Rachel Roo Story Is A Hoax: Retraction.

[Sally]

An important word to our community.

This is a very odd turn of events and I am sure that the cowardly and ignorant hate mongers will use it to their best advantage to stall any real action toward equal rights for all.

We could all just hang our heads and be angry at anyone and everyone because we were made to look foolish.

But I think that the better thing to do is to look at how we responded, with love and compassion we came together in shock and mourning a loss and decided that hating the people who did this was not the answer.

Be proud of how we responded.

Do not let anger, disgust or shame turn our response to this hoax in any other direction - do not hate her, hate what has happened and be more careful in the future, yes - hold resentment or anger, no.

We live in a world where everyone has their own agenda and most people do not care what happens to others - some people have emotional disorders that require them to do what ever necessary to attract attention to themselves, they should be helped not hated.

The pattern of tragic stories could put her into that category so let's not jump off of that cliff again - let's try to get all of the information that we can and maybe there is help for her.

To the outside world we have been played by a terrible joke and may have lost some of what little credibility that they have afforded us - that is a very small loss.

To me we have grown as a community, we are closer, stronger and more resilient than anyone could ever have imagined.

Be proud of how you reacted, of our wonderful community and above all of who you are, each and every one of us.

Love to all of you,

Sally

[Guest Madison_Always]

...is Raychel even real? or is this a sick joke or what? I mean I am relived, but I trusted roo...whoever it is. Do we have any proof either way for the crime? or the hoax?

I am confuzzled

Chelsea

[Guest Neuro]

This is ironic... I posted a little tribute to her on my art site, and minutes before I read THIS someone sent me a message saying she found a similar blog entry where the facts didn't add up.

I would post links to it, but I'm not sure that would be in good taste.

Since I don't know all the details for sure, all I can say is that I am happy she is alive... sad that this scary hoax somehow came to be... just hoping it doesn't happen again :c

--Michael

[Guest S. Chrissie]

I can't believe our emotions were toyed with...especially me and another sister, who was said to be like Roo's twin...... If this is a hoax...I really don't know how to break the news to her....it hurts...

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Raychel Roo

Our first reaction will most likely be rage at being taken in with a hoax.

Our second reaction will be relief someone was NOT kidnapped, tortured, gang raped, buried alive and sufferered so before dying.

Our third reaction will be , "how much harm did this do to us at Laura's?"

Our fourth reaction will be, "how much harm did this do to the cause of understanding of Gender Disphoria in general?"

Perhaps that will be as far as some people go - BUT some will go a few steps farther, like me:

My fifth reaction is if we cannot trust people in our own community, who can we trust? Should we leave it? Are we vulnerable to such terrible treatment?

My sixth reaction is - no, statistically some twisted people will manage to take advantage of our good will and loving trust. It just happened. I must stay and help Laura, the administration and the poor hard working moderators, to fix the damage as best we can.

Finally - my last reaction is to pray for God to help the mentally ill who would perpetuate such an evil hoax.

I BEG YOU - EVERYONE - to learn a lesson and to understand the reaction you had was noble and grand. It is the hoaxters who are the fools, not us. They throw away all our love, compassion, and attempts to help them. IT IS THEIR LOSS.

We are really winners here, we passed a mighty test before GOD. We loved Roo unconditionally and mourned her passing wholeheartedly.

Dedicated to the membership, staff and... Laura

Elizabeth Anne

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

I kind of wondered when searching for that headline (or anything regarding transgender teen murder NYC) didn't bring up anything current.

[Guest Donna Jean]

I kind of wondered when searching for that headline (or anything regarding transgender teen murder NYC) didn't bring up anything current.

Same-same with me, Lizzie...

I've been searching for two days now and found nothing....I've been wondering how that could be possible...

A hoax never really crossed my mind...just a Transgendered person's murder getting swept under the rug.....

Donna Jean

[Guest M_J]

First of all with all due respect the shock and death of a moderator went around the world at light speed. the fact this person is "" a trusted moderator ? "" and the respect of this site as made fools of many what happened here is disgraceful how do you think other sites will trust your integrity now.. admin better deal with this mess... you made a fool out of me thats for sure

[Guest BriannaM]

One thing i have noticed, nobody has mentioned trying to get in touch with Roo or family to see if this is a joke.

This is a very sick joke, if that is what it is.

[Guest Jessica22450]

Well I am seriously enraged that the poor pathetic fool(s) who did this, but not only relieved to find it's false, but also to show that as the darkest hour drops upon us...We do come together.

[Sally]

First of all with all due respect the shock and death of a moderator went around the world at light speed. the fact this person is "" a trusted moderator ? "" and the respect of this site as made fools of many what happened here is disgraceful how do you think other sites will trust your integrity now.. admin better deal with this mess... you made a fool out of me thats for sure

I am sorry that your pride has been wounded and that anyone had to feel all of the pain that was generated by this hoax, but if someone has spent over a year and a half helping people in crisis situations in the chat rooms and all of the members who had chatted with them had felt that she was a caring and wonderful person it is rather difficult to sort out what is genuine and what is not - she was doing a wonderful job up until the story of her death - and I must say that she did not report it herself so there is a possibility of a conspiracy against her as well as the site itself. We are looking into all of the facts that we can gather but in rushing to judgment against this site, you are doing the same acting without proper information that caused this in the first place.

We are a rather large but privately run site and our abilities to check out all members is limited by resources and laws governing privacy, but I would like to point out that in matters of inaccurate information we are far ahead of the United States Government who started a war that we are still fighting to get rid of non existent weapons of mass destruction.

I am sorry that you have been embarrassed and feel foolish, I was fooled and I for one am never embarrassed for caring.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest mia 1]

'Sally' date='Jun 20 2009, 01:47 PM'

I am sorry that your pride has been wounded and that anyone had to feel all of the pain that was generated by this hoax,

We are a rather large but privately run site and our abilities to check out all members is limited by resources and laws governing privacy, but I would like to point out that in matters of inaccurate information we are far ahead of the United States Government who started a war that we are still fighting to get rid of non existent weapons of mass destruction.

I am sorry that you have been embarrassed and feel foolish, I was fooled and I for one am never embarrassed for caring.

Love ya,

Sally

Oh so wonderfully stated my reaction and feelings exactly. I've read your nearly 5,000 posts and this is by far the best of them all....succinctly stated...yoo are special to us all.....Mia

[Guest Madison_Always]

One thing i have noticed, nobody has mentioned trying to get in touch with Roo or family to see if this is a joke.

This is a very sick joke, if that is what it is.

Unfortunately our main way of keeping in touch with roo and her family was through this site.

[Guest karen_h]

Unfortunately our main way of keeping in touch with roo and her family was through this site.

our only contact has been with an aunt who is the one that informed of us of roo's death and now

flatly refuses to give any details such as where it happened and says it is the familys wishes that

all information be withheld.

i find it hard to believe that a crime of this magnitude would be swept under the rug to satisfy the

families wishes to remain anonymous

karen_h

[Guest michelle.butterfly]

Amen Sally, you said what I wouldn't have been able to (nicely) I think.

People do things like this because that's who they are. We trust and love and care because that's who we are.

I for one do not regret a moment of caring or loving or being sad, I would much rather have been made a fool of than for this story to be true.

I actually had hunches very early on when there was no reporting, and the alarms got louder and louder as the excuses for same came. But I sobbed nonetheless and trusted and cared until the evidence was overwhelming. It's who I am. It's who Sally and Mia and Laura and all of us that cared about Raychel are.

So, M_J, who exactly are you?

With much love and affection to all,

Michelle

I am sorry that your pride has been wounded and that anyone had to feel all of the pain that was generated by this hoax, but if someone has spent over a year and a half helping people in crisis situations in the chat rooms and all of the members who had chatted with them had felt that she was a caring and wonderful person it is rather difficult to sort out what is genuine and what is not - she was doing a wonderful job up until the story of her death - and I must say that she did not report it herself so there is a possibility of a conspiracy against her as well as the site itself. We are looking into all of the facts that we can gather but in rushing to judgment against this site, you are doing the same acting without proper information that caused this in the first place.

We are a rather large but privately run site and our abilities to check out all members is limited by resources and laws governing privacy, but I would like to point out that in matters of inaccurate information we are far ahead of the United States Government who started a war that we are still fighting to get rid of non existent weapons of mass destruction.

I am sorry that you have been embarrassed and feel foolish, I was fooled and I for one am never embarrassed for caring.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Mezi]

I remember the incident with august a few years ago. like August, I guess raychel didnt wanna keep up the elaborate lies anymore so she killed off this persona.

all this has hurt me emotionally she was a cool person and all her stories of overcoming such horrible events gave me strength and hope.

even though "raychel" is not real, I will still keep her advice and our chats in my memory. the person behind the fake raychel seemed like a smart and caring person though when you forget about the deceit. I guess a little lie turned into sumthing much bigger that this person tried very hard to keep going.

so long raychel, or whoever the person behind her is...

[Guest michelle.butterfly]

:'-(

Yes, Raychel was real to so many, I've already heard how many she has helped. For whomever she was real to, remember, she is still real in that sense. Whatever she pulled out of you was still a part of you! Whatever hope or inspiration or comfort she gave was real hope and inspiration and comfort!

I like the idea of just thinking it was a lie spun out of control Mezi. Let's just remember that she helped numerous people through numerous things and that whatever the end result, the story of Raychel is a lot more than just the endpoint.

Michelle

I remember the incident with august a few years ago. like August, I guess raychel didnt wanna keep up the elaborate lies anymore so she killed off this persona.

all this has hurt me emotionally she was a cool person and all her stories of overcoming such horrible events gave me strength and hope.

even though "raychel" is not real, I will still keep her advice and our chats in my memory. the person behind the fake raychel seemed like a smart and caring person though when you forget about the deceit. I guess a little lie turned into sumthing much bigger that this person tried very hard to keep going.

so long raychel, or whoever the person behind her is...

[Guest Madison_Always]

Mezi I think you are exactly right. What the person behind Raychel meant for evil was inexplicably turned to good. I just can't help wondering what if Raychel is real?...just someone posted on her behalf or something weird? I don't know I'm still hopeful I guess...

[Guest Zenda]

Kia Ora Laura,

It was a chance for many of us to practice/cultivate 'compassion'...So don't worry yourself about it...

Metta Jendar

[Guest S. Chrissie]

I remember the incident with august a few years ago. like August, I guess raychel didnt wanna keep up the elaborate lies anymore so she killed off this persona.

all this has hurt me emotionally she was a cool person and all her stories of overcoming such horrible events gave me strength and hope.

even though "raychel" is not real, I will still keep her advice and our chats in my memory. the person behind the fake raychel seemed like a smart and caring person though when you forget about the deceit. I guess a little lie turned into sumthing much bigger that this person tried very hard to keep going.

so long raychel, or whoever the person behind her is...

So long.....she will forever be our sister....regardless of whether she was fiction or a real life heroin......

[Guest Luna M]

This is WHY I asked for verification in the first place, and why I ceased to participate in the conversation after no one offered any. The whole thing smelled a little wrong. But I've only been here a little while and haven't known enough people

That said, I'm hopeful Rachael is in fact okay, and you shouldn't fault yourself too much for being trusting.

[Guest Leigh]

I have pulled the story about Rachel Roo as the story can't be verified. Things just didn't add up. This morning we traced the IP and there is no story in the local paper in that town. A story of this nature would be in the public domain. Roo has been a staff member here for a year and has never made up stories before. " It appears to be a hoax and one that is in very poor taste and hurting the trans community heavily in a time when we are fighting very hard to be understood."

I extend my sincerest apologies for reporting the story without verification. I Posted it because I thought I knew the person personally and was grief stricken. I was upset over the loss and verification wasn't first on my mind. We were all fooled. I feel like such an idiot.

Laura

you are not an idiot. we were all fooled.

it's just another way for someone to hurt us all, but that doesn't make us idiots for wanting to trust and love that person.

peace&love

leigh

[Guest M_J]

So, M_J, who exactly are you?

Michelle

I'm a loving caring sister who when i found out spent a day deeply upset and in tears over the loss of another loving caring sister..

it is rather difficult to sort out what is genuine and what is not - she was doing a wonderful job up until the story of her death - and I must say that she did not report it herself so there is a possibility of a conspiracy against her as well as the site itself. We are looking into all of the facts that we can gather but in rushing to judgment against this site, you are doing the same acting without proper information that caused this in the first place.

this is my point why rush to judgment why tell everyone when you don't have all the facts there is such a thing as a telephone

please go ahead and discredit me if you wish.

i do care i care enough to join this site. maybe to make new friends maybe to help make a difference...

i never even knew "roo" sorry because i was an emotional mess over nothing but there again i would be the same way no matter who it will be next... thats just who i am

now let me go fine a new members intro thing have a good day

[Guest Luna M]

A "relative" dropped into chat to give us the news and the details. I was more in shock when I got the news. If it was a new person I would've waited for verifacation. She was though here a year and did a lot of good. Who has that much patience?

Laura

It actually sounds a lot like someone I had to deal with on a gaming forum I ran several years ago. All I really knew about the person was she was using a dial-up ISP and she lived in the UK, but she would come onto the message boards and post heartbreaking stories about how she [miscarried, almost jumped off a building, is writing this from a mental institution, has been threatened with death from a local gang...]...the first story was believable enough, but after a while the lies started to stack up and it just didn't seem right. It didn't take long for us to find out that almost nothing she was saying was true, and made the veracity of anything she said suspect. I have no idea what happened to 'Zoe,' but I hope that person found the help they needed. They were pathological; if you banned their name, they'd make a new one and come back, and because they were using a dial-up connection it was nearly impossible to ban their IP. So they kept coming, and we just started marking their accounts as "**ZOE**." Eventually aftering being ingored for a few months, the person stopped and went away for good.

I don't know if Raychel (Rachael?) was the same way, or if she was simply a social experiment conjured up by someone. Either way, what a rotten lie.

[Guest van-na]

It was so hard to believe that this could have happened to Roo!

It was like someone ripped out my heart.

Now it is even harder to believe that it wasn't true.

It is like someone stomped on my heart.

I remember something someone once told me that happens when a pre opp girl truly becomes a post opp woman.

Most all will want to get on with their life, and put all of their other life far far behind them.

I have to wonder now if this wasn't just Roo!'s way of saying goodbye to her other life, and friends.

Either way I think she is gone from our lives, and I for one will still miss her.

Oh dear Roo!

I still love Yoo!

One last good bye

you made me <<cry>>

vanna