Whydating. Many Oldbies will have noticed that it has definitely increased over the years. Has Whydating gone way to far? I think so, and many others agree with me. Whyville was made for learning, fun, and friends, but it is starting to turn into a dating site. We need to prevent this. Whydating is very unsafe, you have no idea who the other person in the relationship is. Over the Internet people could lie about age, gender or anything else. Do not meet anyone outside of Whyville or give out any personal information. After thinking about this, I decided to get a opinion from our fellow Whyvillians, and see if they are for or against Whydating.
First, I found Carl333 at the beach, and decided to ask a few questions.
Ziek93: What do you think of Whydating?
Carl333: It's okay I guess, if you're into that sort of thing.
Ziek93: Have you ever Whydated before?
Carl333: I have, yes.
Ziek93: Why did you?
Carl333: Because, I wanted to try it out I guess.
Ziek93: Would your parents care if you told them that you online dated?
carl333: I would think so.
I then found Mewtaffy1, with a "single" sign above her head.
Ziek93: What's your opinion on Whydating?
Mewtaffy1: It depends, I try to Whydate, but it usually doesn't work out.
Ziek93: So, you do Whydate?
Mewtaffy1: Yeah.
Ziek93: Why do you online date?
Mewtaffy1: Because I've never really had a boyfriend before in real life, so I thought it'd be interesting to test it out.
Ziek93: Would your parents care if you told them that you online dated?
Mewtaffy1: Not really. I don't think, because I never give out any personal info.
I interviewed GettinAir, who had very mixed opinions about Whydating.
Ziek93: What do you think of Whydating?
GettinAir: It depends on how you look at Whydating. As long as you don't get serious about it, it's no big deal. Personally, I think it's better to just stay friends, because guys, they aren't into that kind of thing. And the marrying, sure it's fun. But there is no point about it. And eventually most people end up getting so attached that they are on Whyville almost all of the time, "Whydating" something that shouldn't be taken serious. But it's fun.
Ziek93: Do you Whydate?
GettinAir: Yes I am Whydating, but I don't think I want to anymore, because it's so pointless.
Ziek93: Would your parents care if you told them that you online date?
GettinAir: It's just my mom, and no she wouldn't care. I'm 15 so it doesn't matter.
Then I went to visit the Newbie Center, and found a Y-mail helper to talk to.
Ziek93: What's your opinion of Whydating?
lucykat: Bleh, there's really no point. People Whydate because the other person's avatar is pretty, usually never about personality or who they are.
Ziek93: Have you ever Whydated in the past?
lucykat: No. xD
Ziek93: Have you noticed the number of Whydater's increasing over time?
lucykat: Yes, because they think it's "cool."
Ziek93: Do you think there's any way we can discourage Whydating, or somehow stop it?
lucykat: I don't think we can, people do whatever they want to. Shame on them.
I then went back to the beach and discovered RobbyG24.
Ziek93: What do you think of Whydating?
RobbyG24: I think it's plain weird, but if you are girlfriend and boyfriend in real life then you can date on here also. But that's only because you know each other in real life.
Ziek93: Have you ever Whydated in the past?
RobbyG24: Yeah, and I never will again. I learned from my mistakes.
Ziek93: Have you noticed the number of Whydater's increasing over time?
RobbyG24: Yeah, between the Newbies especially.
Ziek93: Do you think there is any way we can discourage Whydating or stop it?
RobbyG24: Well, we can explain to them that the sweet talking person is not for real. It could be a child predator, or just someone who is lying.
X3candy3x provided supportive answers when I interviewed her.
Ziek93: What do you think of Whydating?
x3candy3x: Mhm, I think it's bad because you really have no idea who you're talking to, unless you know them in real life.
Ziek93: Have you ever Whydated in the past?
x3candy3x: Yes, I found it weird and disturbing. Sometimes they would want all this information about me, more than I was willing to give out.
Ziek93: Have you noticed the number of Whydater's increasing over time?
x3candy3x: Yes, all my friends are dating online, but they have no idea who the person could really be! It could be a 30 year old man!
Ziek93: Do you think there's any way we can discourage Whydating or stop it?
x3candy3x: I don't know, but we need to find a way to. It could lead to life risking things, if someone were to give out personal information.
I then found Techfreak, who has been a part of Whyville for over three years.
Ziek93: What do you think of Whydating?
Techfreak: I don't think people should, cause you don't know who that person really is.
Ziek93: Have you ever Whydated in the past?
Techfreak: No.
Ziek93: Why not?
Techfreak: I'd rather stay friends with a person, when I don't even know them in real life.
Ziek93: Have you noticed the number of Whydater's increasing over time?
Techfreak: Yeah...too many.
I was very privileged to be able to speak with Hotboi764, he is a Whyville Senator, Y-mail helper, and member of Whyville since 2000.
Ziek93: What's your opinion of Whydating?
hotboi764: I think it's a great thing for kids with low self-esteem to be able to date.
Ziek93: Do you Whydate?
hotboi764: No, I do not participate in Whydating.
Ziek93: Why don't you Whydate?
hotboi764: I find it boring, and nothing like dating in real life. I just never really found why people enjoy it so much.
Ziek93: Have you noticed the number of Whydaters increasing over time? (since when you joined)
hotboi764: Yes, for sure. I joined in 2000 when it was very rare to see people whydating.
To conclude my interview frenzy, I decided to interview Holiday50. She is a well known Y-mail helper, and she has been a part of Whyville since 2003.
Ziek93: What's your opinion of Whydating?
holiday50: Whydating is pointless. You don't really know who you're dating, because it's online and people lie about themselves. Also, Whydating leads to marriage, kids, and inappropriate things. Most people who Whydate on Whyville are 9-12 years old. That's really young. If their parents knew what they were doing on Whyville, then I doubt their parents would ever let them go on.
Ziek93: Have you Whydated in the past?
holiday50: No, I've never Whydated before. I joined Whyville in 2003, and not a lot of people dated back then.
Ziek93: Do you think, now that Whyville is banishing people who have weddings, that they are trying to step forward and discourage Whydating even more?
holiday50: Yes I do. If you banish people for getting married, you're banishing everything else that comes with marriage. If there's no more marriage, then there's no babies either.
Ziek93: Also, do you think there's any other way we can lower the amount of Whydaters? (for instance, informing them of the dangers, etc.)
holiday50: Whyville could make the rules tougher. If you're asking someone to date you or be your girl/boyfriend you could get punished. Also I think Whyville should inform people about Whydating, and what it leads to. Sometimes people give away their emails, send pictures to each other, or meet each other offline.
Ziek93: Thanks so much for your thoughts, I hope it influences people. Is there anything else you would like to add?
holiday50: Sure xD If you're under 13, you need your parent's permission to chat. Most people under 13 Whydate. If their parents knew their child was Whydating and getting married, I know they'd think twice before signing the permission slip.
That's the word of the Whyvillians, and that concludes my interview on Whydating! Many of those people had such powerful thoughts, practically on why you shouldn't Whydate. I hope some of the thoughts influenced you, hopefully to discourage Whydating. So ask yourself, are you for or against Whydating? Make sure you post your thoughts in the BBS, let your opinion be heard!
Thanks for reading,
Ziek93
