Question for/about my friends

[Oliver]

Hi,

I dont know what to say. I think all you can do for your friends is talk to them and find out if theres anything bothering them, let them know you love them.

I hope everything works out.

Oliver

[Kodemaster]

Hello Bob,

Are these people you know in real life or people you only know on the internet? The only advice I have to give is that people aren't always who they say they are online.

Perhaps "Val" is really a man but never told you. I have a friend, who ironically has also used the screen name "Rei" who I went to college with. She often used male alter egos; in fact I can't think of one female one. She was really into role-playing and used a lot of quotes from them in her profiles. In fact, she even said to people she was male in real life and would make up things about herself.

This "Rei" person also pretends that she has all these video game/Anime/book characters for friends in real life. Very bizarre, I know...At first it didn't bother me, but eventually it was too much. We went from best friends to bitter enemies while we were rooming together (we've since made up). Now I rarely hear from her.

I also want to mention that she would make up all kind of problems for her role-playing characters both in real life and online. Some were based on the actual storylines and some were made up. Some of the people you talk to may not even have these problems at all!

Have you talked to "Val" since he/she changed the profile? Perhaps someone else is using that account now.

Good luck and let me know how it works out.

Jen

[Bob251]

If they were just "Internet Friends", then I wouldn't be worried about these problems because they could just be making it up.  But I do know these people; I go to school with them.

I respect the fact that you are trying to help, but next time, gather the facts before you comment.  Ask questions, and I will answer them.  Don't just make assumptions.

"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup."
"It matters not what your destiny is.  What matters is what you do to stop it."

[Kodemaster]

What facts? You never said where you knew these people from.

Who's doing the assuming?

As usual, Miss Jeni has given too much of herself in an attempt to help another...

Jen

[Bob251]

Well, I've been putting off posting this question b/c I thought I would look like an idiot.  I finally decided to post b/c of this Chinese proverb: "He who asks is a fool for five minutes.  He who does not ask remains a fool forever."  Anyways

I guess I'll ask the question first and then tell the two different situations.  Is there anything paranormal that could be associated with this?

First up, Rei.  I've known her for about 3 years now.  She used to be upbeat.  Now, she broods, constantly.  She has an....alter-ego (for lack of a better word, if there is one) which is very different from her usual self.  The "alter-ego" (and Rei calls it Raine, i'm not sure why) claims it's there to protect Rei from the world and herself.  (Rei has had, as far as I know, a traumatic childhood, and has attmpted suicide i'm not sure how many times; its a touchy subject, as one could imagine and I try to steer clear of it.)  She's moving to Japan in February, I think.  Rei is really into the paranormal, and I gave her Robert Bruce's Astral Dynamics for Christmas.  As the moving date draws closer, she's stressing out about more and more.  I suppose it could just be the stress, but I just think that there might be something more paranormal at work.

Second, and most pressing, is Val.  She is usually upbeat, and it never took much to make her laugh.  Her change has come very sudden.  She's changed her buddy icon (we talk mainly through AIM) to a skull.  When I talk to her, I sense something, almost evil, coming from her.  She's not herself anymore.  I think that she may now have an "alter-ego".  Well, here, this is from her AIM Profile:
"Some things change, you have to change with it. You are left fighting the dark side within you. Left pleding with your own thoughts hopeing praying you won't change. But trust me you will lose....You will become darker meaner and when you least expect it you will become a new person. I am Don."
As you can see, she's now calling herself "Don" and is claiming to be stronger.  This "change" has disturbed me greatly, and I really think there might be somethign paranormal here.  
If anyone has any ideas, answers, speculations, whatever, please, tell me.

"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup."
"It matters not what your destiny is.  What matters is what you do to stop it."