You could be right and some of these impostors could be evil while others are simply using an alias to write what they are too embarrassed to write. I know of 2 and are completely harmless and show an unbelievable talent.

Test everything, that you may be certain of what you call fact. Thus your faith in your knowledge will sit upon solid ground. Good post.

John

I agree 100%
People might have valid reasons to create multiple accounts,
and they are harmless to others.

Yet, if someone's objective is to hurt or harass a fellow blogger,
its wrong!
these goofs should be flung into cyberspace
forever
and never allowed to return!
we need some blogging bouncers!

I am with you and will stand beside you to fight it.

I agree! It depends on the motive at hand. Love you Roe!! xoxo

thanks!
If you have a moment, you should take a look at the slideshow on NBC's website.

It says
Internet Hoaxes To Remember
View Slideshow

United we stand, and we will tell everyone
we will not stand for it!

Once in a rare while, I believe in standing up in a crowd, holding a hastily written sign aloft, and even chanting, should the urgent need for change arise. I'm with you on this one.

In my more typically private capacity, I have been gently escalating my criticisms, ever in sync with what I perceive to be defense mechanisms of unhealthy and socially abusive behaviors. The safety catch, so to speak, has been released, what with the nonsense having crossed my personal trip wires.

Gee, with that attitude, if you need a bouncer, let me know, LOLW (LOL Wickedly...)

Wow. I was completely oblivious to this whole situation. When I started reading this post, I thought Thank God thoughts doesn't have such stuff...and then I scrolled down and read of it happening right here! Its shocking, disgusting and also sad. We pour our hearts out here, and trust people blindly. I don't want to have to question the people I trust here...its heartbreaking that there are these horrid people who make us suspicious of the good one's out there. This is a real shocker. Thanks for posting, Roe...I had absolutely no idea.

Well done Rose. This is exactly why I have so many trust issues with people here.

I definitely keep my eye out for them but I refuse to allow them to 'win' their mental games should they mistakenly choose to try their stuff on me. I keep my emotional shield up and ready at all times and only with time do I lower it a little bit at a time.

Great post, Roe! :)

Thank you I hope I do not run into any of these people. There are many who have more than one identity here but they are not doing it for that purpose. I am sure you know. L

Thank you Roe, for your vigilance. I know of at least two cases. My sympathies go to the people who believe and are duped. There are some people with big hearts in 'thoughts' it is sad that anyone would exploit that.

RRRR! I am in the same boat as Influx. Lets say something is not looking right. how does one go about looking into it real private like? I dont want to just leave it to the publisist since alot of people have accsess to that if my guess is right.

I don't venture far from my friends here on thoughts but it sucks that there are people that would do this. Thanks for your sleuthing!

It really sucks that is happends... truely it does... because when someone does try to do something good and honest, it gets questioned and torn apart almost to the point that is it not worth it. But I for one will not stop doing what i do... But this does make it harder for me to trust new people... it;s not fair to them, but you have to protect your self.

This community is like a little microcosm of real life and we all need to be careful in and out of thoughts. There are good and bad people in both places. Some individuals are just a little more trusting or for lack of a better word, a bit naïve. Knowledge is power! We all need to be aware of what is happening just like a parent must stay on top of what is going on in the lives of their children and not bury their heads in the sand.

Rumor is ugly and once in awhile it undermines a good deed. I could be wrong, but I think Doug was referring to his fund raising efforts in his comment when he said sometimes its not worth it. He is trying to raise money for MS while some people questioned his good intentions, which is such a shame, but that doesnt mean he should stop doing what he believes is the right thing to do.

As far as problems or concerns around Thoughts, members should report anything suspicious to the thoughts_staff, which should not be confused with the publicist whose job it is to promote the site. Its like calling the the dryer repairman when your cable is out!

They are two completely different departments although information shared with either one will always be kept confidential.

Hands up here i am lol .....

Sarafeline.
Riverskys.
Nightmarescars.
Sarafeline.
Pheonixrose.

UGH lol, But my friend took over pheonixrose so all her stories were not mine!

I have never harassed anyone here EVER!, I have already explained all this in my blog called Why are we here why do we stay..:)

I'm not ashamed of having those accounts and I'm sorry if people are shocked it was just something I felt i needed to do at the time I just wanted to not be in the lime light as I was having problems but it seems the light follows me so to hell with it I'm here so there and im staying.

Love to you all.

Sarafeline.x.

This does not surprise me... this site is open to whoever can type a name... I am not disillusioned by this though, it is the world. Here in cyber it is at least physically safe to wander around, say our truths and if we feel compassion... so be it! If these hoaxers are using our good nature to their ends... in my innocense and naivete, I ask what are their ends? Can they drag us back to their dark dungeons and have their way with us... what have we lost really here in cyber by giving these pathetic people compassion... that they do not merit our good feelings? It seems to me these cunning sad people have no clue... poor poor souls... how terrible to be them!

I would say that personal caution should be used... like getting involved in real life... I would be very very cautious about that... But somehow I am apt to wonder if these people will not lose interest after awhile and need to create more dilemmas which will alert you to their ruse. They need many many people to grant them satisfaction. When I saw whatever Smitty41 which I didn't know was Smitty41 there was something about his suicide note that did not ring true.

I can understand some one having a different account, Im sure there are those who just like to write with some animosity.
um, samual clemens comes to mind here.
wold you call him a bad person.
and now thit I think about it, ill bet there arent many writers that don't use a pen name as well.

i think the problem is really when bad people behave badly.
yes i agree that what the people did in this blog is terrible.
and writing mean things/threats ..etc to people is just mean.
honestly, i dont care who is behind the avatar, if its a good read, i'll read it, maybe even comment.
if its some one just being an ass, i can just as easily right click away.
you will never read a mean thing come from me.... to any one.
thats just the way I am.
and usually when mean people get ignored...eventually they find something else to do.

I'm glad you wrote about this Roe as I have become more and more confused about who people really are. I have made a lot of friends here and I value those friendships. Others are not interested in me and I'm totally fine with that. I'm not going to become someone else so they might read me. Be real people - be true to yourselves - in the long run you will be the winners for your honesty.

I am a bit late here roe my friend
but have i not been warning the thoughts team of such goings on for some time now.
i even pointed out some of the perpetrators to you, but their profiles are still on site.
this is not news to me as i know that it has been going on, and can spot these morons from a thousand paces.
if you wish me to keep an eye out for them and inform you further than let me know as i will be happy to help.
respectfully yours friend
fraglerock

Having multiple accounts is not the problem, Roe said "with the express wish to decieve or harrass" and that is what some are doing/have done.

Ro, this is really creepy. I don't know what to say. I am shocked.
Is sad that we have so many scam right here on thoughts.com too.
I love this site, but I am very disappointed now.
Much love

Roe ~

Sorry for posting here if this is not good then please feel free to delete.

1) I am a bit surprised that as near as I could tell there is not a 'Personal Safety Online' obvious link that leads then any member to some basic rules for personal safety on this lovely web site.

2) Most hoaxes along with all the drama that ensues go thru predictable stages. In fact a meager little observation of the awesome members on this site leads me to identify at least a few who can be easily 'involved' and I am a trained professional of sorts. Any 'evil' being who has only evil destruction in mind who comes on a social networking site is already honed their hoaxing skills and that is to say that they likely have already been practicing on other sites for quite sometime. The bottom line is there are far more good people with basic good intentions than there will ever be 'evil' BUT the 'hoaxster evils' are quite clever and well crafted in their destructive skills. There for it behooves a social networking site to have in place many tools and possible even a 'go to'. The idea of being pro active is not new. BUT ~ the idea of having a staff person on board who specifically dealls with such among a few other typical 'social problems online' is new and a new frontier.

Roe ~ I responded to your PM and not sure if it went thru.

Again ~ please feel free to copy and paste this to your own place and delete the comment.

HUGS ~
Kate

WOw! And she was a *social worker*? Gads. I think she could have gotten through her loss in other ways if she was intelligent enough. I did and still am. What a dumb thing to do. I was always taught, never to put anything in writing that can come back and bite you in the face.