about the same things ALL the time. And they are saying nice things and at first it's kinda cool but then it gets REALLY boring if someone is saying how great you are ALL the time    sometimes I wonder what they think happened to me that I just stopped talking to them all of a sudden

oh and:

At the risk of encouraging consideration of some variation on the theme of the topic, can it likewise be dangerous to send someone your music? Discuss.

Best,

Alistair

Yes I think it can be dangerous to send someone your music too! Because then they can say that they did that music  and then it's like they would steal some of your thoughts and feelings that you had when you wrote that!!  It's like when I was in second grade and I wrote a poem (if you can call it that ) about my doggy (who had an accident then). And then my friend saw it and she said she really liked it and if I could give it to her just for a while and I did... and then after a while I found out that she was telling people that SHE had written that poem!!        and it really didn't feel nice!

[lostinidlewonder]

At the risk of encouraging consideration of some variation on the theme of the topic, can it likewise be dangerous to send someone your music? Discuss.

Best,

Alistair

Well, I don't think sick people can pleasure themselves over your music.

[thalbergmad]

Well, I don't think sick people can pleasure themselves over your music.

Definately not in Alistairs case.

Thal

[gep]

Definately not in Alistairs case.

Thal

I must disagree here. Sure, there are people who may not like Alistair's music in any case whatsover, but that does not make it definately so in general.
I have always found and still do find stimulation in works of such artists whose art transports me (as reader, listener, spectator, etc) beyond my silly self for a while, especially when I'm feeling a bit under the weather. Alistair's music, no matter how woefully few pieces I as yet know of him, is, for me at least, among these things.

Of course, there is more than one definition of "sick", as in people being sick and people acting sick. I think Alistair doesn't care much if his music doesn't pleasure those who act sick....

gep

[thalbergmad]

I was certain you would bite

See you in Amsterdam in June.

Thal

[ahinton]

I was certain you would bite

See you in Amsterdam in June.

On the premise of the alleged ability or otherwise of sick people to pleasure themsevles over my music, I have to admit that, in the words notoriously immortalised by the late lamented Ian Richardson (in the television adaptation of Michael Dobbs's House of Cards) "I couldn't possibly comment"; that said, "definately" should, of course, read "definitely" - but then you were presumably certain I would bite on that, n'est-ce pas?...

Enjoy the performance in Amsterdam!

Best,

Alistair

[gep]

I was certain you would bite 

Oh, I think I didn't bite, but merely responded; I know an angler when I see one... You'd notice if I bite you!

However, contemplating "biting responses" together with your remark

See you in Amsterdam in June.

and the very subject of this thread I could say the following

You have put various photos of yourselves up on this site, so I know how you look, thus can recognise you in June if you come. You will not be able to find any photo of me anywhere on the web, so you will not be able to recognise me if I am there. Imagine the following speech by yours truly:

"Did you enjoy that sandwich I gave you an hour ago? Ah, good! By the way, I'm the guy you know as "gep". Did you know I work in microbiology? Amazing what kinds of bugs I can postorder for my work! Some are very interesting you know! These things come in small handy pills you wouldn't notice if somebody put them in your sandwich! What? Oh, ehm, I think through that door and then to the right!".

The kind of bite that sucks, eh? (sorry, no emoticon for "satanic hollow laughter")

yours truly,

hope to see you in June!

gep

[thalbergmad]

I am sure i can recognise a microbiologist.

I can visualise you perfectly.

Thal

[ahinton]

I am sure i can recognise a microbiologist.

I can visualise you perfectly.

Well, I for one am pleased that this is not a problem for you and that it therefore does not "bug" you!

Best,

Alistair

[oxy60]

So, where will you guys be eating dinner? 

[thalbergmad]

When in Amsterdam I usually reside and dine at the Park Plaza, Vondelpark.

You don't get any riff raff.

Thal

[ahinton]

When in Amsterdam I usually reside and dine at the Park Plaza, Vondelpark.

You don't get any riff raff.

Wish I could join you!

Best,

Alistair

[gyzzzmo]

When in Amsterdam I usually reside and dine at the Park Plaza, Vondelpark.

You don't get any riff raff.

Thal

Please send me the date when i should be avoiding the Vondelpark, Yogibearmad might eat me and my picknickbasket.

[oxy60]

When in Amsterdam I usually reside and dine at the Park Plaza, Vondelpark.

You don't get any riff raf.

Thal

With that recommendation I shall try it the next time I'm in town.

Please send me the date when i should be avoiding the Vondelpark, Yogibearmad might eat me and my picknickbasket.

And you won't be hard to find. The one thing I have never seen in the Vondelpark is someone having a picnic with a picnic basket..

Have a good time, Thal