DEFINITION
The Online/Social Predator is one who uses the mechanisms of cyber space
to hunt human beings with the intent to exploit, rob, plunder and pillage
their body, mind, heart and soul.
While vampires themselves can be - and often are - called predators
and have usually have predatory natures, THIS particular definition relates to online/social
predators only, as defined above. As I like to put it, there are "good
predators" and "bad predators". This will give you warning
signs to keep you away from the "bad predators".
You should make a conscious effort to observe the person's interactions with
others, not just how s/he interacts with you. They may be too good to slip
up when talking to you, but their interactions with others may reveal their
true self. However, you have to be committed to taking every precaution for
YOUR OWN SAFETY. The best defense you have against an online/social
predator is your own common sense and judgment. If you have a voice whispering
that "something is not right" or "this is too good to be true"....that
little voice is probably right.
Don't believe everything you read - just because someone online tells you
that they are 15 doesn't mean they are telling the truth. Even adults can't
tell when a male pretends to be a female or a 50 year old pretends to be a
15 year old.
COMMON PHRASES USED BY SOCIAL PREDATORS
Do not tell ________ .
( ________ ) is crazy / psycho / sick / a liar / out to get me !
It would be best if you no longer spoke to ________.
I do not need to defend myself against lies.
They are just jealous ( of me / of us / of what we have / that you have me
).
COMMON ACTIONS BY SOCIAL PREDATORS
Becomes defensive or angry when questioned
Questions the sincerity of the person asking, when questioned
Brings up bad situations before you ask, dismisses them as being false allegations,
and counters with "reasons" and "past history" showing
that they are more honorable than they really are.
Discourages or forbids you to check "references" by asking other
people's opinion of them.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A SOCIAL
PREDATOR
- Liar: ( Self explanatory
)
- Deceiver: His self
situation is presented as other than what it is.
- Betrayer: He is likely
to break trust.
- Insecure: He is worried
that others will be faithless.
- Inconsistent: He
will say one thing while doing another.
- Lacking Honor: Usually
while protesting that he has honor.
- Lack of Respect:
He will tend to denigrate others.
- Transient: He is
unlikely to have many long term friends.
- Manipulator: He calculates
and contrives for his own benefit to the detriment of his partner.
- Secretive: He will
tend to cloak himself and his activities.
- Charming: If he could
not steal your breath away, he would not be a successful hunter.
- Selective: He will
pick victims carefully, looking for weaknesses and filling those voids completely.
- Chameleon: He will
appear to fit any need perfectly and adapt to fill any desire.
- Lacking in Self Control:
Although at times, he may have extraordinary self control and discipline.
WARNING SIGNS
"I feel s/he is just too good to be true." - they probably are...
You are hearing consistent warnings from more that one person.
Your instincts are whispering something is not right about this person.
Frequent inconsistencies - if someone often makes contradictory statements
from one day to the next, like Mon. tells you s/he has no children, then on
Fri., mentions his/her son's birthday or something. If a person often seems
to have a lot of trouble remembering what they have said to you from one day
to the next, it could be that they are telling a lot of people a lot of different
things.
