At the risk of sounding like someone with no life I have to admit to a 14 year association with a chat room on the internet. I only know these people by their screen names and what information they choose to reveal. I try to keep in mind that one can say anything in the cybercloak of anonymity but generally, after such a long time, one learns who is on the level and who is a genuine nut case. It might surprise some of you to know that during this time there have been marriages between chatters, a few chat room memorials for those who have died, births, divorces, tragedies and moments of hilarity. In other words, some of us have come to "know" each other and enjoy the company.
This chat room is labeled as a chat forum for Catholics but we get a bit of everything coming through it. I have noticed over the years that many of us are introverts or have some type of health problems that limit our ITRW(In The Real World) activities. So, when I relate the last chat room incident perhaps this will give you a window into the relationships that have developed over more than a decade.
Last night some sick idjit (alternative spellings are often used so the spies on offensive language' who reside in India can't match the word we use against the "bad lingo list" they are given to monitor free speech) came into our chat room and announced the death of a well-liked, long-time chatter. There was some reason to believe the person since the name of the chatter's wife was used and they had information about the chatter--for instance, the dog had recently died. Many of us were quite upset just thinking this could be true. We KNOW not to believe junk like this and of course we all say now that we didn't really believe it--but in fact, it was quite a blow to even consider that a cyberfriend had actually met with a sudden end. Don't bother me with facts--I know I've never met this person or seen him. To me, when I am in the chat room , he is as real as anyone.
This chat room is labeled as a chat forum for Catholics but we get a bit of everything coming through it. I have noticed over the years that many of us are introverts or have some type of health problems that limit our ITRW(In The Real World) activities. So, when I relate the last chat room incident perhaps this will give you a window into the relationships that have developed over more than a decade.
Last night some sick idjit (alternative spellings are often used so the spies on offensive language' who reside in India can't match the word we use against the "bad lingo list" they are given to monitor free speech) came into our chat room and announced the death of a well-liked, long-time chatter. There was some reason to believe the person since the name of the chatter's wife was used and they had information about the chatter--for instance, the dog had recently died. Many of us were quite upset just thinking this could be true. We KNOW not to believe junk like this and of course we all say now that we didn't really believe it--but in fact, it was quite a blow to even consider that a cyberfriend had actually met with a sudden end. Don't bother me with facts--I know I've never met this person or seen him. To me, when I am in the chat room , he is as real as anyone.
Needless to say, the phony post and resulting shock have consumed the chat room for the last 24 hours. The news this morning is that the person was contacted at his work and he is not dead--hallelujah!!! But oh what cybervengence has been riled up. How does one get back at the perp? A cyber hit? A cyber shun? A cyber lawsuit for pain and suffering? We haven't had this before. Well, of course we had one famous member who faked his own death and went so far as to post an obituary for us to read. But hey--that was different. Somehow, that incident fit in. But this seemed real and the worry was real.
I think what I'm trying to say is if our cyber friends can affect us this much, how much more we should treasure our flesh and blood friends. And for those of you who read this and can't even begin to empathize, meet me in cyberspace and let me introduce you to my friends!
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