A Word on Skepticism

Ladies and Gents, I want to raise some awareness here in co-ed about an issue that seems to creep into many situations on ECCIE.

Last night, a user logged in and posted a thread regarding the death of a provider. It took us about 4 hours to be notified/figure out that this user was a troll, with previously banned handles and a track record of malicious behavior. They came here, posting such a story, in order to toy with ECCIE. Or possibly to hurt that provider's business.

Whatever the motive, their tactic would have been easily thwarted by a little patience and skepticism on the part of our user base.

I know the death of a fellow hobbyiest, provider, or even friend can be an emotional experience. But that's EXACTLY what this troll wanted. To see how people react.

Especially in cases such as a reported death, please RTM the post and let the moderators look into it. This isn't the first "mistaken early demise" we have had this year.

Please learn to take EVERYTHING you read on ECCIE with a grain of salt. Just because it's written here, doesn't make it true. Chances are, if it sounds too good to be true, or too bad to be true, or even sounds moderately out of the ordinary...it's very likely NOT true. Find other sources. Look for the best "facts" (for what they are worth on the Internet) that you can. But don't believe everything you read. It's just common Internet sense.

I fully understand that in the event of a real tragedy, people want to express their condolences. I just hope we can avoid being taken advantage of by fake members who prey on whatever "trust" they have by reporting an emotional event.

"Trust, but verify."

Hobby safe, all.

so that's not really you riding that donkey in your avatar?

Nope. I photoshopped in the horse.

Wow Duke, Thanks for the post.

Thank you, Duke.

I don't believe you.

+5 Internets for TheBizz!

I don't believe you. Originally Posted by TheBizz

+1! Can someone verify what DofG said?

you got it.

full out fuck you bitches mode before i believe any thing again....

Duke,

Is there any valid reason at all to keep that "Death Notice" thread in public view? If traces of the troll are left in public view, doesn't that feed him? People will still click the thread, especially since it is linked in this thread, and the view count will keep rising so even though banned, the troll keeps getting a laugh.

I know ECCIE prefers to not remove things but this should be one of those cases where it serves the entire community to remove it.

And since he made 2 posts, I'd bet the other one is an exact copy in Houston of the Dallas one so both need gone.

Nice work, Duke...I sure appreciate what you guys do.
(Kissing ass to avoid points...)

I need someone to post that I died. How can that be arranged?

Trying to avoid the ex?

Bolt...if you want the calls to stop, an obituary is the easy way out.

Thanks Duke you were quick to get to the bottom of this. The death notice of Missmelissa last year was along the same lines.