To set the story: Frasier star, Kelsey Grammer, 'befriends' a Scottish girl, Lauren Chalmers, on twitter who claims to be serving in Afghanistan. On the 3rd June this year, the star receives the tragic news that Lauren has been killed in an explosion. The star, deeply saddened, posts on twitter about the loss, only to find out after an investigation by the Scottish Sun, that Lauren is alive and well, and made the story up to befriend Grammer. Clearly, there are a few issues here:
1) The use of social networking sites, blogs or tweets to make 'friends'
2) The insult to those with families who actually have lost someone serving their Country
Looking at the first, I think it's important to highlight the pressure placed on children to be safe on the net. Don't add people you don't know, don't talk to strangers, don't reveal anything personal. But how many of these rules do we follow ourselves as adults? What is it they say "Do as I say, not as I do..."
Secondly, here at iForgiven, we're sad that anyone would use such a sensitive subject as a hoax. Whether you are against or for the Armed Forces, you have to respect that lives are lost and families are left behind. We're all for forgiveness here, but perhaps actions speak louder than words and Lauren should volunteer in a rehab centre for those returning from Afghanistan, so that she fully appreciates the depth of this hoax?
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