The Ups and Downs of Being a Twitter Fraudster

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The Ups and Downs of Being a Twitter Fraudster

Posted by samzenpus on Sunday December 11, 2011 @07:11AM from the one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other dept.

Barence writes "PC Pro has a feature examining the psychology and motivation of people who create fake or parody Twitter accounts. The feature reveals how people behind some of the most popular parodies — such as @MrsStephenFry — have gone on to earn commercial success, while others are altogether more sinister. The man behind @Lord_Credo managed to convince many that he was a personal adviser to British Prime Minister, David Cameron, and wormed his way into political circles. He allegedly conned some out of money, took advantage of the hospitality of others, and left the professional reputation of at least one 'in tatters.' He even fabricated a malignant brain tumor, leaving one young member of the group 'utterly distraught.'"

101 comments

That's what happens when... by webanish · 2011-12-11 07:14 · Score: 5, Funny

...you don't sign each other's gpg keys!
1. Re:That's what happens when... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 07:24 · Score: 0, Troll
  
  A very typical nigger thing to do, stealing all that money. I bet the fucking niggers are responsible for all this bullshit.
2. Re:That's what happens when... by pro151 · 2011-12-11 07:40 · Score: -1, Offtopic
  
  Can't you find somewhere else to Troll, you coward?
3. Re:That's what happens when... by ae1294 · 2011-12-11 07:43 · Score: -1, Flamebait
  
  A very typical nigger thing to do, stealing all that money. I bet the fucking niggers are responsible for all this bullshit.
  Niggers aren't capable of portending to be white you fucking dumbass.
4. Re:That's what happens when... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 07:54 · Score: -1
  
  Who said anything about skin color? Other than you, I mean.
5. Re:That's what happens when... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 08:03 · Score: 0
  
  Is that what kids are calling it these days?
6. Re:That's what happens when... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 08:31 · Score: -1
  
  Jew detected.
7. Re:That's what happens when... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 08:40 · Score: -1, Redundant
  
  Reported to the JIDF. Prepare to die, goyim!
8. Re:That's what happens when... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 08:42 · Score: 0
  
  Michael Jackson begs to differ.
9. Re:That's what happens when... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 08:53 · Score: 0
  
  Moderation -1
  70% Troll
  30% Insightful
  Alright, which one of you did this?
10. Re:That's what happens when... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 09:07 · Score: 0, Funny
  
  "portending"
  This word ... I do not think it means what you think it means ...
11. Re:That's what happens when... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 09:10 · Score: 0, Funny
  
  "Niggers aren't capable of portending to be white you fucking dumbass."
  Are you that Nigerian Prince whose money I'm waiting for?
12. Re:That's what happens when... by ae1294 · 2011-12-11 09:20 · Score: -1, Flamebait
  
  Who said anything about skin color? Other than you, I mean.
  Those Niggers...
13. Re:That's what happens when... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 09:21 · Score: 0
  
  *sigh* You're not even trying anymore, are you?
14. Re:That's what happens when... by zippthorne · 2011-12-12 01:40 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah everyone knows, if you want a +5 Troll, you get it by adding underrated mods, not labeled positive mods...
  
  --
  Can you be Even More Awesome?!
Fraudsters? by Talence · 2011-12-11 07:23 · Score: 5, Insightful

Uhm, it doesn't seem very fair to lump actual fraudsters in the same group as relatively innocent parodists. Once you start making people part with their money, it's a completely different situation.

--
I plan to plan / Dutch course in The Hague
1. Re:Fraudsters? by 1s44c · 2011-12-11 07:37 · Score: 2
  
  I plan to plan Dutch course in The Hague [taaltaal.nl]
  Err, what?
  Ok, it's a tagline but it's more entertaining than the story anyway.
2. Re:Fraudsters? by Mashiki · 2011-12-11 07:57 · Score: 2
  
  Well to be honest, this is /. where people can't tell the difference between someone being a troll, and someone being funny.
  
  --
  Om, nomnomnom...
3. Re:Fraudsters? by PPH · 2011-12-11 08:12 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Poe's Law.
  
  --
  Have gnu, will travel.
4. Re:Fraudsters? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 08:25 · Score: 0
  
  #SarahPalin God will get U 4 That!
5. Re:Fraudsters? by tomhudson · 2011-12-11 08:33 · Score: 1
  
  Uhm, it doesn't seem very fair to lump actual fraudsters in the same group as relatively innocent parodists. Once you start making people part with their money, it's a completely different situation.
  
  One guy apparently scammed his former gf for 15k. That's not parody.
  On a more remarkable note ...
  
  He even fabricated a malignant brain tumor
  
  Did he submit the plans so other makers can copy it?
6. Re:Fraudsters? by Uhyve · 2011-12-11 08:40 · Score: 2
  
  That's the point. It seems weird that the article (or just the summary, I don't care enough to read the article) is lumping parodies in with actual fraudsters (such as the one you pointed out).
7. Re:Fraudsters? by Mashiki · 2011-12-11 09:12 · Score: 1
  
  I personally believe it's because people only read the words in front of them, not the context of the entire discussion at hand. Poe's law is fine and all that, but even someone like me who has the sense of humor of a 27,000 year old dessicated corpse can tell the difference.
  
  --
  Om, nomnomnom...
8. Re:Fraudsters? by Ihmhi · 2011-12-11 10:30 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Mind you, it's very much possible to be a parodist and make someone part with their money (such as by buying your wonderful book on a certain noodly heavenly father). It's really a matter of whether or not you do it ethically.
  
  --
  Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
9. Re:Fraudsters? by mkiwi · 2011-12-11 10:34 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Hell, people can't tell the difference between Funny and Insightful, either.
10. Re:Fraudsters? by Pf0tzenpfritz · 2011-12-11 10:49 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.
  Church Of SubGenius
  
  --
  Oh, the beautiful gloss of greality!
11. Re:Fraudsters? by crossmr · 2011-12-11 11:20 · Score: 1
  
  If it's not obviously a parody, it's fraud.
12. Re:Fraudsters? by Hentai · 2011-12-11 11:32 · Score: 1
  
  Poe's law makes this distinction pragmatically impossible.
  
  --
  -Hentai [in vita non pacem est]
13. Re:Fraudsters? by Uhyve · 2011-12-11 11:58 · Score: 1
  
  Man, a world without subtle humor, that must be a sad place to live in. And now I just realized that you may be parodying the writers of the original article... hmmm...
14. Re:Fraudsters? by formfeed · 2011-12-11 12:13 · Score: 1
  
  Hell, people can't tell the difference between Funny and Insightful, either.
  Ha, that was rather funny!
  Or insightful?
  Are you trying to confuse me? Stupid troll!
15. Re:Fraudsters? by PopeRatzo · 2011-12-11 15:47 · Score: 2
  
  From the article:
  
  The man behind @Lord_Credo managed to convince many that he was a personal adviser to British Prime Minister, David Cameron, and wormed his way into political circles.
  
  From the comment:
  
  Uhm, it doesn't seem very fair to lump actual fraudsters in the same group as relatively innocent parodists. Once you start making people part with their money...
  It also doesn't seem very fair to lump those in "political circles" with actual people.
  Remember, these are folks who probably consider themselves part of the ruling elite and they were taken in by bogus TWEETS. They're smart enough to run the world but not smart enough to pick up the fucking phone and actually confirm before they start writing checks and getting freaked out about brain tumors? Jesus wept.
  I really think we ought to keep this in mind when thinking about how much trust we should put in anyone in any position of leadership, or who seeks to be in a position of leadership. They are the caliber of people who will make life decisions based on tweets.
  Maybe this should be a question asked at political debates. Make it multiple choice: "You read a tweet from a political leader that you work for saying, "I am dying of brain cancer, please paypal $10,000 to derpaderp69@hotsmail.ru. Do you, a) send the money right away, b) start grieving and pick out a suit with a nice red tie for the funeral since it will be on television, c) do a victory dance and fist pump saying "Good, I hated that fucker" or d) make a phone call to see if it's real?"
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
16. Re:Fraudsters? by crossmr · 2011-12-11 16:27 · Score: 1
  
  There is a difference between subtle humour and trying to impersonate an individual, even if you think it is a joke.
17. Re:Fraudsters? by 1s44c · 2011-12-11 23:27 · Score: 1
  
  They're smart enough to run the world but not smart enough to pick up the fucking phone and actually confirm before they start writing checks and getting freaked out about brain tumors?
  Smart people do not run the world. Democracy ensures that liars run the world.
Sigh by Hognoxious · 2011-12-11 07:33 · Score: 4, Informative

This is why you shouldn't believe everything you read on teh interwibbles.
Second thoughts, s/everything/anything/

--
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
1. Re:Sigh by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-12 07:58 · Score: 0
  
  Interwibbles? Ugh. I'm willing to sacrifice karma to voice my objections to seeing that term again.
Anyone else notice by For+a+Free+Internet · 2011-12-11 07:39 · Score: -1

Did anyone ese notice that all these mountebanks and devils are Italians? I told you not to allow Italians on America's Internet. Now this is what you get.

--
UNITE with the Campaign for a Free Internet because today, our future begins with tomorrow!
Its disgusting by Chrisq · 2011-12-11 07:41 · Score: 5, Funny

Why can't they behave like us on slashdot, where everyone is exactly who they say they are?
1. Re:Its disgusting by Nidi62 · 2011-12-11 07:54 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  Why can't they behave like us on slashdot, where everyone is exactly who they say they are?
  Would have been a lot funnier if you had posted this AC
  
  --
  The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
2. Re:Its disgusting by PPH · 2011-12-11 07:54 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  You forgot to check the AC box.
  
  --
  Have gnu, will travel.
3. Re:Its disgusting by phantomfive · 2011-12-11 08:16 · Score: 1
  
  I'm on to you Chrisq, and my elite team of helicopters will be at your house shortly.
  
  --
  "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
4. Re:Its disgusting by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 08:22 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  For a moment I thought your reply was of epic proportions, when I misread your account name as "Christ".
5. Re:Its disgusting by Jason+Levine · 2011-12-11 10:21 · Score: 1
  
  You're modded as funny, but sometimes there's a reason to remain semi-anonymous. I signed up for Slashdot a long time ago when I didn't think twice about using my real name in online communications. When I signed up for Twitter, though, I decided to use a pseudonym. Now, I find myself under assault by someone who claims I'm the made-up identity of someone else. I could reveal my real name, but that won't really help. This person claims God told her about my "fraud". You can guess how successful presenting facts would be when the other person is arguing that their knowledge comes straight from God.
  Meanwhile, I'm happy to be hidden behind the pseudonym because she won't know my real name and real location. She can't track my family down and take actions in person.
  (I'm being vague enough in my post here that I'm comfortable that she won't track down this post and connect the two.)
  
  --
  My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
6. Re:Its disgusting by nhaines · 2011-12-11 18:41 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  (I'm being vague enough in my post here that I'm comfortable that she won't track down this post and connect the two.)
  Sure, until God rats you out again. ;)
7. Re:Its disgusting by Smallpond · 2011-12-12 04:58 · Score: 1
  
  God is too busy providing 4th quarter miracles to Tim Tebow.
u should deceive those u can by zugedneb · 2011-12-11 07:49 · Score: -1, Troll

from the summary:
"The man behind @Lord_Credo managed to convince many that he was a personal adviser to British Prime Minister, David Cameron, and wormed his way into political circles."
u can not decieve a matematician, surgeon, musicist or any other who work in practical fields that require a rational head and vigorous study... either u know, or u don't and it shows in the first sentence.
u can decieve the trash that live entirely in "people space": many politicians, psycologists, theatre people, generally "social sciences" kind of people... why? because they can not calibrate their mental processes against something that is unyielding about its own thruth, such as it is in tech and science mostly...
i do not feel sorry for those that are decieved...
1. Re:u should deceive those u can by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 08:03 · Score: 0
  
  You think you're above the "trash" but couldn't write a correct sentence if your life depended on it.
2. Re:u should deceive those u can by PPH · 2011-12-11 08:07 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  On a somewhat related topic: In the book The Big Short (about the derivatives crash), Lewis describes a fund manager that suffers from Asperger syndrome. A very smart guy, but not susceptible to the back-slapping and other bullshit typically used to push questionable investment products in the industry. He kept asking for numbers to back up the bankers' claims. When note were forthcoming, he did his own research and, as a result, shorted many of the derivative products on the market. He earned billions of dollars for his fund.
  Sometimes, a touch of Asperger helps. Or at least one can step back and observe the social interactions*.
  *I hang around with a group of behavioral psychologists. When we go out to a bar, its funny to sit and watch them observe and classify social interactions around themselves as if they were watching a cage with a bunch of chimpanzees in an experiment.
  
  --
  Have gnu, will travel.
3. Re:u should deceive those u can by zugedneb · 2011-12-11 08:07 · Score: 1
  
  yes, that is by default. but in my experience, the trash considers me garbage, so i can't see the problem...
4. Re:u should deceive those u can by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 08:13 · Score: -1
  
  The elderly consider you garbage?
5. Re:u should deceive those u can by phantomfive · 2011-12-11 08:15 · Score: 1
  
  u can not decieve a matematician, surgeon, musicist or any other who work in practical fields that require a rational head and vigorous study.
  lol Whoever told you that, DEFINITELY deceived you. This is social engineering, not parametric equations.
  
  --
  "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
6. Re:u should deceive those u can by BasilBrush · 2011-12-11 08:16 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  u can decieve the trash that live entirely in "people space": many politicians, psycologists, theatre people, generally "social sciences" kind of people... why?
  Other people can. You couldn't. A minimum level of literacy is required.
7. Re:u should deceive those u can by fsckmnky · 2011-12-11 08:16 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  as if they were watching a cage with a bunch of chimpanzees in an experiment.
  Isn't this exactly what a behavioral psychologist is trained to do ?
8. Re:u should deceive those u can by zugedneb · 2011-12-11 08:22 · Score: 0
  
  wery well then. let me see u "worm ur self" in to a a circle of educated people... yeah, like make me belive that u are a guru on combinatorial algorithms, hmm? make me believe that u are some big military tactician, can u? a botanist? fucking relativistic retard
9. Re:u should deceive those u can by phantomfive · 2011-12-11 08:27 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  No, I am one of that small, elite, circle of people who knows how to capitalize my sentences. Work hard, and someday you too may enter this elite group.
  
  --
  "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
10. Re:u should deceive those u can by Mitchell314 · 2011-12-11 08:39 · Score: 1
  
  Give me access to your keyboard and I'll be able to capitalize your sentences too.
  
  --
  I read TFA and all I got was this lousy cookie
11. Re:u should deceive those u can by zugedneb · 2011-12-11 08:42 · Score: -1, Troll
  
  that answer was offtopic.
  that u may not respect me is by my design, but if u care to answer please stay on topic.
  now, i am fucking imploring u with this task: pick a fucking field, and make me belive that u are som hotshot in it. this is tha topic, yes?
12. Re:u should deceive those u can by thePowerOfGrayskull · 2011-12-11 08:49 · Score: 2
  
  *I hang around with a group of behavioral psychologists. When we go out to a bar, its funny to sit and watch them observe and classify social interactions around themselves as if they were watching a cage with a bunch of chimpanzees in an experiment.
  Whoah dude. That's seriously meta, right there.
13. Re:u should deceive those u can by phantomfive · 2011-12-11 08:51 · Score: 0
  
  that u may not respect me is by my design, but if u care to answer please stay on topic.
  Truly I don't respect you, but only because your words aren't respectable. If you chose to write in an unrespectable way, it's probably as a psychological cover for that fact that no one respected you in the first place. So now you can blame that on your method of writing, instead of on the actual words.
  
  now, i am fucking imploring u with this task: pick a fucking field, and make me belive that u are som hotshot in it. this is tha topic, yes?
  Maybe I can't, maybe you will choose to believe nothing. Which is sad. But I am in fact, easily in the top 5% of programmers. I can disassemble other programmer's binaries in cases when I can't get the source code, and I can write a compiler, if I chose to. I've worked on high profile projects which you've heard of, but I feel no compunction to brag about those to a person who can't even write a complete sentence.
  
  --
  "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
14. Re:u should deceive those u can by The+Askylist · 2011-12-11 08:52 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Scene: a mathematical conference.
  First Mathematician: Who's the spacker in the tin-foil hat over there?
  Second Mathematician: Oh, that's just zugendneb, our tame lolcat. We keep him because he can sniff out social engineers and destroy them with his wit and repartee. He can't write English worth a shit, but his texting skills are a legend in his own lunchtime.
15. Re:u should deceive those u can by zugedneb · 2011-12-11 09:06 · Score: -1, Troll
  
  I will then assume that you are indeed the respectable expert that you claim to be, and speak to you accordingly.
  You see, I come to this forum to read the posts of low UID users, mostly on the history of technology and the computational sciences. That are lots of users here, possibly even you, who have been working in the fields since the seventies. I never troll those posts, and are never impolite to those informative users.
  As for the rest...
16. Re:u should deceive those u can by phantomfive · 2011-12-11 09:09 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I will then assume that you are indeed the respectable expert that you claim to be, and speak to you accordingly.
  HA! I tricked you! I am not actually a programmer, I just play one on Slashdot.
  
  --
  "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
17. Re:u should deceive those u can by TheRealMindChild · 2011-12-11 09:17 · Score: 1
  
  *I hang around with a group of behavioral psychologists. When we go out to a bar, its funny to sit and watch them observe and classify social interactions around themselves as if they were watching a cage with a bunch of chimpanzees in an experiment.
  
  This is actually more common to people in general, rather than just behavioral psychologists. I love people watching. Go to the local mal or McDonalds early on Sunday, and you will see a bunch of older folk, planted at a bench/seat, doing just that. It also used to be a popular past time at the airports, back when you could do such a thing.
  
  --
  
  "When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
18. Re:u should deceive those u can by PPH · 2011-12-11 09:21 · Score: 1
  
  This is actually more common to people in general, rather than just behavioral psychologists. I love people watching.
  So, what do you consider to be a proxy for poo-flinging?
  
  --
  Have gnu, will travel.
19. Re:u should deceive those u can by Nidi62 · 2011-12-11 09:25 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  This is actually more common to people in general, rather than just behavioral psychologists. I love people watching.
  So, what do you consider to be a proxy for poo-flinging?
  Tweeting
  
  --
  The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
20. Re:u should deceive those u can by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 09:38 · Score: 0
  
  When we go out to a bar...cage with a bunch of chimpanzees in an experiment.
  Whoah dude. That's seriously meta, right there.
  Been a while since you've taken a real hard look at the humanity around you - if you've ever looked at all. Its really not so meta after all - if at all.
21. Re:u should deceive those u can by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 10:16 · Score: 0
  
  ... as if they were watching a cage with a bunch of chimpanzees in an experiment.
  
  Umm... I think that's exactly what they're doing.
22. Re:u should deceive those u can by garyebickford · 2011-12-11 11:57 · Score: 1
  
  One time a bunch of us software and hardware geeks were sitting in the company cafeteria, and some were rating the ladies going by. One of us remarked, "Hah - I just realized, this is a bunch of 3s and 4s, rating 6s and 7s!" :D
  
  --
  It's easier to be a result of the past, but more fun to be a cause of the future! http://www.spacefinancegroup.com/
23. Re:u should deceive those u can by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 12:26 · Score: 0
  
  That's quite likely the reason they said 'u' (colloquial shorthand for 'you') instead of 'I.'
24. Re:u should deceive those u can by moortak · 2011-12-11 15:21 · Score: 1
  
  Robin Sage
  
  --
  Xavier Rabourdin for president 2012
25. Re:u should deceive those u can by Just+Some+Guy · 2011-12-12 03:33 · Score: 1
  
  You see, I come to this forum to read the posts of low UID users
  Are you f'in crazy?
  
  --
  Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
26. Re:u should deceive those u can by thePowerOfGrayskull · 2011-12-12 05:04 · Score: 1
  
  Whoosh. Also does semi-insulting random strangers on the Internet make you feel better about yourself?
27. Re:u should deceive those u can by PhinMak · 2011-12-12 06:39 · Score: 1
  
  For the win!
  
  --
  One more reason to keep an eye on your money.
28. Re:u should deceive those u can by oreiasecaman · 2011-12-12 09:22 · Score: 1
  
  It's been some time since I've actually laughed to tears, thank you :D
  
  --
  This is a UDP joke, I don't care if you get it or not...
29. Re:u should deceive those u can by phantomfive · 2011-12-14 05:43 · Score: 1
  
  Incidentally, with my last post, I didn't mean any offense. I really think you'll have a better time if you present yourself as competent on Slashdot. Yeah, you'll attract trolls, but you'll also attract people who are not trolls as well.
  
  --
  "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
Raise your hand by koan · 2011-12-11 07:53 · Score: 3, Interesting

If you're sick of the verb "tweet".

--
"If any question why we died, Tell them because our fathers lied."
1. Re:Raise your hand by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 08:04 · Score: 0
  
  *raises hand*
  Though, it's a close second to "cloud"
2. Re:Raise your hand by SomePgmr · 2011-12-11 08:23 · Score: 2
  
  Cloud doesn't actually bother me like it does most people. I think it's years of seeing those boring presentations to clients where the Internet was represented by a little visio cloud. Or at least, it bugs me less than some of the more cryptic little nicknames and acronyms we've used over the years.
Lord_Credo? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 08:07 · Score: 3, Funny

What a pity, he sounded like a guy you could believe in.
1. Re:Lord_Credo? by wisnoskij · 2011-12-11 09:10 · Score: 2
  
  That is the first thing I thought. It looks like, because of his name, that he just started out as a very obvious parodyist. He was probably very surprised when people actually believed him.
  
  --
  Troll is not a replacement for I disagree.
2. Re:Lord_Credo? by GameboyRMH · 2011-12-12 02:24 · Score: 1
  
  I don't trust him. I just get the feeling he's going to turn into some flying supernatural creature and we'll need to fight with giant swords.
  
  --
  "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
Unless it's David Cameron & Friends by Rix · 2011-12-11 08:18 · Score: 1

Then it's a public service.
Sorry by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 08:35 · Score: 1

There have been documented cases of impostors who've been able to pose as e.g. doctors/surgeons(!), airline pilots (etc.) for years and years.
Those are certainly fields which require "a rational head and vigorous study".
The easiest people to fool are those who think they cannot be fooled... such as yourself.
1. Re:Sorry by zugedneb · 2011-12-11 09:16 · Score: -1, Troll
  
  well, if u are a pilot, i ask u to teach me. either u can or u can not. the one who is fooled is the one who asks no questions.
2. Re:Sorry by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 11:16 · Score: 0
  
  Come on, do some research.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Abagnale
3. Re:Sorry by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 13:12 · Score: -1
  
  "i ask u to teach me"
  "Fuck off, I'm a pilot not a fucking teacher, go back to school you ignorant piece of shit."
  So, your plan B to see through my disguise is??
Oblig XKCD by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 08:37 · Score: -1

http://xkcd.com/865/
1. Re:Oblig XKCD by MurukeshM · 2011-12-11 09:02 · Score: 1
  
  Wrong article, friend. Head here: http://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/12/11/1240258/google-deploys-ipv6-for-internal-network
This just in... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 08:42 · Score: -1

Most of the people that use Twitter are morons, film at 11.
Dangerous by Hentes · 2011-12-11 08:58 · Score: 1

If you sign someones key you are actually revealing yours.
1. Re:Dangerous by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 17:50 · Score: 1
  
  The horror! They could send me encrypted messages or verify messages signed by me. Really dangerous.
2. Re:Dangerous by RockDoctor · 2011-12-12 02:11 · Score: 1
  
  If that is really your belief, then you seriously need to go back and RTFM.
  
  --
  Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
3. Re:Dangerous by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-12 09:23 · Score: 0
  
  If you sign someones key you are actually revealing yours.
  You seem to be confused about the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption. When you sign someone's key, you are only revealing your public key (which you do anyway if you want to make use of key-pair systems like gpg to send and receive and sign stuff), not your private key.
mod 0p by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 09:15 · Score: -1

truth, for all antibacterial soap._ was at the same du7ring play, this
Not the best example by dnewt · 2011-12-11 09:42 · Score: 1

@MrsStephenFry is possibly not the best example, since it's quite possible that it is, in fact, the great Mr Fry himself. He'd never admit it of course, since that would spoil the fun.
This FP for G3NAA by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 11:29 · Score: -1

a previously percent of the *BSD worse and worse. As Free-loving c7imate fucking percent of And she ran
Ridiculous by adockery · 2011-12-11 13:45 · Score: 0

It is crazy, all these people posing as someone else. What is the point? I don't get it.

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A Dockery
My experience with a parody account by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 18:01 · Score: 2, Interesting

Having seen no comments yet from anyone who's actually done this...
I run a fake twitter feed, lampooning a guy known in several wide social circles known for his... lets say "interesting" personality. He's not exactly widely loved or widely hated (maybe polarizing though), but he can be counted on to have an unexpected viewpoint on basically anything. (It might be Aspergers, we don't know.) The actual guy doesn't seem to mind, because I take care to not say anything mean.
The account has turned out to be a decent hit among the people that know him. The people that love him immensely and hate him immensely both like it similarly. Also, it gives me an outlet for some creativity and humor. Finally, there is a very small rush from "pleasing an audience," even if it is only 80 or so people, and only a small fraction of those 80 knowing it is me on the other end. ...And that's about the extent of it. No commercialization, no defrauding anyone of their money, not even 100 followers. But it makes 80 people's lives, and mine, an iota better.
1. Re:My experience with a parody account by Bucky24 · 2011-12-12 07:16 · Score: 1
  
  But it makes 80 people's lives, and mine, an iota better.
  Without making anyone else's worse. And that, I feel, is the important distinction.
  
  --
  All the world's a CPU, and all the men and women merely AI agents
2. Re:My experience with a parody account by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-13 01:08 · Score: 0
  
  @FakeDanShoop right?
Brain by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-11 19:01 · Score: 0

He even fabricated a malignant brain tumor
Guess you'd have to have a brain first - else it would just be a scull cavity tumour.
FTFY by Kamiza+Ikioi · 2011-12-12 03:32 · Score: 1

Sorry, but that's incorrect. Here's a picture to clear it up for you. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Public_key_signing.svg

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I8-D