The original point stands regardless of whether it's the internet or otherwise. Like many of you I met my SO online and have been with him for over 10 years. But when we met, we met in a public environment first. It's not the meeting online that's the issue; it's the meeting face-to-face that's the problem and how much we trust the person next to us.
We, unfortunately, live in a society where we cannot expect people to be nice. This summer I had my chain break on my bike in the middle of nowhere (between Fundy National Park and Hillsborough for those familar with the area/highway). A kind gentleman picked up me and my bike and dropped us off at the nearest gas station and refused to take any payment of any kind (one of the last good samaritans in the world I suspect).
To be honest, I doubt that any of you have had to deal with an online stalker and that is a really scary issue (although I wonder if Neg's SO has had this in the past). What's worse is that no one will do anything about a stalker (they can fade away in the IP Numbers) but they will do something after your dead. Anyways, point is that far too many put trust into the 1s and 0s that are seen online. I have seen how people interpret postings based on their own emotions rather than what the poster was trying to convey (a game I played that was based on interactions between individuals and power plays by the individuals highlighted this in the worst/best ways).
That all said, as a general rule I believe people should be somewhat cautious of others in today's society regardless of where they meet them. Forensic science has come a long way but the courts haven't. As such, they may not be able to full trace what's going on even if they do get the address. If this wasn't a truism, unfortunately, we wouldn't have things like the Amber Alert.
Monsters still exist in society. :(
