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[Libbylou]

Hi there,

Great site. Thanks. If we have “exclusive use” of the flat rooftop of our apartment building (which was once the old laundries), and are turning the old laundries into an office, with kitchen and bathroom, should we compensate the other five unit owners for the value we’re adding to our property? Is there a rule about this? And how much? Thanks again!

Webmaster’s Note: One week and many responses after posting this, Libbylou admitted that she is not the owner of the apartment referred to here, but is another owner in the building.  We only discovered this after much discussion on this topic. The following posts are interesting and informative but you should perhaps read them with the benefit of that knowledge. – JimmyT

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[Libbylou]

Dear JimmyT,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to apologise to the Flat Chat community for my masquerade.

I am so sorry everyone, I really am. I honestly didn’t mean to offend, or show any disrespect. Please forgive me?

I truly, honestly did it to put myself in the shoes of the other person – the one with the exclusive-use access. My initial question was straightforward (about compensating other unit owners for renovations), but the thread quickly developed into more complex issues – and the responses have been incredibly helpful. So thank you all again.

But once I’d misled everyone about my identity, I was too ashamed to come clean… Until one of the contributors implied I was going to do something underhand, which was getting completely out of hand! So I privately messaged them to ‘fess up, explain my masquerade and ask for forgiveness – I understand they felt deceived and disappointed. But they dobbed on me – which hurts a little – but I do understand they had no choice in the interests of maintaining the high standards of a professional forum.

I give you my word of honour Flat Chatters that I will never displease the Flat Chat community again. And JimmyT, I guess as a positive, you’ve been able to use my bad example as a cautionary tale and an opportunity to reinforce Flat Chat’s impeccable modus operandi? I hope so. Please have me back?

With love, gratitude and contriteness,

Libbylou

PS I am female, but my name isn’t Libbylou (is it a little bit funny that you can have a fake name but not a fake identity? No disrespect intended! But JimmyT, you would find that slightly amusing, too?)

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[Jimmy-T]

@Libbylou said:
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to apologise to the Flat Chat community for my masquerade. 
I am so sorry everyone, I really am. I honestly didn’t mean to offend, or show any disrespect. Please forgive me?

Apology accepted.

I understand they felt deceived and disappointed. But they dobbed on me – which hurts a little – but I do understand they had no choice in the interests of maintaining the high standards of a professional forum.

The person you wrote to is one of our most highly regarded Stratagurus (that’s her official title) – one of only three trusted contributors who, for instance, get to approve other contributors’ posts.  She shouldn’t have to make moral decisions like having to “dob in” someone for anything but she felt her first loyalty, in this case,  was to the Forum and I applaud her for doing it.

… is it a little bit funny that you can have a fake name but not a fake identity?   

A fake name is just a form of identification so that we can recognise the participants in a discussion without needing to know their real names.  A fake identity is passing yourself of as something or someone that you’re not.

On reflection, this was pretty harmless – compared, for instance, to people in the past who have assumed several online identities then used them to gang up on posters with whom they disagreed. They were dealt with a lot more harshly than you.

It’s not the end of the world but it undermines the whole concept of a free and frank discussion if one participant is taking unfair advantage of the others’ trust. 

So, no, I’m afraid I don’t find it funny.  But lessons learned on all sides. 

I hope you can continue to enjoy the Forum and the website … as yourself.

If you want to be alerted when anyone replies to your posts or responds to this topic, please register and login, then you will be able to subscribe to the topic. The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers. NB: Longer threads may spill over to additional pages - look for the numbers on the bottom right, under the last post.

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[Libbylou]

I understand JimmyT. And I understand the loyalty and trust issues. I really wasn’t intending to take unfair advantage of anyone’s trust – but in hindsight I understand how Stratagurus, and the others, may have felt. I am deeply apologetic. As you said, lessons learnt.

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