The Internet is a nasty place. Especially for women. We all know that, but yet we stay on it. Some of us constantly. Valleywag recently featured an article titled “5 reasons why women really do need to get off the Internet.”

The reasons themselves may at first seem valid until you really think about them:

Because it’s a nasty breeding ground for predators and there’s nothing women can do about it.

Because we don’t know any better than to overshare.

Because there’s nothing worse in this world than being called a slut.

Because we’re giving it up for nothing!

Because men don’t believe we’re real women anyway.

I was shocked while reading this article, until I came to the conclusion that it must be satire. Or do women actually believe we need to get off the Internet?

My reasons women should stay on the Internet:

There is something women can do about the predators: Not talk to sketchballs online. Not give away personal information. Keep your social networking accounts private. Be smart, like many of us are.

We don’t overshare any more than men do. And as long as we protect ourselves (see above), we can say whatever we want.

There are plenty of things worse than being called a slut by some anonymous commenter who lives in the middle of nowhere and has never left his house. Like being him.

Not all of us are giving it up for nothing. Some of us have learned how to be business women and get something in return for our writing, designing, photography, etc. And those of us who haven’t, realize that there’s nothing wrong with giving a little something for free; it makes the world a better place and makes the Internet what it is.

Not all men suck. Just like not all women are fabulous. I’m not sure who the author is hanging out with on the Internet, but clearly she needs to find some new friends.

So please, women, don’t leave the Internet. It can be a rough place sometimes, but we’re smarter than that. The Internet needs us; it would be lost without us. And seriously, do you really think men could handle it on their own?