One of the freedoms that have come into play in Iraq is difficult for the conservative nation and there are more than a few who consider it dangerous. The Internet has arrived in post-invasion Iraq and parents are more than a little concerned about the fact that their sons and daughters are going to be able to meet each other through the Internet and they can’t observe them or safely chaperone their topics of discussion.
Some parents have discovered their children chatting in unsupervised conversations and removed the computer from their homes. It’s important to recognize that Iraq is a nation where premarital relations are frowned on and marriages are generally arranged. Parents of both potential brides and grooms are interested in making good matches for their children.
Under Saddam Hussein’s regime, the Internet was virtually non-existent in Iraq. Since the invasion, there are nearly 200,000 subscribers to the state’s Internet service provider. There are also numerous Internet cafes that are appearing in Baghdad and other cities as they are being rebuilt.
This taste of Western society is not altogether welcome despite the allure it has to the younger members of the society. The Internet is giving them ways to meet and talk. There are private chat rooms where they can arrange dates, but the problem many young women are confronting is that the men they are meeting and chatting with are not interested in traditional courting or potential marriage.
The University is used as a common ground for many couples to meet because it is open, public and they can meet and talk without social stigma. Unfortunately, many parents are wary of their children meeting a potential spouse over the Internet. This should hardly be surprising, because even in Western countries where the Internet and Internet dating services have gained some measure of respect in the last two decades, they are still not something that couples advertise for where or how they met.
It’s important for parents of singles to recognize a few rules when it comes to potential Internet usage in their household. The first rule is that truth and fiction become rapidly intermixed in Internet interactions – after all you cannot see them or read their body language.
The second thing to remember is that everyone who logs on has his or her own agenda whether it is to meet a potential romantic partner, looking for a friend or just looking for a good time. It’s important to limit how much personal information you share online and if you’ve never met anyone via the Internet before, it’s also advisable to take someone along with you for the first in person meet.
The Internet is a tool; it can provide a wealth of information and opportunities. The Internet can also be abused easily and the unwary taken advantage of. The availability of the Internet may provide Iraqis with a great deal of information and potential avenues, but in a conservative society such as this – it’s important to take precautions.
Have you ever had a romantic liaison begin online?
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