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Ohmycrap, I can't resist. What a bunch of cry babies.

Reputation? As if Kellys life is over now because of... an apparently highly fragile offended fraction, of the small fraction of people who follow the firmware releases, of the small fraction of people in the world who own iPhones... yay, a couple hundred of you got all butt-hurt. Perhaps you shouldn't hang your lifes high hopes and dreams on the specific details of a FIRMWARE UPDATE for your TELEPHONE (and what details were they, that one is coming (wow!) and it'll be called 1.1.4. (omg!)). I mean, do any of you people ever go outside? Holy pants!

I like all the "You've ruined your credibility in my eyes! I'll never trust you again!" replies. Sounds heavy! Did his credibility in your eyes previously bring him something of value? Were you perhaps paying him for the work he did so you could get more out of your novelty phone? Or perhaps the two of you sat around the campfire singing songs together, and now, woe, he won't be able to look forward to those good times anymore. Delusions of grandeur, all this.
 
Actually, if he ever applies for college, applies for a job, etc., his lies would probably bite him in the behind.

You assume that KellyTM is his real name, but I suspect it isn't.

Apple have way too many fanatical supporters, and maybe this kind of thing will stop and make people think about various aspects of the community. For example, why don't we know for sure when the iPhone SDK is going to arrive? Why is that so worthy of being top-secret? I know the whole guessing-game makes for good viral marketing, but it's not so much fun if it affects your business and livelihood.
 
Ohmycrap, I can't resist. What a bunch of cry babies.

Reputation? As if Kellys life is over now because of... an apparently highly fragile offended fraction, of the small fraction of people who follow the firmware releases, of the small fraction of people in the world who own iPhones... yay, a couple hundred of you got all butt-hurt. Perhaps you shouldn't hang your lifes high hopes and dreams on the specific details of a FIRMWARE UPDATE for your TELEPHONE (and what details were they, that one is coming (wow!) and it'll be called 1.1.4. (omg!)). I mean, do any of you people ever go outside? Holy pants!

I like all the "You've ruined your credibility in my eyes! I'll never trust you again!" replies. Sounds heavy! Did his credibility in your eyes previously bring him something of value? Were you perhaps paying him for the work he did so you could get more out of your novelty phone? Or perhaps the two of you sat around the campfire singing songs together, and now, woe, he won't be able to look forward to those good times anymore. Delusions of grandeur, all this.

Hilariously well said. It was even suggested here he would lose his job over KellyGate. :D:D:D:D
 
HA! Oh man. That was pretty good. I've hoaxed a forum or two in my time...

There's nothing like a confession, and admiration for the hoaxer in this case, to remind us how to view any of ThunderSkunk's posts in the future. And as others have noted here, we unfortunately need to keep it in mind about anything on the internet.

(posted regretfully by a print journalist, whose job and the jobs of his peers relied on being accurate)

peace out
 
I think Kelly is lying again. I think his original information is correct and apple has forced him to say what he has.

Oh, I've got firmware v1.1.4 already. Believe me?
 
People can make up whatever they want on the internet. It's called freedom of speech....

What you say is true. It's also true that if you lie (ie, "make up whatever [you] want"), your credibility will be damaged.

Think about it for a moment: In your personal life, do you feel free to make up whatever you want in conversation with your family? Your friends? Co-workers? With other techies when you're discussing an upcoming release? That's all freedom of speech. But with each of those groups, if your answer was "yes", how do you think that affects what those people think of you, and your credibility with them?

People get carried away with the freedom of the internet--where yes, it's true, you can make up whatever you want--much as some kids do when they get out of town for the first time, where their actions won't be observed by those who know them. The problem is that whether you're here on the internet, or there in the-town-down-the-road, you're still a part of a community. Your actions will determine how people react to you.

Might we agree, spaz, that while it's true that on the internet you can make up whatever you want and say whatever you want, what you say as well as how you say it, matters?
 
...posted regretfully (and somewhat out of context) by a print journalist, whose job and the jobs of his peers relied on being accurate...

Odd that, as a professional print Journalist, who conceivably understands the value of fact-checking, and providing error margins, making sure you're not reporting rumors & giving people an idea of how accurate the information you're reporting is, you fail to see the difference between what you do, or even how people relate in person, and what goes on in a public chat forum of user-generated content dedicated to rumors and gossip (so to the extent that it's actually called MacRUMORS). How do you think rumors are started? The reality is, expecting credibility here will only lead to disappointment.

And yes, I have hoaxed a couple forums (forums I hosted) in my time. If you must know, I created an account for a splinter group of the forums more even-keeled regular contributors. We used this fictional character to flame boneheads, disseminate misinformation, manipulate trends and people... after a couple years, the forum got so big, we eventaully used several characters to steer public opinion and perceived values to our benefit, capitalized on this, and felt like puppeteers/gods orchestrating this whole thing. I cut it off as it was getting out of hand. Some time later, the group wanted to pick up where it left off, and not wanting another one out of my control, I obliged, but guided this one into irrepairable self-destruction, like Kelly's gag, setting it right in the end. It was an interesting experiment, and one not without consequence.

But hey, that was before I became a developer at Apple, where life is good. Now I get to work on all the cool stuff. You wouldn't believe this mind-link function, it ties in with the new Artificial Intelligence Operator, redefining interactivity. The matter-transfer beaming is still in beta, but we should have it ready for two tuesdays from now, to coincide with Jobs retirement announcement. Gotta keep those investors happy, yaknow?

sp
 
What you say is true. It's also true that if you lie (ie, "make up whatever [you] want"), your credibility will be damaged.

Think about it for a moment: In your personal life, do you feel free to make up whatever you want in conversation with your family? Your friends? Co-workers? With other techies when you're discussing an upcoming release? That's all freedom of speech. But with each of those groups, if your answer was "yes", how do you think that affects what those people think of you, and your credibility with them?

People get carried away with the freedom of the internet--where yes, it's true, you can make up whatever you want--much as some kids do when they get out of town for the first time, where their actions won't be observed by those who know them. The problem is that whether you're here on the internet, or there in the-town-down-the-road, you're still a part of a community. Your actions will determine how people react to you.

I still don't understand this. Sure, the screen name known as Kelly has it's reputation tarnished, but the guy (or gal)? So the person starts up a different account -- here or somewhere else -- with a different screen name, and life goes on (for them, at least).

Seriously people, c'mon -- what happened to the days when everyone just assumed that the person on the other end of a screen name in a chat room or message board was some 500 pound, middle-aged man trying to pick up little kids? Have we really put so much stock in the internet that someone's life truly can be screwed over because they -- gasp -- lied about something in a message board? I still don't see how any one in the "real" world is going to know anything about this. As far as tiny-code goes, so he sets up a new domain name and gets going again; maybe even spin into some kind of "under new management" deal if he's got existing customers (if that even was a commercial site).

Someone please enlighten me, because I still don't understand how -- barring legal action (if even possible) -- the person behind the screen name will have any detriment because of something said on a message board.
 
Someone please enlighten me, because I still don't understand how -- barring legal action (if even possible) -- the person behind the screen name will have any detriment because of something said on a message board.

Apparently you don't keep up on real life. What you do and say is memorialized "forever" in print by doing something like this. As a result, it has repercussions in one's real life. Keep an eye on Digg sometime. There have been hundreds of stories about someone believing they were anonymous doing something very stupid online. Their name came out and people have lost jobs, relationships and respect.

I wasn't following this thread at all until the truth came out. Why? Because information about the lies started showing up all over the place. It's a push of one domino and suddenly everything falls.

I had never paid attention to his site before and didn't really care but, I'll tell you, as a result of his actions I will never believe anything that he ever says or does. It's not hard for people to figure out handle changes. People have distinct wording patterns or common misspellings. As hard as one may try you eventually become the same person again in writing because it's what is natural to you. People leave traces of their former self. It's not hard to figure it out. Look at the people who were tracked down from AOL's "anonymous" search data. Look at Fake Steve Jobs. Given enough time you can figure out who anyone is.

I used to be active in another technology site and one person there went to great pains setting up an elaborate hoax of their own terminal illness and eventually presumed death. That person was found out. Their real name was revealed and there are people who take it upon themselves to track this person wherever he goes online and destroy him wherever he lands next.

Trust me, there are people I've known online and some that have crossed over into real life that I wish I could unknow but associations between myself and them are forever memorialized online and that can't ever be undone.
 
No, I guess I don't pay much attention to real life, and I'm not saying that to be sarcastic. That depresses the hell out of me though -- not only do people take things so seriously online, but people are stupid enough to leave that much of a trail that anyone can follow it.

Oh well. I've said my bit, and I'm sure it's not going to change the world (which would be kind of hypocritical if someone did take what I've been saying seriously -- it is on the internet, after all...)
 
Unfortunately, below a certain age people seem to think the Internet is some vaporous non-reality until one day the result of their actions come slapping them in the face. Then reality sets in.

Not all that long ago there was a story about a guy who called off work sick and then posted pictures on one of the social sites about his partying instead of working. The boss found them and he didn't work there any more.

It amazes me how many girls obliviously pass around "self-camera" shots. ;) Then they get circulated generally everywhere. I'm thinking they're probably going to regret it somewhere around 30 when the kids find the pictures "on the Internet." It's the electronic version of trying to undo having "All worship Satan" tattooed across your neck. It may seem cool at 18 but somewhere in that interview at McDonald's when you're 35 and they say you're not what they're looking for it hits you that it might not have been a good idea.
 
Yes, one of the interesting aspects of the net these days, is that almost everything is being saved forever.

That means that your kids, nieces, and grandkids might look you up and find you said things you regret. For that matter, many companies do net searches before hiring.
 
The truth of the matter, whether all are willing to admit it or not, is that anyone who is truly "hurt" or feels "betrayed" by Kelly's post needs to realize that we're talking about a software update for a phone.

It's not a magic phone, it doesn't save lives, and if your life revolves around something so insignificant as a firmware update, you deserved the "emotional trauma" you went through. :rolleyes: Life moves on. I vote we give the guy a hip-hip-hooray for duping so many so easily, and forget the whole thing.
 
That means that your kids, nieces, and grandkids might look you up and find you said things you regret. For that matter, many companies do net searches before hiring.

That's a really good point. A good number of companies do indeed look for everything they can find out about you online before an interview. If Kelly were to put in his resume (or someone in the office knows) that he operated Tiny-code then it wouldn't take long to find out what kind of a person Kelly is. Not exactly a good hiring recommendation.
 
Odd that, as a professional print Journalist...you fail to see the difference between what you do, or even how people relate in person, and what goes on in a public chat forum of user-generated content dedicated to rumors and gossip...How do you think rumors are started? The reality is, expecting credibility here will only lead to disappointment.

And yes, I have hoaxed a couple forums (forums I hosted) in my time. If you must know, I created an account for a splinter group of the forums more even-keeled regular contributors. We used this fictional character to flame boneheads, disseminate misinformation, manipulate trends and people... after a couple years, the forum got so big, we eventaully used several characters to steer public opinion and perceived values to our benefit, capitalized on this, and felt like puppeteers/gods orchestrating this whole thing. I cut it off as it was getting out of hand. Some time later, the group wanted to pick up where it left off, and not wanting another one out of my control, I obliged, but guided this one into irrepairable self-destruction, like Kelly's gag, setting it right in the end. It was an interesting experiment, and one not without consequence.

Clearly we "think different" :rolleyes:. I appreciate your taking the time to explain your point of view, and I'd appreciate if you'd hear me out for a minute or two.

How do I think rumors get started? Rumors can be started by someone imagining "what if", and posting them where they're tested by exposure and live or die; rumors can be started by someone with a glimmer of information (noticing the odd detail in code or on a seemingly unrelated website or hearing something from someone with some access to information not generally public) that sets off the chat community on a quest for confirmation or refutation. You say not to expect credibility here, but don't forget that as a result of that chat process this and other forums sometimes have proven remarkably predictive.

I don't expect--more importantly don't want--to have to deal with people who're willing to lie to me (without a giveaway wink), to hoax the forum, or to "disseminate misinformation" for their own gratification. People who would do that might have either too high an opinion of themselves or too little regard for the rest of us, imho.

Will it happen sometimes? Sure. Might it be entertaining sometimes? Sure, but in the same way it's entertaining to watch a three year old poop in the sandbox because he doesn't yet realize others use the playground too. Psychologists would say the child might feel as if he's hatched a kingdom; in reality it's a little turd.

You said your hoax made you feel "like puppeteers/gods". You're obviously a smart guy: wouldn't it feel better to feel a little self-worth based on real contributions--the way that three-year-old might feel if he grows up and actually designs or builds playgrounds for kids, without depositing poop in the sandbox the rest of us are playing in? There's a big difference. imho. Thunderskunk, does that make any sense?
 
I don't expect--more importantly don't want--to have to deal with people who're willing to lie to me (without a giveaway wink), to hoax the forum, or to "disseminate misinformation" for their own gratification.

Exactly. Well put.
 
Often when politicians are caught in bad behavior, they claim they were only pretending and actually doing a secret investigation into drug dealers, prostitutes, bribes, etc. In other words their bad behavior was really an altruistic act for our benefit.

So this Kelly post claims the same motive for his hoax - he did this to teach everyone on the Web a important lesson!!! By pretending to be a liar, he exposed journalistic vulnerabilities and human gullibility. The world is now a better place because of this self-sacrifice.
 
...People who would do that might have either too high an opinion of themselves or too little regard for the rest of us, imho.

You said your hoax made you feel "like puppeteers/gods". You're obviously a smart guy: wouldn't it feel better to feel a little self-worth based on real contributions--the way that three-year-old might feel if he grows up and actually designs or builds playgrounds for kids, without depositing poop in the sandbox the rest of us are playing in? There's a big difference. imho. Thunderskunk, does that make any sense?

Oh no, you're right, it's definitely better to feel your self worth through real contribution. At that time (almost ten years ago now), like Kelly, we all had our companies and took hard-earned pride in our accomplishments too, but as you say, too little regard... we all got a little too congenial with our customers engaging in public discussions, and well, as it turns out, familiarity breeds contempt in both directions, and the next thing you know, what started small & potentially constructive, grew so large & destructive, that by the end, it resulted in organized, reinforced megalomania, and certainly brought out the very worst in each of us. Then again, we did learn a lot about ourselves and human nature, then again, at what cost, etc, etc... anyway, if even one out of a hundred people has to go through this, then just think of all the bs we've been eating up that hasn't been righted.

Eh, human social melodrama.


I have wondered if some of the outright-lie variety of rumors here are made in hopes that the rumor will snowball in popularity and eventually come before Apple themselves who would then fulfill this collective *wish*. The iTablet hype comes to mind.
 
So this Kelly post claims the same motive for his hoax - he did this to teach everyone on the Web a important lesson!!! By pretending to be a liar, he exposed journalistic vulnerabilities and human gullibility. The world is now a better place because of this self-sacrifice.

I have to agree with this. It is an excellent reality check. This is a Mac rumour site. The amount of posters on this website who have kittens at the slightest hint of something from Apple is incredible.

A good example of this are the MBP threads. Until Apple update / release new MBPs, people should just take a chill pill.
 
dude, you are posting on a RUMORS forum and complaining about your wasted time!!! sheesh!

We`re taking advantage of the fact that the creator of said rumor is a member of these very boards, and are telling him straight up that HE was a waste of time... Not the rumor`s board itself.
 
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