EPT
Last week, Zia aka IcedEarth aka oG)Nis aka many many others posted this thread here. In 24 hours, there were over 300 heartfelt responses wishing Zia good luck and a healthy recovery. Some of the responses were lengthy, highly personal and sensitive. People even offered to donate money. I thought it showed the true heart of this forum. However, some of us at TeamLiquid began speaking behind the scenes about the thread and about “Zia” in general. After some investigation, the following was discovered:
IcedEarth browsed TL ten hours before posting that thread. In the evening, they returned to the site, browsed for another 20 minutes, and then spent 25 minutes writing. After that, IcedEarth spent the next 24 hours browsing TL constantly, outside one seven hour stretch. Obviously, the story in the thread is false.
However, there is more. Every post by IcedEarth has been made from the state of Tennessee. This means that it is impossible for this person to have been in many places previously claimed; Scandanavia and Korea.
Lastly, several people close to the Zia character have had doubts about the identity. After speaking with them, the common consensus was that “Zia” did not exist. It was merely a creation by somebody else. These points are simply the most damning in a long list of lies told by “Zia” over a long time.
When I spoke to “Zia” about this, “Zia” admitted it was a fictitious character, but then proceeded to tell me an equally impossible story to explain it. “Zia” has been lying for so long, it is impossible for them to tell the truth. The truth is simply this. “Zia” is a character created by one person, a boy, who decided to act as a girl online. This is not unheard of. What is unusual about it is the length of time and dedication spent to creating this character, and making it believable for so long.
Why post this? There was considerable debate about whether this should be posted or not. Had IcedEarth been only at TL, it may have been let go. However, “Zia” is a well-known figure in the community. “Zia” has also actively tried to cultivate friendships with other gamers, and people have become emotionally involved. In the end, “Zia” has hurt people.
Much of this community is based upon real friendships, it cannot survive otherwise. It is too old. The mods at TL are not simply staff at a website, but are friends who share real feelings and spend time together. The people in clans like .smi are not together only because of a common game, they game together because they form a bond that could exist outside the game. Even this forum, which has many members no longer interested in the game of BW, still hangs together because people form a bond. When one person actively creates those bonds using lies, people get hurt. Be true to yourself online, and if you meet somebody who seems too good to be true, take it with a grain of salt.
As for IcedEarth, I can only hope that the person behind the computer can examine themselves deeply, and decide what value they have gained with their actions. Perhaps they will respond to this, and perhaps they won’t, but I feel that coming clean 100% is the only path to peace of mind.
This message is endorsed by the Administrators of TL.net
/dances in the shower, singing into his hair brush...
Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
I'm exposed
And it's no big surprise
Don't you think I know
Exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me
To hold your hand
'Cause I'm just a girl, little 'ol me
Don't let me out of your sight
I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite
So don't let me have any rights
I'm exposed
And it's no big surprise
Don't you think I know
Exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me
To hold your hand
'Cause I'm just a girl, little 'ol me
Don't let me out of your sight
I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite
So don't let me have any rights
Ahh Adam, the permanent TL meme. I do wonder what you are up to today. Anyway brave traveler your next clue is A.
Q. 6) The title of the birthday news has a double meaning. What is it?
weird!
![[image loading]](http://www.ogaming.org/roster/Zia.jpg)
