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Too much forum posting can be fatal
Media Daily News ^ | George Simpson

Posted on 04/28/2005 12:48:39 PM PDT by Cat loving Texan

I Link, Therefore I am

by George Simpson, Monday, Apr 25, 2005 8:17 AM EST

A WEST NYACK, N.Y. MAN was found dead at his computer apparently the victim of trying to keep up with too many professional forums. Childress H. Wanamaker, 54, an account executive at a New York-based new media company, died of starvation according to the West Nyack coroner's office. Wanamaker's emaciated body was found by Loraine, his wife of 26 years, who told MediaPost she had been bringing her husband meals on plastic trays for weeks, but that he never took the time to eat them. "He was glued to his computer 24/7," she said tearfully. "He was so afraid he was going to miss an opportunity to contribute a comment or start a discussion, that he just stopped eating." She added that Wanamaker's last words were "OK Picard, stick that in your pipe and smoke it..."

Computer forensic specialists from SUNY at Cortland discovered that Wanamaker was subscribed to 48 different forums and networking communities including one apparently having to do with the elderly called "oldtimers" and another apparently limited to just 100 people. They also found that he posted a comment into one forum or another on an average of two per minute every hour of the day for the past seven weeks.

"He felt under terrible pressure to be part of the online community," said his son, Lucian, who says he tried several times to get his father's attention and lure him away from the computer. "The only time he even looked up was when I told him I had seen Dane Madsen trying to steal his car out of the driveway."

Police found what appeared to be an organization chart taped to the wall of Wanamaker's den with lines linking small photos of people unknown to the police including a Tom Hespos and an Adam Boettiger. Neither is considered a suspect in Wanamaker's death.

"Once, I thought I had him," said Lucian Wanamaker, "when I said that mom had made cookies, but half out of his chair, he just sat back down mumbling something about two Roman gods; I believe it was Jupiter and Atlas having some sort of titanic battle. 'Let them eat PIE,' he bellowed banging on his keyboard."

Computer forensic specialists reported that there was no order or continuity to Wanamaker's forum postings. "It looks like he just sort of randomly commented on whatever was in the discussion string at the time," said Stephen Hall, CUNY-Cortland adjunct professor of intemperate and impulsive behavior. "He let nothing go by unchallenged by his own point of view, nor failed to respond to any other community member asking for advice or a new job. This consumed not only 24 hours a day, but also, apparently, his physical health."

In what must be a record, Wanamaker was linked into to over 15,250 other community members, many of whom he exchanged notes with daily. He also contributed to 375 blogs and was expected to start an online column about the impact of interactive communications on health, when he died.

A virtual memorial service will be held online at a date to be determined.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: addiction; cary; freepingoverdose; itsnotkephraok; iwaswrong; satire
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To: woofie
I am no doubt exagerating but the DU guy who died at his keyboard was overweight and had a bad heart

I didn't know that. Most of the posts I read at that site made it sound like he was a frail young man.

I guess Twinkies and keybords don't mix.

81 posted on 04/28/2005 3:51:42 PM PDT by Krodg
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To: shotokan
At the link, just before the link to the article, it reads, "Warning: SatireAhead!"
82 posted on 04/28/2005 3:58:33 PM PDT by Hatteras
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To: Rightly Biased
Why does this strike as funny?... I know! I know! ... errr...

:~[

83 posted on 04/28/2005 4:01:21 PM PDT by ElPatriota (let's not forget, we are all still friends despite our differences)
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To: ElPatriota

just giggle to yourself it was satire though I hope.


84 posted on 04/28/2005 4:10:45 PM PDT by Rightly Biased (Salvation is not a prayer and an experience its a life changing event <><)
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To: TheForceOfOne
And the reply was "drop dead you moron!" lol

Or maybe: Eat s#!T and die!

85 posted on 04/28/2005 4:15:47 PM PDT by mountn man
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To: Cat loving Texan

That's funny. I don't care who you are.


86 posted on 04/28/2005 4:18:27 PM PDT by Xenalyte (I dare you to make less sense.)
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To: Nightshift

ping


87 posted on 04/28/2005 4:21:19 PM PDT by tutstar ( <{{--->< Impeach Judge Greer http://www.petitiononline.com/ijg520/petition.html)
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To: Cat loving Texan
Computer forensic specialists reported that there was no order or continuity to Wanamaker's forum postings.

A+ Bert; TBLShow; Lazamataz?

88 posted on 04/28/2005 4:23:18 PM PDT by rabidralph (My truck appreciates the rest of you driving fuel-efficient vehicles.)
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To: Cat loving Texan
I don't know what to say, but I feel the need to put something in this space.

Pie?

89 posted on 04/28/2005 4:24:56 PM PDT by SaveTheChief (Oskee Wow Wow Illinois)
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To: reagan_fanatic

That was a great episode... lol


90 posted on 04/28/2005 4:31:50 PM PDT by SaveTheChief (Oskee Wow Wow Illinois)
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To: auzerais

"... why didn't they simply take a sledgehammer to his 'puter??"

LOL! That might have caused him to have a heart attack.

But .. I'd like to know what web sites he was looking at because my doctor told me I must shed at least 25 pounds. I don't find sitting at the computer ever keeps me from eating.


91 posted on 04/28/2005 5:49:02 PM PDT by CyberAnt (President Bush: "America is the greatest nation on the face of the earth")
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To: Cat loving Texan

92 posted on 04/28/2005 5:53:34 PM PDT by Alouette (In each and every generation they rise up to destroy us, but the Holy One, saves us from their hands)
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To: Rightly Biased

If this guy was Kephra and he died while posting on DU at the age of 37 does that mean that he sat at his computer dead for 17 years? This guy was 54.


93 posted on 04/28/2005 5:55:47 PM PDT by armymarinemom (My sons freed Iraqi and Afghanistan Honor Roll students.And we're unlikely to get a look into this t)
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To: armymarinemom

I was wrong but you never know for a DUer


94 posted on 04/28/2005 6:30:44 PM PDT by Rightly Biased (Salvation is not a prayer and an experience its a life changing event <><)
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To: Hatteras

Did you ever have one of those days where everyting just flies over your head? Today was my day. 8>)


95 posted on 04/28/2005 9:41:47 PM PDT by Horatio Gates (Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg, CA PD Gone But Not Forgotten)
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To: armymarinemom
If this guy was Kephra and he died while posting on DU at the age of 37 does that mean that he sat at his computer dead for 17 years? This guy was 54.

If he was a poster at DU, he had most obviously been braindead for 17 years!
,

96 posted on 04/29/2005 1:52:54 PM PDT by auzerais
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To: armymarinemom
If this guy was Kephra and he died while posting on DU at the age of 37 does that mean that he sat at his computer dead for 17 years? This guy was 54.

If he was a poster at DU, he had most obviously been braindead for 17 years!
,

97 posted on 04/29/2005 1:53:05 PM PDT by auzerais
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To: Cat loving Texan

LOL


98 posted on 04/29/2005 1:54:51 PM PDT by Constantine XIII
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To: Cat loving Texan; D Edmund Joaquin

Our fate, I fear.

Woe.


99 posted on 04/29/2005 1:56:13 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg (There are very few shades of gray.)
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To: rabidralph
Computer forensic specialists reported that there was no order or continuity to Wanamaker's forum postings.

A+ Bert; TBLShow; Lazamataz?

Man, that's gotta hurt.

100 posted on 04/29/2005 2:04:56 PM PDT by JusPasenThru (http://giinthesky.blogspot.com/)
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