Letters from the Switched on "Internet Dating" issue

Dear switched on,
This guy on MySpace keeps trying to contact me and I am not sure if I should add him as a friend. I checked his page but he does not have any pictures up and it says his age is 109. At first, he would just send me friend requests, but now he is sending me emails about the picture I have uploaded on MySpace. It is kinda creeping me out, but I don't know if I am just overreacting. I do not really know that much about him so I do not really know how I should be reacting to him. My friends are all giving me different answers so I was wondering if maybe you could give me your opinion.
-Carolina

Dear Carolina,
Sounds like you are being really nice by giving this guy the benefit of a doubt, and trying to look at the whole picture before you write him off. That said you can not control how much information this guy puts out for others to see, and you already said that this guy can sometimes make you uncomfortable. It might be best to just go with your gut instinct and block this gut on MySpace to rid you of any uncomfortable and unwanted situations in the future. Just remember that whether it is a person in the real world or online a stranger is still a stranger, and should be approached with caution.
-Switched-On

Dear Switched-On mag,
I have met this guy on Facebook and we have been talking on AIM for the past couple of weeks. He seems really cool and I could really see myself dating him. He, of course, lives in a town all the way at the other end of the state, but he did mention the possibility of me visiting him over the weekend. The problem is that I am not sure my parents would understand and give me permission to go see “some guy” that I met online. I am not really sure if I want to go yet cuz I am sorta nervous, but he is really great. I have mixed feelings over this.
-Conflicted

Dear Conflicted,
Well, before you try to convince your parents maybe you should first be more comfortable with the whole situation. It sounds like your very confused and nervous about this whole thing so try making the situation fit your terms. If you have more say in what exactly is going to happen you probably won't be as nervous. As for your parents, its best to just level with them about the whole relationship and try to adjust it to make then feel comfortable as well. One possible solution could be having the other person visit you instead. Talking things out and expressing feelings usually work to make everyone more comfortable and open to new situations.
-Switched-On

Dear Switched,
I am actually in an internet relationship after talking to this girl mainly because she lives like two states away. We talked on the phone every chance we get and are always texting each other so we're doing pretty great. It is just that some of my friends think that the whole thing is weird. They joke that she is not real, but I know she is since we talk on our web cams all the time. They still tease me about it even after I proved it to them, and I am just sick of them calling me a weirdo. Some friends joke about it a little, but some have gone as far as bothering her online. I feel like I am gonna have to choose between my friends and girlfriend.
-Jacob

Dear Jacob,
Sounds like you really think your relationship with your girlfriend is pretty great. The problem does not seem to stem from your Internet relationship at all; it seems like your average friends vs. girlfriend problem. You say that some of your “friends” have started harassing your girlfriend, well it seems like internet or not they are still messing with your girlfriend. Its sounds like the people that make fun of your relationship are a small number so perhaps you might just want to stick with the friends that like you for you.
-Switched-On