Stranger Danger

It is no secret to my friends and family, I am one of those people who spends hours on their laptop. I am happy to browse endless timelines and dashboards, commenting on pictures or writing messages to people. I created my Youtube account 5 years ago, and my Tumblr nearly 4 years ago. I was one of the first people I know to get Facebook, and when I was 12 I was making 'Bebo skins' for my friends. Basically, I don't know why it is, but I've always just got the internet.

The problem with all of this, is that a lot of people (especially parents) don't get it. They don't understand why we want to waste our lives staring at a screen. They think that talking to people on the internet is going to lead to rape, murder, abduction. And of course that's a possibility. But I thought I'd share my experiences with 'Stranger Danger' because in actuality, if you're wise about it, and go about it in the right way, with extreme caution the Internet can expand your social circles. 


The group of people above. Can you see any old men? Any dodgy looking humans (not including me)... ? Of course not. You look at these pictures and you see a group of teenagers having fun. Well, the truth is, these pictures were taken over 2 years ago, and this was the first time I'd met any of the guys n gals above. We'd been talking for months and months, but I had never met any of them. And, two years later, I still talk to almost every single person pictured. Maybe not as frequently as before, but we're still friends. And some of us are even closer. I've met up with Emily a good few times, and I even went to stay with Ian and his family for Easter.

Me and Charley
And then, above is Charley. I met Charley through Youtube and a mutual friend a couple of years ago. And she is now like a big sister to me. She started writing her blog (you can read here) after getting inspiration from mine, and I could not imagine my life without her. I don't even remember how we started talking. We had one mutual friend but we hit it off straight away and have never looked back. Her family are one of the most warming loveliest families I've ever come across and once again, without Youtube we would never have met.

It's really important to me for people to understand I'm not condoning sneaking off in the middle of the night or lying to parents and catching a train halfway across the country to meet people you've met on the Internet. But people definitely need to be more accepting of the internet and its perks nowadays. Adults meet and fall in love from the Internet. People become best friends because of a mutuality. And teenagers are earning millions from videos made in their bedrooms.


If you're reading this as a blogger, you've probably met people through the blogging community already, and there are now massive organised meetups for Youtube communities to get together. So I am fully aware the world is changing. I just think others who might not understand, need to be supportive of it. Because if you're a parent, the chances are your child will just end up sneaking off anyway... (I stupidly did). It's far better for you to prepare them and know exactly where they are. And as friends, sure you might not understand the whole Youtube/Tumblr/Twitter/Blogger ok, every social network in existence thing. But be supportive of your friends. Seriously, it makes us feel totally isolated when you mock us. Even if it is a joke. I may be terrible at sport, but next time you need someone to sort out  an HTML code, I am totally your girl. 

Ciao for Now!
x

13 comments

  1. I'm definitely with you on this one! The internet gets a bad rep (understandably) because of all the bad stuff that happens, but the opportunities it provides for meeting new people are great. I can't wait to go to a blogger meetup!
    lily x
    www.jolihouse.com

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  2. I'm hopefully going for my first blogger meet up in a few weeks, I think the same precautions apply for meeting anyone that you don't know ie. meet them somewhere public, make sure someone knows where you are etc. Although meeting a group has fewer risks than a one-on-one meeting. But the internet generally isn't quite the hotbed of deviancy that some people believe it is.

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    1. Good luck at your first blogger meet up! When I'm back in England I'm definitely going to attend a couple :-) I completely agree, you just have to be wise about it to make it work out positively!

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  3. AH I totally just found your blog and related so much to this post! I've met more people on twitter than blogger as of right now since I'm kind of new to the whole blogging thing! I even met someone in real life that didn't turn out too hot..has that ever happened to you? I love your blog! :)

    xx
    BehindHazeleyes06,blogspot.com

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    1. So far nothing bad has happened! I've met people who I later have started to dislike or not gotten on with, but I haven't met someone where I've been like 'Oh GOD what a mistake'! Luckily enough! Ah I'm glad you can relate! Thank you thank you :-) x

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  4. Just found your blog and I am definitely following, not only because it's incredibly well written, well presented and interesting, but I've always wanted to try au-pairing in Italy! I'm studying English and French right now at Uni and yet I am SO nervous about moving to France for the year in September. So I have a decent level of French and am nervous, yet you didn't even know Italian and have gone there! It really makes me think that I should man up ;)

    imogen // imogenscribbles

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    1. Thank you for the follow! Ahhh yes you can totally reply on me to keep you up to date with my au pairing antics! I do a series called the 'Life Update' posts, where I basically just talk about my life and how I'm finding it every few weeks :-) Ah if you're studying English and French you will be soooooooo fine! Hahahah trust me, if I can do this, you can do that! Also if you're thinking about au pairing after Uni/for a summer in Italy then knowing French will help a lot, the verb rules and language are very similar! I only did French to GCSE, but got an A and I still use the little I remember to help me out here! :-) x

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    2. You're welcome :) Thanks so much to you too! Oh that series sounds good! Can I ask how your Italian skills have progressed? Obviously you've only been there for a short while but I'm intrigued :) Yeah I studied Spanish briefly as well so I can actually understand a bit already as they're practically the same in my eyes ;) ), it's just the forming sentences part! x

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    3. When I first came here, my Italian was absolutely shocking. Like, I knew how to say 'Hello, My name is Alice, how are you' and that is it. I've been here for 2months now (2months today in fact!) and already I can understand a lot of what people are saying. Understanding is a lot better than speaking, but I can speak enough to get by right now! I used to be terrified of going into shops incase they asked if I needed a bag or had the correct change, but now I can understand and reply perfectly :-) You just fall into it! But I definitely recommend becoming an au pair for 6months minimum, because the first couple of months are the hardest for sure xx

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  5. This is so true, and really nicely written. My friend met her boyfriend online on a website that DEFINITELY sounds dodgy, its some weird free dating website called 'Flirtbox' - but he is the loveliest guy ever and they're so happy nearly two years later!! It just goes to show, yes be careful but no need to rush to judge people!
    I'd really like to go to some blogger events but don't really know how to find them...do you have any tips?!
    New follower :) xxx

    The perks of being a hipster

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    1. My friend also met her boyfriend through the internet on Plenty of Fish! And they're about to buy a house together after nearly 3 years :-) Exactly, we're all living proof the internet can be a friendly place! I've never actually been to a blogger meetup because I got into blogging after I'd moved to Italy! My pictures are from a Tumblr meetup back when they were really regular and everyone used to go! For tips on finding blogger ones, I'd definitely recommend signing up to a few Blogger forums, (just google it) and also use the hashtags #socialbloggers #lbloggers #bbloggers #fbloggers on Twitter to help you find other girls who write about the same things! Every Saturday at 6pm GMT there is a #socialbloggers chat on Twitter, I've only joined in once and I've already found new blogs and met new girls who I get on with! Good luck :-) xxx

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  6. I nominated you for a Liebster Award. Take a look: http://beautyshine16.blogspot.com/2014/03/liebster-award-2.html

    x

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  7. I agree with this so much! I met one of my best friends online before we went to Summer In The City last year and it turned out we were both going to the same University in Australia this year! without the internet and putting myself out there I would have never made such a great friend. When I tell people the story of how we met the looks some people give me are crazy! they this I risked my life to meet someone when really I just trusted that someone was who they was :) I feel like in this age of the internet it is more about being who you actually and getting recognised for that, than fooling people by being someone you're not. Really good post, I just found your blog and giving you a cheeky follow!

    Laura | http://alittlebitirrelevant.blogspot.com.au

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