Special K

Was it really fair for all of those people who were "fooled" by the Kaycee Nicole story to change their hearts so much, so suddenly, when they found out the truth?

Debbie did more than just create a big, shocking hoax... She stimulated concern and appreciation for the struggles of cancer patients everywhere.

As you mentioned, it is pretty easy to take on a new personality online... However, it is an entirely different matter to create and maintain a real-life persona for a completely fictional character, especially in this case, because the "reality" of the character was so convincing.

As I've said before on my blog, I think Debbie deserves at least a little praise for what she did, because in the writing sense it was phenomenal. She put together a make-believe person and actually convinced an entire community of real people that this character was a real, living, breathing person. That's like writing a novel that allows the reader to interact with the characters as if they were real people... Quite a feat.

I hope you weren't mislead- I certainly wasn't advocating what Debbie did with her blog. It might be fun to pretend to be someone else for awhile, but it shouldn’t go to the extent of people sending gifts or flowers and expressing genuine concern. When it gets that bad, you know it’s time to stop- or confess.

Although, Debbie has stated that she didn’t do it for the money or the gifts. She never expected it to go so far. I don’t mean to sound like a pessimist, but in the back of my mind, I wonder if there was an ulterior motive. Perhaps she knew that people would buy the story and she would be able to profit from it. I hope I don’t sound cynical, but humans have been known to do worse. Hopefully, she instead wanted to bring attention to a disease and give other sufferers someone to relate with. Maybe it was even a little of both, I don’t know.

Actually, I got just the opposite impression... it did seem to me like you were being critical of her in your entry.

I was just wondering how strongly you felt about it... Which is obvious from your comment. :)

I can understand your distrust in people, because it is true that there are many who are deceitful, especially online, because it is usually easier to get away with a lie online than it is to get away with one offline.

However, I don't feel that it's right to put Debbie in league with those types of people, because I think she honestly did just want to bring attention to the disease and the patients who suffer from it.

She probably knew that people would buy her story (after all, she was providing photos and setting up phone conversations with Kaycee's friends). To be honest, I think the only reason she apologized was because she wanted to provide some closure to the issue for people who really grew close to her fictional character, not because she regretted what she did.

It's not like I have this complete distrust of people Chris, not at all. I don't mean to give off that feeling. I'm just saying, people have done much worse. And it wouldn't really surprise me.

Even though she did apologize, Debbie did actually hurt a lot of people. And although maybe those enamored fans should have known better than to believe everything they read, I'm sure it was pretty harsh for someone to just say, "Opps, sorry. Didn't mean for it to go this far." I don't know, maybe I really am reading too much into this, huh?

Nothing wrong with that, Nessa. I didn't mean to sound like I was accusing you or anything, I just thought it was interesting that you felt so strongly about the issue. I can understand your feelings, I just don't agree with them, that's all.

This is the kind of discussion that really makes a difference, though, when people from opposing points of view work together to reach a better understanding of the one they don't agree with.

I don't think I've ever had a real "discussion" on my blog before. You are right- these are the discussions that matter. We can both talk about our views camly and without flaming each other. Perhaps some others in the blogging community should take note...

I feel, to a certain extent having researched and blogged this issue, that we must not lose sight of the fact that what Kaycee did is (technically) offensive to the community. Yes, she may have brought awareness to the disease and opened a blogging community's eyes, but there are other ways to bring awareness (like being honest). I am in no way trying to judge her actions or intentions, but what is right and what is non-offensive are two very different things.

It all depends on which side you value. For example, if you had a friend who was a terrible artist and showed you a ghastly collaboration of junk he/she compiled, you can be non-offensive and lie, "what a masterpiece!" or tell the truth, but gently "oh, if you did this... it would be..." In my opinion, the truth is usually the best route. In the Kaycee Nicole story, these boundaries are not as clear and there are more gray areas.

But the main point I want to make is that despite the motives (unless it is self-defense), a crime is still a crime. Stealing from Peter to pay Paul is still stealing, right or wrong.

Personally, I think what she did was kinda great. She create a person, who people became very emotional about. This just shows that she is very talented whether you think she is a great writer or con man. Those poeple who got emotionally involve, I don't understand them or their reasoning to become emotional about a person who is not in their life. This situation really shows that someone people go too far into reading and believing every blog they venture to.

She should have stop when the things turn out really serious. There are lines that should be never crossed...