@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.