Jul 26
MySpace – 29,000 Perverts Strong and Growing!
MSNBC is reporting that 29,000 registered sex offenders have profiles on MySpace. The only thing I gotta say to this is “Shocker”.
And you know there’s way more than 29,000 on there. The way I figure, that 29,000 are the 29,000 who were too stupid to not alter their information or keep their profile more on the DL. There’s gotta be smarter sex offenders out there.
Is This MySpace’s Fault?
I can’t blame MySpace for this. It provides a service and people use the service. Just like craigslist where people can pretty much advertise anything including opportunities for one night stands and false advertisements leading to “very bad” rendezvous…What are they supposed to do? I don’t know. Like everything in this world it’s the balance between safety and freedom. Sure you could try and have background checks including criminal checks and cross referencing with SSN numbers but I mean really? Who would go for that?
Me and MySpace
As most of you know, I really don’t have any love for MySpace. Now I’m not going to lie and tell you that I don’t have a MySpace account, because I do. And I wish I “could” delete it but unfortunately some of my friends who are in parts unknown seem to only want to contact me through the horrible site. Furthermore, some people I have lost contact with over the years often get back in touch with me through MySpace. But guess what? I still hate it and now that I have my blog in full effect, I know why…
Why I Hate MySpace and Like My Blog More
- A Lot Less Sexual Predators on Here vs MySpace – Now even though I don’t have the numbers in front of me, I can say pretty confidently that the number of predators in my blog community is less than the number I’m “connected” to through MySpace. I could be wrong, but if I am I expect Chris Hanson to tell me so.
- My Site Looks Better – I know that you can change the look of your MySpace account somewhat through the limited code they allow you to use, but at the VERY LEAST on the blogging side of things, my site looks better than the blogging look over there.
- My User Interface is Better – You know what’s ugly? MySpace’s user interface. It has been the same crappy thing forever now, and it doesn’t look like it’s ever going to get better.
- My Site Has Better Spam Features – When you’re on MySpace, you have crazy SPAM all over the place coming in various forms including e-mails, messages and friend requests. Sure I get SPAM here, but my plugins catch 99% of them. 99%. RESPECT.
- No Glitter On Here – It’s probably one of the reasons why all the pervs are attracted to MySpace in the first place. No one is going to be sending me some dumb “glittery happy birthday bear” on here where it’s on parade for days before I realize what someone did.
- This Community > MySpace Community – It has been said before but blogs are such a great way to engage each other an intelligent conversation. Everyone on here has valuable things to say and usually says it. Do you have these kinds of conversations on MySpace? No way. It’s like a poor man’s version of Twitter but worse. I swear, if I see another MySpace message saying “just saying hi!!!” I’m going to break something.
July 26th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Heh I never created a MySpace account. Didn’t join friendster either.
Great post there buddy. I agree, blogging is the way to go.
July 26th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
I’m not a fan of MySpace too, even though I do have an account. The ads are… auugghh. I think the glitter is there because the female population likes it.
July 26th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
I created my very own Myspace in ‘03 after Friendster wouldn’t let me log in and it’s been a love/hate relationship ever since. I hate Myspace for its incessant errors, the fact that ANYONE can “design” their profile, and its tendency for crashing my browser. I love Myspace for keeping me connected with friends that I no longer see regularly.
By the way, anyone can make me a friend… myspace.com/angelafabulous
emphasis on the FABULOUS
July 26th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
@Brown – Glad you enjoyed it. *nod*
@Grace – “ugh” is right in regards to the ads. And about glitter…I’m not a fan of glitter on my face, my site(s), or anywhere else for that matter. And if it is true that the “[female population loves glitter]“, then that is a significant flaw of your gender. (#);)
@Angela – Great comments. I forgot about all the ERRORS. ugh And you can probably guess my myspace addy. (BTW, I need to get the “buy me a drink it’s your birthday” shirt. I bet it works famously.)
July 26th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
LOL funny I’m working on an article that mentions MySpace I expect to have that out early next week. MySpace has over 160 million members.
I do think they (MySpace) need to be more aggressive than they have (at first they weren’t going to release the names) earlier since minors are allowed to access the website.
I would not have a problem going through the extras if I wanted to be a member of an online community that also-included minors. I view that no differently than working around children.
I had to go through the extra steps to do it, but the important thing, for me, is keeping our children safe. If that means I need to supply my SS, get a background check, fingerprints, then by all means do it.
I had to have all those done when I decided to become a volunteer mentor. In the online mentoring programs, that is provided in various states you have to go through the same process.
In my working out of the home job, I worked for a non profit organization that worked directly with children. We trained organizations/people on how to start mentoring programs, and become better mentors.
I don’t reveal too much about my daughter on my website because I don’t know who is out there to keep her safe I keep the pictures to a minimum.
July 26th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
@Opal – You know, I think a big problem too is that the parents of a lot of kids on MySpace didn’t grow up with the Internet and just don’t know anything about it. And as a result, they’re so removed from these things that they can’t better educate their kids about it. *nod*
July 26th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Well, There are many many reasons that prevent one from signing up from Myspace. Spam is one big reason. Apart from that the reasons which you’ve given are just perfect!!! Myspace actually needs to put lot of control, I don’t know how but they have to think in order to ensure that people are safe. They are taking some steps by making parents aware of social networks and various other things but still they need to take bigger steps.
May be public meetings will help in increasing the awareness.
July 26th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
That number is way too low. My guess would be that it’s more likely there are 29,000 new perverts signing up there each day.
July 26th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Although I’ve never used Myspace and after reading this article , I am almost certain that I will never use it in my life , it sounds to me like a big spammy network for people who have too much time on their hands and couldn’t find a better place to waste it .
P.S : The glitter is everywhere : look at hi5 for example .
July 26th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
I deplore myspace with the heat of a thousand suns… “Hey cutie wanna MSN?” “Ugh… NO!” I had a myspace account but pretty much created it then left, I did not participate. I deleted it a while ago. I got a blog instead.
I once saw a book at Chapters about myspace and on the front it had a picture of teenage girls sharing french fries or a milkshake or something cutesy like that. I think myspace should be for bands only. They should close down the personal section completely based on the fact that there are tens of thousands of sexual predators online with young girls who share french fries with their friends.
And glittery things that people leave on my page? What’s that about? Did I ask for a glimmering unicorn with a chick riding it and she’s wearing a bikini of sorts?
myspace –
blog –
myspace – 0
blog – 10
July 26th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
@R. Saurus – That might be a sad commentary if MySpace needs to conduct public meetings regarding safety using its site. *nod*
@Mike – That might be my favorite comment of the day. HA HA!
But it’s true. (#):(
@CristianR – Yeah, don’t use it. Unless you’re a band or comedian I think its a waste of time. Though on the networking side of things, you can make it work.
@Danielle – Hm. No one has ever said, “Hey cutie wanna MSN?” with me. I wonder what I’m doing wrong. (#)<:(
And I didn’t ask for the glittery unicorn people either! THOUGH, if a bikini clad girl showed up on my doorstep on a unicorn I may have a different opinion on the matter.
July 27th, 2007 at 1:17 am
MySpace is a damn ugly website. In case you didn’t catch it that I don’t like their design, their site is ugly! I have been there and signed up a long time ago. But their site just doesn’t work. I don’t know how they can be so popular since their site is very dysfunctional.
All I have to say about the perverts (I actually use another word for them, because a pervert is quite mild compared to some those men) at MySpace, is that at nightclubs and other venues they take certain security precautions to insure the safety of their patrons. MySpace should do the same with their users. Protect them to the best of their ability. I don’t think its their fault there are perverts in general, but I do think they should do their part.
And of course parents should be doing their part. There are very much so perverts everywhere in this world no matter where you go or what your doing. So it is best to learn to protect yourself and to teach your children to protect themselfs in any situation. Intuition plays a part online and offline!
July 27th, 2007 at 5:54 am
@Gnomey – You know, I think they can get away with it because so many inexperienced web users use their service. These people just don’t know how much better it can be in terms of usability. *nod*
And couldn’t agree with you more on your thoughts on safety precautions. I won’t bother to repeat what you said, but just know I’m there with ya buddy!
July 27th, 2007 at 7:23 am
We never get into the myspace fever, created and account, check it like three times in a 2 week period, and that’s all, and we still think the same
Maybe myspace is a good place for traffic in a blogger’s blog, a golden oportunity not taken . . .
Bush, incredible site, games, parenting, money, throw a little japan and anime and you will have a 100% otaku bushmackel.com, later !! . . .
July 27th, 2007 at 9:27 am
@IceDragon – Yeah, whenever I get myself together, I do want to hit up my MySpace account to make sure that everyone knows about this site. Not just a single link, but some real attention to it.
And thanks for the complements on the site! Though I think I’d have to watch a bit more anime to be able to say that I’m part of the otaku generation. (#);)
July 27th, 2007 at 10:41 am
I love anime, but what is ‘otaku generation’… I’m embarrassed just asking! hehehe
July 27th, 2007 at 11:06 am
@Gnomey – There is a convention here on the East Coast called Otakon. Its tagline is: “Otakon is the convention of the otaku generation…” I went one year and the otaku generation was wayyyy to much much for me to handle. Maybe if I went dressed as some monster with angel wings I would’ve felt more at home. For more information, check out…
http://www.otakon.com
July 27th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Well said Bush! That list was great.
The only reason I set up an account (http://www.myspace.com/aaroncookdotcom) was to drive traffic to my BLOG.
Other than that, I find it quite annoying. Though I did manage to reconnect with some old friends and students I used to teach. But yeah, I hate it too.
Shine on,
Aaron
July 27th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
@Aaron – Isn’t it funny that we all hate MySpace but yet all have accounts? Ha ha
July 28th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Yo, brother Bush
First of all, if you`ll have no myspace account, then you`ll not be qualified to rant against. Got the point ?
Myspace, as well as many other sites who use the very same script (Joomla for example), Hi5 and many other sites so called “web 2.0 social sites” are just crap. Are fit for people who can`t get better excuse to loose time online, still they could use that time to read wikipedia ..
Oh, sure, on wikipedia they have not the option nor reason to type the “Cool pic, you look great, wanna meet with me ?” 
)
Why I have a myspace account ? For linkback and possible visitors. Do I use that account ? Hmm .. not quite. Will I keep it ? Well, one day I`ll go check if there is any “delete account” button …
However, if you ask me, I think myspace and that kinda sites are more dating than social ..
July 28th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
@Valentin -
Yo, brother Valentin!
Me: “As most of you know, I really don’t have any love for MySpace. Now I’m not going to lie and tell you that I don’t have a MySpace account, because I do. And I wish I “could†delete it but unfortunately some of my friends who are in parts unknown seem to only want to contact me through the horrible site.”
You: “Why I have a myspace account ? For linkback and possible visitors.”
It looks like both us don’t LIKE MySpace but still have accounts used for our own various purposes. *shocker I think you’ll find a lot of people don’t like MySpace but are in our shoes. That’s how you know when you really got something going…Ppl hate your service, but stil use it.
BTW, You can delete your MySpace acct, but again – I’ve chosen not to do because lots of long lost friends find me on there.
Thanks for visiting, and hope to see you around again!
July 28th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Deleting my myspace account was a great day for me. I deleted my facebook too, but then reopened it because they post pictures of company events on there.
July 28th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Daily Snippet…
This will become something new I will doing. A Snippet of interesting articles I have found on the net.
Not only do I recommend the articles I also recommend the sites.
My View of “It”: U.S. readying Saudi arms deal, official confirms
Yoo-h…
July 29th, 2007 at 2:10 am
@Danielle – That’s funny. (#):)
@Bu.bulicio.us – Thanks for the nod on your site!
July 29th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
In my four months of blogging, I have not come across any of the hoochies on my page, or any pages I frequent. On the flip side of that, I haven’t seen a myspace page which didn’t have several hoochies on it at any given point in time.
I think blogspot (blogs in general) just have a more sophisticated user base.
– P
July 29th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
@Penelope – Well you’re on blogspot so I’m inclined to agree with you.
July 30th, 2007 at 12:23 am
[...] Bush Mackel has written about the recent report indicating that 29,000 registered sex offenders have profiles on MySpace. [...]
August 3rd, 2007 at 11:02 am
[...] starts a heated discussion on 29,000 MySpace perverts and that count is still [...]
August 6th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Most people on myspace don’t even know it has blog capability! A teenage guy goes on myspace and boom, tons of beautiful models are saying hi! They might really be 90 year old men though. The Blogging community is one of intellect and deep communication so a myspace user would feel like, “What’s with all the typing? Am I in class?”
August 6th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
@Bobby – Hey man!, Thanks for dropping a line! And I completely agree w/ everything you said. And you know, besides the reasons you point out, maybe it’s better than people don’t know about blogging on MySpace. 1) It’s ugly. 2) I don’t need a reason to start going on MySpace. (#);)
BTW, Is this the same guy who has the Woman God’s Masterpiece Blog? If so, I found that site a while ago and was just completely thrown back by its originality. *nod*