Risky Business: Why People Feel Safe in Sexually Expicit On-Line Communication

Abstract

This article defines contextualizes basic types of CMC as electronic counterparts to other forms of communication. It then discusses the ways in which message privacy and security can be compromised in the electronic environment and reports a survey study of individuals who engage in potentially embarrassing forms of CMC via USENET newsgroups. The questionnaire asked respondents how risky they perceived their communications to be and why they felt secure enough to engage in “risky” communication. Survey results were equivocal on the question of user perceptions of privacy, but indicated that the perceived risk was low in this sample group. Finally, the chapter discusses implications and proposes an agenda for future research. I wanna feel your viscosity, honey, Melt my rheological mind; Let your female forcefield vortex Deform my male spacetime. Nick Herbert, “Does She do the Vulcan Mind Meld on the First Date?”