Someone posted recently on one of the boards that I visit that something pretty horrific had happened recently to a lesser known member of the community. And as you might expect, there was a commendable outpouring of sympathy and condolences from members of the community, even to the extent that some activities were organized to express them.
All well and good - an online community is a community just the same and people care about other people.
But...
The thing is, there is nothing in the news that would seem to verify the story that was told, although there was a remarkably similar incident to what was claimed to have occurred to the community member that did happen on the day that this event was to have occurred - but it's almost impossible given the few details that were given out by those that posted the original information that it be the same individual.
In short, I'm starting to believe the entire community has been conned, for the following reasons:
It's been a month, and there is STILL no news available to substantiate the story - but there is a cubic buttload about the similar incident.
Those who posted, posted in a manner much more consistent with juveniles than adults, although they claim to be adults.
Those who posted posted mentioned a "newspaper gag" because some family members hadn't yet been notified - but (again) that was nearly a month ago, and in retrospect seems like an odd thing to just mention given the seriousness of the incident they were reporting.
So, the dilemma is this: Do I ask those who posted for information to substantiate the original posts (at the risk of causing further pain if the events turn out to have actually occurred) or do I simply drop it, and continue to watch kind-hearted folks potentially being toyed with by what may simply be juvenile attention-seeking?
