I'm mean, I know. This is an update on my prank on Virginia Heffernan, a writer for the New York Times that has become obsessed with the reality game LonelyGirl15. --------------------------------- Dear Mr. Bourre, I'm a writer for the New York Times, working on a story about lonelygirl15, on YouTube. As a game designer and someone interested in Thelema, you seem like you might be able to shed some light on the phenomenon. Do you know about lg15? Do you have any idea who's behind it? Are you behind it? Let me know. Email anytime. All best, Virginia Heffernan television critic, The New York Times screens.blogs.nytimes.com ----------------------------------- My reply Not sure how you found me, but I'm guessing you were (somehow) on my website, maybe searching for Thelema... its just the name of one of my games. From the looks of it, it's probably viral advertising (Google "I Love Bees" for a good example). Seems like it's working :) ----------------------------------- This email was then sent to my friend Nick, with her "accidentally" on the reply list as well Hey Nick, This is getting hilarious. The New York Times... the NYFUCKINGTIMES! We're either going to be heroes, or be in deep, deep shit by the time this is finished. Joe ------------------------------------ Her reply (after a few other quick emails) Wild. Can I call you? Or I'm at *** *** ****. ------------------------------------- Now click on the link below, and read #3 on her newest blog entry :) NYTimes Screens Wow. "Could he be telling the truth?". I think she knows the answer to that already... could she be spreading misinformation? I still think she is part of the game. Update: A newer link from the blog pokes fun at me (ie: she's pissed at me). It's not funny anymore, it wouldn't have been funny until she responded anyway. Anybody linking from her blog: welcome to GameDev! [Edited by - JBourrie on April 18, 2007 11:47:34 AM]

can I get some kind of summary? I don't want to look through all her inane videos just to figure out what's going on?

I haven't watched many of them, but from what I gather it is a young girl in California, home schooled, and her friend Daniel. Her parents are strict and she stays in her room most of the time making these videos. She is a practicing Thelemite, and is about to be in some sort of magick ceremony.

Probably advertising some horror movie.

[Edited by - JBourrie on April 18, 2007 11:09:03 AM]

If it is produced, I don't appreciate the stratification and marginalization of homsechoolers as "weird".

Yeah, I don't get this whole thing. I mean, I guess it's impressive that a girl gets popular on the internet without taking her clothes off, but...

Quote:Original post by capn_midnight
If it is produced, I don't appreciate the stratification and marginalization of homsechoolers as "weird".

It is most definitely produced, either as an ad or an art-school piece (my guess would be an ad, since August something or other has been hinted as a possible announcement day).

This Heffernan lady could very well be part of the game, working along with them to get the word out. If not, though, she's really obsessed with this thing.

[Edited by - JBourrie on April 18, 2007 11:21:22 AM]

Dude she called you "stagey", are you gonna let her get away with that? You should tell her that your game is full of super secret clues to teach her a lesson.

Bollocks to this whole lonelygirl15 thing. If she finds viral/stealth marketing so interesting she should go post on GAF.