[Dominick]

The regular newsgroups are much worse. They say terrible things about people like us, religious conservatives, call us bigots, fanatics, blaspheme God, can't wait until the pope is dead (say much worse than that about him) threaten to turn people into their isp's when they don't like what they say, death threats, seriously crazy people, and even try to find out where people live and either stalk them, offer money to have their kids harmed, turn them in to their church leaders, use filthy language, etc., none of which is allowed here.

I can attest to some groups, but those threats are pretty empty. There is no room for death threats anywhere.

That is not going to scare me away. There isn't any other site on the net like this one that I have found. In spite of the vitriol, I talk to some folks here who ease my loneliness and I can find common ground with on some topics.

If you think about it, anyone can get dirt on anyone. For the government to do it effectively, it would take how many meg of data per person, multiplied by how many people, with analysts to sift it all. Unless you really tick off someone who wants to attack you, ordinary joes are pretty safe.

[Aliska]

There is no room for death threats anywhere.

I agree. As to their being empty, tell that to the people against whom they are made. Usually they get irate rather than scared, and I haven't monitored any of the really sick groups. I kind of admire that. I would lose a couple of nights' sleep at least.

We ordinary joes can't afford private bodyguards. At least, I can't.