Some users aren't always as they appear to be

I wanted to raise a little awareness and warn some of you that it's very easy for users to pretend to be someone they're not, here on the forums.

I don't particularly have a problem with users pretending to be someone else. For some its a bit of fantasy, a bit of fun. And if no harm is being done and no one is complaining there's little reason for me to get involved.

However it's quite easy for someone to pretend to be someone else with ill intentions. They might build up a trust with you to get information or pictures from you, things that they might hold against you later on. Or they might refuse to unlock you until you send them money.

I suspect most of you aren't bothered if a user is real or not and are happy to play along as if they are. If you're both having fun then that's cool.

For those that are pretending to be someone else please stick with the one persona. Don't create multiple accounts, especially not to attack another user that gets in your way. And don't create multiple accounts to have public conversations with your self to strengthen your image/story.

I've seen the mess caused when a user was outed here on the forums. And I've seen people leave because of it. I expect to see it again. That's why I wanted to write this post, so that hopefully they'll be less people upset when they find out that they were led on.

Be safe and have fun.

Thanks,
Kevin

It has just dawned on me that I'm probably being a bit hypocritical when I post as either of the 4 bots as I am myself pretending, and have intentionally left "bot" from their names, but my intentions are good

I do it to gauge interest, and to see if it's worth in the future looking at possibilities to automating locks and posts from them.

It takes me ages writing their posts to make sure they sound half convincing so I certainly couldn't take on their personalities long term >.<

People really to go to such lengths? Sounds worrying

Actually what we call this in the US is "catfishing".  You can read about catfishing here. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catfishing

Locking any users up by requiring they "trust" you and having them choose a no key option and then demanding they pay you for release is called blackmail. I do not engage in blackmail play. Not having a choice of getting out with a purchased key is a very poor decision. Things can happen in both the keyholder and lockee's life that could cause need to use the purchased key.

I want to encourage you all to really really think about what you're doing when you lock up with someone you dont know. If you weren't online would you give your key and trust to someone you haven't known for very long? I hope the fuck not!!  Go use a bot that you can get out of until you can at least go 24 hours in a lock. My personal recommendations are a week.

If you actually take the time (weeks or even more than a month) to get to know a keyholder, you can actually have a real authentic kick ass experience being locked. Isn't that what you're really after?

really sucks... but might as well move on and I am sure... fresh start... meaning, no old information for lurkers... for all of those that have been worried about that.