Annie’s Mailbox: Parents should supervise kids’ Internet access

Dear Annie: I just discovered that my 14-year-old daughter, “Melissa,” has a MySpace account where she is posing as a 21-year-old. She posted pictures of some other female and said they were of herself.

A military man, 27 years old, has been e-mailing her, and some of his letters are rather explicit. Of course, I will take steps with my daughter to see that this does not happen again, and I hope communication between us gets better. But I am furious with this man. Perhaps he legitimately thought she was 21, but I don’t believe it. Any adult with half a mind could ask the right questions and discover the writer was a child. I could tell from her first e-mail.

I have his name, phone number and address, and I have turned that information over to the authorities in my state and the military. Please advise anyone legitimately trying to find a mate online to ask the right questions to determine whether the future mate is of age. For example, ask a supposed 21-year-old if she is in school and what subjects she’s taking. If she tells you she’s studying fractions and geometry, you know she’s barely out of grade school. – Disappointed and Furious

Dear Disappointed: Don’t be naive. Any girl who would lie about her age could just as easily lie about what subjects she’s taking in school. We know you are frightened for your daughter and worried about what might have happened, and we don’t blame you. But it is very difficult to discern the truth over the Internet. Yes, adults need to be circumspect, but all parents should supervise what their children are doing online, teaching them how to protect themselves from predators and why deliberately misrepresenting themselves can lead to major trouble or worse.

Dear Annie: What do you make of a man who finds it necessary to tell you about his past love life, how many women he’s been with, how great sex is when you are high (I don’t do drugs)?

I have been seeing this man for three years, and every so often he comes out with this stuff. I have told him I don’t like it and don’t want to hear it, but he can’t seem to cease and desist. We are both in our 50s with grown children from previous marriages. – Too Much Information

Dear Too Much: We think your boyfriend is terribly insecure and desperate to impress you with his sexual experience. You might point out that those who are truly knowledgeable tend not to brag about it. Otherwise, if you can’t ignore him, try to laugh about it. We suspect that will take care of the problem.