...every morning, the first words I hear from any person physically in my presence is "Good morning". Almost 100% of the time they're from DH. Oh yeah, I hear the radio, but they're not physically in the room with me.

And even if I'm stuffed up, or achy, or I don't look well, I still get a "good morning" - a wish for a good morning, not a statement on the day that's just getting started. I should be more appreciative of that because DH is simply being himself and being nice, instead of just grumbling a 'mornin' back at him with a kiss.

So, I wander off to work with the wishes of a good morning. When I get there I drop my things on the chair, unlock the computer screen and load email and my message services, and head for a cup of tea. That's my morning, and it's not likely to change anytime soon. I'm usually the only one in that part of the office at that hour, and even if there were 100 people there (which would make it crowded) I'd still have the same routine most likely.

Why should I change it? It's my routine, and it's part of me being me. I've never changed it for anyone who went with me to get tea, or that I've waited for to get tea with. And that is part of the point of today's effort. I was partly inspired by conversations with a friend (thanks, W) and partly because of a specific Question of the Week on the TWBB. Actually, I was more inspired by a couple of the answers, but one in particular stood out (and no, I'm not referring to mine). The person agreed that anyone could be anything they wanted on the 'net. I wrote about that long ago in this space, and am coming back to it with a fresh perspective in light of recent conversations, blogs, and this one answer.

When you post on the 'net, there's a lot of room for being misunderstood or to exaggerate issues to a point further than they are. The April Fool's Joke is a good example of how something can be exaggerated, people can be fooled, and things can be brought out of proportion. I created a situation and exaggerated it (with help from my cohort in crime), and people believed it.

In the retelling of the situation by other people, I've heard that I repeatedly assured folks that this was real and that I laughed hysterically at people who were fooled. Both allegations are untrue. I never repeatedly assured anyone in that thread that it wasn't true as I posted only twice to it before the official reveal (the first post, and one answering my cohort's first post). I never laughed hysterically at anyone either. Ah well, those people can think what they want to think - nothing would change their minds anyway.

But back to my point: The 'net, while a good place to meet some interesting people, might not be a place to meet some real people. I've seen my share of situations in the last 12 years where people have masqueraded on the board, or made something more out of something that isn't real. Or made something more of themselves.

That's the other point of this - why can't people just be themselves, or rather, why are they so afraid to be themselves? I put myself out there, and what people see is generally what they get. I'm pretty outgoing, fairly nice, and a little wary sometimes of people who push too hard to get to know me or dump their life story in my lap in under 5 minutes without me asking. I have a bizarre sense of humor, and I keep my friends very close. I'm protective of my family. Nothing wrong with any of that.

At the end of the day I still have to live with myself. So what's the thrill of living a different life online? Or even just adjusting the facts slightly to suit a BB post? What's the point? When someone lies about something - even if its as simple as telling a community that you've finished stitching something that you've never even seen in real life (it happens, folks) or you've finished something and you've never even touched a needle before (that happens, too), then what kind of person is that?

Not one that I'd want to ever meet in person, that's for sure. It's always better to be yourself than get trapped in a bunch of lies.

Here's a thought (thanks again W): Is it the 'Net that makes people into liars, or are people liars who exploit that character trait on the 'Net? Just a little food for thought.

And that's all I want to say today, since I kept y'all wrapped up in an extra long blog yesterday and I'm not having very cohesive thoughts today.