Smoke and Mirrors

[Gabben]

Exactly mud,

I was just about to post a thread about the potential for Betelgeuse to be our old troll friend again showing up at just the right time to stir up a little tension and and confusion.

[Leah]

Bee:

I am also a trained "noticer" - though not in linguistics. And the idea you've suggested has never crossed my mind, that all these posters are a single person.

But, if they were - what of it? I mean, I've gotten support, advice, and help from everyone you've said were really a single person. To me, that's all that matters, you know?

So if this "multiple personality" were really a single a person... I can't see that it's doing harm for them to post as individual personalities... maybe that would help them heal, too.

Amber,

I am thankful to you, Amber, for sharing previously, earlier on this year, when you mentioned that it is possible for someone to have other 'proxy' accounts or whatever they are, and post as more than one member.

I really had no idea, that someone could do that.

Having got over the shock of seeing what 'Bee' had written, after logging on to share some good news of my day, and sat and thought about it some, maybe 'Bee' is another member, past or present, with an agenda, maybe, I don't know.

All very odd, very odd indeed, especially the timing, given the fact that I had only posted a few times recently.

Anyway, to the point, regarding 'proxies' I have been told that anyone who runs servers, and websites, can easily create these 'proxy' accounts.

Anyway, I don't know what the heck it is all about.  Life is too short, and abslutely no way is anyone robbing me of my voice, my new shoes, or my precious pearls, after a life time of hell on earth.

Maybe, some folk just get bored, and then "wind em up and watch em go" for gameplay fo some kind.

Love, Leah

[Betelgeuse]

Listen, this is going to be my very last post on this topic (and maybe on any topic) because there isn't much I can add to what I've said earlier.

We don't know whom we are talking to online. Period. Je est un autre, a game that seems to be regularly played on the Internet. I just googled 'sockpuppet' and 'troll' and discovered a whole series of interesting terms/concepts, such as strawman sockpuppet, meat puppet and astrosurfing.

I don't do that.

I'm nobody's 'old troll friend' (?) (though if s/he is a native speaker I'll take that as a compliment), I am one real person, I have one -squeaky- voice but good ears, eyes and honorable motives.

And I know you'll just have to take my word for that.

Most people on this board are vulnerable, as I am myself, which is exactly why I wouldn't dream of increasing any confusion here. I myself, and others too, need to be surrounded by real voices. Fake ones are confusing and lead to fake upsets.

Of course my considered opinion is not proof. I only mentioned being a linguist to explain why I would even notice speech patterns. I know it's a rather peculiar sensitivity, which often enlightens me and may enlighten others.

I'm glad I didn't notice any conflict arising between people who I believe to be genuine. If I have hurt, confused or bewildered any REAL person, I'm truly sorry.

Bee

[Gabben]

I'm glad I didn't notice any conflict arising between people who I believe to be genuine. If I have hurt, confused or bewildered any REAL person, I'm truly sorry.

You have hurt me... I am genuine....but that is OK because you have lost all credibility with me and I am sure many others here who are not me.

[Leah]

Dear Bee,

I am a real person, and believe me, you have hurt me, very much.

I was shocked to log on here today and be greeted with your slanderous accusation.

When the troll issue was on the board a few months ago, we all of us, were made aware of the information on Wikipedia regarding all the different names of sockpuppets, which you have just mentioned.  A member kindly posted a link to the information.

It was the first I knew about it.

Also, I naively thought that Wikipedia itself was a good resource, and apparently, it is not so good, as it is packed with trolls and puppets, and many muppets too.

Something else I have learned.

Leah

[Ami]

Bee, how much of a linguist are you if one person is a native Spanish speaker, one is a native English speaker and you think they are the same person ?

[seasons]

To be honest with you Bee,

My discernment is that you may well be a troll - sockpuppet person, and I say this soley because of your postings today.

That is my honest voice, and my honest thoughts, and yes, I dare to speak out, with a clear voice, having been abused by you today.  Bearing in mind that basic human rights work both ways -- not a single one way street way.

No-one has ever stood up for me in my life - I have always had to stand up for myself, or lay down and be trampled to death.

I am standing up for myself now, as a real, honest, genuine person.

I am sick and tired of being mistreated simply because I am a nice person.

My mother and my sister spat at me on the doorstep and with a snarled up face, hissed at me, that I was disgusting to them, because I was nice.

Sorry, I am genuinely a nice person.

Nothing I can do to be different, I have tried to harden up, but God softened my heart again, with healing of hurts, past and present.


Thank you, Bee

for I needed to find my voice again, here on this board, as I have been walking on eggshells for so long, much too long.


Sincerely yours,

Leah
 
 
 
 

Dear Leah,

Your truth and your voice is valued and heard.  love seasons

[seasons]

(((Leah, Ami, Lise and Lupita)))  love seasons

[Gabben]

Thank you seasons....

[Leah]

Thank you, dear ((((( Seasons )))))

Love, Leah

[Certain Hope]

I wanted to share my perceptions because they have kept me silent and because I felt they might be of use to others.

I'll leave it at that.

Bee

Bee, this resonates with me, because I've been there and still do struggle, at times, in this area.

I used to think of this as a hurdle to be lept and conquered....
but now I view it as a pit to circumvent.

This probably will sound quite lame, but I hope that you can read through my lack of skill in expressing it...

Accepting that this world (and this group, as a microcosm of that world) is far from safe and smooth and perfect
has been just as much a key for me as accepting (and gratefully so!!) that I am far from smooth and perfect...
yet nonetheless, I can be safe.

I'm glad you spoke up.

Sincerely,
Carolyn

[Gabben]

I accept what you say as truth for you, PR, but  in my case, when I sense someone is a sock puppet, I feel manipulated. 

Me too.

Lise

[Lupita]

I am posting here only because of seasons told me she loves me, lighter told me she loves me, finding peace told me she loves me.

I wish I could speak Englihs as Lea does. I wish I had the huge heart that Gaben has. I so not wish anything of Ami because hse has had a very hard life, and I do not want to be in her place, just to think that the loss of a child is the most horrible tragedy a human being can suffer, makes me bow to her and give her my prayers and my love. I feel so sorry for Ami. I wish I was born in America. LOL

The fact that somebody could think such a ridululus thing makes me give serious thoguths.

What am I doing here?

Too much loneliness I guiess.

Betel, you sound with terrible thinking process. I am sorry to say that. The thinking processs you display is so twisted, that I do not know what to think. It is so rodiculus.

But, hey twins, Lea, Ami, Gaben, think that we cannot let our reputation define us because reputation is in the mind of others and we cannot control what others think. We can only control what we think, and Lea had a wonderful thread on owning oue thoughts.

That is why reputation is not under our control and at the end of the day we are left with ehat we think of out seleves and that depends on how much we love our selves beayse self esteem is only that, what we think of our selves.

God bless you all.

Love to you Ami, Love to you Lighter, Love to you Lea, Gaben and everybody envolved in this silly thing. Even when I am not posting I am get involved against my own will. LOL LOL LOL


And I take this opportunity to tell Izz do not give a S***t what others think of you. LOL LOL LOL 


I gues My anxiety medication is taking effect of I would be responding in a different way LOL LOL LOL 

[lighter]

I love it when you look at the world with humor, Lupita!

Life's full of irony and twists..... interesting stuff if you're not under siege.

Keep laughing and moving ahead.

Love you too,

Lighter

[Izzy_*now*]

That was great, Lupita

Do you remember the wonderful fun you and I had around Xmas/New years? I was making you laugh, and you were making me laugh and it was great! We talked about music.

I don't know why it fell off...... but no problem here.............. I have found that sometimes if I am having such fun, I expect it to end............that it is not going to be permanent.

I have always been following your posts and all I can say is, Good Luck, in your teaching profession and May all Your Students inderstand where you are coming from
XX
Izzy