They say the internet is full of weirdos. In all fairness, it probably has many weirdos on it. However, I don't for one minute believe that there are proportionally more weirdos on the internet than there are anywhere else. Weirdos are everywhere and I have an equal chance of meeting one in real life as I do online.

So while I was bored one day, I decided to put my mobile phone number online for all to see. I was interested to see whether anyone would call it, but also interested to see whether I would be called by any weirdos. I imagine weirdos would like that sort of thing.

My mobile number is 07919 390145. (or +447919 390145 if you're an international weirdo.)

I decided Twitter would be a good place to start broadcasting, so I keyed in the following tweet:

Anyone ever wonder what would happen if you put your mobile number online, for everyone to see? Would anyone call it? Mine is 07919 390145.

I got a reply on Twitter shortly afterwards from a follower, saying that their mobile number had been online for years and they had had very few problems. This reassured me.

Other people asked if I had received any calls or texts. I replied that I hadn't.

Then I got a text!

"Hi, this is wolf******"

Wolf**** was obviously not a weirdo. He told me who he was, AND I recognised his username from Twitter as someone I talk to.

I replied to the text, letting him know he was my first texter.

Back on Twitter, I put a message:

Just one text so far... Internet weirdos, you disappoint! +447919 390145.

Then I got a series of texts from an unknown number...

Craig, stop fannying about with cheap mobiles and get some work done.

followed shortly after with,

Oh, hang on, does this make me an internet weirdo now? Nooo! *gives in and makes tinfoil hat*

Again, these messages were clearly not sent by a genuine weirdo, but someone just having a laugh at the situation. I text back asking if I knew them, as they used my real first name, but they replied again to say they were just a bored Twitterer. I didn't know who they were, but that was ok. I was doing it just to see how many replies I got, not to collect contact details for people. Later on, however, I got a message on Twitter from Cherry******* saying it was her.

Next I got a text saying "Hi, can I be an internet werido? Found u cos I wondered what ud said to Paul Daniels!x" Earlier in the week I had messaged Paul, commenting about his levitation video on YouTube. (It looks great!)

"Course you can!" I replied.

On Twitter, tartan******* asked if I wanted people to phone or text. I replied "I don't mind. Text or phone, I'll answer or reply whatever people do. For the stats, I've had 3 seperate texters so far."

Shortly after I got a text from tartan******* saying that curiosity got the better of her. lol!

So I'd had a few texts from 4 seperate numbers, 3 of which were confirmed Twitterers who I "know" (as much as you CAN "know" someone you've only ever chatted to online and never actually met) and one stranger.

I was reassured that people online are no more weird than people I am likely to bump into on the street. Everyone had appeared friendly and had a laugh.

My mobile buzzed again, signaling another text. It just said "Your mother sucks cocks in hell! Bwahahaha!"

So 4 out of 5 isn't too bad a stat, is it?