a scammer considers redemption through PETSA
by Alphaville Herald on 10/05/04 at 10:04 am
montserrat: i am here today with debra messing, a scammer who has apparently undergone a change of heart. hi debra, thanks for stopping by
debra_messingtso: Thank you
montserrat: i wonder if you could tell us about this lifestyle change you’ve been considering
debra_messingtso: Well,I cannot say I am completely changing — I am however,considering to create an account,seperate from my scamming lifestyle,to be dedicated to PETSA
montserrat: are you intending to give up scamming
debra_messingtso: Well,I have tried, lol But I am facing the fact,that I am just a scammer. That is why I think that by helping with Petsa on a seperate account,I can create a balance,and with that balance I can feel safe scamming
montserrat: do you feel that helping mrs c will counteract the difficulties you create from scamming
debra_messingtso: Yes
montserrat: could you say more about that, please
debra_messingtso: Well,I think that by helping save pets,I can feel better on taking moeny from newbies. r example, y steal 10k from a girl in the morning
Then she may come to my Petsa account house, and I can give her a pet. That would probablly reduce the guilt I sometimes feel
montserrat: say more about your guilt, please, and how the petsa project offsets that. do you really think that handing somebody a puppy will console them for losing their house?
debra_messingtso: Well no,nothing can completely erased. When I scam I take away a lot of stuff. They may not be able to cook,let alone buy a new lot. When they lose 10k,they lose more than just money. Not a lot of houses would take in a poor newbie. But then again,that makes me realize that giving a puppy won’t take anything away. After all,I would take 10k,then I give them a dog or cat. That would probablly be at 4600 value and if I did give a dog or cat, it is a companion,not money
montserrat: i see
debra_messingtso: So if I said giving a pet offesets it,because it gives them some money back,it would be controversial of the cause
montserrat: but the person can’t sell the pet reallly can they
debra_messingtso: No they can’t,thats why when it comes to it,giving a pet can’t repay,or help heal then guilt from scamming a newbie. Helping the pets are what can help balance
montserrat: and you are not canceling your scammer account are you
debra_messingtso: lol,no,I am cancelling my Final Fantasy XI online account,lol
I think I will always be a scammer. So trying to be good and bad on the same account is a little pointless
montserrat: how did you come to your realization that you wanted to change
debra_messingtso: Well,it started when I saw Peach’s home. Peach was apparently a shortlived sim,but she gave away teddy bears for nice things
But that didn’t help much. What really made me want to change,was when I read Mrs President Chomsky’s article — I wanted to get into non-scamming related things,but still not give up scamming
montserrat: did you do something to the teddy bear lady
debra_messingtso: Well,I didn’t feel guilt for her, she made me realize the goodness I can do with my cash.However,when I got over it I did trash her home
montserrat: let me see if i am understanding. you were inspired by this lady, you thought she was doing nice things, and so you trashed her house
debra_messingtso: lol,she did inspire me. But that doesn’t mean that I should treat her differently
montserrat: but she did have some effect on you if she inspired you to partly give up scamming
debra_messingtso: yes. but let me just clear this,to not make confusion. debra messing will still scam,i will simply just have another,more kind,resident in av
montserrat: what are your plans for your work with mrs c
debra_messingtso: well,i would like to crreate a sanctuary/pound. a place to adopt abused pets. where they can live happy lives,and when some good sim comes along,will find a new home
montserrat: do you have anything concrete planned?
debra_messingtso: planned….not as of yet,i am looking into creating a pet care neighborhood/alliance though
montserrat: do you think you have enough social capital to do that
debra_messingtso: lol,yes.i am a sweetie in rl,and in the game i am not as mean as i should be. a lot of people say i shouldn’t do what i do
montserrat: how do you feel about that
debra_messingtso: its true,i need to act my prt in av.i don’t give back what i steal,but i am not harsh enough
montserrat: how are you planning to improve your harshness
debra_messingtso: oh i guess just more insults — stealing more — laughing at them
montserrat: ok. do you have anything you’d like our readers to know as a last thought
debra_messingtso: yes
montserrat: please tell us
debra_messingtso: its a game,and this does not reflect my real life self
montserrat: ok. well thank you so much for coming by. it’s been a real pleasure. hope to talk with you again soon.
debra_messingtso: you too
Funky
May 10th, 2004
pfff, give scammers more attention only invites to more scammers. Though it’s fun reading through all the scammer mantra’s every time…
“blabla I’m really nice in RL”
yeah right. Well let me explain something: Every person that scams or or griefs in online games is NOT nice in RL as well. They are all frustated about something and lack feelings. That’s why they have the need to cause grief to others. If you are a nice person in RL, your conscience or feelings would not allow you to scam in the first place. Period.
I actually know a few scammers in RL and every single one of them is not a nice person. They all have lousy social lives. That is why they can shut down their emotions and ignore their conscience. Causing grief day in day out is simply not possible if you are a ‘nice & social’ person in RL.
Gladys
May 10th, 2004
Funky, are you silly? You act like you know so much, but the truth is you don’t. My in game avatar is mean and ruthless. My RL self is really nice, and I have a lot of friends in RL (if you don’t believe me their pics are all on my website linked from RSO). Some people, like myself, have gotten bored with playing the game “normal” so we turn to something else to spice it up a bit. I really don’t scam, but my avatar is mean and ruthless. I would never take someone’s RL belongings or call them silly names for no reason. This whole “scamming” act is just for fun…even if it does upset some people.You have to remember that this is just a game. Everyone plays if differently, afterall, the motto is “be someone else.” I have gotten a chance to get to know Debra a little and she is a very sweet person, whether you want to believe it or not. She obviously has feelings, as you can see from the interview above.
Anonymous
May 10th, 2004
Bumarum! LOL..I’m really a nice person in real life too..but the scammer don’t think so. I was accused by both Debra and Gladys for “scamming” them..when I didn’t do anything. If action is taken by EA for doing something that I didn’t do..I am outta this game. Its like we are on an elementary school playground. Thanks for lettin me vent!
Cocoanut
May 10th, 2004
Here’s a hint, Gladys. You don’t spice up the game; you annoy the heck out of almost everybody else, ruin events, and in general bring misery for many.
It’s not like you just play these characters and let everyone else play theirs and do what they want to do. It’s that you run OVER everyone else with them, being abusive and disruptive in the process, and trying to force everything that is going on into your idea of what it should be.
Not everybody who plays this game enjoys hearing you and your cronies hogging the stage with mean-spirited antics. Doesn’t matter what it is, if you guys are there, you are a constant pain in the butt, spamming the chat log with incessant and childish and obnoxious you, you, you, you, you, you, you.
The fact that it is fun for you and spices up your game, while you are totally oblivious to the fact that most others hate it, indicates to me that you, Debra, Grandma Celestie, etc., don’t really care about the other players at all.
And that, in my book, doesn’t spell “a really nice person.”
Or maybe you are just totally clueless and think everyone else really does enjoy it. I think, though, that it’s more likely that you think that everyone else SHOULD enjoy it, and/or if they don’t, too bad. If so, that is inconsiderate, at minimum.
Now I like a little nonsense and drama now and then, but it seems I can’t go anywhere, to any event in Alpha anymore, without you trying to make it be all about YOU. It’s gotten boring. And I think you mistake tolerance for actual appreciation.
Why don’t you stretch your imagination and try some other way of playing that will be entertaining both for you and for everyone else around you? This personna you have, in this game, amounts to nothing more than being a griefer. Is that the best you can do?
All you do in playing this way is garner extreme antipathy from other players, and that antipathy, contrary to whatever you may expect, or think should be the case, is for you, not for your avatar.
coco
Bob Busch
May 10th, 2004
ok funky i agree with most of what u say alot of people do play this game to escape thier own shitty lives i sure do. anyways id just like to say this to sims who are concerned about scammers.
Anyone dumb enough to be scammed should delete thier sim. dont give anybody any money unless u got something of theirs. second of all do not give anybody ur EA username and password no matter how well you know them. its hard all alone in TSO so join a mafia and no scammers will mess with u, the last guy who scammed me got it bad from me and my mafia we all tagged him and i made him give me more then he owed me
Debra Messing
May 10th, 2004
Hello all,
Its a roleplaying game.You think that the bear avatar is actually a bear in RL?or maybe that pixie skilling is playing on her labtop in the town in the trees.
You are totally clueless if you even take this personally.We never met you in RL,and most likely,we never will.So why care what we,people chances are you will most likely never meet,say?
I think it is because you are all unstable.One insult(That has no proof)in a GAME will make you bilistic.It’s quite silly.(Now we know where the original FMFN roomies got it from
)
I am a sweetie in RL,in fact,I am involved in lots of protests
.Mainly save the earth,animals,etc.I am a vegetarian too.
Like I always say,the motto is ‘Be somebody…Else’,SO LISTEN TO IT!
-Debra Messing
email:
debra_messingtso@yahoo.com
Gladys
May 10th, 2004
Coco, what is funny to me may not be funny to you. Obviously we do those things to make people mad, why else would we do them. I don’t try to make everything about me, silly. It’s for fun. If you don’t see it that way then that sucks for you. I’m not planning on changing my way of playing this game, so you can just deal with it. I don’t care if you don’t like me, my friends, or my ways. We will continue our ways, and there’s nothing you or anyone can do about it. Post on here all you want, bash us, and whine about us, but you will get the same reaction.
And anonymous, it’s “bubarum”…or should I call you Carli?
Urizenus
May 10th, 2004
Reading the article, I couldn’t help but recall the Gordon Gekko (sp?) line from Wall Street.
“That’s what you have to understand about WASPS, they hate people but they love animals.”
RB
May 10th, 2004
Scammers and Griefers are trash, and we need to take them out.
- RB
Celestie
May 10th, 2004
Blah Blah Blah that is all I see when I read all your comments. You make me sick, why are you all lurking around? Stop trying to find out what we are doing!
Jenny
May 10th, 2004
Umm..sorry but we already know what your doing..You walk around and go Look At Me and Bumarum..you crash peoples houses. Yes i understand its your way of playing the game..I understand and respect that..but I just don’t agree with it..
Gladys
May 11th, 2004
Jenny, no one cares what you agree with. We laugh at you in RL all the time. You are the center of our jokes.
Funky
May 11th, 2004
No debra and gladys. If you be a mean person in a game out there to ruin others game experience and rob them of countless hours of play time by stealing their money, you simply CANNOT BE a nice person. You see, nice persons don’t do those things. Maybe you have to pretend to be nice in RL to avoid repercussions of your deeds, but being an anonymous gamer reveals your true self: a frustated RL person finally being able to strike back at people because you don’t dare to do it in RL.
I wonder how your so called RL friends react when you tell them your biggest enjoyment in online games is to ruin the gaming experience of others, stealing their carefully acquired virtual stuff and laughing in their face.
You can whine all you want that it isnt true. But we know it. A griefer in games cannot be a true nice person in RL. Simply impossible.
Ian
May 11th, 2004
Look all I can say is, who gives a shit? Mont, you did a good interview, no doubt about that. But who gives a shit about Debrah. She whines and whines, she is more of what you scammers call her a “wanna be”. I have only heard about her a few times and it’s not like she is as big as Granny or Gladys. What I am trying to say is, she is TRYING to be famous, when obviously she is not. IF you want fame – do something with your life.
Gladys
May 11th, 2004
Funky, have you been scammed by someone? You seem to have some anger inside about this. I really don’t care what you think of us. I know who I am, and I’m perfectly happy with myself. I might not be the nicest person in the world, but I live a happy and fun life. What more could you want in life? My friends think it’s funny when I tell them. My mom, dad, and little brother all think it’s funny, my mom even said she might buy the game just to come and see how grouchy old Gladys is. Don’t you see? This is just a game. We are role playing. I guess your’re too ignorant to see this. I’m done posting about this subject. You’re too thick-headed and I highly doubt anything I can say will show you.
Funky
May 11th, 2004
Don’t worry Gladys, I can clearly see you trying to provoke. The fact that your mom likes what you do really shows there is something seriously wrong in your head. Anyway, have a good time going to a naive 13 year old girl you see walking on the streets. Ask her if you could see her expensive jacket because there is something wrong with the stitch it seems. Then, when she does, rip the jacket apart. Push her on the ground and laugh in her face calling her names and laughing about her naivity…. oh wait that’s the RL equivalent of what the likes of you do in the game…
Gladys
May 11th, 2004
So you’re saying there’s something wrong with my mom? LOL…If only you knew what my parents do in RL. They are both highly respected people in our community. I would never do something like that to a little girl in RL. Now you are starting to make a fool of yourself. Please stop while you’re ahead. I think there is something seriously wrong in your head, not mine. Please stay far away from me. You’re scary.
Celestie
May 11th, 2004
Hahaha, how are you about to live with yourself? You are so serious and such a cry baby. I can’t stand to read your post, this is just a game! Hahaa you don’t know us irl so stop trying to get us.
Funky
May 11th, 2004
Why wouldn’t you do that to that little girl in RL? you’re doing the same to players in TSO. You are stealing or wrecking something what is of value to them. Simoleans represent real money my dear. Your parents may be highly respected. If they actually like the fact that you are wrecking the gaming experience of other people by ruining hours of play time in one scam, they are really worth nothing in my opinion. Normal parents would feel sad that they apparently forget to teach you social values.
You better stop this discussion because you only make a fool of yourself and on top of that you disrespect your parents. Heck, it’s just as if I steal something and defend it by saying that my parents found it rather funny that the shopkeeper was so naive to trust me into entering his shop. Because THAT is what you do in the game. It is NOT just a game. Possessions and inventories of other sims represent TIME (time=money remember?) and an actual real money value on ebay etc. I.e. you are stealing, thus a criminal… and your parents find it funny…No wonder that you are what you are.
Gladys
May 11th, 2004
Funky, you dont know me. Stop acting like you do. Stop stealing my words. Stop trying to make yourself sound like the good guy. You aren’t. Simoleans aren’t real money. This is just a game. Now go find something better to do. I’m done with you. I hope you know, that all this time=money that you have put into writing your comments has amounted to absolutely nothing. You=nothing. The end.
Gladys
May 11th, 2004
oops, comma splice
Gladys
May 11th, 2004
Oh and btw, please name someone, anyone, that I have stolen from.
Urizenus
May 11th, 2004
OMG!!!!!!!
Gladys is Jeff Brown!!!!!!
from http://www.alphavilleherald.com/archives/000181.html:
Wolverine: You wrote, “Simoleans which, like Monopoly money, have no real world value.” Are you aware of the Online Exchange Banks and eBay trade? It would seem as if Simoleans have a very real value, complete with its own fluctuating exchange rate.
Jeff Brown: No doubt, even Monopoly money has some value to enthusiasts. However the limited amount of trading in Simoleans on eBay is the exception that proves the rule: outside of the game, Simoleans have insignificant value.
Funny how scammers and the Vice President for Corporate Communications at EA think so much alike.
Just a data point. Not implying anything.
RB
May 11th, 2004
But Jeff actually sounded like an adult with an education Uri? This gladys thing sounds like another trash talking scam who is probaly the same age or close as Van was.
- RB
Urizenus
May 11th, 2004
no, Gladys is cool, and she is a better speller than Jeff Brown too. Too bad she absorbed his brain dead ideology somehow, cuz she is one dead sexy granny!
Funky
May 12th, 2004
Gladys is not cool. Scammers are not cool. I would have expected better from you Uri to call a scammer/griefer cool. Gladys is old enough to fully understand the frustation and grief she causes and yet she continues to defend that style of play and think it is ‘funny’…
Nah, that’s not cool at all. Although one never knows: in ghetto’s shooting someone is considered cool as well. Oh well, different life standards.
Gladys
May 12th, 2004
Who the hell is Jeff Brown? I don’t enjoy when people think I’m someone else. Thanks Uri
It’s more fun to respond to all your negativity toward me than it is to play the game anymore.
I have to say that I don’t scam anymore (yes, I did scam a long time ago, back when I first started). About a month ago, I had just started playing again…I had quit for a while. I hadn’t scammed anyone in the months leading up to the time I quit. I don’t get any enjoyment out of scamming people and taking their hard earned belongings. I know how hard it is to earn money in this game. I only have about 20k on my sim, and the only reason I do is because of property and sim bonuses. When sims IM me in game about earning 300k, money doubling, or transfers, I just ignore them, which means I don’t offer to take their money. Why? Because I feel sorry for them. But I don’t inform them that the house is a scam. They usually find out for themselves. Most of them end up leaving the house without being scammed because they got rude and got kicked. Just because I live at a scam house and enjoy raising hell, doesn’t mean I scam. There is so much drama that happens at the house I live at, it seems like it’s the only drama you can find in this game anymore. The only enjoyment I get out of this game is the fun I have with my friends and raising hell….I know most people don’t enjoy this, some of the things we do are very rude and obnoxious…but this is a just a game. I enjoy having a good laugh and being obnoxious in RL…so this could be the reason it’s so much fun in game. Ok, bring on some more bashing
Cocoanut
May 12th, 2004
Well, that was honest, at least, Gladys.
coco
Johnny Lace
May 12th, 2004
Well Gladys, if you think the game is boring without some drama, why don’t you organize a big contest of some sort together with friends. It will get you:
* drama from the discussions with your friends about the procedures of the contest
* drama from contestants not understanding the rules
* drama because the contest sucks up RL harder than you think
But in the end, everybody is happy and got closer together and the community had fun too.
It does sound like I have some experience with it… I do
Really, try to do something good for the community. You might actually like it.
Debra Messing
May 13th, 2004
Hmph,Johnny,you really annoy me.YOU ARE OLD NEWS!
just a sim
May 13th, 2004
You guys are funny thats what i think…In the game you think I don’t like you, but this is because I am playing along. I don’t like scammers, but I think it is hilarious watching your antics, and grannys and if that makes me bad then im bad.(I dont like the scamming part if you ever have though) You payed me back when you got my item stuck even.. so…no your not a scammer gladys. I did appreciate being reimbursed. I hated hearing this particular sim is gone. Its just a game I get that too. Have fun your way anyway you want. As long as your not taking things from people i will always find you funny.
Johnny Lace
May 14th, 2004
Lol, Debra, I *am* old news. Tell me something new :-p