Over the years I've met people on internet forums. We all say that. The truth is we haven't met them at all. They're just little icons and text messages from people far far away. How well can you know someone on a website? That's difficult to say. If there's one thing the internet allows, and indeed one of it's greatest dangers, is the anonymity of it. You can invent a persona and people do exactly that.

Time and again I hear stories of 'women' being unmasked as male teenagers (Good grief, the world is full of wannabe transvestites!) or the cute friendly boy your daugter chatted to via the web turns out to be a middle aged paedophile who wants an adventure away from home. You can never be fully certain who you're communicating with.

This has been brought into focus again by the Roman Catholic Church, something I find coldly amusing considering the numbers of dodgy individuals that organised religion hides in its ranks, but there you go. Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster has warned that networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace are encouraging teenagers to create 'transient' friendships. It could leave them traumatised or suicidal he says.

I think that's a little off the mark. You see, most relationships are transient. How many people do you meet find long lasting relationships or friendships with you? Precious few. That's simply how life is. The problem then isn't the site, but the learning experience of a teenager who puts too much trust in someone they've never met. Teenagers usually want friendships and to be honest they make the same mistakes dealing with people face to face. Or does the ranks of unmarried teenage mothers mean nothing?

The fault isn't the internet, but the lack of guidance for young people in learning about life and how dangerous or disappointing it can be. So, Mr Nichols, why not try doing something positive instead of finding a scapegoat? You are in the business of guidance, are you not? Or is the internet too difficult to burn?

Job Offer of the Week

A few weeks ago I looked up a business address on the internet and sent a CV on the off chance thy might have a suitable vacancy, or perhaps keep my details on file for future consideration. Standard job searching practice really. Usually you don't hear any more, but this company very kindly responded. They apologised that they didn't have anything to offer me in their sales office in Swindon, Wiltshire, southern England, but their manufacturing facility is in Aberdeen Scotland and would I like my details forwarded?

Not really. Bit far to walk every day.