The art of reading between the lines

[robnplunder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by imoldernu +1 Not all writings are meant to educate, obfuscate, enervate, derogate, denigrate or deprecate. Some are meant only to "stir the pot".

I wish I knew before getting too emotionally involved, spending hours in formulating & reviewing my response before posting, getting upset by responses, reporting to mods on improper posts, ..... I am so naive!

[CaliforniaMan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by robnplunder I wish I knew before getting too emotionally involved, spending hours in formulating & reviewing my response before posting, getting upset by responses, reporting to mods on improper posts, ..... I am so naive!

I recently learned that such posts are called "Dragon Bait." The posters just want to watch what happens and see who bites.

[NW-Bound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HFWR Random WHEEEE! generator...

Random? I thought we have reached a consensus that it is a clairvoyant ringing of the bell at the tops of market, and it has been demonstrated with some measured accuracies.

What I might have missed was the opposite "Buy, buy, buy" emissions at the market bottoms, but it could be just me with bleary eyes after the market had lost 50%.

[M Paquette]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaMan I recently learned that such posts are called "Dragon Bait." The posters just want to watch what happens and see who bites.

Correct. In general, people that repeatedly make such 'bait' posts will find that responses from other forum members will taper off over time, as the posts are ignored by others who have noticed this behavior.

The posts wind up primarily as bait for persons new to a forum, generally with only modest experience with online fora.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by M Paquette Correct. In general, people that repeatedly make such 'bait' posts will find that...

...they provide incentive for members to learn how to add someone to their ignore list.

[robnplunder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by M Paquette Correct. In general, people that repeatedly make such 'bait' posts will find that responses from other forum members will taper off over time, as the posts are ignored by others who have noticed this behavior. The posts wind up primarily as bait for persons new to a forum, generally with only modest experience with online fora.

I can sense narcissistic posts (pay attention to what I did, what I am, ..) and we all make them time to time. Bait post? Not so much.

[LitGal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever It's way too much work first, to misrepresent yourself and then, to remember the misrepresentation.

+1 Not sure why anyone would be interested in making up a forum post. Maybe if they're bored in ER or with life in general?

I skim many posts, so just tend to take them at face value.

[Tadpole]

Early on I used several handles at different websites/forums. Then I would use these over and over in similar circumstances. For example, I first used "Tadpole" here. Then I used it on other forums I heard about here (e.g. Bogleheads). At some point I realized that each different handle had developed a different personality probably due to the crowd in the various website collections. I am never myself now and I find my handles have developed egos as well as personalities even though Tadpole and the ego of the other handles do not really exist except as a character in my weblife. I assume that, even if you are not really who you represent yourself as being, your handle is precisely your representation and cannot tell a lie or misrepresent his/herself. So in a sense, I never see a handle as other than the self it is in webland.

[Lsbcal]

Tadpole, I'm a little worried about you. Perhaps you are developing multiple personalities? Reminds me of all those little pre-froglets in a pond on a warm spring day. What will become of them when they start getting up on the land? Scary thought.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tadpole . For example, I first used "Tadpole" here.

Let me guess...it was froggy the day you registered.

[NW-Bound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tadpole ... Then I used it on other forums I heard about here (e.g. Bogleheads). At some point I realized that each different handle had developed a different personality probably due to the crowd in the various website collections. I am never myself now...

I have not participated in any forum other than this one. I visited a few and ran away, having no intention to register. It is the same as walking into a place of worship. Would you speak of a different religious belief or chant a different mantra?

[Tadpole]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound It is the same as walking into a place of worship. Would you speak of a different religious belief or chant a different mantra?

I'm not much of a true belonger so, like the chameleon tree frog I someday hope to be, I just adjust to my surroundings.

But back to the subject at hand. I would hate to have to consider that many vigorously independent individuals at RE might be a little more wimpy and a little less self-made and wealthy than represented.

[splitwdw]

I wasn't sure how to answer. We have a group of friends that we go out with about once a month. A few years ago another couple joined the group. Very personable, expensive cars, designer clothes, expensive jewelry, had just moved here and were looking at million dollar homes in the area. They talked about other expensive cars they had in storage. Had sold their multi-million dollar home in another state. They showed several of us a photo album with pictures of the home. They seemed no different financially than some of the other couples. We had no reason to doubt them. Turns out it was all a lie. They received a settlement from a lawsuit and bought the cars they were driving plus the clothes and jewelry. The photo album of the home was a realtors album. This couple was arrested for fraud two years ago. I still can't believe it. Was I stupid? Gullible? This couple was lying all the time. Most of the group is still surprised that this couple was able to tell so many lies. One man in our group said he had his doubts due to some of the things that the couple had told him. At least none of the group were hurt financially but we all lost trust. Writing this, I'm still wondering how this couple could do this.

[Sarah in SC]

Wow, what a story! But I knew a guy who was a liar like that, he was married to a good friend of mine for about 3 years. Everything he said, just about, was made out of whole cloth. I think it is some kind of mental illness, I guess.

Thank goodness you didn't ever get roped into any kind of scam by these folks. Yikes!

[robnplunder]

A few of my close relatives and family members are "convenient" liars. They would lie to boost their claims & opinions, to defend their mistakes, to take credit for what others did, etc.. It pisses me off every time I learned of their lie afterward. The lie itself is harmless most of the times but it's quite annoying.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah in SC I think it is some kind of mental illness, I guess.

+1

My sister's adult step son was (is) afflicted with this problem. Years ago (before Google) he came to visit his dad and while at a local cafe, struck up a conversation with a (OK, "the") reporter for the small town newspaper where my sister and his dad lived. His visit lasted only a few days and when the paper came out the following week, my sister was surprised to see a lengthy interview with him. He had convinced the reporter he was a former Air Force test pilot who now owned a high-end custom motorcycle manufacturing company in Florida. In reality, he was an occasionally employed mechanic with numerous brushes with the law.

[pb4uski]

That reporter is major network material......

[Moemg]

At our local restaurant we have a group of aquaintances and one of them is a liar & a fabricator so much so that it is unbelievable . If you did something she did something that topped it . When called on her lies she gets furious . I just keep my distance though sometimes it is amusing .

[braumeister]

They're everywhere.

[imoldernu]

Lies are necessary to maintain consistency. Unfortunately age has a way of making attempts at truth an honest impossibility.

All references to "friends" are in fact, hapless attempts of self disguise, including those that deal with friends who have "passed on".