Don't Ask....Don't Tell. Good Policy?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by notofworks

No, not really. Even though I post a lot, mostly because I type too quickly for my own good, I'm not going to do Hardy Boys investigations to uncover every little thing that may or may not be authentic. Now, if things get serious, I'll start digging. Otherwise, if I'm fooled by someone already posting, it's really no skin off my nose.

But like I said....if someone PM's me and needs money, makes unusual requests, etc., then I might start asking a few questions. Otherwise, I take people for who they say they are. "Love believes all things" and I'll believe it until I have a reason not to.

I don't have the luxury to see IP addresses, and even then, those can be faked. Still, it's exhausting sometimes to see a boogyman behind every corner.

That's true, and I don't live like that either. However, you know as well as I do that some people just don't ring true, even through emotionless, faceless typewritten communication. It's okay to pick up on that and try to make sure the person is being authentic.

It's also short sighted to think that these online communications don't actually create relationships. There was a man on the Good News Cafe once who faked his death as a prank. Unfortunately, he didn't count on the outpouring of sympathy and real, heartfelt grief from his fellow posters. He actually hurt many of them with his deceit. It would be the same here - if we thought something bad had happened to Renda, for instance, I would personally be heartbroken, even though I've never met Renda in "real life."

It's good to remember that there are real people behind every screen name. Sometimes there are good people, sometimes bad, and sometimes there are raving lunatics.