# The mystery of Wally. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 16, 2003, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254 "2003-12-16T03:51:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/21 "2003-12-16T14:43:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Finagle \* > **\…every sparrow that falls in every small town. And it’s possible that Wally fudged his exact location for privacy reasons, leaving it a rather vague "near Toronto"** As I actually live in Toronto (Well, just outside of.) I feel safe in saying that something like this _would_ apprear in the papers. If they report 2 teens ketting killed in a car crash, etc, then one would figure that a story like this would have been on the news and in the papers. But who knows. ::shrug:: ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/22 "2003-12-16T14:46:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Wally had just undergone major heart surgery a month or two prior to the accident. If he wanted to disappear from the message boards, having someone report a fatal outcome would have been an even more convenient way of shuffling off the mortal SDMB coil. True, but if the rumors are correct (and I am only giving them enough credibility as I would any rumor - hardly any) he didn’t have a reason to disappear until a month before his death. Bill - har 😃 ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/23 "2003-12-16T14:48:54Z")
I was here when Wally was here. From what I read in the other place it seems the accusation is that he faked his own death to remove himself from this community for whatever reason you care to believe or not. The man died in a tragic accident, there was an inquest about it according to his daughter, IIRC several dopers stated at the time that they wanted to go to the funeral. So to knock this on the head all somebody has to do is show that Wally did die. Does anyone know if Wally was his real name? Wally, Walter etc IRL?(I see no reason to hide that info know as the man’s dead) Does anyone know how to look for inquest info in Canada? Does anyone know where in Canada he lived? Did anyone ever meet him IRL? Does anyone care? Can this be done without a fight? ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/24 "2003-12-16T14:49:27Z")
I disagree, **Kwyjibo**. I think the papers choose pretty at-random what to put in and what not to put in. I would not be shocked, if his death really happened, if there were no news stories about it. Here are the real questions: 1. Did anyone know his full name? 2. Did anyone ever meet him? 3. Did anyone have his phone number? Until we get someone who can answer some of those, I think we’re at a dead end. ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/25 "2003-12-16T14:56:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LaurAnge \* > **I disagree, Kwyjibo. I think the papers choose pretty at-random what to put in and what not to put in. I would not be shocked, if his death really happened, if there were no news stories about it.** I dunno…Even the Toronto Sun puts in articles about the smallest menial things. But this was an industrial accident and I am sure it would have been reported somewhere. Well, one would figure it would have been. ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/26 "2003-12-16T14:57:49Z")
I used to work for the Ministry of Labour in Toronto, ON and if there was a work place accident it would have been investigated by the MOL and there would have been documentation. That doesnt mean it would have hit the papers. If anyone has his real name then you could obtain information under the Freedom of Information Act. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/27 "2003-12-16T14:59:25Z")
FWIW his daughters account has a email addy attached to it. So who wants to be the one to find out if the story is true by mailing her 😉 Could you imagine getting that mail? ---
**Author:** ![Aries28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Aries28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aries28)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/28 "2003-12-16T16:06:54Z")
What difference does it really make? I mean, it would suck if it was all just fake…but does it really matter this late in the game? I have no dog in this fight one way or another…I just know how I would feel if this was a real event and people were speculating like this about my family, friend, someone I cared about and respected etc. I hope we all live up to **Uncle Beer’s** expectation and keep this from turning ugly. Pretty please? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/29 "2003-12-16T16:08:08Z")
My mystery of Wally is: who the hell is Wally? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/30 "2003-12-16T16:25:48Z")
**WallyM7** was a well-beloved poster who died in June of 2000, right after I joined. The “Putz” smiley was created as a memorial to him because that was his favorite word to use to dismiss idiotic posters in debates. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/31 "2003-12-16T16:25:59Z")
Having been through several sympathy trolls over the years, unless I personally know somebody, or personally know somebody I trust who knew the person, I don’t believe any of the tragic stories I see on the web. And when Wally died, it appeared there was an ever closer circle of people who _felt_ they knew him, but didn’t actually have a solid connection. Similar to the Kaycee Nicole incident a couple years ago. When she “died” a lot of people put a lot of weight on their perceived interactions with a real person who didn’t actually exist. Frankly, I have no idea about Wally. I’ve been aware of this rumor since it happened, though this is the first I’ve heard of him having a reason to leave. But in the end, it doesn’t really matter to me one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/32 "2003-12-16T16:27:25Z")
I’ve never heard of Wally before. Could someone please explain to me if he wanted to leave the SDMB why he wouldn’t just stop posting, rather then faking his own death? ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/33 "2003-12-16T16:33:10Z")
**AngelicGemma** , I think **Demo** posted all that is apporpriate to mention about that topic. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/34 "2003-12-16T16:34:28Z")
Here’s the original announcement [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=28131) if anyone wishes to know more. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/35 "2003-12-16T16:41:58Z")
I realize that folks don’t want to mention the other place where this discussion is going on. Fair enough. Has anyone there ever met Wally in real life? Haj ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/36 "2003-12-16T16:45:38Z")
_Nobody_ seems to have met Wally IRL, hajario. That’s why we’re having this discussion. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/37 "2003-12-16T16:47:53Z")
Could someone e-mail me the link to the other place where this is being discussed? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/38 "2003-12-16T16:49:13Z")
Wow, I can’t believe I’m one of the “old-timers” who remembers and interacted with Wally. of course, I didn’t “know” him well enough to comment on what really happened, but I thought there were some dopers who actually attended the funeral? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/39 "2003-12-16T16:56:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ruadh \* > \*\*_Nobody_ seems to have met Wally IRL, hajario. That’s why we’re having this discussion. \*\* I am starting to get that. 🙂 I guess I was confused about the allegations of an affair. He would have to have met that person or was the “affair” just lusty emails? Given that no one knew him in real life and the strange timing of his daughter’s registration, it really does seem like the whole thing was a hoax. That’s a damn shame if true. He put a lot of people through a lot of grief. Even if he was a serial plagiarist, he touched many. Haj ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254/40 "2003-12-16T16:58:48Z")
I know the OP reqeusted it not be posted, but so far as I know, there is no reason not to, and meanwhile half the people are talking past the other half. _url deleted - see below_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-wally/219254.md?page=3)