If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
Sadly, I don't think it will necessarily be printing costs that lead to their ultimate demise. As long as metro dailies remain "masters of none," the specialists will continue to siphon-off their readers and their revenue.
There is much to be gained by sharing loss, and much that is lost by shielding ourselves with gains. When our losses are recognized we can face our own wounds in the looking glass, and become empowered to move through to the other side.
While any early adopter will tell you that catfish creepers have been around since the advent of dial up and message boards, it's just recently that the spotlight has been shined on the fascinating relationships between digital posers and the unrequited partners who fell for their scam.
It's that time of year when die-hard college football fans and die-hard NFL fans (some of which are one in the same) come together and debate endlessly about the draft and the players in them that can help NFL teams win games over the next 5-10 years.
It seems like an open season on liars these days, with so many of them shot down and exposed by the media -- and often by postings on the social media...
These "relationship artists" have figured out how to weave their way into our vulnerable hearts; preying on our deep desires to be loved. We open our hearts, our minds and sometimes our bank accounts -- all in an effort to "connect." Are we just naïve, so blinded by the want of a love affair? Or are they just that good?
As an increasing number of people -- from teens to seniors -- get comfortable with online dating, the numerous meet-and-greet sites are serving singles in unprecedented ways.
It requires little stretch of the imagination to see the benefits of an online relationship for someone in Te'o's position. Most importantly, a relationship conducted over the phone and Internet could move at a pace suitable for a shy Mormon young man.
Marginalizing Michelson's tax frustrations as basically criminal illustrates that the populist obligatory egalitarianism that now characterizes our dysfunctional political dialogue sadly now dominates the sports world too.
Is it any wonder that we are bombarded on a daily basis about the new lows to which public confidence in government agencies, elected officials and corporations has sunk?
Online dating. Is it safe to put up a profile? Should you try it? Does the Manti Te'o hoax sound farfetched or real to you? Is it a perilous landscape or can you truly find love on the Internet on one of the many popular online dating sites?
Maybe Manti wanted to believe in the relationship so much that he ran with the lie. That doesn't make him a villain or a victim. It makes him human. We can all identify with that.
Whatever has spurred my momentary malaise, it is time for action, to prove I am not invisible, that I am not as predictable as I appear. But how to make mine a more 'interesting' story? Several possible scenarios come to mind.
I met my girlfriend on Twitter. Our first date we stayed up half the night retweeting tweets and creating new hashtags. She blogged about me on WordPress. I started a LiveJournal. We connected on so many levels.
Quietly going about one's business -- putting in time as an IRS agent, serving in the army, working toward winning the Heisman or performing small acts of kindness for their own sake -- is a noble and satisfying pursuit. Far easier said than done, but surely not impossible.
Sources at ESPN.com have confirmed that several reporters within the network are now investigating the possibility that Manti Te'o himself may not be completely real.
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