You read over his shoulder and realize, in horror, the other person is asking for your child's phone number and home address or has sent him a very graphic photo. You're on a newsgroup called alt.business.home and someone gets mad at something you write. What most 'Net users tend to forget is although you only see words on the computer screen, there is a real person on the other side of it. In fact, there are literally millions of people worldwide who can potentially read what you've written online. If they don't agree with what they see, they could make your life miserable.
Nothing is impossible when it comes to the 'Net.
These scenarios are a reality to folks all over the world and right here in New Hampshire. It's pretty easy. We give them technical assistance and legal advice on how to stop the harassment, which ranges from mildly annoying to physical dangerous. We have protocols in place to determine exactly who assists victims depending on their specific situation and location. These members are highly trained prior to handling any online-related cases.