Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact.
Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. Marcus Aurelius
As a writer who creates
stories about modern spies and criminals, the Te'o
catfish story is fascinating. At this point, very few people know what
really happened, but if you think about the big picture, the ultimate truth doesn’t
really matter. The implications of what
we do collectively going forward could be much more profound than whatever
winds up happening to a single football player.
Of course, this isn’t
the first time that someone has been manipulated with a false identity. Catfishing is an
online phenomenon that is probably as old as social networks and online dating.
Hackers constantly use social
engineering to get people to reveal their passwords. Con artists have duped
marks for centuries by pretending to be someone who didn’t exist. Spies and
undercover agents have fabricated fake identities since the Trojan Horse. Te’o’s
case isn’t unique on its own. The importance of this case lies in the effect it
could have on us, not the effect it will have on him.
When you take a wide
view of the Te’o story, it becomes special whether you look at it from a William Gibson, Marshall McLuhan, Kevin Mitnick, or Robert
Greene perspective. The evolution of media that was the foundation of both
Gibson’s and McLuhan’s work is highlighted by the way this one player’s story
could shape and mold both traditional and social media with no facts to back up
his statements. The emotional investment that Te’o allegedly put into this hoax
is something that would impress even an elite hacker like Mitnick. And the act
of seducing a man without ever meeting him in person is a feat that embodies everything
that Robert Greene discussed in his books. This story has so many layers that we might
not understand its full effects for a long time.
Te’o will stay with us because
his imaginary girlfriend could alter the way we interact. The story is still developing,
but it's going to have an impact on
social interactions, manners, psychology and what we believe concerning the
people we meet and read about. This doesn’t apply just for journalists, but
for anyone who creates content online or off, even if it’s just a dating
profile on Plenty of Fish. Understanding the motivations of the catfish and the
fallout across social and traditional media is going to be intense, no matter
what the truth of the Te’o story is. All of us might become a little more suspicious
and a little more cynical about who we chat with and what we read online.
Ultimately, that might be a good thing. The suspension of disbelief is critical
for enjoying fiction. In real life, it has a definite downside.
Just ask Manti Te’o.
Have fun.
Gamal
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