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I've been an avid user of the internet since I can remember oh say 1993, and that was just email and unix at college. And never have I thought to lie about who I am and what I like and don't like. I met several people online that first year (I was 18) and was nothing but honest. It never occurred to me to lie to get attention even though it would have been the easiest thing in the world.
Since that time I have made friends all over the world. I met a fabulous bunch of women on an INXS forum and we all met up in Canada to see the band, get tattoos and drink. It was one of the best vacations I have ever had. It was scary at first to fly to Canada and meet people that I had no idea in the world who they were, or if they'd even be there. But they were.
I've met another wonderful group of people on 2 Red Sox forums. They are more local, for the most part and we see each other frequently for games, and get togethers and weekends and whatnot.
It never made me nervous to meet up with them, b/c we would talk online frequently and it wasn't scary at all. One of them became my roommate for a year. One of them became a good friend who passed away this year. And a smaller group of us go to shows and concerts and the like.
And most recently I have met a small group of people here on lj. We talk almost every day, about nothing sometimes. Sometimes (for me) it is just a comfort to have the IM window open, knowing that someone is there to talk to.
I have never been less than honest with any of these people. I've always spoken about myself as if I was talking to someone in the next room. I'm short, only about 5'1.5". I have blue eyes. They turn green if I am sad or if I've been crying. I need to lose weight about 50 pounds give or take. My hair is the color of Amber's, but it doesn't come natural. I love coffee and chocolate and frozen whipped cream. I hate bananas and oatmeal and I'm allergic to peanut butter. I'm a teacher. I've been engaged 2 times. I'm single and have been for almost 5 years. I haven't gotten laid in as long either and it sucks. I love House, and Blake's 7 and the Boston Red Sox. I love my cat Rascal. When I like something I get really into it. I don't do things half assed.
I've been known to tell a white lie in real life, but I've never done so online. I've always been open and honest. I expect the same from everyone else, pretty much. So when this teenager on the Red Sox forum told us she had cancer I believed her. My heart went out to her. I didn't talk to her as much as other people but I still felt terrible. To be 16 and dying? Fuck, I complain a lot about not having a lot of money, or a boyfriend, but nothing makes me humble like when someone I know online is faced with something terrible.
Things began to not add up when she would post from the hospital after procedures. I figured why not let her have her laptop? She is dying! But then odd things would be mentioned, like open heart surgery, or her mom was dead or something. And then I got suspicious. I kept it to myself b/c what if she was really dying? I'd feel like shit for thinking that. But when my Red Sox friends and I got together a while ago, I found out I wasn't the only one. And then she came clean.
I wasn't traumatized by this, but many other people were. They were really duped hard core. It is terrible what she did, but I don't think that it will change how I see my persona online or how I see others. I think she was just one bad grape in the bunch. And I hope that she gets the help she needs.
Meanwhile, if you are my internet friend, I'm so grateful in having "met" you. <3
Since that time I have made friends all over the world. I met a fabulous bunch of women on an INXS forum and we all met up in Canada to see the band, get tattoos and drink. It was one of the best vacations I have ever had. It was scary at first to fly to Canada and meet people that I had no idea in the world who they were, or if they'd even be there. But they were.
I've met another wonderful group of people on 2 Red Sox forums. They are more local, for the most part and we see each other frequently for games, and get togethers and weekends and whatnot.
It never made me nervous to meet up with them, b/c we would talk online frequently and it wasn't scary at all. One of them became my roommate for a year. One of them became a good friend who passed away this year. And a smaller group of us go to shows and concerts and the like.
And most recently I have met a small group of people here on lj. We talk almost every day, about nothing sometimes. Sometimes (for me) it is just a comfort to have the IM window open, knowing that someone is there to talk to.
I have never been less than honest with any of these people. I've always spoken about myself as if I was talking to someone in the next room. I'm short, only about 5'1.5". I have blue eyes. They turn green if I am sad or if I've been crying. I need to lose weight about 50 pounds give or take. My hair is the color of Amber's, but it doesn't come natural. I love coffee and chocolate and frozen whipped cream. I hate bananas and oatmeal and I'm allergic to peanut butter. I'm a teacher. I've been engaged 2 times. I'm single and have been for almost 5 years. I haven't gotten laid in as long either and it sucks. I love House, and Blake's 7 and the Boston Red Sox. I love my cat Rascal. When I like something I get really into it. I don't do things half assed.
I've been known to tell a white lie in real life, but I've never done so online. I've always been open and honest. I expect the same from everyone else, pretty much. So when this teenager on the Red Sox forum told us she had cancer I believed her. My heart went out to her. I didn't talk to her as much as other people but I still felt terrible. To be 16 and dying? Fuck, I complain a lot about not having a lot of money, or a boyfriend, but nothing makes me humble like when someone I know online is faced with something terrible.
Things began to not add up when she would post from the hospital after procedures. I figured why not let her have her laptop? She is dying! But then odd things would be mentioned, like open heart surgery, or her mom was dead or something. And then I got suspicious. I kept it to myself b/c what if she was really dying? I'd feel like shit for thinking that. But when my Red Sox friends and I got together a while ago, I found out I wasn't the only one. And then she came clean.
I wasn't traumatized by this, but many other people were. They were really duped hard core. It is terrible what she did, but I don't think that it will change how I see my persona online or how I see others. I think she was just one bad grape in the bunch. And I hope that she gets the help she needs.
Meanwhile, if you are my internet friend, I'm so grateful in having "met" you. <3
