Regular Slashdot contributor Bennett Haselton has some opinions on child safety online and the use of fear mongering. Here are his thoughts. “The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has been running online ads for several years saying that “Each year 1 in 5 children is sexually solicited online”, a statistic that has been endlessly repeated, including by vendors of blocking software and by politicians who often paraphrase it to say that 1 in 5 children “are approached by online predators”. While others have quietly documented the problems with this statistic, lawmakers still bring it out every year in a push for more online regulation (preempted this year only by the topic du jour of cyberbullying), so it’s time for anti-censorship organizations to start campaigning more aggressively against the misleading “1 in 5″ number. That means two things: framing the debate with more accurate numbers, and holding the parties accountable for disseminating the wrong ones — and that means naming names, including those of organizations like the NCMEC that are normally beyond reproach.”

And for those who like to believe in bullshit statistics, remember:

Each year, the rainforest is responsable for over 3,000 deaths from accidents, attacks, or illnesses. There are over 700 things in the rain forest that cause cancer. Join the fight now and help stop the Rainforest before its too late.

And, yes, any argument or methods you use against this particular statement ought to be used on ALL statements based on statistics.

So, join the fight, and cut a tree today!