interesting article from wired.com
When a person’s fakery is revealed to the online group -- usually after a series of inconsistent posts or obvious factual errors -- Feldman describes the aftermath as "devastating" to individuals who’ve invested emotional energy in the person and, also, to the group, which often becomes divided between those who still believe and those who don’t. Feldman recalls one instance where a Munchausen by Internet sufferer’s "son" logged on to say his father had committed suicide after several group members confronted him.
"Imagine if a person you loved had a double life and everything about them was a lie," Cohen said. "I found it hard to get real-life support. It’s a disenfranchised grief when you’re a victim of these people. People say 'How could you be so stupid?' or they dismiss your feelings: 'You should be glad she didn’t take all your money.' You’re left with emotional rape and nobody wants to deal with it."
Cohen, in addition to hosting two sites (one for Munchausen sufferers and the other for victims), is making a documentary about the syndrome. She’s also written letters to Bill Gates, Steve Case and executives at iVillage, urging them to include warnings in their chatrooms about the possibility of factitious posters.
The paradox of Munchausen, online and off, is that those who are diagnosed with it aren’t pleased to learn that they have a real disorder, a reaction Feldman ascribes to the stigma society attaches to mental illness.
"A psychiatric illness isn’t nearly as sexy as a physical one. Being in physical pain, bearing with it, is considered laudable," he said. "We go to patients and say, 'We agree with you that you have a very serious illness and need care by a professional. It’s not physical; it’s mental, for which a psychiatrist is more than pleased to offer treatment.' They usually flip you the bird."
"Imagine if a person you loved had a double life and everything about them was a lie," Cohen said. "I found it hard to get real-life support. It’s a disenfranchised grief when you’re a victim of these people. People say 'How could you be so stupid?' or they dismiss your feelings: 'You should be glad she didn’t take all your money.' You’re left with emotional rape and nobody wants to deal with it."
Cohen, in addition to hosting two sites (one for Munchausen sufferers and the other for victims), is making a documentary about the syndrome. She’s also written letters to Bill Gates, Steve Case and executives at iVillage, urging them to include warnings in their chatrooms about the possibility of factitious posters.
The paradox of Munchausen, online and off, is that those who are diagnosed with it aren’t pleased to learn that they have a real disorder, a reaction Feldman ascribes to the stigma society attaches to mental illness.
"A psychiatric illness isn’t nearly as sexy as a physical one. Being in physical pain, bearing with it, is considered laudable," he said. "We go to patients and say, 'We agree with you that you have a very serious illness and need care by a professional. It’s not physical; it’s mental, for which a psychiatrist is more than pleased to offer treatment.' They usually flip you the bird."