First there was "Marla D." She was a poser but with valid reason. While she led us to believe certain things about herself, we grew close to this Gather-er, "Marla." Then she came clean. She was studying us. She was studying our comments and our posts. She was using us for research. Fine. SHE CAME CLEAN! She told us the truth. She also told us that while she made up 25% of "Marla," the other 75% was really how the author felt. It wasn't fake.
Now, there is Lori F. I'm not sure exactly what is going on with Lori F. She posted numerous articles every day. Usually they were the questions that everyone was thinking about. And, not to mention, everyone wanted to respond to! If she and I posted on the same topic, she would have 50 comments and I would have 2. People read her stuff. People commented.
She told us that some of her questions were to get some idea of responses for her classes that she was going to take this summer. Fine. Bounce stuff off of us. No big deal. Then there was a question in the midst of her politcal/moral questions: How quickly do gift cards get cashed in here?
Then there was the post about "Will the last person to leave turn the lights out?"
Now, all of her articles, photos, comments are gone. She remains along with that last post. What the heck?
I'm starting to question the validity of anyone here. Maybe I'm the only one that is real. Maybe I'm the only one that is honest. Maybe you're all using each other for research and will be gone in a matter of time - when the research is done.
My trust is dwindling for Gather. I feel like I'm an avatar and we're all living in the alternate reality where there is a huge society of people just pulling strings to get reactions. There is no regard for the people whose strings are being pulled.
I think I need a break.
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Comments: 26
I can tell you from experience that there's no way around that, just as there's no guarantee that someone you meet face-to-face is who they say they are. Here on Gather, there seems to be a certain percentage of people who are here for the community and for the opportunity to have other people read and comment on what they write. There's also a certain percentage of people who are here for the points. The fact is, people who write about a topic that draws numerous comments get more points. Is this good or bad? Does the motivation matter when the outcome is the same?
Hang in there.
To me, it happened before. Sure, you get cautious after a while. That is healthy. But you have a chance to meet people who you never would have met in your pub around the corner.
A few fakes mingle with the crowd. Even in your pub.
After awhile you start to get this 'spidey sense' about folks online. You begin to find that you can pinpoint quickly the trouble makers, the fakes, and those who are genuine. You won't always be dead on but you will get surprisingly accurate if you invest yourself in online long enough. I've been doing online community things since about 1992/93. I started out in an online community at geocities and have kept on keeping on since then. It used to tickle me that we'd organize these huge get togethers in r/t, a meet and greet face to face sort of deal, and I went to a great many of them over the years but every time folks would come to me after an hour or two all wide eyed and exclaim "oh my gosh you are EXACTLY like you are online, except maybe not so talkative"...that's because what you see here is who I am -shrugs- I write fantasy I don't live it.
A lot of folks, too many for many of us, live their fantasy in this anonymous online medium. It is so much easier to come here and be all the things they are not out in the real world. I've found over the years that for many folks they are powerless and unhappy in their lives and online is where they come to feel powerful and happy no matter what they have to say to feel that way.
I understand it's frustrating, belive me I do. But there are genuine folks out here who would be the same sitting across your kitchen table as they are here.
Have a great weekend!
(She is/was a member of a huge number of groups; I guess that makes points as well?)
I just dropped my membership in those groups.
or maybe she got tired of making a comment and having the 300 people she has pissed off stalk right behind and down her
or maybe she got tired of one woman emailing her nasty things about her 6 year old son
or maybe she got tired of dealing with the most judgemental sheeple on the internet on this site
or she had to write her columns which is why as the 1000 people have condemned her for not entering but being too harsh on the first chapters contest....maybe she couldnt because she is a professional and was excluded by the rules of the contest.
take your pick
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
In any case: good to have you back.
There certainly are more important things in life than a web community and I wish you good luck and health to your daughter. She certainly needs you much more than anyone here. But if you find a few spare moments, you are always welcome.
Lori F.- Did you call me a sheeple? That is pretty funny. LOL. Sorry for your difficult time.
No worries here lass. . . . apology accepted . . . though not necessarily needed.
I hope all is well for you and hope against hope that the maybe's were only maybe's. The webworld is a form of escape from reality . . . if it's not enjoyable, why bother? And of course, escape is not possible when you're needed in reality world! :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Is there a difference between responding to a real door and a phony door? By going through the door don't you only accept that the door is there? I don't like to be tricked. But the trickster is having a high old time.
In Bear Country you put up bear resistant garbage cans. You do that to keep from feeding the bears, though you also avoid the problem of having your garbage spread all over the place. The plan is to avoid feeding the Bears.
Tricksters feed on the discomfort of the tricked.
Don't feed them. They tricked you, they want to see you cry. Don't Cry. Or, cry in private. To put it in High Class Language, "Illegitimati non carborundum." Translation, "Don't let the bastards grind you down."
Amicule, deliciae, num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's illness, Lori. My prayers are with you and your family, hon.
I understand where you are coming from--I almost gave up on this at one point myself,but my creative instincts kept me going. If I had given up, I would not know that a person in Chicago shares the same spelling of my name and probably has acquaintances (just as I do) who cannot spell it properly,either! We are all writer's, Lainie and we all need feedback to perfect our craft. It is all in how we interpret through the screens of our computers. Hang in there! I am still learning how to really use this wonderful tool--many do care---find those and smile!