1. It's so easy for kids to be taken in. Even otherwise intelligent adults are often duped; otherwise there wouldn't be so many warnings sent out about this and that scam.

How do we really know who anyone is on the net? I could be inventing myself as I go along.

I'm not of course. Really I'm not. What you see is what there is. But I could be. It's great fun to have online friends. It took me out of my loneliness after I retired and moved to a town where I knew no one.

Meeting a few of the "friends" I had known only through the net is something I'll treasure the rest of my life.

Still all of us, adults and kids, need to be careful.

Posted at 5:15PM on Sep 9th 2006 by ann adams

2. What surprises me is that if you put this in a book you'd be flayed alive for the misrepresentation. For example, James Frey wrote a well regarded memoir about his drug abuse and recovery, that turned out in places to be embellished. This is of course memoir, which is kind of an open area; it often supports a lot of embellishment. And they took this guy to the mat. But do it on the Internet and its wildly creative, or innovative "viral" marketing, or what have you.

There's a caveat emptor sensibility on the Internet, for good reason. But I think the same environment of wariness makes marketing people and even more altruistic sources play a little loose on the Web -- because after all you should be watching out.

Posted at 9:19PM on Sep 9th 2006 by san

3. Lonelygirl15 is fake: Tops YouTube Ranking

Check it out:

http://techaddress.wordpress.com/2006/09/09/lonelygirl15-is-fake-tops-youtube-ranking/

Posted at 9:20PM on Sep 9th 2006 by TechAddress

4. I heard that this story was a hoax a few days ago. Very sad and certainly believable as on the internet you can be anyone and I think we all need to remember that especially children.

Posted at 10:42PM on Sep 9th 2006 by Rose

5. I know this is a little off-topic, but it annoys me that a marketing firm would portray a homeschooled child this way. It's irresponsible. It just reinforces the stereotype that homechoolers are extremist religous wierdos. I don't homeschool, but I know many people who do and they are all great. I also know many who homeschool for secular reasons, like chronically underfunded schools. Getting off my soapbox now...

Posted at 9:19PM on Sep 10th 2006 by VL

6. It pretty sad, how believable this hokes was. Hopefully children won't see these Vids and use them as example for their own behaviors.

Posted at 9:09AM on Sep 14th 2006 by Kevin