Update
On Sunday, I posted a status update that appeared to be written by a woman named Holley Biffle.
Yesterday, I was contacted by a member of Mrs. Biffle’s family, who told me this update is a hoax. According to the source, it was orchestrated by someone known to Holley and her friends. This person has been trying to harm her for a while now, and has finally succeeded.
“Holley has never promoted hate against the gay community,” says a family member. “She is Christian, but not a Westboro wacko. She firmly believes that hate speech like this is NOT Christian. It’s not something she would ever do.”
I asked to be put in contact with Mrs. Biffle herself, and after confirming her identity, proceeded to have a lengthy correspondence with her. She is completely stunned by the events of the last few days.
“I absolutely did not write this. It never appeared on my page. It’s a complete fabrication,” says Holley. “I did not beat my son for walking home with the gay boy across the street. I would never beat him. And he’s not even old enough to walk home. He isn’t even four!”
I was also contacted by some of Holley’s friends, who have offered information about the hoaxer, but I’m not going to disclose that. The police are now investigating.
At this point, I’m convinced that Holley Biffle was set up by an extremely clever troll. Is there anything the internet hates more than a homophobic Christian child beater? He knew this perfect storm of privilege and intolerance would fire up the internet rage machine, and boy was he right.
I realize you have not had the benefit of corresponding with the people I have, and you may be unconvinced.
But I urge anyone still targeting this woman to think about how easy it would be for someone to do this. They don’t need your password, they don’t need to set up a fake profile or hack your computer. They just need Photoshop, your picture and a message of hatred.
And if that message pushes all the right buttons, you’ll be the one answering the door for CPS.
UPDATE: Facebook has deleted a group created to “give Holley some tough love” after death threats were posted. The membership was over a thousand.
September 19, 2012 at 10:41 am
Yikes.
September 19, 2012 at 10:41 am
God damn it, Internet.
September 20, 2012 at 10:49 am
Gettin’ awful sick of your shit, Internet.
September 19, 2012 at 10:41 am
Wow. That’s crazy.
September 19, 2012 at 10:44 am
It doesn’t seem to matter how many times people are told not to believe everything they read on the internet, they still do. It’s too easy, I guess. I think it’s just plain lazy.
Shame on anyone who sent threats to this person. Even if she said what we thought she said, it’s still wrong.
September 19, 2012 at 10:51 am
I shook my head at the original posting- but so often it’s difficult or impossible to validate this stuff. Lazy, sure. And you’re right-
Threats? Really? That’s ridiculous. That makes you no better than the alleged child-beater.
Oh, common sense, where for art thou?
September 19, 2012 at 11:28 am
I hate people and I’m never leaving the Regretsy clubhouse and never going outside again.
Kudos to Helen for her initial reaction to this of a non-violent “meh” I consider myself internet savvy but I know that when I first read this internet story I silently said to myself ” that mom is a bitch” I cringe a little now knowing I fell for one of the oldest hate trolling methods of the internet era. My brain and soul have uploaded the patch are in the process of a software upgrade
September 19, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Same here. The original story had me seriously upset for most of the day–a mixture of anger and sadness. I guess now at least I’m angry and sad about the right person/people. I am constantly amazed at the capacity for cruelness people can have.
September 19, 2012 at 3:20 pm
i don’t have enough thumbs for “Regretsy Clubhouse”!
September 19, 2012 at 10:59 am
A lie!? On the internet!? I’m appalled!
From now on I will only believe things that are shouted at me by people on my television.
September 19, 2012 at 11:06 am
Matt, I DON’T BELIEVE YOU.
September 19, 2012 at 11:13 am
PBCGE, I find your disbelief INCREDIBLE!
September 19, 2012 at 11:37 am
You two are why I put whiskey in my coffee in the morning.
September 19, 2012 at 12:09 pm
It better not be the good stuff!
September 19, 2012 at 11:22 am
September 19, 2012 at 1:19 pm
Aww, you beat me to it. I was gonna post this.
September 19, 2012 at 10:41 am
We’re obviously fat, jealous losers who are unashamed to admit wrongdoing. A big sorry to all involved.
September 19, 2012 at 10:48 am
I was wrong for reposting that image without confirming its authenticity. I’m completely embarrassed and saddened by this whole thing.
September 19, 2012 at 10:49 am
It happens. Forgive, forget, move on. Thanks HK.
September 19, 2012 at 10:51 am
Helen, the reason we love you is because you’re not afraid to admit a misstep.
September 19, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Honesty goes a long way with me. It is why I am here on Regretsy every day. HK, you don’t suck at all.
September 19, 2012 at 7:25 pm
You have always been full of integrity to me, HK. I would make a joke here about class, but I’m drinking some VERY old Malibu rum mixed with cream soda out of a speedway cup, so I can’t really judge
September 19, 2012 at 10:51 am
Well you have done the right thing now and that’s what matters
Poor Holley! Yikes indeed…
September 19, 2012 at 10:57 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
September 19, 2012 at 11:04 am
Sharing a post by Bristol Palin doesn’t mean you beat your children.
Please stop combing through her posts.
September 19, 2012 at 11:07 am
It doesn’t?! I am shocked!!
September 19, 2012 at 1:10 pm
I can validate that. I can’t stand Bristol Palin, and my kids have CPS on speed dial. So there.
September 19, 2012 at 10:58 am
As I recall, you were the voice of reason and asked people to refrain from acts of hate or violence.
Unfortunately, the original hoax post sounded like something any number of my neighbors would say, so it was quite believable. In Texas, “King of the Hill” is considered a reality TV show.
September 19, 2012 at 12:45 pm
My husband was in Texas recently, went to a restaurant and ordered a veggie burger and when he got it, it had bacon on it.
September 19, 2012 at 12:51 pm
I KNOW, I CAN PROVE IT
September 19, 2012 at 12:55 pm
I’m pretty sure you can get baconated milk there. They’ll add meat to anything.
September 19, 2012 at 1:25 pm
There was a piece of bacon floating in my IV bag during the heart bypass surgery I had in Dallas.
True Story.
September 19, 2012 at 1:35 pm
Dallas is where the “Ranch IV” was invented, I believe.
September 19, 2012 at 1:08 pm
I thought George Washington said that.
September 19, 2012 at 1:44 pm
You jest, but there are actually laws on the books here against “disparaging Texas beef industry, Texas beef or beef products”. Sadly, we aren’t the ONLY state that has that sort of law, either.
Meat Disparagement Laws
And bacon here is treated more as a condiment than anything else, which is why it comes on damned near everything.
September 19, 2012 at 5:27 pm
“Pardonnez-moi, madame, voulez-vous du bacon fraîchement râpé sur votre dessert?”
September 19, 2012 at 8:01 pm
Is it bad that I’m sitting here laughing hysterically over the idea of ‘disparging meat?’ Because I have this mental image of a radical vegan standing over a steak shaking their finger at it and yelling “Bad meat Evil Meat!”
I was glad, however, to see that Iowa was not on the list. We produce a fair amount of beef and pork here, and the idea that they could fine someone for complaining about meat struck me as almost too surreal to be true.
September 19, 2012 at 11:00 am
Your original post about not overreacting was more on target than you knew. Thanks for doing the legwork to follow up on this. The internet owes this woman a huge apology. Internet, I think you need a time-out to think about your behavior.
September 19, 2012 at 11:24 am
Also, this is a really good argument for never ever posting anything like this without redacting the name, even on one’s own fb page.
September 19, 2012 at 11:05 am
Your chagrin is understandable, but you used the image to deliver a fantastic message. You did not incite the mob to go after Holley Biffle.
September 19, 2012 at 11:09 am
Oh wow, HK, definitely a learning experience for us. You are keeping your audience informed & I think you deserve a pass for passing the truth in hopes that it follows the misinformation from before.
I know I wanted to vent some vitriolic spew at her the first time around yet I heeded your message that doing so would make me an intolerant member of the LGBTQIA-to-Z community. I’m glad that I didn’t. But … I did share it on my FB page. I hope after I share this update that any of my FB followers also noted your message.
I hope Holley is forgiving.
September 19, 2012 at 11:36 am
You did what you thought was right, but then when it turned out that you’d been yanked, you REALLY DID THE RIGHT THING. I am a HUGE believer in the power of apologizing and trying to set things right. (Unlike a friend of mine who tweeted a number of catty/nasty remarks, was called out on them, and then deleted them and pretended nothing had happened. She lost a LOT of respect that night, not just mine.) This is a shining example of something I’ve talked to friends about. Brava, Helen! Your cold dark soul has a spark of light.
September 19, 2012 at 11:37 am
I feel your pain but proud that your initial reaction was a call for non-violence. We could have come across this story ourselves without your initial Jiminy Cricket focus and spread this hatetrolling farther
September 19, 2012 at 11:58 am
But you’re the best kind of wrong– you came right out and said you were wrong and apologized. You were wrong in all the right ways. Just like my love for vodka.
September 19, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Don’t be embarrassed. I suspect the entire reason they contacted you, as opposed to the hundreds of other places that reposted it, was your measured and sane response. And look at it this way: now you’ve provided a platform for this woman to declare her innocence.
September 19, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Could you pass on an “I’m sorry this happened to you.” to Ms Biffle for me?
September 20, 2012 at 8:07 pm
Add mine to that? Though I didn’t write anything, I did think a few things, and for that, I’m deeply sorry.
September 19, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Regardless of the authenticity of the image, your message was one of pissy tolerance, not a call to attack. People need to learn more passive aggression these days. Some people’s children, gawh
September 20, 2012 at 9:26 pm
But April, you were right in your intention to expose and villify intolerance and abuse. Your heart was in the right place, as always. That’s one of the many reasons we love you, and that should be all that matters. Sadly, it wasn’t, but the fraud of the posting was NOT your fault…
Love and support – always…
Mr. Pete.
September 19, 2012 at 10:43 am
Glad I didn’t jump on this bandwagon.
Should do something nice for the lady
September 19, 2012 at 10:55 am
Second the motion to do something really nice for Holley.
September 19, 2012 at 10:56 am
Your heart is in the right place, but I think she’s had enough of strangers reaching out for any reason right now.
September 19, 2012 at 11:01 am
I would vote for leaving the poor woman alone. I don’t think any reminders of this incident would be welcome at this point. I know I wouldn’t want any more attention.
September 19, 2012 at 11:05 am
Well, I wouldn’t mind signing my name to a big heart-felt apology letter, presented in a public forum. Wait, I kinda just did: Sorry Holley. The internet can be gross and terrible sometimes. You are obviously a good mamma and a nice person.
Love, Kristi
September 19, 2012 at 10:43 am
We learned a lot from this.
September 19, 2012 at 11:03 am
And I think we might have a new name for defamation cases where bastard trolls are involved — “a biffle”.
September 19, 2012 at 10:44 am
Thank you, April, for bringing this new information to light. I’m more than slightly ashamed that I got so angry over the supposed status posted, but glad I didn’t join or post to any facebook page attacking her.
I’d appreciate it if you could pass on my apologies for my anger, as it was a kneejerk reaction based on personal bias and personal history toward anyone who abuses a child, regardless of whether it is emotional, physical, psychological or ideological.
September 19, 2012 at 10:45 am
wow, the stress she must have gone through.
September 19, 2012 at 10:45 am
It’s a bit worrying how much hatred can be generated purely from a hoax….even worse if it were to come to the offline realm.
Glad this is getting cleared up.
September 19, 2012 at 10:47 am
It’s truly disturbing. What an evil thing to do. I can’t believe people like that exist.
September 19, 2012 at 12:11 pm
I have a friend that has a teenage daughter. This daughter does not have a Facebook account but someone/some people at her school continually make accounts using her name, using pictures of her (mostly cell phone ones), and post things as if she were saying them. It’s so easy for them to do, all they need is an email address. Some people just suck.
September 19, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Just think what they could accomplish if they decided to do something constructive and good with their time. Trolls and bullies leave me feeling tired.
September 19, 2012 at 11:09 am
Most hatred is hoaxed up. I’d bring up Hitler, but Godwin’s Law, etc.
September 19, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Why did that get downthumbed?
September 19, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Hitler hates laws?
September 19, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Hitler didn’t like thumbs
September 19, 2012 at 10:46 am
Anyone who jumped on the Holley-hate bandwagon because the screencap was posted in the forums and later on the site missed the point of being part of the Regretsy community.
September 19, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Amen! Even if the comments were real, it’s not like she did menstrual art or ate human placenta, for Goddess’ sake.
September 21, 2012 at 9:27 pm
I first saw it on my tumblr feed, where I’ve seen many legit displays of similar ignorance/hate before it. I took it as just another example of homophobia, and since Ionly ever see on facebook on my phone, I didn’t know what a photoshopped status would look like, compared to a real one, because people still use shitty ways of saving/cropping images that trash the quality.
Due to tumblr’s nature, I can’t take back any reblogs my own post might’ve had, but I’ve deleted that post so it can’t be reblogged from me again, and issued a public apology to Hollie and her family with a link to this page for others to read HK’s findings.
September 19, 2012 at 10:46 am
Can we go beat up Trolls? Not that I can beat up anything tougher than Nutella…
September 19, 2012 at 10:52 am
How about we say screw the trolls and share a jar of Nutella with Holley?
September 19, 2012 at 11:15 am
That would work, provided it’s the REALLY BIG jar.
September 19, 2012 at 12:14 pm
What am I going to do with my burning torch and pitchfork
September 19, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Hot, well-stirred Nutella?
September 19, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Fiery barn dance? Take pics and sell them on etsy. All that barnwood would sell a lot of pics.
September 19, 2012 at 1:20 pm
I have GIANT MARSHMALLOWS!!!
Oops, sorry. I should never bend over between mirrors.
September 19, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Pics?
September 19, 2012 at 10:47 am
Yikes….
September 19, 2012 at 10:48 am
but in a way, in concerns to your former post on this, regarding not taking the law into your own hands- goes to show. as you shouldn’t just react on impulse, and secondly any intended violence would be totally unnecessary in both scenarios, both innocent and guilty
September 19, 2012 at 10:48 am
If only we could harness this hate that gets generated whenever some troll posts something, be it a fake FB message, or a video depicting one’s religious icon in an unfavorable light.
September 19, 2012 at 10:54 am
If we could harness that energy, we would never need fossil fuels ever again! Of course, that would involve feeding the trolls…
September 19, 2012 at 10:49 am
I was immediately suspicious. Anyone with the surname Biffle could be only whimsicle to the point of whimsy overload, not hateful.
September 19, 2012 at 10:52 am
Damn shame. I’m glad she got the chance to speak for herself … cannot imagine how horrible that must be. Hope they catch the dude/dame who did this. I’d also hope that someday the Internet will learn that threats and verbal abuse aren’t how you get things done, but I don’t hold out much hope.
September 19, 2012 at 6:45 pm
yah but I just know some impenetrable cranium head out there will still believe this is all true. They will still believe it is true even though they are proven wrong, and have all the evidence in the world. Sadly this lady will still probably continue to get harassed in some way or form.
September 19, 2012 at 10:54 am
It’s incredible and sad. Now I’m off to thumb up more meaningful and stylish comments than this one.
September 19, 2012 at 10:56 am
Thank you for doing the research on this and getting the real story out there.
September 19, 2012 at 11:07 am
Indeed. I’m passing it on.
September 19, 2012 at 10:59 am
Ugh how unfortunate. I posted the link to the original post and someones (very hillarious) comment on my fb, but I couldn’t ever imagine doing more than that. Too many friends of mine have been the butt of internet hate wars, that I would never want to put that on someone else- even if those words had actually been hers. Stuff like this unfortunately is becoming all too common as everyone is able to hide behind anonymity. assholes.
September 19, 2012 at 11:00 am
Jeez that’s horrible. Damn troll mutha fukuh.
September 19, 2012 at 11:01 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
September 19, 2012 at 11:08 am
I’m given to understand the entire screen cap was a hoax – with all person’s named being victims. No?
September 19, 2012 at 11:15 am
Yes. Who knows what Crystal Salas was even responding to.
September 19, 2012 at 11:29 am
I was joking. And just to clarify before Regretsy posts it, no, I did not beat my kid for walking home with a troll.
September 19, 2012 at 11:45 am
But if your kid starts hanging out with them under bridges and shaking down pedestrians for “toll” money, you have to take action. Grounding, maybe.
September 19, 2012 at 11:05 am
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September 19, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Considering that we just found out the poor woman has been a victim of some really nasty trolling that has threatened her and her family’s safety, do you REALLY think this is the time to be making fun of her name?
September 20, 2012 at 8:16 pm
And we FJL do not stoop to the level of making fun of people’s names or what they look like…That is below us. We’re about pulling apart their crappy “art” and how they react to our *negativity*… And supporting totally worthy causes.
September 19, 2012 at 11:07 am
I know a couple of people in real life who are completely capable of being this vindictive and cruel to someone they feel has ‘wronged’ them.
Call it karma, higher power, or whatever… but I genuinely believe these sorts of people are, deep down, miserable jerks who get exactly what they dish out in the end.
I’m glad this turned out to be a hoax. Sad for the victim though.
September 19, 2012 at 1:11 pm
Sadly if they are sociopaths (who are more common than people usually realize and are often the perpetrators of this nonsense) they will never feel an inkling of remorse or connect any misfortune they receive with anything bad they have ever done. I guess missing out on ever feeling love may be punishment enough though.
September 19, 2012 at 11:07 am
Let’s recall that April’s original intention was to discourage people from sharing Holly’s home and work addresses or otherwise harming her. I hope Holly understands that we reacted to a fake person and action, not her.
As for whoever started this shitstorm up, I hope your computers all get a virus that sends your financial information to the “Prince of Nigeria”, if you know who I mean.
September 19, 2012 at 11:10 am
Zippy, I appreciate that. But I still accepted it as real without even thinking. I feel really bad about that.
September 19, 2012 at 11:20 am
You’re setting the right example, though.
September 19, 2012 at 11:21 am
I agree. Everyone makes mistakes.
September 19, 2012 at 12:02 pm
That is why Erasers have Pencils attached, as Dad used to say…
September 19, 2012 at 8:16 pm
But you also had the cajones, when someone contacted you and told you the truth, to admit that you’d been wrong and let the rest of us know it was a troll. I know a lot of people who are incapable of saying “I made a mistake,’ even if it means letting those around them believe their original statement was true. you’re classier than that-it’s why we love you.
September 19, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Wasn’t this already going around before you posted it? Sure, you made a mistake, but you also gave this woman maybe one of the only venues and opportunities for getting her truth out before it went crazy viral. I’d say your mistake was a necessary and forgivable one since it led to this truth-telling.
Hope you feel better about it!
September 19, 2012 at 11:20 am
This kind of shows you how much “power” you wield (even if it’s unwanted) with this site. Sort of strange, if you think about it.
-I don’t mean that in a bad way, I just mean that it makes you step back a bit and realize how large this has become.
September 19, 2012 at 11:41 am
H, you’re HUMAN. We have things called “brains” that screw with us and other things called “emotions” that can warp our perceptions. Vagrarian’s Law of the Three F’s holds that we are ALL Flawed, Fallible, and Frail. You reacted to something that punched your buttons, but also did so in a measured, reasoned way, not with over-the-top drama like some would do. You deserve credit for that, and a big hug and kiss on the cheek (at least) for having the DECENCY to stand up and say that you’d been fooled, along with so many others, and calling for someone else to be treated decently. You are a Lady…maybe a Fat Jealous Lady, but a Lady nonetheless.
September 19, 2012 at 11:08 am
It’s just way too easy to spread things like this.
A local teen here just took her life last week because her “friends” started rumors about her on Facebook and no one would take 30 seconds to realize they weren’t true. Unfortunately, she wasn’t the first and she won’t be the last.
Our words don’t exist in a vacuum.
September 19, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Why are some people so awful? Rather, why do some people feel the need to act so awful?
September 19, 2012 at 11:11 am
WHAT? SOMEONE POSTED SOMETHING ON THE INTERNET THAT WASN’T TRUE? Meanwhile, other people work their butts off for years producing legitimate content and don’t build that kind of fan base. Guess we should stick with diddling ourselves.
September 19, 2012 at 11:12 am
Thank you Helen for being the voice of reason and taking the time and effort to check this out.
It’s like Abraham Lincoln once said, “Not everything on the Internet is accurate.”
September 19, 2012 at 11:26 am
It was part of the “Gettysburg Tweet.” If he hadn’t spelled out “87″ the way he did there would have been a bit more content.
September 19, 2012 at 11:15 am
It just shows how much is believed if its on the Internet. You only have to look at sites like Christwire, the hate those articles generate and the idiots that believe some of that stuff even though the whole site is well known to be fake for comedic value – doesn’t stop people getting angry for not reason.
I hope Holley is able to get this person stopped, attacking someone like that is so dangerous especially with the internets open format, you never know who could go that one step too far.
September 19, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Or The Onion – it amazes me that there are people out there who think those articles are real.
September 19, 2012 at 11:15 am
I don’t know, Helen, but forgive me for thinking that too far out: It just occurred to me that someone did this, not only to harm her, but to spite the Internet in its entirety. This person knew that people on the Net would get judgmental, and they exploited, not only Biffle, but everyone else on the Net.
But the response you offered, both before and after you discovered the truth, proved that loser wrong. Your humility and tact are worthy of emulation. Thanks so much for that example!
September 19, 2012 at 11:25 am
The internet really takes the “herd mentality” to frighteningly large proportions. It’s almost like witch-burnings are coming back. Part of me just wants to unplug from it. But the other part of me enjoys making my stupid jokes on this site.
September 19, 2012 at 11:31 am
Part of me also enjoys you making stupid jokes on this site. *sits back and enjoys 360 degree view from glass house*
September 19, 2012 at 11:57 am
There’s a lot of love in this room….probably like 17 hearts per pixel.
ALL RIGHT, GROUP HUG, EVERYBODY!!!!!
September 19, 2012 at 11:35 am
I think people are so tired of being helpless and having only one voice. The internet has given us a way to be a big voice, almost immediately, and it’s powerful.
You can get Paypal to cave in, The Oatmeal can punish plagiarists, a bus monitor who gets bullied by kids gets hundreds of thousands of dollars. It feels great.
But with great power comes great responsibility, and we’re often too in the moment to think critically.
September 19, 2012 at 11:47 am
But it’s also the world’s biggest cave to hide out in and anonymously throw rocks from the darkness, you know?
To add to my post above, I don’t tend to go in for herd mentality, and I’m glad. I was really fortunate to come from two brilliant and skeptical parents who made sure I cross-referenced any facts I thought I knew starting at an early age. It’s saved me from embarrassment many times over the years.
When my grandmother died, the New York Times ran her obituary article with the headline “Mary Jane Melish, Champion of Unpopular Causes, Dies at 87.” I always loved that because she defended her beliefs and never joined the herd.
September 20, 2012 at 12:46 pm
That is Great!…that is exactly what I want to be remembered for as my legacy!
BRAVO!!!!
September 19, 2012 at 12:00 pm
The power of the internet at its best: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/19/chick-fil-a-anti-gay-organizations-funding-ceased_n_1896580.html
September 19, 2012 at 1:32 pm
If that’s true, then that IS a good thing that the internet community has accomplished.
Again, why the downthumbs?
September 19, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Right. I’m not saying my faith has totally been restored in humanity or anything crazy like that, but it goes to show that the internet can be used for good. It can give a voice to the voiceless, power to the powerless (that includes the downthumbers). Even if this is bullshit, someone is listening and changes are being made, one way or another. This is just one historic example. I felt it was appropriate.
September 19, 2012 at 11:28 am
I hope this opened up the door for something good to come out of it. I don’t want to believe all humanity is doomed.
September 19, 2012 at 11:29 am
This is exactly why I don’t have Facebook and nrver will. Too easy for some troll to target you and make life miserable.
September 19, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Why stop at Facebook? Why not just delete the browser from your computer? It’s no easier to to target you on Facebook than any other message board or social site.
September 19, 2012 at 4:45 pm
i don’t stop at Facebook. I don’t do Twitter or any of them. I go on here and one other website. I post anonymously. I don’t post personal information or my picture. If I want someone to know something about me I tell them. People think the Internet is just a happy place where everyone is having fun and it can be. It can also be place for trolls psychos deviants and just plain shit stirrers.
September 21, 2012 at 12:16 pm
You missed my point. You clearly DO use the internet. Do you use an anonymizer on your browser and a proxy server? No? Then it’s really not that hard to find out who you are. Really. Even if you do, it’s not impossible. So what?
The WHOLE WORLD is a “place for trolls psychos deviants and just plain shit stirrers.” You don’t stop leaving your house because someone could follow you. You don’t stop using knives in your kitchen because they could cut you. Life is about understanding how things work and using tools properly and safely–including the internet. Regretsy is no “safer” than Facebook. (Sorry, April. But it’s not.)
September 19, 2012 at 1:16 pm
The problem is, like someone mentioned above, anyone can create an account with your name on it – even with your picture or a recognizable avatar you use for another online account. So nobody’s really safe from having this done to them.
September 19, 2012 at 1:19 pm
They can make fake Facebook pages in your name, as has been noted. Or post a Photoshop fake screenshot that makes it look like you have one. You don’t even have to own a computer to run afoul of this sort of thing, if someone really has it in for you.
I don’t think that setting up a profile just to fend off trolls makes sense, but, damnit, it’s my internet too and fuck those who’d drive me off it.
(I, personally, have enough of an online presence that if someone pulled this on me, my friends would know it didn’t sound like me. So, for me, being active online is the first step in defending against this sort of crap. But we’re all vulnerable, regardless.)
September 22, 2012 at 12:02 pm
And again, it kind of depends on what you mean by “can.” Technically, both Facebook and Google+, UNLIKE Twitter and, say, Regretsy, have a “real names” policy. You can’t have multiple accounts and you can’t use a fake name. In theory. In practice, Facebook seldom checks, and G+ has loosened this because they had been banning real people whose real names didn’t “seem like real names” to them. A “profile for fending off trolls” would be a policy violation at Facebook and G+.
The BEST way to avoid this is to not use the internet AT ALL. I don’t know that that is reasonable in 2012. The second best way, as .Rana. says, is to have a fairly broad online presence. (It’s not to limit your online presence to only a couple of places and avoid Facebook and Twitter et al) You should in so far as possible always use the same username across sites and your real name only on “real name” sites like Facebook.
September 19, 2012 at 3:25 pm
Facebook is evil, I’m with you on not having one. Yes people can make up all kinds of crap on Photoshop but putting more and more information on yourself out there in the cyber world just makes it even easier.
September 19, 2012 at 11:33 am
Your update at the end literally chilled me.
I hope the facebook group that didn’t get deleted (the one you had some interactions with), offers an apology to Ms. Biffle.
September 19, 2012 at 11:33 am
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September 19, 2012 at 11:37 am
Be careful. This is apparently a No-Snark thread.
September 19, 2012 at 11:38 am
I want to know why Ms. Biffle allows her FB page to be public enough for people to read it? If this had happened to me, I would have been off of FB for good. At the very least, no one would be able to see my posts or my photo or any information at all for that matter except my family. I hope she does this, because none of us has any business looking at her life whatsoever.
September 19, 2012 at 11:48 am
I have urged her to make it private, but I think she wants people to know she is the real Holley Biffle, and not another troll.
September 20, 2012 at 10:58 am
Yay for her! I’m glad she’s not letting the troll win. It will take some time for the truth to get around (and the truth is never as exciting as the lie, especially in this case) and she’s leaving herself open for all sorts of crap by people who don’t know or don’t care about the reality of the situation, but that shows guts. Years from now her kids will find out about this and I hope that they are proud of her standing up to the troll…but it’s strange to think that the Internet will be such a part of their lives and that “Holly Biffle” will forever exist as a search term.
Excuse me, I have kids to throw off my lawn and this cane isn’t going to shake itself.
September 19, 2012 at 12:15 pm
I’ve found that people have differing tolerance for public status, and also some people who don’t make the connection with privacy. I have a friend who has a friend who was bitching about Facebook’s privacy problems. I went to his page and discovered he had everything set to “Public.” I replied back with detailed instructions on how to increase the privacy settings, assuming he didn’t realize he could hide his information from the public. He replied back angrily that he knew how to make things private, he WANTED everyone to be able to see all his information. It still doesn’t connect with him the he could reduce or eliminate his privacy issues by using non-public settings on Facebook. It’s all Facebook’s fault.
September 21, 2012 at 7:38 am
It’s almost like people want to create drama for themselves.
September 22, 2012 at 12:05 pm
That’s exactly what it’s like! You’re right! Not just online, either. I meet so many people who seem bent on creating difficulties so they can whine about the “unfairness” of it all!
September 19, 2012 at 12:00 pm
An ex-boyfriend of mine once fabricated fake screen shots and tried to use them in court against me during a harassment suit. It was insane. I felt so crazy and helpless and afraid. Thankfully the judge had a cooler head and knew it was bullshit. Thanks for your cool head and for clearing this up, Helen.
September 19, 2012 at 12:00 pm
ppl just wanna be a part of some cult so they can rally for something together and feel self righteous XD
September 19, 2012 at 12:18 pm
There is nothing wrong with feeling self-righteous when you read a post (even a fake one) – I do it all the time! However – I also have a little sticker on the top of my monitor that reads “DO NOT ENGAGE”
Being reminded not to get involved in other people’s drama has saved me from doing numerous stupid things. Now, when somebody posts something stupid or offensive I just follow the advice on the sticker and let somebody else get into a fight.
September 19, 2012 at 12:24 pm
a-fucking-men. My husband tells me the same thing when I get mad at stupid FB-for once he is right
September 19, 2012 at 12:49 pm
My husband and I call that our “Don’t poke the sheep” policy. I have to continually remind him of it, though.
September 20, 2012 at 11:02 am
Huh. “Don’t poke the sheep” is a sampler in my parents’ house. My great-grandmother stitched it. I always thought that it had something to do with my great-grandfather and the farm animals, but now I see it’s about the Internet. So, my great-grandparents knew about the Internet that long before it was even invented? Awesome!
September 19, 2012 at 12:21 pm
HK I think we were all fooled by the jerk who I am fantasizing about dope slapping upside the head-what kind of person does such a thing….I apologize to Holley for ever considering she had posted this-it is shitty and I should know better about the stupid Internet-SHAME SHAME SHAME on me.
September 19, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Dear Holley Biffle,
I’m sorry I called you an asshole.
I’m the asshole.
Sincerely,
The Asshole
*facepalm*
September 19, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Holley is the wonderful mother to two of my grandchildren. I want you all to know that this horror is far from over for her. Rather than commenting to each other you need to help stop this. It has gone viral and Holley is facing threats by the minute. Her faith in humanity and all that was good is gone. There are multiple pathetic and deranged people who have taken this to an extreme. Retracting this story, which was never substantiated or investigated when posted, is not enough. Holley has become a victim of something that is getting worse by the hour. We all have social responsibility and yours is being called upon now. Thank you.
September 19, 2012 at 12:37 pm
I acknowledge that I was wrong for accepting the update as real without verifying it, and I have apologized to Holley. But even when I thought it was true, I was calling for people to exercise restraint and not to call, harass or threaten her. I was also repeatedly told by Facebook that the posts targeting her did not meet their standards for “abuse.”
I agree we have a social responsibility, but apart from posting this new information and emailing several news outlets, I’m not sure what else to do. Can you make suggestions for us?
September 19, 2012 at 1:32 pm
If you Google Holley Biffle, of course there are the links here, and others from non-fb sites. Posting the truth there, and on Tumblr, and anywhere else the original lie appears, en masse, might help stem the tide.
I feel terrible for Ms. Biffle, and pretty terrible about humanity in general right about now.
September 19, 2012 at 2:18 pm
I can’t find the original post (but I get this sometimes when looking for recent ones), so I don’t know if the update is advertised there as well, but maybe put it in huge fonts in the beginning of the post will help then.
September 19, 2012 at 5:31 pm
I imagine that the original post was deleted due to it’s inaccurate nature. Better to have it gone, than be there and questionable.
However, screen shots of that post will continue to exist.
September 21, 2012 at 12:27 pm
I don’t think you should look for it, but if you REALLY need to see it, try the Wayback Machine or the Google cache.
September 19, 2012 at 1:55 pm
Personally, I didn’t react much to the story when I saw it in the forums. A brief, if that’s real that sucks, and I’m on my merry way.
April, I think you’ve done what you can and I don’t think you’ve done anything wrong. From what I saw you know your community and you saw something that had the possibility to get out of control and you tried to assert some common sense into the situation before it got too far. The best way I can see for you to do this is to make it a full post. This does regrettably bring more attention to the situation, however it was also a voice of reason, and it did appear to have stopped may people from taking more action.
I’m sorry this person was targeted, but I didn’t help to perpetuate this, nor did many of the other members of this community. The only responsibility I feel is to tell people not to be so stupid as to believe everything they read, and I do this anyway.
September 19, 2012 at 1:35 pm
I’m sincerely sorry your daughter was targeted like this. It’s vile and wrong and I can’t imagine the pain she’s in or the fear she’s experiencing. Please, let us know what more we can do to help beyond posting that this was a horrible hoax and contacting media as Helen Killer said.
September 21, 2012 at 12:24 pm
What exactly are you suggesting we have some responsibility to do? I am sorry, you are mistaken. I have no further “social responsibility” to Holley, nor do MOST of the people here. While I’m glad to help if you have some suggestions rather than guilt to pile on, laying on further guilt is not appropriate.
September 19, 2012 at 12:32 pm
I’m sorry. I’m sorry I jumped in and I’m sorry I was unkind with my words.
I hope the person who perpetrated this hoax has to answer for it.
I hope Holley is vindicated and will have peace shortly.
Again Holley, I’m sorry.
September 19, 2012 at 12:44 pm
UPDATE: Facebook has deleted a group created to “give Holley some tough love” after death threats were posted. The membership was over a thousand.
This is absolutely fucking appalling. Over a thousand people! WTF is wrong with humanity?!?
September 19, 2012 at 12:48 pm
There were some awesome people over there. I got threats for asking people not to contact her. It’s just all so completely ass-backwards and counter productive.
September 19, 2012 at 12:53 pm
That’s because people WANT to be indecent to each other. Politics justifies everything.
September 19, 2012 at 12:59 pm
People are desperate to find ANYTHING that confirms their fears, for some reason. I’ve never understood how that comforts in any way.
September 19, 2012 at 1:24 pm
And lashing out at an “approved” target as part of a mob action makes some people feel powerful. If they lack power in other parts of their lives, it can be addictive.
(I’ve been watching what can happen to outspoken women in the gaming and atheism communities, and it’s similarly vicious.)
September 19, 2012 at 1:54 pm
I don’t agree that people want to be indecent to each other. I don’t think that’s an inherent human trait. I think people tend to want to think they are the better, more “decent” person than others, and try to find groups and causes that justify that view. Then mob mentality takes over, and then indecency ensues.
September 19, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Not all those numbers were on the negative side. There were a lot of people who were questioning the original screen shot and calling out on the haters.
September 19, 2012 at 7:54 pm
That’s true. But the fact that they were not moderating comments and allowing people to post threats and personal information discredited the whole group.
September 19, 2012 at 9:19 pm
True as well
September 19, 2012 at 1:20 pm
When my kids went through their snarling, high-school-debate-fueled militant phases, I reminded them that just as they wouldn’t want someone snarling at them and trying to get them to change their position, they should have the same respect for those who disagree. I’m pretty sure that idea’s never been proposed before in the history of society and religion, but I like to call it “Mom’s Golden Rule” (working on copyright). It’s human nature to lash out, but learning to spout off to like-minded friends or to the invisible passenger in your car is preferable, I’ve found. Plus, gin.
September 19, 2012 at 1:25 pm
I was totally oblivious to this whole mess, but still have to say that I’m PROUD to be part of an online community with such huge scruples. Thanks, guys.
September 19, 2012 at 7:48 pm
You spelled “balls” wrong.
September 19, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Makes me long for the days when all I had to worry about was someone shopping my face onto a pornstar’s body.
September 19, 2012 at 2:27 pm
I always worried that someone would photoshop my body onto Gene Shalit’s face.
September 19, 2012 at 6:31 pm
I always worried that someone would photoshop my face onto a baboon’s body and people would just ask me if I’d lost weight.
September 19, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Prayers to that poor lady & her child. Seems also kinda like stalking. And people who are truly following any God, do not hate!
September 19, 2012 at 2:59 pm
I came out of lurk mode for this! I agree, I think we should do something to help her – even if we hadn’t added to the initial problem. She’s going to be really hurting from all the venom spewed her way, and it’s going to last a long time. I think we should all post the truth on allof the social media pages we use, so maybe the truth will live as long as the hate. I also think we should do an April’s Army for her as she will no doubt have some financial problems coming: change of phone, address, po box, name, hair color, child’s school, maybe job, legal fees, who knows.
September 19, 2012 at 4:15 pm
As her husband is in the military, I sincerely hope that they will step up for him and his family if the need arises.
I will not repost the truth on social media outlets for the simple reason that most people don’t want to know the truth. I know that from experience.
Reposting the truth will also simply alert previously unaware people to the original and who knows where that will go.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
September 20, 2012 at 11:12 am
Elmgems’ idea is a good-hearted one, but your point of letting the matter die is a measured, rational one.
I told a coworker (a good friend who is also gay) about it and yes, we joked about the “his butt and my hand are going to be sore tonight” line, because we’re snarky and we make non-PC comments frequently, and we know when the other is kidding. I’m going to tell him about this today. He’ll be happy, as I am, that it’s not true…but sad, as I am, that a troll went to such lengths to attack someone who had done nothing wrong.
September 19, 2012 at 4:17 pm
I’ve had something similar happen to me. This is why I am so careful about my identity and such on the boards.
Even though no one I knew would believe I would do the heinous things I was accused of, it hurt. It still hurts. And it happened because I am a good person who cares and stood up for others against the culprits. No good deed goes unpunished.
I am going to tell you this: police are usually reluctant to do much more than file reports. Some webmasters will take things down. Others won’t. Twitter won’t do jack for you; they won’t get involved in what they call “personal conflicts.”
I was lucky no one believed the lies. I am also lucky I do not have a job or SO to lose. I am lucky people did not buy into the crap and spread it around.
I am as guilty as anyone for not checking the veracity of viral stories every time. This is a wake-up call. Shame on me, because I actually DO know what it is like to be the victim of such a hoax.
September 19, 2012 at 4:45 pm
I emailed a plea for name-clearing help to Snopes.com.
September 19, 2012 at 5:14 pm
If you want to help, post a link to this page from your Facebook account. If you have a blog or a tumblr, post the link there. We need to outnumber the fake posts.
She is still receiving death threats (and threats to kill her children), since that horrible Facebook page published her address.
Thanks.
September 19, 2012 at 5:40 pm
No, sorry.
No one I know on FB knows about the original post and I will not refuel the fire by posting this.
I’m sincerely sorry that she is receiving death threats. However, I also sincerely believe that by posting this, it will only make the matter worse.
September 19, 2012 at 5:41 pm
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September 19, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Are you blind, stupid, or completely deficient in reading comprehension? We expressly asked our readers NOT to harass Ms. Biffle. It couldn’t have been more clear.
I dunno, maybe you’re just some idiot high school student? The fact that you tried signing us up for a bunch of dumb mailing lists (under the name “Cyber H. Bully” – hilarious!) would be a good indicator of that. I’m surprised you didn’t have a dozen pizzas sent to our house.
September 19, 2012 at 7:50 pm
I’m waiting for her to ask us if our refrigerator is running.
September 19, 2012 at 8:09 pm
Beware the burning bag of “internet” on the front porch. Don’t step in it, just throw water on the flames or let them burn out on their own. It’ll stink but whaddya gonna do?
September 19, 2012 at 9:20 pm
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September 19, 2012 at 9:28 pm
I know it wasn’t directed at her. I know it was directed at us. You’re still not making any sense.
And you’re also a complete hypocrite. Here’s the difference between you and us:
Us: We asked people to stop harassing a woman who was being spammed, stalked, harassed and threatened.
You: Signed us up for spamming e-mails and mailing lists, because you’re a child.
How are you still not getting that the entire point of our post WAS TO GET PEOPLE TO LEAVE HOLLEY BIFFLE ALONE? Where did we lose you?
September 19, 2012 at 9:54 pm
Don’t you get it Bronc? It doesn’t matter that the image had already gone viral by the time we saw it. It doesn’t matter that we made a public appeal to leave her alone and stop posting her contact information on Facebook. What matters is that we’re signed up for coupon newsletters now, and we’re going to save a shitload of money on cat food.
September 19, 2012 at 11:32 pm
cat food casserole again?
September 20, 2012 at 10:28 am
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September 20, 2012 at 11:30 am
1. Ever read Regretsy’s FAQs? Try it. They’re in simple English. You shouldn’t have a problem.
2. Sellers TALK about shutting down their shops because they feel so humiliated? Examples, please! Chinese resellers have shut down…and likely reopened under another name. Chinese resellers do not know personal humiliation.
3. Some of the sellers featured have been THRILLED to be featured here and have shown a good sense of humor. Some have even edited their copy to BOAST that they’ve been featured on Regretsy.
4. The sellers that have been featured frequently find that traffic to their shop and yes, even sales, have increased. And you know who buys many of the things featured that are sold? Helen…if the rest of us don’t beat her to it.
5. If you decide to attack me, have at it. I’ve read your other posts and I love me some cupcake butthurt, even the poor quality stuff.
September 20, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Here’s my take (and I also don’t mean to fight and argue with you): I’m sure you’re a nice person, as am I.
When you post something on the internet, it’s completely open to: critique, raves or complete disinterest. I feel that if someone can’t handle critique (even “joking” critique like here, which would be considered a mild form of it), then that person should just sell locally or just to friends. Nobody here intends to “ruin” someone. If someone makes a crocheted unicorn hat for a cat, then people are going to react to it in different ways- some with delight, some with laughter, some with disinterest. That’s just the way the world is. Humor is varied, however, and some people (yourself included) do not appreciate the type of humor found on this site, or The Onion, or The Daily Show: this is perfectly fine, you or anyone else who doesn’t like this place don’t have to come here. It’s optional.
September 20, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Yes Matt, she’s definitely a nice person:
Gee thanks, disastrous! You’ve taught us all a valuable lesson about respect, and how to be nice to each other on the internet.
September 20, 2012 at 12:45 pm
I was being diplomatic, and perhaps a little dry. That dumb comment is why I referenced the crocheted unicorn cat hat out of nowhere (above). I’m assuming this lady is the “craftswoman” behind that hat. It’s the only comment she made on that entire post, and was a pretty budget attempt at comedy.
September 20, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Sometimes I forget that people can’t see when I’m typing through clenched teeth.
September 20, 2012 at 1:40 pm
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September 20, 2012 at 1:47 pm
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September 20, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Peace out.
September 20, 2012 at 1:52 pm
But you’re taking something personally that isn’t. These crafts are posted because they’re curious or funny, but that’s really just a jumping off point for jokes. If you read a lot of the threads, they veer off in wildly different paths from where they started. There are many people who have been featured here that joined and now have laughs with the rest of us. You just need a thick skin to hang out here. This site does a lot of charity work as well, but you wouldn’t know that if you didn’t dig a little to find out.
September 20, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Disastrous, I think you’d agree that people don’t have to like everything put in front of them. After all, you don’t like this site, even though you can’t stop posting here. So the sticking point is whether it’s okay to express your disdain in public. I say it is.
When you offer your work for sale, you’re asking for a reaction. You hope for a posiitive one, but it’s not owed to you. The buying public is not your mother.
It’s not just Etsy sellers who have to deal with that. Movies get brutal reviews, books are panned, television shows fail. Any work shown publicly risks public failure. The fact that some people can’t take it is not the public’s problem.
I’m okay with that because this way, everyone has their say. The artist expresses themselves, the audience voices its reaction. You may not like it, but it’s fair.
I don’t know Samantha, maybe we just have different styles. I put my name on my opinion and risk public disapproval. You’re a pussy who signs strangers up for spam.
September 20, 2012 at 1:51 pm
I’ve never seen HK attack a person individually. Ever. This site is never about criticizing people. In fact, most of the time we love the sellers whose products and crafts end up on this page. And as has already been mentioned, many see an increase in sales. Some have even joined April’s Army.
The individual who created this hoax is an asshole who viciously attacked a woman’s character and family with reckless intent. Nothing on Regretsy would threaten someone’s life, job or family. Mrs. Biffle could’ve been killed or attacked over this, her husband could’ve lost his job. Not comparable. At all.
September 20, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Be fair, we did make fun of Jackie Stallone. But it’s to be expected. Anyone who threatens ridiculous and baseless legal action is ripe for the mocking.
See Also: Dennis Waldron (still conferring with his attorneys over a year later?)
September 20, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Long line at Kinko’s.
September 19, 2012 at 6:12 pm
I understand Holley’s need to be protected from the Internet, whether with good or bad intentions, at the moment. And I agree that that’s probably for the best.
Still. I feel like there’s something we need to do. When I read her mother say that her faith in humanity is gone I literally burst into tears. This Is Not Okay. I wanna help this mama.
September 19, 2012 at 6:16 pm
George Carlin said it best….
“Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!”
We are all born suckers. But think about who is more stupid, some of us for believing it, or the person who has nothing better to do with their life than to start it in the first place.
Thanks
interwebsinternet!September 19, 2012 at 6:31 pm
HK, I sincerely appreciated your posture towards Ms. Biffle’s alleged status update in your original post; you may hate being the voice of reason, but I cannot tell you how refreshing it was to hear a celebrity calling for rationality instead of pitchforks. Now I appreciate and respect this site on a whole new level since the Biffle story been uncovered as a hoax. We were ALL deceived by this asshole impersonating her, but thank you for trying to spread reason and, subsequently, the truth.
I know you must feel terrible that your popularity inspired your more incendiary readers to display the very bigotry you spoke against… but if it’s any encouragement, both of your posts restored a little bit of my faith in humanity. Thank you.
September 19, 2012 at 7:46 pm
Very much in agreement mellowpear. Both posts restored a little of my faith as well.
September 19, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Even as a bisexual teenage girl who was offended by the hoax message I felt that the people harassing this woman were going too far. The internet over reacts to a lot of things and is truly a place which can show both the best and the worst of humanity.
Death threats don’t help anything.
In fact they make the situation worse than if you just leave it alone. They’re not going to make you look good and your threats of murder are far worse than a threat of beating legitimate or not.
On a different, slightly less related not, the fake Facebook shot at the bottom had me freaking out for a minute and wondering when the hell I decided that I was against my own rights as an autistic and slightly overweight female.
September 19, 2012 at 8:16 pm
I hope even more that people took my advice and made a donation to an LGBT charity in her name. This woman seems like she’d be pretty cool with charitable donations made to good causes in her name.
September 19, 2012 at 10:00 pm
makes perfect sense.
i thought there was something wrong w/ it when i realized her kid was not gonna be old enough to be walking home w/ somebody who was actually gay–i thought there was something wrong but i didnt know what it was. thank you for letting us know.
September 20, 2012 at 12:40 am
Good news is that page one of a Google search is now showing more of the ‘oops, it’s a hoax’ rather than ‘what a disgusting human being’.
There may yet be hope.
September 20, 2012 at 8:13 am
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September 20, 2012 at 4:44 pm
What, you mean they don’t look like a normal person? Really?
September 20, 2012 at 9:10 am
This, right here, is yet another reason I stay the fuck away from Facebook.
September 20, 2012 at 11:47 am
Actually, you don’t need have ANY internet presence for this to happen, let alone be on Facebook. All you need is for someone who dislikes you for whatever reason. They can create a phony Facebook account or blog with your name on it and post horrible things. Next thing you know, you get a truckload of pizzas get delivered to your doorstep, your tires are slashed, and no one wants to hire you.
The only way to prevent this 100% is to hole up in a cabin in Nebraska and stay the fuck away from people.
September 20, 2012 at 3:04 pm
I’m telling you. Humans, man.
September 20, 2012 at 4:42 pm
I’ve been on FB since 2008 or so, and this has never, ever happened to me, or my any of my friends, and I’m pretty sure it hasn’t ever happened to about 80% of the users.
You only ever hear about the bad experiences, which is why they are remembered.
The rule of thumb on FB, like any place on the internet – be smart and play safe.
September 20, 2012 at 7:21 pm
When I was in high school, I was constantly the target of slander. Kids who hated me would spread rumors that I’d been ranting racist/homophobic/generally hateful things. And other kids would believe them. Because I didn’t have many friends, there were few people to defend me: it was just my word against everyone else’s, and my word didn’t count for much when I was the one saying it. It’s a horrible experience; almost like having your identity stolen.
I can only imagine how much worse it would have been if Facebook/My Space/twitter had been around in those days (yes, I’m that old).
In light of this, I’m ashamed to remember that my first reaction to the hoax against Holley Biffle (which is actually libel, and prosecute-able) was to assume it was genuine. I eventually considered the possibility that it’s a hoax, but not until much later. So I’m somewhat bummed…
September 22, 2012 at 1:10 am
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-For-Holley-Biffle/228729847186464?ref=stream
September 22, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Oh my, some people on that page!
Insane Person: Until she can prove she didn’t write it, I’m going to believe she wrote it!
Sane Person: Er, how about, until you can prove she wrote it, don’t believe it.
September 22, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Well why not? Whenever I meet someone new, I usually believe they are a serial killer, until they can provide irrefutable proof that they aren’t.
This makes job interviews difficult.