Teen should stop online chat with new guy – Cumberland Times-News

DR. WALLACE: Im a 16-year-old girl and I met this guy online recently who I found interesting. He showed me a picture of himself and hes really cute. But my friends have been warning me that he might not be the guy in the picture. How can I be sure that its really him? He keeps telling me only the minimum about himself and wont tell me what school he goes to or what city he lives in. I dont get why hes so evasive about such basic questions.

Should I continue to trust him so that we can have a successful online friendship? To be even safer, I could make a promise to myself that Ill never go anywhere to meet him in person. What do you think? I find him interesting, via email

I FIND HIM INTERESTING: No matter how long you have been talking to this guy or how friendly he has been, he is still a stranger and, as you pointed out, he might very well not be the boy in the picture.

It can be extremely dangerous if you decide to continue to engage regularly with this person. This could be a 50-year-old man with untoward intentions for all you know.

I implore you to stop this communication immediately as nothing good will come from it, and there could well be many serious risks to your safety involved. Some warning signs from this guy have already been divulged, as youve outlined via his elusive communications.

Stop communicating with him immediately and focus your attention on boys who are definitely your own age at your school or in your social circles in the real world not the virtual one.

DR. WALLACE: Im 12 years old and I have red hair, brown eyes and pale skin with some freckles sprinkled all around. I am the only boy in our family and I have three older sisters.

Whats weird is that I dont look like any of my sisters or my parents at all! They all have blue eyes, blonde hair and olive-colored skin. Im convinced that at some point I was adopted, but I have no proof other than my looks. How can I find out where I really came from? Likely adopted, via email

LIKELY ADOPTED: Have you asked your parents if you were adopted? It would be acceptable for you to ask this question at an appropriate time when youre alone with them. But dont be surprised if youre not adopted.

Human genetics are set up so that recessive genes are involved, and certain individuals have traits that relatives and ancestors a few generations back may have had, too. Not everyone looks like their parents or siblings even though their DNA confirms the family connection to a 100% certainty.

Have you seen your birth certificate or asked to see a copy of it? Please start first with your parents to hear their full story about how you came into their lives. I trust they will be open and honest with you.

As you get older, you can also consider options that can help you verify your ancestry with a DNA test and various genealogy studies as well.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com.

Go here to read the rest:
Teen should stop online chat with new guy - Cumberland Times-News