# Go Ask Alice
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-ask-alice/224986
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 17, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-ask-alice/224986 "2004-01-17T20:16:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Dr.Sexchange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Sexchange)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-ask-alice/224986/1 "2004-01-17T20:16:31Z")
Is this real? There’s many points were it seems fairly unbelievable. Anyone have any evidence either way?
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### Author:  [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-ask-alice/224986/2 "2004-01-17T20:32:49Z")
[Snopes says it’s a hoax](http://www.snopes.com/language/literary/askalice.asp).
I’ve never read it, myself.
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### Author:  [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-ask-alice/224986/3 "2004-01-17T20:36:58Z")
If you’re talking about the purported diary of the teenage junkie and the subsequent made-for-TV movie, Snopes says [“no.”](http://www.snopes.com/language/literary/askalice.asp)
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### Author:  [@Bell\_Jar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bell_Jar)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2004, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-ask-alice/224986/4 "2004-01-18T01:15:08Z")
I’m actually relieved to discover its not real. Definitely an interesting read, but very depressing to think that it _might_ me real.
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### Author:  [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2004, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-ask-alice/224986/5 "2004-01-18T08:05:03Z")
Once again, Snopes offers a weak defense of their opinion on this one.
> **[Go Ask Alice](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/go-ask-alice/)**
>
> Was 'Go Ask Alice' the real-life diary of a teenage girl?
* * *
The precise authorship of Go Ask Alice is still a bit of a mystery. Beatrice Sparks is presented as its editor rather than its author, and one tantalizing mention in a 1998 New York Times book review indicates the book might have been the work of several people:
* * *
“still a bit of a mystery”, “might have been the work of several people”
* * *
Our best guess is that a number of folks work at churning out these cautionary tales, which are then presented to an overly accepting public as real diaries of anonymous teens.
* * *
“our best guess”
etc. etc. etc.
As usual, take Snopes opinion along with a large toke from the caterpillar’s hookah.