|
|
|
|
 |
WELCOME to my Blog!
Intro -- Embarking on a new journey
I am tired of acting "normal", but not being accepted anyway.
I might as well "play" the fool. And such I may be.
My Blogs from here on out will probably be a little--strange, lol.
Or a lot strange, my forte.
 wpx1, 8/31/2009.
COPYRIGHT Eternally and everywhere, and ©2009, 2008, 2007, 2006. All rights reserved by me, the author.
©
|
|
|
|
These SCAMMERS are really TICKING ME OFF!
|
Nov 23, 2008 7:30 am
Mood: annoyed,
600 Views
|
These SCAMMERS are really TICKING ME OFF!
And they are getting so much smarter and trickier towards us in the USA.
And so much more "patient".
Most scammers usually know now not to give out their contact info right away, which means that they are wasting more of our time, finally giving it out a couple of emails later.
They now might send out several emails, before dropping an email address, further wasting our time.
They might try to get YOU to send your email address.
I don't think I have had one ask for my phone number up front, or first, but they do AFTER I have asked for theirs.
They usually don't have a WORKING phone number in the USA to give you, though they might send you a bogus one.
It's really ticking me off. Why? It's such a waste of our time.
I don't usually get fooled by one, but I sometimes doubt the REAL people who are extra-attractive because, well, there just aren't that many, and 95% of the very-attractive photos I've seen here WERE scammers. I know because I wrote to many of them! This makes it hard for me to find -- and believe I've found -- a real person who might actually look like the photos on their profile.
But such are one in a 100,000, or 1 in a million, lol.
Lately -- probably the same person or crew -- photos have been posted with very similar captions. They've usually got pretty decent taste in photos! lol. *Grrr*
It's my policy here to not give out money here, but to let their LOCAL folks -- wherever they are and wherever they are from (if they're out of the country) -- help them. Let them have that responsibility, and get that blessing.
One of these days I might post a couple or a few scam attempts. They all end up either wanting money or wanting enough person info to get into some account of yours.
And some of the real women here wonder why I am so reticent to even give out my name! LOL. It's not so much because I am hiding something, but because I am protecting something from people I do not yet know.
I don't expect a woman to tell me HER name until we have done some actual communicating. Then at least a first name would be nice! lol.
In actual contacts, I for one would prefer to call a woman. For one thing, it's traditional in the USA. Plus, calling someone in the USA might be more likely to mean that they are actually from the USA, not some scammer off in some other country, which is pretty typical on this site. But, today, I just got an email from someone claiming she doesn't even HAVE a phone. What?? I just wrote back today, though it's probably a scammer, something I had reason to suspect anyway.
Of course, the usual stuff is often there--
Bad English when actually typing something, and not stealing others' profile words. Long, copy-pasted emails mean nothing one way or another.
Often super-short actual emails.
Actual emails that use basic English, or maybe even wrong words (I don't just mean bad grammar or spelling, which a ridiculous amount of folks in the USA have).
Wrong verb forms, things that a native speaker of English just would not say, Ebonics and slang aside. As a native speaker, you should be able to spot this. (I don't want to list examples to give them clues of how to fix it. Don't you either, please!)
Photos that are stolen from attractive folks' profiles, often looking way more attractive than 95-99% of the real people who are trying to find someone on a dating site.
Usually, but not always, most are Standard members, though several have become Gold or Silver. (Most real folks here are probably Standard too.)
They don't usually actually read your profile -- if you have more than a few sentences to read! lol -- and will ask questions that your profile already answers. And their emails could reflect that. I don't assume that it's a scammer when I get asked, but I do point them to the profile, and then ask them to get back to me. They usually don't. Wouldn't a real person who was interested? (I can ask them to as I am currently paying extra to let them.)
It's not always a scammer, but: they often list or list wanting someone "god fearing" or "honest" in their profiles; their profiles are usually shorter, and less developed, or copy-pasted.
Inconsistencies abound. I've found "Black" women whose photos were white! lol.
For other scammer typical techniques -- like saying they have Masters degrees when they don't appear to know how to write English well (though they could be from another country) -- you can find a bunch of Blogs here.
Don't feel so guilty that -- if you got a little personal, intimate, or naughty in email -- you end up sending them something. Don't do it. This isn't some exchange-money-for sex Web site! They don't deserve a dime. (And neither do you, LOL. Okay, don't be offended by that last part. It probably doesn't even apply to anyone real reading this.)
Most have been from somewhere in Africa, often Ghana or Nigeria. Some appeared to be in the UK. (There are some real folks of course from various countries.)
But they do pick cities from our countries as well -- often telling us in a later email that they're off on some trip, or on a mission trip, or visiting someone, or taking care of someone.
Visitors coming to see you. While I am all for visitors coming here from another country, my policy is that I will never wire or send them money. If they need some extra money to do it, I am willing to chip in ONCE THEY ARE HERE. If they expect me to trust them there, I can suggest that they trust me here. Of course, that could be dangerous for them, if they get to their destination only to find someone who won't really chip in. They'd better have a back-up plan, like a person they know who can and will bail them out to get them back home, or a credit card, I suppose.
I once had a "woman" email me several times, with some personal email responses. I suspected it was a scammer, but I kept on. She and I talked about her visiting. When it came time to come to the USA, she only needed a few hundred dollars maybe to get here. I said that I would reimburse her for that once she arrived. I made it clear that I would not wire any money. (I didn't accuse her of anything, or hint at it.) After that, she not only didn't come, she never responded to any of my future emails. It probably wasn't real. Too bad, I kind of liked the pretend woman! 
Some are looking for the quick scam; while others are in it for the longer haul, and will exchange many emails with you before dropping the supposed "need". But that could give them access to your accounts! Or just rip you off.
It might even be just a few dollars! Better they get something from you than nothing, eh?
I guess when people are thieves, and maybe unemployed or with too much free time otherwise, they have plenty of time to try to trick decent people into giving them something.
Give them nothing. Report to the Web site obvious offenders. (It's quite easy.) Don't wait long to report them. The longer a fake profile stays on, the longer they have to fool others who might not be so savvy.
Don't be a fool by giving them something! because if they have a real need, then they should have at least one of these to help them: their pastor and church members (at home and/or wherever they are), family, relatives, friends, or their physical neighbor wherever they are. (That list does not necessarily apply to the homeless here. Don't use it for that. Do use it for weeding out dating-site scammers.)
Those of you who give them money are keeping them coming after the rest of US! Knock it off.
No matter how open YOU are, you are not really friends with whoever they are after only a few short little emails, or IMs/chats. Long, probably pre-typed (or copied) emails mean nothing. They are not necessarily ACTUAL, personal communications with you, yet; don't count them as such! Let real, interactive emails count. Real stuff, but not just short little responses, usually one line or two. *Arrgh*
(Okay, a lot of my own, initial emails are short, and maybe 1-2 lines, but often not when I respond to someone who seems real.)
Don't let them get YOU or your membership canceled, when they ask you for YOUR email address. If you respond, politely let them know you'd like to email here to get to know them.
(REAL emails from others have gone to Bulk, when they tried to email something against the rules. Careful!)
Don't be fooled by these often-perfect fakes; and remember to PRAY that you won't be fooled, or be a fool. As someone once said to me:
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
Read James 1:5.
(Please don't list specifics -- that is, things that they could easily modify -- here on my Blog post. Thanks.)
©
|
|
|
9
Comments
|
|
|
Interesting Relationship Phenomena. And rules to go by.
|
Nov 20, 2008 11:15 am
Mood: contemplative,
547 Views
|
Interesting Relationship Phenomena. And rules to go by.
Sometimes you just don't know how someone's going to respond, even if your actions are in line with what is right, and respectful.
Not all these stories are pertinent to that point, LOL!, but ought to be interesting nonetheless.
STORY 1:
I recall a time I met an attractive young woman at a sports club. I called her, and we met at a park. I thought we had a reasonably nice time, if short.
At the end, it seemed pretty clear that she wanted me to kiss her. But I did NOT kiss her goodnight.
At that, she actually seemed a bit ticked off, and didn't return my call after that.
I was a bit stunned at that at the time.
My hindsight analysis (or Wisdom) told me that maybe she had wanted to mess around, and that since I wasn't up for that, she was displeased; or, that she had interpreted my act of showing respect as REJECTION!
I actually thought that it was both things, but leaned more toward the latter.
To me, it was certainly an interesting relationship phenomenon.
(I didn't think of it as a "phenomenon" at the time. LOL.)
STORY 2:
I was in the University District, and saw an attractive woman. We met; later called on the phone; and got together at a restaurant.
She had apparently gone to the beauty shop and all, or had done so herself.
Not long into our conversation, I made it known that I was choosing not to have sex.
She confirmed what I said.
And that pretty much ended our mini-date. LOL.
That was apparently a deal-breaker. Oh well. LOL. Hallelu-Yah.
STORY 3:
Another time, I met a girl at "church". She seemed nice enough.
One day, we were talking on the phone. I had been getting the idea that she was getting more interested in me than seemed safe for her (or comfortable for me). So, I tried to talk to her, and expressed my concern about her feelings.
Then a call came in on Call Waiting. I excused myself to answer it.
As I pushed the button to switch, I immediately heard terrible cuss words come spewing out of someone's mouth. I wondered who in the world was calling. I said "Hello". But no one answered. After a few seconds of this, I pressed the button again to switch back to the woman I had been talking to. It didn't switch. I pressed it again. It still didn't switch. And I was still hearing awful things.
Something began to dawn on me as I listened, for maybe 10-20 seconds, to see what was going on.
Finally, a woman came back on the phone. It was the woman I had been talking to!
SHE was the one who had been doing all that cussing the whole time, her thinking that I had switched lines. But when I tried to switch, no one was there. Just her.
While she was cussing, some woman in the background was saying things like "Just hang up on him", etc.
I was stunned. But when she came back on, I laid into her. I said something like, "You've got serious Spiritual problems", etc. She just listened in silence, realizing that I had heard her.
So much for the new, seemingly-nice, seemingly "Christian" girl that I had met!!
STORY 4:
Another time, I got together with a relative (?) of my Dad's girlfriend. We spent some time talking together, and that was all. I made no advances or suggestions. Being an open sort of person when it came to just about any subject, I did bring up the topic of sex, or something related to it.
Not long after, I got a report from my Dad's girlfriend that she wasn't interested in me because I had been forward or something regarding sex! LOL. Oops. I explained that that was not what had been discussed, for all the good it did. I didn't even recall what I had said that was interpreted that way!
I guess that ending was okay. I didn't find her particularly interesting, lol.
Sometimes when you bring up a subject, any subject, it can be taken the wrong way.
STORY 5:
Speaking of being taken the wrong way, I recall a fast-paced, lengthy conversation I had had with one woman. She had had a habit of misinterpreting. We had already spent by that time maybe 40 hours talking.
Anyway, in this one call, I made a suggestion to PRAY ABOUT something. It was an unusual suggestion, so I thought I had made it clear that I was not suggesting she DO the thing, but to pray about it.
No good. She would from that point forward keep representing that I had SUGGESTED that she DO something. Good grief. Intelligent woman too, I thought. I even wrote to her about it, and reminded her of it, but it didn't seem to help.
I guess when you suggest to someone to pray about something, it could be interpreted as to pray FOR it. Good grief. But I am just guessing.
After this, she ended up betraying my trust, and though I made motions to forgive, and to continue in friendship, she wasn't in that space.
She was very popular on BC. And misrepresented me to several people, none of which even bothered to ask me about it.
Again, when you bring up a subject, any subject, even it it's just to suggest praying about it, it can be taken the wrong way.
STORY 6: Test the spirits.
Even if you are led by the Spirit, you don't always know what spirit another person is of.
Scripture says to "test the spirits". I don't know if I knew this, though, when I met this one woman.
She lived with her grandma, and I was visiting one day.
Out of my mouth came words I wasn't expecting to say, I said, "I can tell whether a person is a Christian or not." To myself, I said, "I can??" It just came out. But inside, I realized that this was or seemed to be so.
She said, "Really?" And handed me her high school annual book. LOL.
I said, "I don't know if I can do it with pictures".
I was pretty young in the Faith. I did take the time to go through the book, and pointed out those I thought were, or might be Christian. Not all the photos were particularly good quality. She didn't say much.
Sometime later, on a future day, this woman would exhibit signs of demon possession.
It would be years after that that I would realize that this ability to tell was given to me at that moment, or exhibited itself at that moment for a specific purpose, possibly to protect me regarding that woman, or to help her, and to possibly protect me from the spirit or spirits within her.
But I had not used the gift upon her that day! Or anytime soon after that. Foolish.
Anytime you receive a gift from the Spirit, pray about WHY. It is usually for others' benefit, to minister to them; but it may benefit us as well.
Many months later, some Christian men I knew, could not believe she was possessed, but found themselves saying things like, "In Jesus' Name, Come out of her!", while she rolled around on their kitchen floor making noises.
The Bible isn't joking, folks, when it refers to demon possession. (Call it what you will.) They were real, and they are real, whatever they are. And authority over them was granted to disciples.
I don't know that she was a Christian before that. I do know that there had been more than one instance before that when she was doing things that she didn't know why she was doing them, like hurting herself; and also that I had heard what sounded like another being speaking through her mouth! It was pretty bizarre for me. It is pretty bizarre for anyone.
What was I being protect from regarding that woman? Just some spirit's external influence? It was more than that. It was to protect me from getting too close, to her, and to any impure spirit!
If I may suggest to the reader: When you read or hear the Bible, and it speaks about having sex, pay close attention, because when two people have sex, it says that they NOT ONLY become "one flesh", but "one body"!
There is a lot to the doctrines about sex -- other than moral considerations, and concerns about disease, pregnancy, and emotion and heart issues. There is a lot that I have never heard taught in any Bible study: like how the infirmities and "spirits" in or afflicting one person can do similarly to another!, especially when they get in very close physical proximity to each other, and even more especially when physical intimacy occurs.
Where did you think this stuff comes from, in or on people?
But, impurity and fornication today are very common.
What bizarre things are happening to people through it!
If people knew the truth, a lot less people would do it so eagerly.
STORY 7: To say "No thank you", or not to say "No thank you".
On some dating site, I had written a woman some notes to break the ice. I could tell that she had read my emails, but had not responded. It was pretty clear that I was not some scammer, and that I had read or skimmed her profile.
Still, no response. I thought that it was kind of rude that I had written a few times but got no response at all.
Finally, I complained. Then she wrote back. But, didn't respond well.
Well, to the topic: I posted the exchange on a board to get others' responses to what she had done.
One response was a bit shocking. A woman said that if she herself had written to someone, and that person was not interested in her, she would NOT want to know!
In other words, she would have PREFERRED not hearing back from the man!
I am at the opposite side. I not only would want to know that the person was respectfully saying "No thank you", but I'd want to know why! lol. (I think my personality is pretty diverse, creative, responsive, and spontaneous; so, the why-not would make me curious.)
Rules to go by:
You just can't tell these days what people think is standard; what they think the "rules" of interaction ought to be; or how they will respond.
We live in a very diverse culture -- or multiple cultures and subcultures -- a country that has supposedly "cultured" folks, who might bask in Classical-music themes, and that has folks who are sort of anti-establishment, "punkers" or whatever, who might revel in rebelling against the "ways of the world".
We have virgins and "bachelors till the rapture". And people who go full-tilt into their sexuality.
Among supposed Christians, we have the so-called liberal, and the so-called conservative, and everywhere in between, and in either direction.
To me, through all this, it pays to simply pay attention!
Take time to see where the other person is coming from, because now you are aware of some fairly interesting relationship phenomena, and diversities of views and attitudes.
When meeting, start off by being yourself, while tending toward the modest and conservative, and being respectful. Then, see where the other person's heart is at.
This is true whether we are speaking of friendship, ministry, or a romantic or intimate relationship.
Their heart just might be -- or might not be -- what you were hoping for.
(Please pray for me. Other blogs of mine may give some specifics. Thanks!)
©
|
|
|
8
Comments
|
|
|
|
|
Smiley TEST. BAD smilies! LOL.
|
Nov 17, 2008 7:58 am
Mood: silly,
476 Views
|
Smiley TEST. BAD smilies! LOL.
UPDATED 12/9/2008: Added letters with colons.
This is a test to see which combinations of ) or : with numbers, letters, and other characters end up being accidental smilies.
Also, multiple-character combinations may produce smilies.
And certain combinations of [ with letters produce codes like HTML codes.
Not all smilies or codes are listed.
BA-A-A-A-D smiley! LOL.
LETTERS, LOWERCASE, FOLLOWED BY AN END PARENTHESES:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
j)
k)
l)
m)
n)
o)
p)
q)
r)
s)
t)
u)
v)
w)
x)
y)
z)
LETTERS, UPPERCASE, FOLLOWED BY AN END PARENTHESES:
A)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
H)
J)
K)
M)
N)
P)
Q)
R)
S)
T)
U)
V)
W)
X)
Y)
Z)
NUMBERS FOLLOWED BY AN END PARENTHESES:
0)
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
9)
OTHER CHARACTERS FOLLOWED BY AN END PARENTHESES:
(These characters were typed on a keyboard from a 2.3GHz PowerMac G5, starting top left, going right, then down.)
`)
~)
!)
@)
#)
$)
^)
&)
*)
()
))
_)
-)
+)
=)
{)
[)
})
])
|)
\)
")
')
<
,)
>
.)
?)
/)
A COLON WITH NUMBERS 0-9, LETTERS, OR OTHER CHARACTERS:
:1
:2
:3
:4
:5
:6
:8
:9
0:
1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6:
7:
8:
9:
:A
:B
:F
:G
:H
:J
:K
:L
:M
:N
:R
:S
:T
:U
:V
:W
:Y
:Z
A:
B:
C:
D:
E:
F:
G:
H:
I:
J:
K:
L:
M:
N:
O:
P:
Q:
R:
S:
T:
U:
V:
W:
X:
Y:
Z:
:a
:b
:c
:d
:e
:f
:g
:h
:j
:k
:l
:m
:n
:q
:r
:s
:t
:u
:v
:w
:y
:z
a:
b:
c:
d:
e:
f:
g:
h:
I:
j:
k:
l:
m:
n:
o:
p:
q:
r:
s:
t:
u:
v:
w:
x:
y:
z:
OTHER CHARACTERS: (See notes above.)
:`
:~
:!
:%
:^
:_
:-
:+
:=
:{
:]
:\
::
:;
:"
:'
lt;
:,
:.
`:
~:
!:
@:
#:
$:
%:
^:
&:
*:
(:
):
_:
-:
+:
=:
{:
[:
}:
]:
|:
\:
::
;:
":
':
<:
,:
>:
.:
?:
/:
THERE ARE ALSO MULTIPLE-CHARACTER COMBINATIONS, NOT INCLUDED HERE.
ALL THE SMILIES I FOUND LISTED ON BC:
(Codes separated in a follow-up post.)
  
    
   
    
    
  
©
|
|
|
12
Comments
|
|
|
|
|
ALCOHOL gives me a headache
|
Oct 25, 2008 1:47 am
Mood: sore,
668 Views
|
ALCOHOL gives me a headache. Literally.
It's too bad really because it's the one "drug" that I know the Bible permits to some.
I haven't got a handle on why yet though. I mean, I am not sure if it's the alcohol or some ingredients in it that causes the uncomfortable feeling in the head.
Tonight I had a Kahlua and Cream. (Well, probably Half 'n Half, lol.) It's one of my favorites. (Not like I have many.) I think it started giving me a headache though. Not sure.
Then, later, at another place, about 30-45 minutes later, I had a glass of Merlot wine. (I don't know the brand.) Definitely started getting more of one then. Within the last couple of weeks, a woman told me that RED wine causes a reaction in her, because, she said, she's allergic to the nitrate or nitrites or whatever.
It's weird though that there is pain where it seems to be. They say we don't have some kind of nerves in the brain, or that the brain itself doesn't feel pain (thus the occasional brain surgery while someone is awake ), but it is like the pain of the "drink headache" is inside my skull. (Hey, I just "made that up", "drink headache" that is.)
Anyway. It can be just one beer, or even less than that, and I get a headache.
But, it's not every time. Or at least it didn't USED to be. So, I dunno. Maybe I'll figure it out one of these days.
It's too bad, because, since I turned 21, and received Faith regarding drinking, it's been nice to have a drink, or 2 or 3 (usually with food, if that much, or for an entire evening ).
If you don't have experience drinking -- and I don't have a lot -- I suggest that if you feel you should start, then do it in a "safe" environment, and start with only half a drink.
And I don't mean half a "drink". But, half a glass of wine, half a schooner (12 oz.) of domestic beer, or half a shot of 80 proof (not 151 ). Some mixed drinks can actually be more like 3 drinks in one! So watch out. And a Pint of stronger beer is more like 1 1/2 beers or more.
I once had a book called How Much is Too Much? The Effects of Social Drinking, about drinking alcohol, and it basically said that all the "authorities" the author consulted had concluded that in one sitting, or whatever, 3 drinks was "too much". BUT, for those who have little experience drinking, and don't do it often, ONE drink, LOL, can be too much! Seriously. So, pray about it, and be careful. And if you're going to drink and then do something that requires any kind of body movement (like driving ) anytime soon, leave yourself maybe an hour or more to let it wear off, and clear your bloodstream. And try to limit yourself to 1 drink or less per hour. That's enough to sustain a nice "buzz" without getting drunk, as it were (which is not Scriptural, traditions in the week-long Feasts in Israel excepted, maybe ).
No one ever told you HOW to drink, did they? LOL!
ADDENDUM -- 10/26/2008:
If you are pregnant or nursing, then consult with your doctor and/or nutritionist before drinking alcoholic beverages.
Some authorities say not to drink at all when pregnant.
©
|
|
|
13
Comments
|
|
|
|
|
Trial coming UP! Pray, Pray, PRAY!
|
Oct 16, 2008 2:40 am
Mood: stressed,
554 Views
|
The other lawsuit is coming up.
Trial in less than week and a half!
"Mediation" before then. And a deadline this Friday.
Unless they settle, a trial could last 3 days! Expensive. Not sure I will win.
I am having a hard time not being stressed about it.
Pray that the other guy will be generous, and settle before the trial, by paying a positive cash amount. And that if not, then they will be confounded.
And Pray I will deal with it well and wisely; AND for my attorney who seems to be acting oddly.
In "Jesus" Name, Amen?
Keep praying! THANKS!
©
|
|
|
11
Comments
|
|
|
Anyone have a SHOULDER I may lean on?
|
Oct 8, 2008 12:54 am
510 Views
|
Anyone have a SHOULDER I may lean on?
Or a Heart to lean against? (John 13: 23 )
I do need the encouragement, and more affection!
I appreciate your praying in the Spirit for me!
©
|
|
|
6
Comments
|
|
|
|
To link to this blog (wpx1) use [blog wpx1] in your messages.
|
|
|
| Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
62
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
