Question about creepy old AskMe post August 30, 2009 1:59 PM Subscribe
Question about creepy old AskMe post
I was reading through old posts and I came across this creepy question
After reading the thread I wondered if any of you had made contact with this woman. If you did, do you know if she's okay?
Mods? Would you know if she's still posting? (Obviously without revealing her name).
I have been forewarned that the previous Meta for this question (which I haven't been able to find) was a "shitstorm." Regardless of what her situation actually was, IMO she needs/needed concern rather than judgmentalism (? judgmentalness?) and fighting so I don't want to cause that again.
I was reading through old posts and I came across this creepy question
After reading the thread I wondered if any of you had made contact with this woman. If you did, do you know if she's okay?
Mods? Would you know if she's still posting? (Obviously without revealing her name).
I have been forewarned that the previous Meta for this question (which I haven't been able to find) was a "shitstorm." Regardless of what her situation actually was, IMO she needs/needed concern rather than judgmentalism (? judgmentalness?) and fighting so I don't want to cause that again.
Didn't it eventually turn out that the situation as described was lifted almost wholly from some novel or movie plot, thus making the whole thing a hoax? Humor my ignorance, please: what's the value of dredging it back up and pretending it was real?
posted by majick at 2:20 PM on August 30, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by majick at 2:20 PM on August 30, 2009 [3 favorites]
thanks vm for the link, carsonb.
majick, if the situation was lifted from a novel, then yep there is no value of bringing it back up. i would be relieved to find that was the case. reading the prior meta thread now to find out.
posted by Ashley801 at 2:29 PM on August 30, 2009
majick, if the situation was lifted from a novel, then yep there is no value of bringing it back up. i would be relieved to find that was the case. reading the prior meta thread now to find out.
posted by Ashley801 at 2:29 PM on August 30, 2009
Look, I haven't read this whole thread, but I just wanted to say that the question isn't someone working out the details of a book they're writing, it's someone stealing the details frm a book written 30-some years agoposted by niles at 2:40 PM on August 30, 2009
and this comment makes it pretty clear, too. thanks for your help, guys.
posted by Ashley801 at 2:42 PM on August 30, 2009
posted by Ashley801 at 2:42 PM on August 30, 2009
Oh yeah that's good, hunt down the paranoid person, what could go wrong?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:13 PM on August 30, 2009 [6 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:13 PM on August 30, 2009 [6 favorites]
Paranoid or someone intentionally crapping in AskMe?
posted by P.o.B. at 6:07 PM on August 30, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by P.o.B. at 6:07 PM on August 30, 2009 [1 favorite]
Still surprised no one got banned over that.
That's the one ikkyu2 left over, though. Still sad about that.
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:18 PM on August 30, 2009
That's the one ikkyu2 left over, though. Still sad about that.
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:18 PM on August 30, 2009
That's the one ikkyu2 left over, though. Still sad about that.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:18 PM on August 30 [+] [!]
QFT. That was sucky with a capital uck.
posted by ZakDaddy at 7:02 PM on August 30, 2009
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:18 PM on August 30 [+] [!]
QFT. That was sucky with a capital uck.
posted by ZakDaddy at 7:02 PM on August 30, 2009
Regardless of what her situation actually was, IMO she needs/needed concern
I don't think hoaxers need concern. However, if she was simply delusional and actually believed that the plot of a John MacDonald book was actually happening to her, just as it unfolded in the narrative, I think that the "see a therapist" suggestions were spot-on.
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:58 PM on August 30, 2009
I don't think hoaxers need concern. However, if she was simply delusional and actually believed that the plot of a John MacDonald book was actually happening to her, just as it unfolded in the narrative, I think that the "see a therapist" suggestions were spot-on.
posted by Sidhedevil at 7:58 PM on August 30, 2009
Oh yeah that's good, hunt down the paranoid person, what could go wrong?
I heard Bill Murray's voice saying this, à la Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters.
posted by exlotuseater at 8:49 PM on August 30, 2009 [5 favorites]
I heard Bill Murray's voice saying this, à la Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters.
posted by exlotuseater at 8:49 PM on August 30, 2009 [5 favorites]
And yeah, mixed feelings about ikkyu2's departure.
posted by exlotuseater at 8:53 PM on August 30, 2009
posted by exlotuseater at 8:53 PM on August 30, 2009
Yeah, at the time I was all in favor of taking the question seriously, because hey, it might be true. But in retrospect, the whole thing seems kinda silly and ridiculous.
And what a way for ikkyu2's storied history on MeFi to end! Although if I were him (or a member of any profession that had to sign a formal code of ethics) I'd probably avoid any AskMe that had anything at all to do with my profession. But I'm just kinda paranoid like that.
posted by Afroblanco at 10:08 PM on August 30, 2009
And what a way for ikkyu2's storied history on MeFi to end! Although if I were him (or a member of any profession that had to sign a formal code of ethics) I'd probably avoid any AskMe that had anything at all to do with my profession. But I'm just kinda paranoid like that.
posted by Afroblanco at 10:08 PM on August 30, 2009
Stalking anonymous askers by proxy probably falls outside the bounds of answering the question. I get that you're curious, but the asker specifically requested anonymity. Their continuing usage of this site is really none of your business.
posted by ryanrs at 11:18 PM on August 30, 2009
posted by ryanrs at 11:18 PM on August 30, 2009
CunningLinguist: That's the one ikkyu2 left over, though. Still sad about that.
Frankly, I'm still pissed off about it. He was a great, helpful person around here; but to collapse in a pile of anger and bitterness, throwing his anger around in a way that was sure to hurt more than a few people, finally slinging not one but two comments which were calculatedly cruel and unnecessarily assholish squarely at the two people who are most on his side most of the time here? Dick move. Not cool.
The comment in there that's always made the most sense is the very last one by nickyskye.
posted by koeselitz at 12:51 AM on August 31, 2009 [2 favorites]
Frankly, I'm still pissed off about it. He was a great, helpful person around here; but to collapse in a pile of anger and bitterness, throwing his anger around in a way that was sure to hurt more than a few people, finally slinging not one but two comments which were calculatedly cruel and unnecessarily assholish squarely at the two people who are most on his side most of the time here? Dick move. Not cool.
The comment in there that's always made the most sense is the very last one by nickyskye.
posted by koeselitz at 12:51 AM on August 31, 2009 [2 favorites]
That askme thread was amazing for it's insights into membership psyche. Very strong opinions on both sides and both sides seemed to think it was obvious that their side was right.
posted by Mitheral at 1:15 AM on August 31, 2009
posted by Mitheral at 1:15 AM on August 31, 2009
I can't help but add that I enjoyed rereading this:
desuetude: "I call bullshit on your knowledge of what a sailboat is.
It is commonplace for young childless couples to go on vacation. Sailing and hiking are incredibly common recreational activities. It's not as if she was claims to be goaded into a vacation featuring parkour, street luge, and wreck-diving."
I added links so we could all ponder what a great combo that is. I think we should deem it a new Olympic sport and come up with a name for it. Maybe name it after Travis McGee or something.
If there is actually a sport out there that combines parkour, street luge and wreck-diving I will immediately become a fan.
posted by batgrlHG at 1:52 AM on August 31, 2009
desuetude: "I call bullshit on your knowledge of what a sailboat is.
It is commonplace for young childless couples to go on vacation. Sailing and hiking are incredibly common recreational activities. It's not as if she was claims to be goaded into a vacation featuring parkour, street luge, and wreck-diving."
I added links so we could all ponder what a great combo that is. I think we should deem it a new Olympic sport and come up with a name for it. Maybe name it after Travis McGee or something.
If there is actually a sport out there that combines parkour, street luge and wreck-diving I will immediately become a fan.
posted by batgrlHG at 1:52 AM on August 31, 2009
"... If there is actually a sport out there that combines parkour, street luge and wreck-diving I will immediately become a fan."
posted by batgrlHG at 4:52 AM on August 31
Fan, shman. Would you become a participant without feeling someone was out to get you?
posted by paulsc at 1:58 AM on August 31, 2009
posted by batgrlHG at 4:52 AM on August 31
Fan, shman. Would you become a participant without feeling someone was out to get you?
posted by paulsc at 1:58 AM on August 31, 2009
Dear Ask Me: I think the guy who lived next door and delivered groceries for the corner store murdered his girl friend, chopped her up, and has kept her in a trunk for years. Furthermore, there's this other guy who works delivering groceries for the same corner store. I also think he murdered his girlfriend, cut her up, and maybe has plans to eat her.
What should I do?
______________________________
Hm. I wonder what Ask Me commenters would say? But these events actually happened, separated by a few years. Case one; case two. Both psychos were delivery guys for the same grocery; first guy lived next door to the house where we used to live (we lived two houses away from the grocery). Both events actually happened after we left, and I never met the second guy. The first guy I used to see almost every day when we lived there.
And thus, I've decided it's totally beyond me to judge what is too strange to be true.
posted by taz at 2:09 AM on August 31, 2009 [18 favorites]
What should I do?
______________________________
Hm. I wonder what Ask Me commenters would say? But these events actually happened, separated by a few years. Case one; case two. Both psychos were delivery guys for the same grocery; first guy lived next door to the house where we used to live (we lived two houses away from the grocery). Both events actually happened after we left, and I never met the second guy. The first guy I used to see almost every day when we lived there.
And thus, I've decided it's totally beyond me to judge what is too strange to be true.
posted by taz at 2:09 AM on August 31, 2009 [18 favorites]
No, don't eat it.
posted by ryanrs at 3:01 AM on August 31, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by ryanrs at 3:01 AM on August 31, 2009 [1 favorite]
If there is actually a sport out there that combines parkour, street luge and wreck-diving I will immediately become a fan.
Fuck, if they invent that sport, I'll give you an autograph on anything you care to name.
posted by dg at 5:12 AM on August 31, 2009
Fuck, if they invent that sport, I'll give you an autograph on anything you care to name.
posted by dg at 5:12 AM on August 31, 2009
I'm picturing this: First, put on your SCUBA gear. Then leap across a few rooftops (I know it's hard while wearing flippers, but hey, this isn't sailing!). At the last rooftop, make a diving leap onto a pre-positioned street luge. Careen down a curving road or two - you can drag a flipper to help steer. Come to a sudden stop at the waterfront and go flying into the water to look for wrecks.
posted by exogenous at 6:38 AM on August 31, 2009
posted by exogenous at 6:38 AM on August 31, 2009
taz: We went over that in the original MetaTalk. Please let's not re-open the theoreticals in this thread, too.
Open it, open it, don't make me work today, distract me with navel gazing philosophizing. Don't let me down Mefi, I need you!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:31 AM on August 31, 2009
Open it, open it, don't make me work today, distract me with navel gazing philosophizing. Don't let me down Mefi, I need you!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:31 AM on August 31, 2009
Ok, I repeatedly misread "wreck-diving" as "wreck-driving" and was imagining something akin to a demolition derby, but performed on city streets and most participants having no foreknowledge of the event.
posted by owtytrof at 8:00 AM on August 31, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by owtytrof at 8:00 AM on August 31, 2009 [3 favorites]
Come to a sudden stop at the waterfront and go flying into the water to look for wrecks.
If the aren't piloting the luges onto ramps that shoot them into the ocean, I'm not interested.
posted by Bookhouse at 8:01 AM on August 31, 2009
If the aren't piloting the luges onto ramps that shoot them into the ocean, I'm not interested.
posted by Bookhouse at 8:01 AM on August 31, 2009
Hm. I wonder what Ask Me commenters would say? But these events actually happened, separated by a few years. Case one; case two. ...
And thus, I've decided it's totally beyond me to judge what is too strange to be true.
A closer analogy would be if those events were described in a novel (one that didn't claim to be based on a true story), and then someone posted a question describing identical events, down to the smallest details, and claimed they happened to her in real life. Wouldn't you say it was a hoax? That's basically what happened here.
posted by Jaltcoh at 8:28 AM on August 31, 2009 [1 favorite]
And thus, I've decided it's totally beyond me to judge what is too strange to be true.
A closer analogy would be if those events were described in a novel (one that didn't claim to be based on a true story), and then someone posted a question describing identical events, down to the smallest details, and claimed they happened to her in real life. Wouldn't you say it was a hoax? That's basically what happened here.
posted by Jaltcoh at 8:28 AM on August 31, 2009 [1 favorite]
Open it, open it, don't make me work today, distract me with navel gazing philosophizing. Don't let me down Mefi, I need you!
But navel-gazing philosophy is my work, Brandon. Also: seconded.
posted by joe lisboa at 9:01 AM on August 31, 2009
But navel-gazing philosophy is my work, Brandon. Also: seconded.
posted by joe lisboa at 9:01 AM on August 31, 2009
Good came out of the thread! I became fond of Travis McGee and read a few of his books. The counter-culture Miami Vice ways of this swinging houseboat sleuth became endearing and less pulp.
You can imagine how excited I was, after finishing up the Travis McGee series to pick up Pynchon's new Inherent Vice and to see this line on page 97, "Why not get a houseboat up in the Sacramento Delta--smoke, drink, fish, fuck..." I practically jumped up out of my chair and shouted "Travis McGee!"
Somehow with Travis McGee, hanging out in a hot tub with a highball and some nice late 70s Caribbean coke doesn't seem skeezy in the least, dare I say he approaches the perfect man?
posted by geoff. at 9:10 AM on August 31, 2009
You can imagine how excited I was, after finishing up the Travis McGee series to pick up Pynchon's new Inherent Vice and to see this line on page 97, "Why not get a houseboat up in the Sacramento Delta--smoke, drink, fish, fuck..." I practically jumped up out of my chair and shouted "Travis McGee!"
Somehow with Travis McGee, hanging out in a hot tub with a highball and some nice late 70s Caribbean coke doesn't seem skeezy in the least, dare I say he approaches the perfect man?
posted by geoff. at 9:10 AM on August 31, 2009
Ok, I repeatedly misread "wreck-diving" as "wreck-driving" and was imagining something akin to a demolition derby, but performed on city streets and most participants having no foreknowledge of the event.
Yeah, that kinda had my hopes up too. At first I was like "WHAT CHANNEL IS THIS ON?? *sigh*
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:20 AM on August 31, 2009
Yeah, that kinda had my hopes up too. At first I was like "WHAT CHANNEL IS THIS ON?? *sigh*
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:20 AM on August 31, 2009
Ok, I repeatedly misread "wreck-diving" as "wreck-driving" and was imagining something akin to a demolition derby, but performed on city streets and most participants having no foreknowledge of the event.
If this sounds nifty - and it does - I'm going to have to suggest Rant by Palahniuk. It's a very similar subplot, but one that stuck with me.
posted by Weighted Companion Cube at 9:28 AM on August 31, 2009
If this sounds nifty - and it does - I'm going to have to suggest Rant by Palahniuk. It's a very similar subplot, but one that stuck with me.
posted by Weighted Companion Cube at 9:28 AM on August 31, 2009
Yeah, taz, a more appropriate analogy would be this:
So, MeFites, I have a broken leg and can't work at my job as a photographer. Recently, my girlfriend and I have been noticing some very suspicious behavior in the apartment across the way. My crusty old housekeeper says I'm crazy, but I'm going to send my girlfriend over to investigate. Also, the guy in the top-floor studio may or may not be writing a song about chipmunks. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:36 AM on August 31, 2009 [4 favorites]
So, MeFites, I have a broken leg and can't work at my job as a photographer. Recently, my girlfriend and I have been noticing some very suspicious behavior in the apartment across the way. My crusty old housekeeper says I'm crazy, but I'm going to send my girlfriend over to investigate. Also, the guy in the top-floor studio may or may not be writing a song about chipmunks. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:36 AM on August 31, 2009 [4 favorites]
Thanks for the rec, Weighted Companion Cube. That's one of his I have yet to read.
posted by owtytrof at 10:43 AM on August 31, 2009
posted by owtytrof at 10:43 AM on August 31, 2009
The best part of that thread was that I found out there was a Travis McGee that I somehow missed. John D. MacDonald's short stories are also pretty good.
(Ironically, I became a fan of MacDonald in general and McGee in particular because of several mentions in Spider Robinson books...but I definitely advise everyone to steer well clear of Spider Robinson.)
posted by DU at 11:05 AM on August 31, 2009
(Ironically, I became a fan of MacDonald in general and McGee in particular because of several mentions in Spider Robinson books...but I definitely advise everyone to steer well clear of Spider Robinson.)
posted by DU at 11:05 AM on August 31, 2009
Hey, what makes you guys think that it wasn't her husband who read the book? Hm? Hm?
Kidding, really; Occam's razor actually does give a nice, smooth shave. Usually.
posted by taz at 11:10 AM on August 31, 2009 [2 favorites]
Kidding, really; Occam's razor actually does give a nice, smooth shave. Usually.
posted by taz at 11:10 AM on August 31, 2009 [2 favorites]
Somehow with Travis McGee, hanging out in a hot tub with a highball and some nice late 70s Caribbean coke doesn't seem skeezy in the least, dare I say he approaches the perfect man?
I recall that McGee, while fond of drink, wasn't fond of drugs (cf. Nightmare in Pink), so you'd probably have to ditch the coke, replace the highball with Boodles Gin on ice, and possibly share the hot tub with a hairy economist, but no, that doesn't seem skeezy at all.
(In college I went through phase of insisting on straight gin on ice, in deference to McGee. Yes. I would laugh at that person, too, now.)
posted by octobersurprise at 12:30 PM on August 31, 2009
I recall that McGee, while fond of drink, wasn't fond of drugs (cf. Nightmare in Pink), so you'd probably have to ditch the coke, replace the highball with Boodles Gin on ice, and possibly share the hot tub with a hairy economist, but no, that doesn't seem skeezy at all.
(In college I went through phase of insisting on straight gin on ice, in deference to McGee. Yes. I would laugh at that person, too, now.)
posted by octobersurprise at 12:30 PM on August 31, 2009
To Beloit College freshman, this post was always a hoax.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 1:02 PM on August 31, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 1:02 PM on August 31, 2009 [4 favorites]
So, MeFites, I have a broken leg and can't work at my job as a photographer. Recently, my girlfriend and I have been noticing some very suspicious behavior in the apartment across the way. My crusty old housekeeper says I'm crazy, but I'm going to send my girlfriend over to investigate. Also, the guy in the top-floor studio may or may not be writing a song about chipmunks. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
is this reminding anyone else of sixcolors?
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:54 PM on August 31, 2009
is this reminding anyone else of sixcolors?
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:54 PM on August 31, 2009
To Beloit College freshman, this post was always a hoax.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 4:02 PM on August 31 [+] [!]
Wait what? I was a BC freshman once, and I was confused by that post, even having a soft spot for both Travis McGee and late 70s coke boating.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 2:10 PM on August 31, 2009
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 4:02 PM on August 31 [+] [!]
Wait what? I was a BC freshman once, and I was confused by that post, even having a soft spot for both Travis McGee and late 70s coke boating.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 2:10 PM on August 31, 2009
While we're talking about creepy unsolved questions, is anyone able to answer this one about "scratch arms"?
Oooh, an early Slender Man appearance...
posted by empath at 11:05 AM on September 1, 2009
Oooh, an early Slender Man appearance...
posted by empath at 11:05 AM on September 1, 2009
kids, don't go into that old askme question ......... i've heard tell it's haunted
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:05 PM on September 1, 2009
posted by sgt.serenity at 2:05 PM on September 1, 2009
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posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:02 PM on August 30, 2009