Identity Crisis

Ever decide to go on line under a new screen name and talk to your usual friends online and see what they think of you or about others, or better yet, just to see how they react to having a new person on line shmoozing with them. I remember a friend telling me a story where her screen name was copied and someone was using her screen name on line in char rooms. How did she hear about this? Well, when she went online into her favorite chat room she saw it. The same name only a bit different from hers. Very confusing to the naked eye.

How she researched so hard to find out who the character was behind this practical joke, but alas, to no avail, she could not find a culprit who was willing to admit to this doing. As time went on, this was not a practical joke anymore. This person, caused her to have an identity crisis and to go into hiding for a little while. You see the joke went far beyond a friendly joke. This person was making up lies about her and telling things that were not true. And yet, she could not find the person who was behind the joke. But you know what, life goes on, and so did she. She kept her screen name and forgot about the shadow. And nothing happened. She stopped trying to find out who he/she is/was and went about her doing. She warned her friends that it was not her and to make sure she was she before they started talking to her online. Life moved on. And she is now worried free. That is behind her now.

Why do people do this? Why is there a need to drive someone crazy with fear or with anxity worrying who is stalking them and offering free information to others whether or not the info is true or not. Why are there frum people out there who would do this? Is this considered fun? Is this a new way of teasing other people? A new way to stalk people without them knowing they are being stalked? When you are online chatting/IMing with another person, how do you know that you really know that person? Is it possible that there are non-Jews reading my hock right now? I mean I see there are people who sign and don’t leave a name, so I do not know who they are! And now that gets me thinking that there are readers whom I never heard of. I don’t know the readers, but I have heard of them, so I feel safer when I “know” who is reading. But then you also have those who do not sign. Who are they? How did they find this site? Why don’t they feel the need to sign? And those who do sign, why don’t they clue me on who they are??

So many things going on the web these days, one needs to be super careful. Even if you think you know the person, make sure that he/she is who you really think it is. You never know who it might be.
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