blank

Absolutely f* all difference. But whilst we've had decades of teaching our kids "stranger danger", we've had extremely little time to teach them the same critical thinking and awareness about the internet. Especially since many adults don't know, or have trouble, using the internet. I worked for a website company and we had to figure out what the protocols were for dealing with minors who signed up to use the site. The idea is that you always play "better safe than sorry". Plenty of kids sign up to Theatre Australia not realising that if they post their phone number or home address it can be seen all around the world. The disconnect here seems to be that you are seeing this from a business point of view; instead think of it as a parent. Would you want a complete stranger coming up to you on the street, OR online and asking them to model? As a parent, naturally I would be concerned for my child's safety. Secondly, this site is not an "uncensored blog". It is a forum, a large one at that. It is also a site for which the admin has a policy that if someone contacts them about a post for which they have issue with, it will be taken down. (Read the FAQ about this site) If you have a problem with what anyone has written, please don't complain to me; you have the right to request removal by contacting the site admin. Thirdly, "you can't communicate on an uncensored blog on one side and complain about stranger danger on the internet on the other." Of course I can. It's not the same thing. Writing on a forum IS NOT the same thing as signing up with an agent who contacts me via a profile I leave on a website. In the first instance, I have initiated contact (or the initial poster has above) by commenting. In the second instance, a complete stranger has contacted the initial poster. Either way, whether a person initiates it, or the company does, that DOES NOT mean that they should go blindly in and not do their research. This is an utter strawman. If you (or anyone else) contacts me to work for or with them without me having posted a work wanted ad or via an online profile, I will do a quick background check. I make sure that whatever information I post is something I'm happy for the whole world to see. I've read up on a range of topics about online security, and know what not to do (many people don't). Furthermore, I spent a large part of last night banning a whole bunch of new members signing up who were doing so just to advertise viagra - anyone and everyone can join this site so we get a lot of f*ing dodgy people coming here that aren't noticed by passers-by. We often have lots of people who sign up just to contact the members and send them phishing or lewd (read: R-rated) messages. So yes, I CAN and WILL complain about people being too naive to do proper diligence when dealing with agents. And yes I CAN and WILL continue advising people to be cautious. Puppets and patterns at Puppets in Melbourne