He's Dangerous!

I called my mom on my way home tonight after having dinner with a friend.  I usually talk to my dad every morning on my way to work and then talk to my mom every evening.  This one was no different.  She was filling me in on how her day was and asking me questions about my day.  Then I remembered that I hadn't told her OR my dad about this blog.  I tell her that I have started it and then have to define what a blog is.  I tell her to turn on the computer and I will be right over to show them.

I walk through the door and go into the living room.  She is watching t.v. and acts surprised that I am there.  I then ask if she has turned on the computer.  She responds with a little too harsh, "yes!" and I then realize that she has turned on the "old" computer instead of the newer, sleeker lap top.  (The one that has wireless capability and will let me sit in the living room with her while I read my blog aloud.)  I get the correct computer turned on, head back into the living room, and wait for my dad to enter.  I finish up the conversation with my mom about life and then tell my dad about the blog.  I have to define it for him also and then I get started reading it.  (I am doing this because neither of them really know what they are doing online.  If it involves much more than the on button, I usually have to assist.  However, it is funny that they manage to sometimes order "stuff" without my help.)

I'm reading my first post to them and neither are really responding.  When I get to the part about Bill, my dad interrupts me and asks if I have put his entire name on there?  He then asks how much personal information I have listed.  Then he wants to know if I know that now people can go online and find out exactly where you are!  He tells me to be careful because people are crazy.  (He doesn't realize that by just typing in his name I can find out his phone number and address.)  Basically, my dad knows just enough information about the Internet to be dangerous.  He can get online and order tools.  (He has no idea how to determine if a site is secure.)  He can check his email when I am there.  He can respond to emails as long as I do all the typing and I hit "send."  How is it that he knows that people can now locate where you are exactly?  (This is a new feature of facebook.  One that I am not using.)  The answer is because he has gotten these facts off the news.  (We all know that the news is a "safe" and "reliable" source.)  The Internet is "dangerous" and I really have to be careful about what I tell people.  I mentioned that I have my name, phone number, address, and social security number listed, but that is all.  He did not find any of those comments funny.  He also never noticed that I called Bill "Princess," he was just concerned that I used both his first and last name.  Not recognizing that "Bill" is a nickname.

My mom is just sitting there listening and not responding because she realizes that she is no threat to anyone.  She can't even turn on the right computer.  So in her mind, she is safe as long as when she makes online purchases, she can call me and I can track the history and find the people and the phone number to the company and I can call to take care of the bill for her.

:o)