"The Computer Flirt" by Taria (TariaT@aol.com). This is an extremely creative and sexy story. It's about two ladies who contact another lady online for cybersex. Kim gives Alicia and Diana the instructions, and they do what they are told. A good time is had by all - including the reader. I strongly recommend this story.

Cybersex is an interesting topic. There are two reasons why I myself don't cyber: (1) I would never really know who the person is on the other end and (2) I don't like the idea of playing with relationships . Three reasons actually - I'm also extremely happy with what I've got.

The upside of cybersex is that it can be extremely safe. You can engage in really exotic or kinky stuff without risk of STDs or physical harm. You don't even have to know about bad breath or middle-age bulges or any other physical features that might interfere with more direct relationships. In addition, you are limited only by your imagination; and as this story shows, you can combine cybersex with actual sex.

But there can be some downsides. Please don't take this as a sermon. Maybe I am being excessively cautious. My suggestion is simply that you think before you pop your cybercherry.

First, I wouldn't really know who the other person is. It could be a guy pretending to be a girl (or vice versa) or an eight-year-old pretending to be twenty-eight. It could be a person on the rebound from a shaky relationship who expects more from cybersex than I am willing to give. Real, in-person, direct relationships are risky; but online relationships are extremely open to deception. You may not care, but at least sometimes the possibility of deception would bother me.

Second, I don't want to jeopardize my relationship with my husband by becoming really intimate with someone else. I know it's across cyberspace, but intimacy is intimacy. I may start out being frivolous and find things getting serious. Even more problematic is the fact that I wouldn't really know the personality or state of mind of the person I'm cybering with. For example, he may SAY he wants to just have fun, but he may actually be lonely and expect a lot more than I am willing to give.

So how does cybersex differ from sex stories? Well, sex stories are clearly fiction and they are not interactive. No real personalities are directly involved. For example, I can get all hot and bothered about a story, but at least I know my relationship to the author.

Quite likely lots and lots of you disagree with me, and I sincerely hope you have fun with your cybersex. I merely suggest that you think before you hump - er, jump.