The so-called "Internetconnection" to the tragic suicides in California has, onceagain, brought up the question of the dark side of the Internet.While it is true that the Heaven's Gate group made its living bydesigning web pages and used the Internet to spread its ideas,the Internet had nothing to do with the deaths of these people.First, there is no evidence that any of the 39 people who died inRancho Santa Fe was recruited over the Internet. The leader ofthe cult had been recruiting members for 20 years, long beforemost of us had even heard of the Internet. He also used othertechnologies -- print, video tape, telephone calls and personalcontact. Should we blame those communications systems for thesedeaths? Perhaps we should ban the use of video tape or censor allphone calls?

Second, even if the Internet is used as arecruiting device (as is the case for some cults), why shouldthat be any surprise? The Internet is a fast growing andincreasingly popular means of communications. Naturally, anyonewho is anxious to reach masses of people will use it. That's whymost major corporations have web sites. It's also being used bymainstream religious organizations. If we banned its use bycults, than how could we allow it to be used by Catholics, Jews,Moslems and Protestants?

Fact is, the Internet is a democraticinformation force that can be used by virtually anyone forvirtually any purpose. That poses some problems but it's also itsbeauty. Like a democracy, made of extremists, quacks, centristsand people of every other persuasion, the Internet is populatedby people with a very wide range of ideas. That shouldn't becondemned, it should be celebrated just as we should becelebrating the diversity of our culture and body politic. But itshould also be approached with a critical eye. When you go onlineyou are going out in society. And what you see isn't always whatit appears to be.

The Internet does raise some challenges andthe potential for people to be mislead can not be ignored Thechallenge of using the Net is knowing how to discriminate betweenfact and fantasy, good advice and bad. If someone says somethingthat's too good to be true, it probably is. If someone states a"fact" and doesn't cite the source, than it shouldn'tbe considered a fact. Even if a source is stated, the informationshould be viewed with a critical eye. People who use the Internetto purport facts or express opinions should be held to the samestandards as those who do so in print, TV, radio and othermedium. State the facts, cite your sources and say who you are.Opinions and passions are fair game, just as they are innewspaper editorial pages. But fairness and balance must also beon the agenda.

I look at newsgroup postings and sites fromall sorts of people, but I give most credence to the ones thatsay who they are and provide some depth and background. The factthat the site might be attractive is hardly relevant -- lot ofpeople can craft good looking web pages. I'm far more interestedin knowing something about the person's or organization'sbackground, credentials and track record.

The Internet, once again, points up theneed for people to apply critical thinking to information fromall sources.

Related Links

Heaven'sGate Mirror Site (Baltimore Sun)

Higher Source.ORGParody Site

Higher SourceBusiness Page
includes links to sites they have set up for customers

Rick Ross's Page
lots of links to cult oriented sites

Yahoo'sCults Page

Child Safety on the InformationHighway