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jonnythan On August 02, 2014
Bringer of rad mirth


Deleted



Here and there,
#1New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 19:44:18
I know what you're thinking. You think I'm about to go all Holden Caulfield on you and talk about phoniness and s***. But I'm not.

I literally mean people who are entirely fictional.

I'm a member of a motorcycle forum. Among this forum's participants are a brother and sister pair, their usernames logitech104 and logitech105. Cute, huh? Evan and Shelly.

They both have distinct personalities and are both well-liked.

Well, a day or two ago, Evan broke the news to us that Shelly had been involved in a motorcycle accident and he was on his way to the hospital to find out what was going on. Several hours later, he left one post saying that she had passed away. There was a gigantic outpouring of sympathy and immediate move by many forum members to gather donations for flowers and help with funeral costs to be sent to Shelly's family.

After a bit of back-end work to get the donations directed to the right place, those organizing the effort found out from Evan's father that there was no Shelly. She, and her death, were entirely fictional, presumably alter egos created by Evan.

I was totally floored. I had once encountered a false alter ego before on an IRC chat room. This alter ego was created by a grown man and used to sway the emotions (but never in an attempt to meet or abuse) of a young teenage girl.

This has led me to wonder if I have encountered any other completely fictional people online and how my emotions may have been tugged at by them. The case of Shelly is huge and Evan was able to evoke a lot of honestly deeply felt pain at her supposed death.

Furthermore, if we did know fictional people at some point, and we have been shaped by them one way or another without knowing it, is it necessarily a bad thing if you never find out?
angelcake On January 18, 2016
Say whaaa





Eastleigh, United Kingdom
#2New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 19:46:56
I think i'd be pretty damn pissed off that I'd been lied to but at the end of the day if it's something that affects you is it any different to getting emotionally involved in a book or a tv programme?
Rehabilitation_Please On May 20, 2016
Has Tiger Blood





Peterborough, United Kingdom
#3New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 19:53:04
I once had a fake person, I blew her up then she burst on me

Yeah but in seriousness I think it kind of sucks to be lied to in that proportion.
kyahbean On August 28, 2016




Williamstown, Massachusetts
#4New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 19:53:22
Woah! That's crazy.

There was a member here once who pretended a lot of stuff I think...to get sympathy. She pretended to be pregnant like twice and then pretended her BF was abusing her and stuff...so everyone would be like, oh poor you.

I think it's sick that people do that. And also sad that people need that much attention.
misunderstood On June 24, 2014
Persuasive Madam!





How about you come find me....
#5New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 19:54:33
@kyahbean Said
Woah! That's crazy.

There was a member here once who pretended a lot of stuff I think...to get sympathy. She pretended to be pregnant like twice and then pretended her BF was abusing her and stuff...so everyone would be like, oh poor you.

I think it's sick that people do that. And also sad that people need that much attention.


Bad memories!
unspokenwords On October 16, 2019




,
#6New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 19:55:05
how the hell do you create a fake partner???? go on 2 computers? that's really fooked up..
jonnythan On August 02, 2014
Bringer of rad mirth


Deleted



Here and there,
#7New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 19:56:53
@kyahbean Said
Woah! That's crazy.

There was a member here once who pretended a lot of stuff I think...to get sympathy. She pretended to be pregnant like twice and then pretended her BF was abusing her and stuff...so everyone would be like, oh poor you.

I think it's sick that people do that. And also sad that people need that much attention.

Oh yeah I remember that.

One interesting thing about this particular case was that, in his last post giving the details about Shelly's death, he stated that it was his last post on the forum.

So, as opposed to making stuff up as you go to get attention, the person in this instance used this one massive event to actually *disappear* from the community.

I can't fathom what would make someone do that. I could almost understand wanting the sympathy and attention he would have gotten by staying.. but man. Totally nuts.
Rehabilitation_Please On May 20, 2016
Has Tiger Blood





Peterborough, United Kingdom
#8New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 19:56:53
It's easy if it's a forum site, even easier if you use AOL.
unspokenwords On October 16, 2019




,
#9New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 19:57:29
@kyahbean Said
Woah! That's crazy.

There was a member here once who pretended a lot of stuff I think...to get sympathy. She pretended to be pregnant like twice and then pretended her BF was abusing her and stuff...so everyone would be like, oh poor you.

I think it's sick that people do that. And also sad that people need that much attention.


I think I know who you are talking about. She bothered me tremendously
princessbubblegum On June 23, 2009

Deleted



, United States (general)
#10New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 20:00:10
My best bud in TX use to pretend she had a twin sister..it was actually hilarious the pictures she would make with photo programs....
Pete On March 28, 2012
Master of Unlocking





Central Scotland, United Kingd
#11New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 20:00:53
@unspokenwords Said
I think I know who you are talking about. She bothered me tremendously


i also think i know who your on about
princessbubblegum On June 23, 2009

Deleted



, United States (general)
#12New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 20:01:30
@pete Said
i also think i know who your on about


Man, do I feel left out Why don't I know her?
jonnythan On August 02, 2014
Bringer of rad mirth


Deleted



Here and there,
#13New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 20:02:28
She was here some time ago, probably before you showed up.
Pete On March 28, 2012
Master of Unlocking





Central Scotland, United Kingd
#14New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 20:02:50
@princessbubblegum Said
Man, do I feel left out Why don't I know her?


because it was looonnngg ago like start of last year if i remember. . .
misunderstood On June 24, 2014
Persuasive Madam!





How about you come find me....
#15New Post! Apr 30, 2007 @ 20:03:20
And because she was insane
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