What Happens When You’ve Had Your Account Spoofed?

Dear Ms. Netiquette,

While in a game room, I witnessed a confrontation between two players with uncommon but nearly identical user names. One of them had obviously created an account and edited the profile to mimic the other player’s account.

While the motivation for this action is unknown, there are many possible negative consequences to the original player.

Does Pogo have any policy in place to resolve problems of this nature?

Leave the Impersonating to the Comedians

Dear Ms. Netiquette,

I am writing you in hopes you can do me a favor. You probably gets hundreds of emails every day but maybe this example can remind everyone of one thing – and that’s to have more respect for one another and instead of stooping to their level and retaliating, be the bigger person and walk away.

Back in 2005, my mother introduced me to Pogo. We lived in the same city, same town at the time until she moved to Texas. Then Pogo became a way to spend more time together as I decided to stay in Tennessee. Mind you, my mother and I are very close, but I’m not what you call a “momma’s boy”. To give you an example, when I was 16, my mom and I were goofing around singing Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe” into hairbrushes pretending they were mics. Silly right?

Over past few years my mother’s health has declined rapidly, and I am planning a trip down there as she has been diagnosed with Lupus and has caused an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system is attacking her liver. A few hours ago, my mother called me and didn’t sound so good. I was in Crazy Cakes working on a Personal Challenge and she came into the room with me until she felt up to finally laying down for a rest. When she did, I got to thinking of our good times, all that she taught me which are things that every mother teaches her kids, and Ms. Netiquette, you are like the mother of Pogo.

So, I want to remind everyone, remember the things that your mothers have taught you. Have respect for one another, be the bigger person and walk away. Arguing on the internet gets you nowhere and if you have a disagreement, the mute button is like a virtual restraining order. I am 26 and I don’t have kids just yet, but I will pass along the things that my mother has taught me.

So in closing, I want to thank you Ms. Netiquette for reminding every Pogo member what Moms teach. And I want to thank *everyone* who helps make Pogo what it is because it has given me and my mother a way to stay close.

Signed,

A Thankful Son

Dear Ms. Netiquette,

I was a bit taken aback at the answer to Didn’t Mean to Intrude(Ms. Netiquette, January 13, 2012) regarding the chat messages sent by the player who wanted to be in the room alone.

As Intrude indicated, we really have no control over which room we end up in if we select “Play now.” I think the person who posted those nasty-grams in chat should be booted. I also felt your comparison to the gym was a bit off the mark. If I paid money to go to a gym and another person told me rudely to leave and complained I had ruined his/her day by showing up, I’d be telling the gym management. I’d also expect a far better answer than the equivalent of “just ignore him!” In fact, if that was the answer they gave me, I’d be asking them to refund the rest of my fee!

Most idiots are probably best ignored but those who have such a sense of entitlement are narcissists and need to have the limits enforced! This person stepped over the limit and he needs to learn that he is no more entitled to a private game room than I am to call myself the Queen of England! Thanks for listening, but I really think that in the future members should be encouraged to report such obnoxious behavior.

Just One of the Peons

Have an etiquette question for Ms. Netiquette? Email msnetiquette@pogo.com

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