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Would like to address something. I'm not gonna say that I'm not pointing fingers--because that, of course, would look like am-- but I think there's been a bit of a lying bug going around the CB lately. So I want to put my thoughts out there on a few things. K? Feel free to share yours, everyone else.
1. Look. Lying, loath though I am to say this, can be a handy skill. Not saying you should do it regularly or even sometimes, but that is the truth. But:
1a. Practice it somewhere else. Not the CB. The CB is a place where you can be yourself and be enjoyed because of who you are, not because you've made up details about yourself to make your life seem more "interesting." I don't care if you have a boring life! I mean, heck, I spend my spare time hunting through drawers for shiny things! I can sympathize with boring lives! Embrace it!
1b. Please. Be convincing, for heaven's sake. NO ONE actually has the name "Bonnie." Or hasn't since the 1950s, anyway. (er, no offense to anyone actually named Bonnie, of course.) Names that are clearly fake are not to be encouraged when practicing fictionalizing things. Which I am also not encouraging, obviously. And when people show up with Mary Sue personalities, well, you know. *is not quite sure how to phrase this exactly*
2. This does not apply to fake names. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be prudent in revealing personal information 'bout yourself on the Internet, even on a censored chatroom like the CB of Awesome Admins. So if you're calling yourself something different because:
2a. you don't want to reveal your real name, or
2b. you'd prefer to go by the name, say, Fae, than the same, I dunno... Deborah... *also does not know how to phrase ths* In other words, if you wanna use a screename, that doesn't count as a "lie."
2continued... then that's all right. By me, anyway.
3. I personally forgive anyone who has done this in the past-- in fact I'm sure we've all done it a /little/ bit, somewhere, myself included-- and ask them to please not be offended by this and at least consider staying at the CB to perhaps, to quote R~D~, I believe, "get to know the real you." (well said, R~D~)
I cannnot speak for other CBers, though, so I ask that everyone else put their feelings about this out there. Because I am not doing this eloquently in the least.
Friends? *hopeful eyes* :)
submitted by Mary W., age 11.87, NJ
(November 9, 2009 - 8:53 pm)
(November 9, 2009 - 8:53 pm)
I agree. Lying can be a very useful ability at times *looks shameful*, but it should be kept out of Chatterbox. Now when we see an "I'm new" thread, how are we supposed to know if we can believe it?
Once again, I think pen names are perfectly fine as long as you're honest about them and don't try to pass them off as your real name. However, I do forgive everyone who has lied on here as long as we all agree to ban that habit for good *evil laugh*.
(November 12, 2009 - 9:00 pm)
Macy Anne is real, but she lied about her age & IQ. She's 12, not 6. Therefore, Bonnie must also be real.
Let's all make a pledge never to lie to each other without very good reason. After this, let's all just believe/trust each other, because, otherwise, where would we be? We could never be friends, or appreciate each other for who we are, because we'd be too busy being suspicious of each other. I know that everything anyone has ever said might be untrue, but if I believed it, I wouldn't stay here. Let's not betray each other's trust anymore. Please.
I, Ima/Katie, promise never to lie to you without very good reason. Do you? (as in, anyone, not whoever posted last or reads this first, etc).
(November 12, 2009 - 11:10 pm)
I Kirsten Katie K. promise to never lie UNLESS it is very very VERY important! Although I never lie anyway. Ohwell... *sighs*
(November 18, 2009 - 6:10 pm)
I, Mary Jo, promise never to lie to my friends, unless I have a very good reason to do so. I will never post as two different people unless it is absolutely necessary.
@ Ima- Why did Elizabeth say she was Macy Anne? I do not get what's going on.
(November 13, 2009 - 9:26 am)
Re: Noah: Hurrr. I saw your post (MJ) on his thread, and it does seem logical... of course it would be kinda embarrassing if we were wrong... and now we also sort of have cause to be suspicious of every newcomer for the past month or so... *gets frustrated*
@ Ima/Katie: About Macy Anne... If I am correct, that was actually Elizabeth W. pretending to be someone else. This is assuming that I'm right... *gets even more frustrated*
Using MJ's pledge thingy:
I, Mary Liz, promise never to lie to my friends, unless I have a very good reason to do so. I will never post as two different people unless it is absolutely necessary.
K?
(November 13, 2009 - 3:51 pm)
*is confused*
(does anyone mind if I also use the name Snickers I got the idea from Kit Kat)
(November 13, 2009 - 4:52 pm)
I make aforementioned vow.
I've got something to say, though. I know I of all people have no right to complain about rudeness to newcomers. Stupid criminal record. However, reading all these "hi, i'm new" threads and watching people place forth thier evidance that the new person does not exist, I'd just like to say that if people posted like that when I came to the Chatterbox waybackwhen in April, I would have left in disgust. Noah, for example. If he was real, he's probably really insulted right now, if he even goes on Chatterbox anymore. I know if someone said to me what was said to him, I would probably block cricketmagkids. So can people please try to be nice to new Chatterboxers, even if they turn out to be fictional? Thanks.
(November 14, 2009 - 8:05 am)
Well, yes, I have a bit of a scaring-off record too (not to mention lying about my own age on the NaNo site...), but Reuben is right. Instead of automatically jumping down people's throats and screaming "YOU'RE NOT REAL! LOOK! YOU USED A SEMICOLON AND THAT PERSON WHO TURNED OUT TO BE FAKE ALSO USED A SEMICOLON! THEREFORE YOU ARE NOT REAL!" or something kind of silly to that effect, we should be welcoming. Even if we're talking to people who are technically not real. I mean, innocent until proven guilty, right?
And yes, if when I had come across this site in February and informed that I wasn't actually a real person, I would've been slightly weirded out. Then I would've noticed all the pie-throwing and internet jargon, gotten scared, and left. ;) So let's be nice, eh?
>Please note that this should not justify lying.
(November 14, 2009 - 1:30 pm)
Never mind, Macy Anne is Elizabeth, and she says she's sworn to secrecy about Bonnie, so... Well, I think I know who Bonnie is, but I shouldn't say.
I agree with Reuben about new people. A lot of people here don't look real to me either, but I think we should treat everyone as real, just in case.
(November 14, 2009 - 9:14 pm)
My first name is Jill (which, by the way, means sweetheart, which, by the way, I am), and my initials really are JFB!!! But yes, lying is dreadfully confusing, but also terribly usefull, such as in scary movies where the creepy criminal says, "What do you know about...Mr. Humphrey's... thing," and the pitiful victom says, "I have no idea!" when really, they are being cunning and do actually know about Mr. Humphrey's thing. In that situation lying is awsomely useful, but on the CB it confuses me and makes me feel bewildered. *glances around in obvious bewilderment*
(November 18, 2009 - 7:48 pm)
You're a girl?! :o I had no idea! JFB just sounded like a guy's name for some reason.
(November 19, 2009 - 9:15 am)
@ Mary W.: Yes there are actually people named Bonnie, infact my sister is named Bonnie. And I have met alot of people named Bonnie! And that is why Bonnie is a real name! :P
Anyway, yes all this lying is really confusing! I used to get on CB alot...and then I stopped. And I just recently started getting back on CB, and all those fake posts and such were sooo confusing! And I also think that it is fine to have a screen name, but it is not fine to have more than one (unless you tell everyone you are going to change your screen name)!
(November 28, 2009 - 12:03 pm)