"I'm Not Buying What They're Selling"

(Written 9/21/10 by ChristopherK2 for the Uglier Marylanders Blog)

The Zombies believe that Zeeke's behavior in the chat room is all just "for effect" or "shock value;" that he doesn't really "believe" what he says. In the SSR, he called it his "mind fuck game." They apparently feel that in person he's just another really nice guy.

We've seen this before several times. Mensa's buddies, for example, said the same things.

Even if true, what kind of person has two such distinct personalities? (Well, not counting those in institutions or under treatment for various mental illnesses.) Any of us could choose to behave entirely differently in the chat room than in real life. But "normal, mature adults" don't do that. Sure, many of us are somewhat more this, or less that, while online. But "nice guy" offline and "obnoxious, bigoted butthead" online? I'm not buying it.

I believe that the better explanation is that Zeeke is usually exactly the same way he is in the chat room, while also being semi-normal in person. The rest is accounted for by the rationalization of his Zombies. I have several reasons for believing that.

First, the Zombies have all adopted Zeeke's ugly persona in the chat room to some extent. Brunette and Ham, for example, are their nice, normal selves most of the time, but will occasionally and suddenly erupt in spasms of ugliness. Do they honestly think they can briefly slip into and out of other personas? No, they think it's okay to be ugly for a bit because Zeeke has paved the way for them. It's really just them letting loose thoughts that all normal adults repress.

Second, when the Zombies rationalize Zeeke's behavior in the room, they talk about how it's "just words on a screen," blah, blah, blah. But they also conveniently forget about his "actions." Is regularly banning "50+" nice, normal roomies excused as easily? How about investigating the personal lives of other roomies and posting the results in the room (as Zeeke has done about me)? How about stealing a copyrighted picture and bashing someone's fiancee on his blog (again, as Zeeke has done to me and Pamela)? And even within the "just words" category, how about posting a roomie's *real* full name, address, and phone number (as Zeeke has done of mine many times)? Phoney magazine subscriptions? Spoofed phone calls?

Third--and for me, the best explanation--the proof is in Zeeke's supporting cast. Beth has gone from being a very nice lady to divulging confidential and very personal information, and ruthlessly attacking in the room everyone she doesn't like. Brunette alternates between assaulting people in the room and whining about how disgustingly ugly the room has become. Sweet often brags about how she faked being a young girl and stalked a guy to where he works. Sxymafia loves to tell the story about her days of dropping "piss bombs" on people's houses. And Vomit regularly dropped the N-Bomb in the Super Secret Room. And so on for the others.

The simple reality is that ALL of them are NOT nice people. When they are under their "nice, normal adults" guises, they will protest that any effort to paint them as sickos is based merely on their "words" which shouldn't count. But words DO count. We all know that. As do actions. And their own words AND actions reveal WHO they really are, as do Zeeke's. They are all pond scum.

The only remaining mystery to me is why the Zombies continue to try to deny their realities. Zeeke at least fully embraces his. They should just shout it out: "We are the Zombies, and we can say and DO anything we want, no matter how ugly and stupid, for shits and giggles." Namby-pamby boo frickin' hoo...

Or perhaps they still actually care somewhat what others think of them? Nah...

Christopher