So, I am sure we have all noticed at one point or another that there are accusations of people not being themselves. I have suspected and at times called out possible fake pictures/profiles.

Here are my challenges:

*Do you think that a person taking another's picture/profile is really someone else? Or is it possible they are simply acting out a version of themselves? Technically we all adapt to environments and external input based on how we perceive them. Taking on a different persona, is it really a different persona after all?

*Do we as human beings tend to be more extreme online because we somehow feel that it won't reflect on who we are in RL? Would we say the same things, react the same way, take the same sides if we were doing it in RL instead of behind the perceived veil of the internet. (This because we haven't yet grasped just how transparent we have actually become). Or maybe the need to act out is what motivates the need to create profiles diametrically opposed to who we really are: Eg. A 35 yr old man possibly in jail might have taken the profile pictures of a young girl from FB or other networking sites and is using that vehicle to post and contact feeling protected that no one will ever find/know who he really is?

I chatted for a couple of years with a beautiful looking man who was a lawyer in Canada. His pictures were breathtaking and I felt like I knew him. One day I decided to spend some time catching up with my affinity for Bollywood and low and behold I see my canadian lawyer singing and dancing on my tv screen. "Scott" had been using the pictures ( a LOT of them!) of Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan. Yeah I was obviously flattered and lost my head..even talked to him on the phone. One day I found his profile on POF and challenged that someone must be using the same actor's pictures as he was...He was not vey happy with me. I did feel very silly, I had seen the actor before, of course now everytime I see Hrithik I feel like I have history with him. Yes, it's laughable.

Your thoughts? Experiences?

You have raised some outstanding points and offered yourself as an example. You write well.

My take is that some aggressive people on the web are often the opposite in real life, using the web to bolster their inadequate social beings. But, there are hunters who are what they are, without any consideration for anyone else - true dedicated sociopaths to the core.

I have been supporting a Ghanaian lady your age for over one year now, amidst strong disapproval from my male friends. Is she a fraud? Maybe, maybe not.

I would like to throw my 2 cents in that hat with your male friends. I think the African scam can take a lot of different faces and you might be in the middle of one as we speak.

I hope we are all wrong. At the very least,I hope whoever the woman is, she needs the help and is doing something good with your hard earned money.

Although on my post I am suggesting simple impersonation for the hell of it and not necessarily to extort money from someone. The africans have not hidden behind (or maybe not all of them) others' profiles/pictures. My understanding has been that they always say that they are in Africa and that they need money... The african males who contact me never got much of a chance to ask for money, because they told me they were in Africa, but their profiles states somewhere in the US...so that was an instant red flag for me.

But the "canadian lawyer" using a bollywood's top stars pictures...well that wasn't to extort money, maybe he is not very attractive...although he did send me a picture with a young child and insisted I keep it private because of the child...(a nephew). I later found that same picture of Hrithik...with his son.

I suppose the only way your ghanian lady is a fake is if it is actually a ghanian man or someone from a totally different part of the world altogether. Hopefully these people who find ways to extort money, are not doing anything horrible with it. I would be mortified if I thought I was helping someone and then found out I was helping them abuse children or fund child slavery or drugs or God knows what other horrific thing we know of that takes place in the world.

Children and animals...that's where I go ballistic.

I'm on the fence over your support of said lady. Whilst on the one hand, there are really people who need help. On the other, there are a lot of people taking peoples' money who do not need help.

I agree so much with both of you. Thank you for your thoughts and feelings. It is so much easier to calmly share than to fight and bitch and attack and misrepresent.

Also, all my life I have refused to give anything to anyone who begs on the street. For the last 2 years, tho, I will give EVERYONE something who asks for it, without exception. My reasoning is that the act of giving benefits me and if the other is not entitled to it, it is for him to resolve it as his life devolves around him. Can't beat the Golden Rule.

I like your posts and your profile although I am out of your age range and agree and understand it. You have allowed me to understand the female tendency to being hesitant in this online dating setting. People without identity (empty people) create identities and then perpetuate a fraud over multiple years. It boggles the mind. (I am thinking of the Bollywood actor identity fraud).

Still, I want you to like me. So here is my argument for you doing so. I was raised Christian and conservative and educated liberally. IN my home we NEVER did not understand that the Soviet Union was not a good thing for Eastern Europe and we ALWAYS voted for whoever was for getting Russia out of Eastern Europe and allowing the peoples to be who they are.

Lianapet, I was speaking to you , of course, in the above comment.

I thought you might be since I am the only woman on this thread ...so far, and thank you for having an interest. I am humbled by your interest in me.

The bollywood actor...was funny to me. I have been at this a very long time and have met some really great REAL people online. I figure if I am on here...then it would make sense that someone else who is decent is also on here.

Liking you...It's nice that you would want that. I don't start off disliking anyone, but what difference would it make to you? You are out of my age range, but you are also 3000 miles away.

Unfortunately your argument for me liking you isn't going to work, but I don't judge you or dislike you for it. I find your criteria unique however. Besides ideologies are not necessarily the greatest of measurement points in the decision to like or dislike someone. People can have different opinions and different levels of knowledge and still be good, likable people, so allow me to provide my evidence for my statement:

I am christian (orthodox)...but a “practicing” agnostic-passionately so. Conservatism makes me fearful of the possibility of a military/draconian state in the future (even worse than the dictatorship I left behind). I don't understand what liberally educated means.

Your argument of the Soviet Union is faulty. Which is fine, as most americans don't have a clue what the hell really happened over there. Also, voting for anyone that would get Soviet Union out of Eastern Europe? That makes no sense. America does for herself not for others, and part of Soviet Union is actually in Eastern Europe. Most countries in the eastern block chose to follow Marx and Engle’s applied ideology by Lenin. I was a young communist, very very patriotic (still am very passionate about my country's history). Bottom line: the people were duped into dictatorships under the veil of Nationalism. Eastern Europe was communist in name and lip service only..The practice was dictatorships. True communism has not been accomplished anywhere really. It also is not the worst type of government out there. People in the west believe the propaganda the west spews in order to earn the support for any action they might take. I believe a wonderful compromise would be the best of both capitalism and socialism (which by the way is what the countries in the eastern bloc called themselves: SOCIALIST Republics). Socializing healthcare and education is the best thing that can be done for the people of any nation. The practice of capitalism allows a country and its people to strive for individual and national growth. It would be the best marriage between two different types of government ever!

There are a few examples of this in the world: Sweden was the happiest country in the world in 2008 or 2009 and there was a video associated with the article that blew me away. But below you will find two articles for 2010 and 2011. I have to be honest with you, based on our current economy and the level of unemployment the US's presence on the top 10 for 2011 has got to be a mistake or a full blown BS LIE. Anyway, check out these two articles...and keep in mind these people have massive socialized organizations to take care of their citizens, something we all fight to stop here (and I don’t necessarily agree with all of them (welfare for eg.), but anyway, check out the articles below.

2010

http ://www.allscandinavia.com/happ iestcountries.htm

"...What do these prosperous four Scandinavian countries have in common? All have generous welfare benefits and lots of redistribution of wealth. Their governments take care of their citizens, who all have abundant civil liberties. And there are few restrictions on the flow of capital or of labor...."

----Notice the “redistribution of wealth”…so no 1% vs 99% issues there.

2011

http ://www.cnngo.com/explorations/ life/united-nations-announces- world%E2%80%99s-happiest-count ry-247768

"...“This is more than just the traditional index which just measure average income, health and education,” says Adam Rogers, the U.N.'s communications officer in Geneva. "This measurement of human well-being and happiness introduces the inequality dimension, a measure of access to health and education.” "

---HEALTH and EDUCATION are a common trend among the happiest countries in the world. Income is the next.

Who believes that the US deserves #4 slot in this index?!, but I digress, I grew up with propaganda, I am used to it.

WoW - just wanted to be the 2nd woman on this post... Awesome writing Hun! I feel so inadequate. Here I'm stuck on finding a word for this crossword puzzle. 5 letter word for cat end in "Y" ?

LMAO!!!

That's cute!

Oh fuck me!
It's KITTY...

LOL!!

You really nailed me. Just another under aware, under read bumpkin American who doesn't understand anything about the 20th century and especially the 2nd half of it which comprises my era.

liberally educated means that I attended a University in which Liberal Arts (referencing classical liberalism) was a major college. I took 4 degrees. Thanks for the lessons.

You know what? Sorry for being an ass hole, however, your statement did not show thorough understanding of the situation in eastern europe. Also, as I pointed out, it is a matter of definition vs. practice. Your education in the US is not going to provide the reality of what life was like. The capitalist west has its own propaganda machine and it will have a biased educational point of view.

And "under aware" "under read" who "took" 4 degrees? May I inquire what 4 areas of study you earned 4 degrees in?

Well thru the University of Phoenix Online Degree Program... I gots me a degree in Black Belt, a 98 Degree boy band music group used CD, 32 Degrees right here in News Yorks, and a 3rd degree burn from getting my nipple too close to the fan that keep cool my hard drive full of software... So there 1,2,3,4... Count them 4 different degreesessses. I done did took. Under over roger dodger.


Score me DOWN so it disappears again you HIV patient.

RoFlMaO.... Too Cute!!!!!!

LMAO!!! I don't even have a comeback to this...I am laughing so hard I am crying...

Geez! I really wasn't trying to be an ass hole to the guy at all... but this is really funny.

Sorry!

Oh I get it, vote down the colored girls post so they disappear.... Go on witch ya white hooded bad ass K Swiss wearin Selves. Always tryin to hold us Negros down.

Oh I get it, vote down the colored girls post so they disappear.... Go on witch ya white hooded bad ass K Swiss wearin Selves. Always tryin to hold us Negros down.

I know a black gal that I would like VERY much to hold down! Does that count? Do we lose points if she wants to hold me down too? Tell me, who is keeping score - cause this is obviously some kind of sick political game. LMAO!

I am honest in my profiles because I have been out of dating for a long time, and want to know If I have any hope of finding what I want. Also I would rather not waste any more time than required, mine or theirs. It's gonna be hard enough getting back into dating after 25 years of marriage, I really want to have passion back in my life as well as be the source of passion to a female who feels similar to how I do. I still believe that two people that really are into each other can with some effort and desire to please the other make each other very, very happy. I really intend to find someone and try.

Please remember that everyone on this forum has a slightly different agenda and background and you are likely to be insulted and ridiculed without provocation. HOWEVER, there are VERY good people here too and you will see them soon.

If you continue to treat others as you desire to be treated, life will reward you accordingly, without fail. "What goes around, comes around."

Be gentle on yourself, forgive yourself every day, forgive everyone who may have done you harm, and life will proceed onward. No deadlines, no minimum expectations, just let go and watch for positive changes, and avoid "stepping in it."