gcf@actnyc.UUCP (Gordon Fitch) (12/19/88)
The more information that comes out about this, the more interesting it becomes. Evidently there are several layers of deception, self- and otherwise; it would probably take a full-time private detective to get to the bottom of it. Since the factual basis of both the original story and the debunkings of it are so hazy, I think we must assume that we are in the presence of a myth in the making. I wish the latest original poster, R. Buttafogo, would answer my query as to his or her motivations, because we might see something of the process by which this sort of thing comes about. But then, there's the possibility that R. Buttafogo doesn't exist or someone else was using the ID pseudonomously. It's evident that there's a great need out there to believe in this "David" so that cards can be collected and little projects run off in his name. Yet in just about every community where this is taking place, there are real, live sick children who not only could receive cards but benefit from other, less remote forms of attention. Why is unreal "David" so much more attractive than these real persons? Is it _because_of_ his unreality and remoteness?
brucer@drutx.ATT.COM (Bruce W. Robinson) (12/21/88)
In article <1099@actnyc.UUCP>, gcf@actnyc.UUCP (Gordon Fitch) writes: > > [ stuff about self-deception ] > > ..... I wish the latest original poster, R. Buttafogo, > would answer my query as to his or her motivations, etc..... > > [ more stuff about self-deception ] > Reference the name R. Buttafogo, a thought: There is a beach about ten miles south of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil named Botafogo, and a street in Ipanema named Rua Botafogo; interesting psuedonym??? Given the psychology of a believable idea, I doubt if it's possible to stop this stupidity once it gets started. People are such children that they (we) will believe anything; this combines in deadly fashion with the desire to care about the things we believe, and the desire to have other people care about the things we care about. This David drool, the poison Holloween candy drool, AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!! is there no way to stop ????????? I'm a 46 year-old person and I swear I still catch myself not stepping on the cracks in the sidewalk. 66 > ^ .....brucer
ts@cup.portal.com (Tim W Smith) (01/05/89)
Someday, some dying little kid is going to really get the idea of trying to get the most postcards ( maybe by hearing about one of these hoaxes ). The poor kid is going to kick the bucket without a single postcard 'cause everyone will think it's another hoax! Tim Smith