So, since I admitted that I play on Second Life, I decided to bring my dilemna here. Met a guy this weekend, (while roleplaying within the roleplay), we shared a few quips, I liked him, he liked me, we had a “date” last night. During the getting to know you portion of the evening he tells me he is stationed in Germany, security to an embassy. Ok, sounds extreeeemely unlikely to me, but still within the realm of the possible, military security needs downtime too. Then he drops the bomb…you guessed it, special forces. Now admittedly I know almost less than nothing about these things, but I’m thinking that special forces doesn’t do security, they do things that are more…special.
On the one hand, this is a roleplaying game, most people are pretending to be what they are not, and why should I burst his bubble, especially since I don’t know for sure that he is not what he says he is due to my ignorance of the topic.
On the other hand even though I do not even believe in Hell, I’m pretty sure there is an exeption with a special level for people who pretend to be special forces, (or fighter pilots, or whatever else they think will impress an audience). On top of this is the indignation factor, what on earth did I do to make this guy think I was an idiot?! Since he’s playing in Second Life too, I don’t think its that.
So, do I try to learn more about it, and confront him? Or do I consider it part of the game and let it slide, even though it galls me to let him think I’m falling for his line of what I’m almost positive is bull.
The facts and opinions of military or ex-military Dopers would be especially appreciated.
My ex’s dad was special forces. His day-to-day job for the military was teaching. Even within special forces, there are grunt-work day-to-day jobs. His “special” work was as an assassin. Meh. While I agree that you should take whatever this guy says with a grain of salt, it isn’t outside the scope of reality for him to be special forces and security simultaneously.
Did he say which service component he is in? Army, Marines, Air Force?
Ask him what his MOS or rate is. Then ask him what his unit is called. Start small.
Maybe he just left Marine Force Recon, and is now on assignment to guard an embassy.
“special forces” could mean almost anything. Hell, maybe he was is a psyop guy who is on a radio guard detail at the embassy. Nothing fancy or excitingly dangerous… and a bit of a stretch to say he’s SF… but not entirely 100% bullshit from a certain point of view.
See that’s the thing, I take almost everything people on SL say with a grain of salt. I’m not expecting to meet the love of my life, (or even this week), on a role playing game. But it just grinds my guts to let somebody think they are putting something fairly massive over on me. Equally, I would be mortified beyond belief to accuse an honest man of lying out of ignorance.
He did not specify his branch, but he mentioned Marines and Seals (so Navy) seperately. Which leaves Army and Air Force. Ok, next time I see him, I’ll try to work those questions into casual conversation…that should be easy! :rolleyes: (Rolleyes for me and my lack of social skills and small talk, not you!
Heh. I do the SL thing, too. I think he’s probably lying.
That having been said. . .I’ve met one or two people there who’ve made extraordinary claims who’ve turned out to be. . .well, exactly who they say they are (which, let me tell you, is really interesting when you’ve heard of the person beforehand. On this board, no less. Oy).
That being said. . .special forces my left ass cheek. If someone tried this on me, I’d dump them. Seriously. It’s a HORRIBLE lie. I mean, a creative, interesting lie is one thing. . .but this is the sort of lie that screams, “I’m eighteen years old and spend way too much time on FPS games.”
It’s too easy! Next time you are chatting just start talking about how wonderful it must be to live in Germany. Ask him if he gets to travel a lot through Europe and if he enjoys traveling. Tell him how envious of him you are for living in a place surrounded by so much history.
Then work in this line:
"You are so lucky! I have a friend from college stationed in Germany, and he gets to travel everywhere! He lives in Stuggart… Yea… man, he’s always sending me post cards of all the places he visits. He’s a medic. I think it’s called 18D… he is in 10th Special Forces Group… hey, didn’t you mention that you were special forces too? That’s right!! What a coincidence. Maybe you know him? Do you know anyone in 10th Group? Oh… you don’t? What is your unit?.. Oh, that’s cool… so what is your job called? He is 18D… "
Something along those lines should open up the discussion nicely.
BTW, what is the point of talking about SL if you’re going to meet up and talk about IRL? If I was flirting around with people sporting a flying shark avatar or something, I’d make up some history about which ocean I was born in, how much I love flying… etc.
Isn’t the point of SL to become something you’ve always dreamed of?
Of course, all I know of SL I learned from a CSI episode…
Well, if he said he’s special forces and posted in Germany guarding “an” embassy, he’s fibbing. The US Embassy in Berlin is guarded by Marines and German police. The US military does not guard any other nation’s embassy in foreign countries to my knowledge.
You are going to make me admit it, aren’t you? OK, I’m a “vampire” he’s a “werewolf”, I met him when I tried to bite him on the hunt. We’ve only talked twice, while I was hunting, and last night on a first “date”. We kidded about it being a romeo and juliet thing, as in our various games we are supposed to be mortal enemies…or at least in his game, my clan doesn’t really seem to take the whole vampire mythos very seriously, and I really joined in order to be part of the family and because I do enjoy vampire lore, not because I’m particularly predatory.
I did ask him what he thought I needed to know about his real life, phrasing it just that way, because different people like to reveal different amounts of real life data. I was really looking for info such as, “i’m 18 and start college in the fall” or “my wife is standing over my shoulder reading everything you write to me” or “I’m really a chick” (not that it would matter, 'cause ya know, role playing, but still good to know). I did not ask him what he does for a living, nor did I in anyway indicate that I would be impressed by a military background.
I don’t mind playing the game, indeed, the whole reason I’m there is to play the game, but blatant and scurvy lies are out of bounds in any relationship, no matter how tenuous, don’t you think?
I guess this is the clincher. I admit, he’s fun and I liked him, I was hoping somebody could tell me that he was not necessarily a liar. Oh well, c’est la second vie!
Only Marines guard American embassies. Special Forces don’t do “security,” and the Army does not guard embassies. Yes, he’s lying, but what else would you expect in the nerdiverse that is Second Life?
Excuse me. I play the game within the game, and I don’t reveal all of my information any more than I do here, but I do not lie inworld or in real life (except for those social little white lies to save the feelings of others), and I have met others who don’t seem to feel the need to pump themselves up by lying.
Yes, we almost all have beautiful young avatars, and that seems to be enough lying for most of the people I’ve met. The men who use female avatars exist and I’m sure some of them are hiding it, but with the popularity of voice chat I think most of them are “out” and don’t seem to care. I’m sure there are people who fudge their age up or down, but it’s so easy to simply not reveal these details that I think there is less lying going than SL has a reputation for.
It is the internet, there are people who lie, I’m not stupid. Obviously my bullshit meter was pinging, and that’s why I came here, but naive or not I do still like to try to give people the benefit of the doubt.
“Security” could mean any number of things–not just the classic image of some dolled up Marine in his dress uniform standing at attention near all the entrances.
Maybe he is an 18C on a tasking or special assignment to handle network or information security. Or maybe he’s a civil affairs or psyops guy who someone landed a gig as the SAEDA rep. Who the hell knows. It’s always better to get more info than to boldly assume without asking questions.
Besides, asking specific questions and watching people back pedal is loads of fun. But the terms “security, embassy, and special forces” aren’t necessarily exclusive of each other.
I have enough problems maintaining the vampire facade, I really don’t think they are supposed to ask “pretty please, may I bite you?” But I could be wrong. Maybe adding pirate to my schtick would be just the ticket.
