Article Added On: July 25, 2004 - over 7 years ago
Title: Of Mouse and Morals
Author: Mark Schneider
Publication Date: January 01, 2004 - over 8 years ago
Themes: other

Abstract: The Internet's Impact on Cheating

Scenario One: You're having an affair and deeply worried your wife will discover that the regular Wednesday evening business gathering is really a ruse to meet your lover at her apartment. What would you pay to have someone pretend they are the organizer of the "business" event?

Scenario Two: You received a glossy invitation in the mail to attend a free make-over, which you show to your husband. He doesn't realize you've paid for a ready-made alibi.

These and many other scenarios are being created by a German company by the name of "Perfect Alibi". From its website you can order dozens of services and business is booming. It now has over 170 full time employees and is spreading to the UK.

In Canada, the Ashley Madison Agency is taking the business of organized cheating one step further: for a fee it will find you someone to have an affair with.

Its trademarked slogan: "When Monogamy Becomes Monotony".

And then there are the dozens of downloads that can instantly hide what you are looking at on the Internet when a boss or wife walks into your room. Called "panic buttons", one click will instantly kill your illicit browsing and change it into a boring spreadsheet.

The so a reasonable journalistic question is: what is the impact of the Internet on moral behaviour?