The World Beyond BetterMost > The Culture Tent
"Catfish" (fake internet identities)
serious crayons:
In connection with the "Manti Te’o’s fake dead girlfriend" story, here's a list from Slate of longform stories in various magazines (i.e. Wired, the New Yorker) about other "catfish." That, apparently, is internetese for a fake identity that interacts with others on social media.
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/longform/2013/01/manti_te_o_and_other_internet_hoaxes_a_longform_collection.html
And for anyone wondering about the origins of "catfish," Slate once again comes through:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/01/18/catfish_meaning_and_definition_term_for_online_hoaxes_has_a_surprisingly.html
Not including the first half of the last story explaining the term, I haven't read any of these stories (including, not closely at least, the Manti Te'o one), but I believe I've had some catfishy experiences in my time using social media. How about you guys?
In any case, I am glad to know the term (the movie Catfish was pretty good, too, fyi). It's even more fun than "sock puppet" -- and I know for sure I have met at least one of those.
delalluvia:
My sister was telling me the story behind the Catfish TV show when she was up for holidays and I was just listening with one ear, thinking to myself, "How stupid. The internet has been around how long now? And people STILL believe what people on the other end of the computer tell them, sight unseen? What idiots."
Jeff Wrangler:
How on earth can you consider someone your "girlfriend" when you've never even met her face to face? Not even a video chat? ???
If this should in fact turn out to be true (which I think is unlikely), then I guess anyone can get into Notre Dame, as long as you're a great football player. 8)
Not unsurprisingly, I'm seeing a lot of speculation that Manti Te'o is gay and the whole "girlfriend" business was something of an Internet "beard." :-\
Penthesilea:
What? Do you want to tell me your name is not really Serious Crayons? And Della's not Della? And Jeff is not a jeep? And me? Am I not the one and only queen of the Amazons? - I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked! :o ;D :laugh:
(Sorry, I know it's not the same, but I just couldn't help it)
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Penthesilea on January 19, 2013, 03:49:25 pm ---What? Do you want to tell me your name is not really Serious Crayons? And Della's not Della? And Jeff is not a jeep? And me? Am I not the one and only queen of the Amazons? - I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked! :o ;D :laugh:
(Sorry, I know it's not the same, but I just couldn't help it)
--- End quote ---
I know you're joking, but I have met at least one Brokie, possibly two, who I either know or suspect in RL did not at all resemble the identity they presented for themselves.
Usernames are a little different. Among the people who almost always go by their usernames, even if I know their real names I tend to think of them by their usernames. By any other name, they smell a sweet.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version