Well, it made the local paper-John and Amber, article about fake internet deaths

dragoriana

MajesticFloof
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 20, 2006
Messages
4,092
Purraise
543
Wow


I know we'll probably never know but being as nosey as i am, i'm always going to want to find out for what reason he did that. It's so sad and so frustrating
 

ilovesiamese

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 4, 2006
Messages
2,402
Purraise
1
Originally Posted by Sibohan2005

I think it is a great thing that Anne did to let others know that this sort of thing is happeneing. I think it was an informative article and will let people know not to take people for granted. And not to allow yourself to get taken like some of us were it's good to have compassion for someone but to stand back and take things on their own merit.
I completely agree!
 

clairebear

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 17, 2006
Messages
1,541
Purraise
1
Location
Manchester, CT
I think people "fake" death online because they lack caring and attention in thier real life, so they have to stoop to getting it under false pretences online.
 

wookie130

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 5, 2006
Messages
2,313
Purraise
106
Location
an ice cube in Iowa...
Well, I'll freely admit to being suckered in by the John/Amber saga...I felt terrible for his "loss," and was nearly prepared to send a donation for the "baby." Who knows what is what with this situation in the real world, or if there was a situation at all. I felt like the biggest moron on the face of the planet, however, once the lid blew off what might have happened in reality.

This situation taught me a valuable lesson about trust, the Internet, and how everything on the web needs to be taken with a cupful of salt...and that no one may be what they say they are.

Great article, BTW. The psychology behind faking one's own death on the Internet probably goes deeper than anyone knows...thanks for sharing.
 

sarahp

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 7, 2006
Messages
15,841
Purraise
28
Location
Australia
Originally Posted by sweetiecat3

I know!
I wonder if anyone is investigating it?
Unless they actually took money, then there's no reason to - all whoever it was did was lie.
 

white cat lover

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Nov 17, 2005
Messages
22,206
Purraise
35
I, for one, am really really really really glad that we had people looking out for us-Anne, the mods, the people who questioned the whole thing. I never would've given the validity of the story a second thought. Thanks all.
 

kluchetta

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 5, 2005
Messages
11,023
Purraise
30
Location
Golden, Colorado
Originally Posted by white cat lover

I, for one, am really really really really glad that we had people looking out for us-Anne, the mods, the people who questioned the whole thing. I never would've given the validity of the story a second thought. Thanks all.
I felt really naive and taken in by this whole thing, and yet I felt it was a fascinating look at the human situation. I think it's good to know that these things happen, and I was relieved that it wasn't true, to be honest. The only thing I really regret is that my son REALLY DID lose a friend that weekend, and I feel that I wasn't there for him like I should have been.
 

fred&nermal

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 11, 2007
Messages
1,167
Purraise
6
Location
Ontario, Canada
Originally Posted by sweetiecat3

I know!
I wonder if anyone is investigating it?
Unless John was asking for money (which would be Fraud) I don't think there is much to warrent a thurough investigation. I can't remember, but when you become a member here I doubt you don't have to "sign" a "I swear to tell nothing but the truth....." statement. So, I think, what he did isn't illegal. Just sad.

I think all that can really come of this is internet education. There is always the possibility of being "duped".

Out of curiousity, what username did John go under? They only mentioned Amber's in the article.
 

dragoriana

MajesticFloof
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 20, 2006
Messages
4,092
Purraise
543
Ooh ok, now i realise tonnes of you are on the same forums.
 

fred&nermal

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 11, 2007
Messages
1,167
Purraise
6
Location
Ontario, Canada
Just looked back at some of those threads and posts by John and Amber. It felt like I was looking at ghosts. Very weird feeling to have on the computer.

Though I can totally envision how someone could pull this off, it still freaks me out a bit. Such an breach of trust. Plus so sad.
The individual was trying to create a life that they wished they were leading (kids, cats, partner). When you read over their threads, it all seems so innocent. I guess they targeted TCS as they knew there were a lot of caring people here.
Sad as well, because if they had told the truth and talked about their real troubles (ie. being lonely, etc.) then there may have been a lot of caring, helpful advice on this site. Support that they may have benefitted from.

Wierd that they posted shots of goats, of all things.
 

kittydad

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Nov 4, 2006
Messages
568
Purraise
1
interesting article. Glad the mods are looking out for our interests. Great job mods,
 

luckygirl

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 4, 2006
Messages
7,932
Purraise
1
Location
in a pile of open toed shoes!
I'm glad it was written about, maybe it will protect someone in the future. I think Anne did a great job in the article, and I think TCS was portrayed very nicely. As a caring group of cat lovers, and that's what we are.
 

ericanicole

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 31, 2006
Messages
1,454
Purraise
2
Location
No Vacancy...One on the way!
wow!
Totally wasnt expecting that!

Its like the move Night Listener with Robin Williams. a women makes up a story to a whole town and RW about having an adopted son who had HIV among many things and was taken from a sexually abuse home as a kid. She also fakes her blindness and a whole mess of other things...it was all for attention.

What an awfull thing to fake, a death and all. Your really pulling on peoples emotions. Tisk tisk, if they are fakers, amber that is, or john, they will get theres in time...theres always a face, a heart, and a life behind a screenname and sometimes people forget that or use that in a wicked way.
 

esrgirl

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 10, 2004
Messages
2,163
Purraise
2
Location
Indiana
EricaNicole, you should have put a spoiler warning before your post
I hadn't sen that movie yet.

This whole situation reminds me of those women who fake abductions- like that runaway bride recently. There was a woman on Oprah not too long ago who faked being abducted. The psychologist's explanation of this behavior via the internet was very interesting. It's amazing the things people will do for attention. I was watching a show on the Discovery channel recently about evil women and it featured a woman who murdered all of her babies to get sympathy. Apparently she had been neglected by her father as a child or something. She had Munchausen's by Proxy (however that is spelled).
 

starryeyedtiger

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 5, 2005
Messages
22,317
Purraise
20
Location
USA
This whole thing has just been amazingly upsetting
I still can't believe i almost fell for it. I think that Anne, the mods, and others who investigated definitely did a wonderful job to try and preserve the integrity of our site. I am glad to see this newspaper put out an article on the topic. I had NEVER heard of people faking deaths online until this all happened, and it is just horribly upsetting and frustrating to think one moment a person is a legit online friend then to go through that whole rollarcoaster ride of them not being real. I hope whoever this sick sorry individual is will realize what kind of heartache they caused people and seek help. / Even though this happened though- i do think it's comforting to see how a wonderful site like TCS looks out for one another and cares enough to investigate and look after their members. In my opinion- this is the best site around...period- and it really helps knowing how much the mods and anne care about the members enough to try and verify things and look out for them. It's great to see members look out for one another- even if the circumstances like the whole "amber death" are crummy. Reading this thread once again saddened me over the whole thing. I considered "amber and john" friends and when this all happened it was like being stabbed in the back.
.
 
Top