Announcement

[HeatherJay]

Did you guys read the announcement from Angel Amidala at the top of the parenting page? How scary is that???? It really makes it sink in just how easy it is for predators to get to young kids through the internet. And considering the grief that many people here suffered when they heard about 'Mavrick Jr's' death...well, it's just sick. Honestly, it makes me feel physically ill to think that someone would come to a place like this and do such a thing.

 

[Tangnefedd]

I am afraid many forums like this are used by sickos to wind folk up. People are genuinely caring and when they read a thread which suggests that someone is in distress will respond in a caring way. I have noticed one or two threads, which have caused me some concern and brought one to the attention of the moderator.

 

[HeatherJay]

I am afraid many forums like this are used by sickos to wind folk up. People are genuinely caring and when they read a thread which suggests that someone is in distress will respond in a caring way. I have noticed one or two threads, which have caused me some concern and brought one to the attention of the moderator.

Good for you, Tang. I'll admit, I'm way to naive and trusting the majority of the time. It's so sad that some people deliberately take advantage of that.

 

[Tangnefedd]

I was on another website and someone who knew one of our spooks was a girl called Jane Jones (we have the tombstone in the garden) pretended to be her, and wound folk up by saying that she was about to commit suicide because she was pregnant. It was a cruel hoax and upset a lot of people, I was hopping mad when I found out about it and soon put a stop to that!!!

 

[Michaela]

You are so right...I am 15 and used to talk to "mavrick jr" on this site and know others who did too. Its just sick to think we were all talking to a 40+ year old pervert when we thought we were talking to a teenage guy...

 

[Tangnefedd]

So many kids get taken in by this sort of thing. We have had a number of young girls in the UK who have gone to meet their 'teenage' Internet pals only to find they are much older men. There is a court case on at the moment, an American GI in his 30s, ran away to Germany with a 12 year old British girl he had met in a chat room.

 

[Crofter]

I think on the net you have to keep in mind that there is no real way of knowing folk are who they say they are... folk who post very emotive personal and far fetched issues when they are new are especially suspicious... assume they are all genuine... but keep in your mind they might not be.

Over time I think it is easy to get to know some folk cos their identity always ties up... but you can never be too sure so never be too overly trusting.


... I am who I say I am btw... just so as you know.

 

[HeatherJay]

I think on the net you have to keep in mind that there is no real way of knowing folk are who they say they are... folk who post very emotive personal and far fetched issues when they are new are especially suspicious... assume they are all genuine... but keep in your mind they might not be.

Over time I think it is easy to get to know some folk cos their identity always ties up... but you can never be too sure so never be too overly trusting.


... I am who I say I am btw... just so as you know.

Suuuuuuuuure ya are, Crofter,

BTW, I agree wholeheartedly. I'm just awful at picking up on those being less than honest.

 

[MsAnne]

Oh my heart. Heather, I would have never read that announcement had you not mentioned it here.
I've been telling people about this poor family. I sat at the computer one night reading Maverick's journal after Maverick Jr.'s "death" and sobbed. I hurt so badly for him. I prayed diligently for him. Now, I just feel rather sick to my stomach.

 

[Motor City Christian]

Thanks to Heather Jay for this thread. Hello all, I have never posted in this sub-forum, but I am glad a thread was made to cope with this. I was very close to "JR" before his "death", but I got even closer to Mavrick afterwards. I talked to him online trying to comfort him and more recently until this happened every night. I literally was sick after reading the e-mail he sent me after telling his true identity(those of us who got the e-mail told Angel and staff about it). While I am a 21 year old guy, it still scares me. Nonetheless, I was still close to the man. He told me all of these stories about Jr. he had it all plannned out. I was also planning to meet Mavrick last week, but thankfully we couldn't set a time to meet. The Lord only knows what would have happened. Anyways, pray for me as I am still having difficulty trusting others online. Pray for Mavrick too as he must have hid this for a long time, pray that God will use this. The man must really need help in order to have done this. Still, I pray that God's justice would be served, but I also pray that he may get back on track and live by Godly principles. These are my thoughts.
Mods, I apologize if you feel this is not appropriate, please remove it if you feel it is. I am sorry in advance.

 

[Tangnefedd]

I would never let a kid of mine enter a chat room, if I could help it. I know that for folk who have teenagers that is not an easy thing to prevent. I am so grateful that the age of the Internet and cell/phones was a bit after my children went through that stage. I would have been 'ruining' their lives on a daily basis by policing the computer and their phones, LOL!!!!

I have been completely taken in by a woman I met on the Internet, we communicated by e-mail and I thought I knew her, but got I it very badly wrong. I wont go into the gory details as I have mentioned it on the Women's forum, but if someone in their 50's, like me, can be taken for a complete ride by someone calling themselves a born again Christian, then it is very hard for our kids to make the distinction between the goodies and the baddies!!!

 

[JillLars]

We hear about predators all the time, but I never realized someone would go to the extend Mavrick did, pretending he had a son, and pretending this imaginary son died. The announcement didn't say whether or not this was sexually motivated, but regardless, even I was convinced. It frightens me to read the post of some of the younger members on here who were going to visit him after "mavrick jr." died. Who knows what would have happened. I guess I have always known to watch out in chat rooms, this just isn't something I expected (to this extent) on a Christian forum.

 

[Tangnefedd]

Maybe we are too trusting. Even though I have had an upleasant experience on the Internet I take everyone here at face value unless, as on one or two occasions, I have had reason not to. I could be a homodical mad axe murderer for all that any of you know. I don't think I am though, LOL!!!!!

 

[~PICKLE~]

Oh my Gosh!!!!! I'm speechless, are they for sure, maybe I'm just to trusting and someone doing something like that doesn't compute, ya know. That's just.......... I don't know, this is suppose to be a Christian MB, LIke I said I'm speechless.

 

[JOYfulbeliever]

Unfortunately, we are very sure about this. It was something that the staff took (and takes) very seriously.

I am STILL sick every time I think about this. It is bad enough when people mess with adults, but when you do something to a child, that's when I lose it.

Mavrick didn't just get to the kids though, as obvious even with this thread. Many of us as adults thought he was genuine. I, too, mourned, sobbed and grieved over the loss of Jr. I talked to "both" of them in the CB, but I never spoke with them outside of CF. I know many who did though.

It's a sad day when someone has to create a persona (of a CHILD) and then kill the child off. I wish I knew the motive for sure...but I'm afraid Mavrick is probably the only one who knows.

I love this thread - I think it's great for people to talk about their feelings with this. I also want to add that the staff is available for you all. If you need to talk, PM any staff member that you feel comfortable with. We're here for you. And if you have any additional information, please pass that along as well.

My love and prayers to all of you that were affected, even in the smallest degree... s

 

[JillLars]

If this was sexually motivated and he attempted to meet with anyone from this board, legal action should be taken. I was very frightened to read about some of our members who were/are thinking of visiting mavrick. I hope that cf pursues this or at least contacts law enforcement officials so they can keep an eye on it.

 

[Staind]

I feel bad for everyone on the forums who talked to him but also for Maverick himself. He obviously needs some form of help and I hope he turns to God for counselling.

Have a great evening guys.

 

[Blessed75]

I hope that legal action was taken - that is just SICK. And it enrages me to NO END.

 

[sunshine]

I've been away from the boards for a bit, and just read this announcement now. I cannot believe it. I had to read it a few times to make sure I got the story straight. My heart goes out to those who were deeply mourning "Maverick Jr". what a sickening end to a terrible story.