Sound advice.

[ferine]

"Think for yourself and question authority".

~Timothy Leary

This is a very important thing to bear in mind, especially when it comes to people who present themselves as leaders, teachers, and elders in the community. While this occurs off-line, it is unfortunately rampant on-line. With the relative anonymity of the net, and the illusion of power and ego that net popularity can provide, sometimes even people with good intentions can fall victim to their own persona and become what their press says they are.

It's frightening how much damage people can do to one another through the computer -- from malicious to criminal acts, sometimes leading to face to face interaction (of the unwanted kind). Someone exalted to a position of power on-line may suggest something illegal and/or downright dangerous, without thinking of the responsibility of their suggestions or comments. Thing is, on-line people of all ages and different levels of impressionability (particularly on forums and in communities) can read you. And if you're a big wig in whatever scene and looked to for wisdom and advice, well...

Abusing others on-line is probably easy for many people; they're typing words on a screen. There's no one to look at or deal with in person, it's all divorced from reality. It's cyberspace, where one can project anything they want to be, where all is an illusion and coming into a false sense of power is easily achieved and all too easily taken away. Cults rise and fall and are easily fueled by the illusory nature of the net.

Always question others in supposed positions of power. Even those you like. If they advocate anything illegal, physically dangerous, or unethical to your beliefs, question and don't remain passive.