# OpalCat's son, his life laid bare, and privacy **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 21, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510 "2013-03-21T01:40:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/21 "2013-03-22T22:44:06Z")
Let us not hide the truth to sanctify the dead. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/22 "2013-03-22T22:51:17Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > Have you ever read any of her posts or threads? She had made those types of posts for years, took heat for them and did it all over again. And again. Go to her boards and check it out (a board that I know about because she posted about it here). She had been cautioned numerous times about posting that kind of personal info and she kept doing it. The point is that she knew exactly what she was doing. If she was fine about posting about her lifestyle then there is nothing wrong with referencing those posts in a thread about her and her family. Her son was aware then and I’m sure he is now. > > Opal loved and surrounded herself with drama. There is nothing wrong with saying so and it’s not a slam to mention it. See, this is exactly the kind of vindictiveness I was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/23 "2013-03-22T22:57:11Z")
I don’t get why anyone gives a fuck. His mom treated the board as a blog. A lot of moms blog about their kids. Life goes on, ultimately no one will care. By continuing to talk about Opal and her son all anyone is doing is adding more tinder to the fire. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/24 "2013-03-22T23:02:15Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > See, this is exactly the kind of vindictiveness I was talking about. There was nothing at all vindictive about my post. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/25 "2013-03-22T23:04:43Z")
Let me elaborate on my remark above: By the time I joined this board, in March 2009, Opal-mania (both in terms of enthusiasm for her and her own hypomania) had long since abated. I think there was one brief episode where she returned in any significant fashion. So it is indeed mysterious that **PlainJain** , who joined one month after me, should have such a visceral reaction and talk about “years” of posting history that long antedated her own participation on the boards. I doubt **PlainJain** had any appreciable interaction with Opal at all. How could she? The only explanation is that the rehashing of old feuds that permanent posting facilitates (here and on other boards) has allowed Opal-contempt to become a tradition that is passed along to new members. Even those who joined long after Opal herself peaced out. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/26 "2013-03-22T23:26:26Z")
Oh please, you are trying to create drama where there is none. I read these forums for years before joining. I also read her board from time to time. I had occasion to join her board about a month before she passed on. During that time I shared a couple of emails with her. So though I don’t consider myself as knowing her I do have more than a passing familiarity with her. I’m not sure what your issue with me is but I can’t imagine how you consider my offhand comment a “visceral reaction”. And anyway, I’m sure there are plenty of posters here that are aware of her actions of the past by simply reading her past posts. They certainly have been linked to enough. No mystery, just normal message board stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/27 "2013-03-23T03:23:05Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > See, this is exactly the kind of vindictiveness I was talking about. Vindictiveness?:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![cards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@cards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cards)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/28 "2013-03-23T15:46:10Z")
For those of us who missed it, what happened to Opal? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/29 "2013-03-23T16:54:32Z")
> [@cards](#): > > For those of us who missed it, what happened to Opal? She died. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/30 "2013-03-23T17:50:44Z")
Maybe it’s just me, but whenever I see this thread title, I think “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra”. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/31 "2013-03-23T23:11:18Z")
It’s not just you. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/32 "2013-03-23T23:16:56Z")
> [@cards](#): > > For those of us who missed it, what happened to Opal? > [@Fenris](#): > > She died. Primary memorial thread is [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=684883) **cards**. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/33 "2013-03-23T23:17:37Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Let us not hide the truth to sanctify the dead. I’m getting really sick of people being unable to let one thread about Opal go without shitting all over it with “She wuz a drama queen! She loved teh dramaz! OMG dramaz! I’m just being real, y’all!” We get it. Now you all can shut up about it. Go jabber at each other on another board or in another thread about how you’re honoring her dramatic memory. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/34 "2013-03-23T23:32:43Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I’m getting really sick of people being unable to let one thread about Opal go without shitting all over it with “She wuz a drama queen! She loved teh dramaz! OMG dramaz! I’m just being real, y’all!” We get it. Now you all can shut up about it. Go jabber at each other on another board or in another thread about how you’re honoring her dramatic memory. What a coincidence. I’m getting really sick of people (ok, a person) who’s posts in ATMB indicate that they don’t remember they’re not mods and who’s posts are shrieky, whiny, sanctimonious orders. Luckily, people have absolutely no need to follow or even listen to said orders. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/35 "2013-03-23T23:54:04Z")
You soldier on so well, though. I’m proud of you. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/36 "2013-03-25T20:54:32Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > You soldier on so well, though. I’m proud of you. HA! You’re barely tickling him. You should see what he has to put up with from the assorted miscreants on his own board… ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/37 "2013-03-25T22:14:54Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > What a coincidence. I’m getting really sick of people (ok, a person) who’s posts in ATMB indicate that they don’t remember they’re not mods and who’s posts are shrieky, whiny, sanctimonious orders. Luckily, people have absolutely no need to follow or even listen to said orders. **Moderator Warning** However, they do have to refrain from personal attacks on other posters in ATMB. You’re obliged to remain civil in this forum. Since the target of your attack is obvious, this is an official warning. Don’t do this again. Colibri Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/38 "2013-03-25T22:25:17Z")
I see no point in leaving this thread open. If people have questions about our policies on removing threads or other issues, go ahead and start a new thread and maybe it can be discussed without the acrimony. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2013, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510/39 "2013-03-26T01:33:31Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I’m getting really sick of people being unable to let one thread about Opal go without shitting all over it with “She wuz a drama queen! She loved teh dramaz! OMG dramaz! I’m just being real, y’all!” We get it. Now you all can shut up about it. Go jabber at each other on another board or in another thread about how you’re honoring her dramatic memory. **Moderator Warning** This post should have received a warning as well. Keep this kind of stuff out of ATMB. This is an official warning for a personal attack. Colibri [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opalcats-son-his-life-laid-bare-and-privacy/653510.md?page=1)