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This topic has come up in other threads.

And I figured we'd make a thread just for it.

I'm really annoyed lately because my trillian seems to have a glitch where people I thought I've blocked-- no I know I've blocked keep im'ing me.

I really hate when you tell someone you're not into cybering, or you're involved, etc, and they KEEP im'ing you. I hate when they decide if they say gross things like "I just screwed my girlfriend" that magically you're going ot get turned on and fall into their arms.

stare For all you out there who have had people who just don't understand that NO is the final and only answer, this thread is for you.

The best thing is to not respond at all. Just keep ignoring the accounts as they come, close the window. Responding gives them fuel for the fire, so to speak. Or change your name.

Some I don't respond to, and yet some of them still keep pm'ing/im'ing, as though talking to the air will eventually prove fruitfull.

Maybe they bug so many people online they can't remember who doesn't respond and who says "NO" to them...

I'd put up a picture of an 80 year old woman with excessive lip hair as my profile pic... but I fear one of them might be into that.

I'd love to see the profile pic if you can be bothered posting it...that's a brilliant idea. Hilarious!

It is so hard for me to understand how people can even get into that. You will be having a nice chat with people and all of a sudden some dingbat will make a suggestive remark or crude comment. Well, then instead of everyone just ignoring the dingbat, everyone stops chatting. It's like people are afraid to be the next person to comment for fear that someone might think something bad of them. That's why I stay here most of the time.

If anyone bugs me, I use ignore user. I won't put up with it. I have a Mac, so I don't have virus and spyware issues. I am behind a router, so I have a good firewall. I try to keep safe as I can online. I don't accept random add requests at all.

No, they're not bots.

I've rp'd in Yahoo for about 7 years... so I know bots without a doubt. The thing is sometimes I get the "hi" and every once in the blue moon it's mistaken identity, a long lost peer from college who might have dropped out or graduated, or a friend under a different alias. And one time some stranger im'd me because they were having gender identity issues and needed to tell -Someone-, which may be weird to some, but I get it (psyche major/counseling student lol). That actually had a pretty good outcome, I think I said some encouraging words and I hope I pointed them in the right direction (finding a positive support network of individuals who had been through it themselves)

I've had a lot of people suggest I go unlisted with SNs and the like. The thing is via things like my space and facebook I've gotten in touch with a lot of people I hadn't heard from in ages: classmates from elementary school, old high school friends, friends who I just lost contact with. I'm the type of person who has friends in all social stratas. That means some of my friends have had their phones and net shut off over the years and sometimes that one smudge in your address book can mean losing communication with a dear friend. I guess I should look at being harrassed by creeps as a consequence of having internet contact info up.

But maybe we shouldn't have to go through extreme lengths to hide our sns, email, etc. I don't think it's right that women often times have to go by initials in the phone book. It all comes back to the still present system in which women have to be twice as cautious as men. Yeah you gotta be smart, but being smart is no insurance. Statistically speaking, it's not the strangers you should be worried about.

Ah crap, I'm just going to have to get a stupid sex change... OR, just shove a cucumber down my pants, pray my russian hairyness kicks in so that I have a good woman-moustace, and tape down my boobs.

On the internet I could be um Bob, or should I have a snazzier fake-male name? Suggestions?

Ha, being a woman doesn't make you special when it comes to creeps on the internet. I remember before I knew better, I had my IM info on various sites. I got more women cyber creeps (i.e. horny housewives, which is hugely ironic). My husband gets WAY more slutty girls asking to be his friend on myspace than I do.

I don't think it's extreme lengths. I have no problems talking or finding old classmates on various sites. If they really want to get to talking with me, they send me a PM or an email through that particular site then I'll give them the info if I feel comfortable.

I mean, it's the same with identity issues as well. I don't think using some smarts won't help you at all. I think with enough knowledge, it's a good thing. I think it's how much of a deal you make out of it and how much you're willing to do to deal with it. That's just my opinion though.

Heh that makes me think of this myspace bulletin I reposted where people mess with cyber dorks. It's hilarious, but I don't think it's PG-13 otherwise I would post it. One guy does like a D&D one on this girl, it's great.