So many misconceptions (a rant)
To start off, the deep web and what you hear of the deep web, is just a matrix of misconceptions. When you speak to someone who has never properly explored the Deep Web you hear about “Red Rooms”, “Hit Men”, “Stalkers”, “Hackers”, “Doxxing”, “Cannibalism”, and other not-so-pleasant things. Thus is caused by the human desire to be thrilled in any means possible, even if it harms others who are effected by their lies, hence horror-stories and misconceptions. In all honesty, the Deep Web has always been a fairly mild place (in my experience at least, but I am not saying everyone shares the same experience when spelunking into the depths of the internet). The Deep Web, in honestly, is primarily art projects, weirdly thrown together 90s-looking blogs, hidden markets (drugs and guns), child pornography, hacker forums, gore, and urban-legends; on the rare occasion, you may find a site that gives you chills, but nothing nearly as horrific as the stories say (about the only thing I have found that is truly deep web that creeped me out, was a forum, a forum where hackers would put images from hacked web cameras out in the public and allow others to add information on the victim). Furthermore; it would be virtually impossible for any of these common legends of the Deep Web to exist:
On Red Rooms: most TOR browsers are far too slow to properly stream video, let alone live stream a video while receiving comments on how to inflict as much pain on a victim as possible, if someone did find a way to stream a live video through an .onion site using TOR than it would be very low resolution, and very few people would pay to watch two pixels scream.
On Hit Men: With modern technology very few criminals escape the hands of law without any penalty; though hit man sites to exist, I am led to believe it is a hoax. I believe the owner of the chosen site would graciously accept your thousands of dollars, but there would be no death, because honestly who wants to go to prison?
On Stalkers/Hackers/and Doxxing: These are the most accurate inaccurate myths about the Deep Web, yes, there are people who will hack you, and yes, there are people who will dox you; there are not however, people who will stalk you. Process this, most the people on the deep web are introverts without a life, who sit in front of a PC screen for hours on end, without any social interaction besides a possible pet or parent, on top of that with the growing popularity of the Deep Web more and more teens have taken over, and changed the rules of the game. Are either of these groups going to actually get off their couch or roll out of bed to come look at you through your window? No. On top of this, you are more likely to be doxxed on the surface web, I do it all the time as a prank, and you’re more likely to be stalked by someone you know personally. If you’re careful and just use commonsense, then you’re pretty safe of hackers as well.
On cannibalistic forums: Four words, “that’s the surface web”.
So honestly, all I’m trying to say is that the Deep Web, as foreboding as it may seem and how exciting the stories you hear may be, is honestly no more dangerous than the surface web. People do let their weird sides out when they feel safe from prying eyes, like deep-web users, which is why the deep web may seem frightening at first. But, (don’t shoot me) if you want to learn about the deep web and need solid evidence that it’s not as threatening as it is made out to be by misconceptions, than look no further than your own computer; people learn best by experience
