New friends
favorites
buddy lists
galore.
True friends
meet in space
never telling
the whole truth.
A lie here
an embellishment there
what harm could that
possibly do?
To prod and poke
provoke and jeer
and see tears appear
through the screen.
Top friends
deleted now
departing down
the drain.
Why bother with
this ridiculousness
and smatter dust on
your lily white soul?
Do you really think
God is going to blink
and say that lie is
white as snow?
A lie is a lie
in real time as well
as in the cyberspace
world we know.
Treat one another
as if God were there
looking over your shoulder
as you type.
Send love and respect
not confusion and hate
when meeting lone souls
on the Internet.
Author notes
There are real people on the other side of the computer screen. It's not just an "internet relationship." The things we type are real. Words have power and deeply effect our hearts.
The ease of the internet allows us to hide and say things we might never say in real time. A sort of "pseudo-world of relationships" is created. As Christians and people of integrity, we must treat the people we meet on the internet the same way we would treat them in person.
Our words are real. The motives of our hearts show forth in our words. This "net game" is no game.
*********************************************************************
"Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom." ~ Psalm 51:6
*********************************************************************
image taken from http://inventorspot.com/files/images/internet_0.img_assist_custom.jpg
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Comments
1 - 23 of 23
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Judge:
To me this seemed more prose than poetry. More essay then verse. Still, it speaks truth and gives good advice.
The world seems to be full of people who don’t know or won’t acknowledge “A lie is a lie
in real time as well
as in the cyberspace
world we know.”
Thank you for entering the contest.
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a good, solid write full of truth. It's so easy to forget it's not just a screen we are typing to, but real people with real feelings. a really well-written reminder of what is what. God bless
Kathryn
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"as if God--"
No "as if" about it! Obviously so!
Lies come in many categories, and motivation is a factor. Seventeen poems live there, poems of protest,
poems of grief and disbelief, poems of betrayal, poems of loss... Cynicism takes over, so no one will be believed, even with documentation to prove truth.
It is unfair that all get "painted with the same brush" when some people lie. It makes it futile even to attempt to reassure, because only we, as the writer, know that it is whole and true.
As a result of this poem, I want to tell why I was DeeCrepit who suddenly became Terry-too. The miracle of new surgical procedures... so the name I have used for twelve years no longer describes, (until extreme old age forces it back.) That's why some of my things will be named "Terry-too"
Full documentation available on request, doctors' names and numbers, hospitals, years... details that can be checked. I will supply documentation all along the line, names of doctors, specialist, two surgeons a lot of years apart, hospitals, phone numbers of all. It has been no pity-me story.
I truly have been DeeCrepit since 1992 when the 1984 tibial osteotomies to straighten legs that arthritis had--with immense pain, --bent. I had not been tested for diabetes and the stapled bone-ends did not heal. When the staples worked loose, knees were unstable and I had some painful falls before the wheels became important.
That is history now, but important only to me, and with all the lies, a waste of time to tell.
A powerful poem, that set off all manner of doubt!
Thank you for this.
Terry, with two names, whoever I am today.
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Spoken with true honest words. People take advantage of their hidden identities on the internet and abuse it.
profound message
-GL in contest -
wise advise for everyone to learn.
wisely written, pearls of wisdom in this poem!
You hit the nail right on the head, every every line
and verse!
way to write!
ears/Seattle
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A very good write and message. Good flow and tone. Nice depth of feeling. Good word choice, alliteration and nice assonance. There is wisdom and truth in these words that we should live by in life. Well penned.
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As this form of communication increases so do the possibilities for hurt and deception. We take each other on faith, but must learn to read the verbal signals. I am constantly amazed at the personal information I read about total strangers - their affairs, their emotions, etc. I know of couples on AllPoetry who are sharing intimate details with all of us while cheating on their spouses. I'll get off my soapbox because you said it much better in your poem. A lie is a lie and a friend is a friend whether we can look into their eyes or not. Peace, Liz
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I can tell that this is a personal piece.
I believe the meeting people or the net or not.
There pretty much the same. Not all tells lies.
You have done very well with this piece.
loveandblessings2u & yours always
Joyce
good luck in my contest. -
9pts...
Thank you for adding this wonderful contribution to The Poetic Bsndits reading list
~Lilac
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I was talking to someone over the internet. He believed that people you talked to over the internet were not as real as people in your real time life. He told me I was just a name on the screen. That hurt more than a physical slap in the face. Words can hurt far more than people realize.
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People don't realize that they can become just as emotionally attached to someone via internet as they could meeting face to face. Your words are truth, and the form in which you've written them gets the message across beautifully.
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Wow.
I must say,
this left me speechless.
This definitely has a huge impact,
and will and should.
And I agree with you,
sadly not all of us tell the truth.
..Simply Me♥ -
In the third stanza, the last line, I think maybe 'possibly' would fit a little better than 'possible'? Just my opinion though
... this is a wonderful comment on society... I really like how you have gotten to the heart of the issue and expressed it so well... at university I see a lot of silly antics going on because of these sites - this morning in a lecture a girl came and sat with me I asked her what was wrong and she replied 'well, I couldn't sit with Alicia (her normal best friend) because she added my ex boyfriend as her friend on MySpace' 
... your poem is beautiful.
Keep writing
Polly
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Thanks so much Polly for the read and for catching "possibly" for me. OOOPS!
Hugs - joanne
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Its like a Pandoras Box some times
You really dont know what or who is inside. But I think 9 times out of 10 You meet a good person that becames a grand friend. Like this site I have really never met any one that was of a good heart. Great write Keep penning. Well enjoyed LISA
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A telling indictment indeed of those (how many, who are they?) who slip in the elaboration. True friends? Sad to think the new generation will almost ONLY have the cyber friend or do I worry too much?
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You cannot worry too much about this issue. It is advancing on our young people with extraordinary quickness. We in the educational field can barely keep up with the new technologies.
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I really like alliteration in a poem, and I'm glad to see those coming more and more lately.
Your write has this same poetic device, and you used it in a wonderful way.
I really like the message you've embedded within your words.
Well done!
Leander
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SO many on the other side are real, but there are some who are not, and this is what parents worry about; their children getting sucked into some relationship over cyberspace that can result in all kinds of difficult consequences. So many are vulnerable as they are lonely and seeking some kind of relationship and acknowledgent of their existance. Liked the flow of your lines, the message you share.
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Our sermon this week was given by a 16 year-old boy who is the son of a missionary family serving in Japan. He preached on telling the truth. I am going to make a copy of this poem and show it to this boy. I think he will like it. I need to congratulate him on a job well done. Giving him this poem will make it special. Thank you for writing it.
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You have honored me twice this evening my new friend.
Thank you and be blessed.
- joanne -
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Excellent & Truthful!
Excellent message portrayed within your well-written verses--Excellent and truthful!!
Well Done & Best of Luck in the contest!
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Wow mama Joe this is really important, I am glad I read it. It does seem like we are different people online and not always better people. This is really great what an awesome topic. Love Meg
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