Maybe in a messageboard that is NOT created by and centered around two 'real people' who many of us have met and at the very least have enjoyed their music and interaction, I wouldn't tend to trust the communication written here.
I happen to trust that each personality represented here in the Orchard is unique.
I also trust that that their written communication is representative of the person behind the words. I want to think they are sincere.
Why would I not until proven otherwise?
Some personalities I love, some I avoid...the reverse being true as well...just like IRL.
My initial thought was that Walnut was a real person who was perhaps a lurker who was hurting and wanted to vent or get validation for a troubled mind.

OK...so I found out he had another agenda.

It's not the first time I've been fooled. But I personally would rather give the benefit of the doubt to honesty than always assume someone is out to trick me. I'm glad alts are not allowed here. Someone who wants to fool others I feel is very insecure and gets pseudo-power out of pulling something over on trusting people. Maybe it makes them feel safe to be hiding in anonimity.
Just some thoughts.

Wait a minute... Penny was an alt of Snoop's? The back and forth between the two of them was perhaps the most entertaining thing I ever saw on that list. And finally meeting him a couple years ago was absolutely one of the highlights of my OtR concert-going experiences.

no, she was a real poster, he just "used" her name once to incite a riot.

but then, mentioning dug goes back to wondering if we really know the people who are posting.

seriously, reading dug's posts, i thought he was a big burly black man. imagine my surprise when i met that scrawny little white kid.

*sigh* i miss dug.

No. I'm the big burly black man.

This is all taking on a great "would the real big burly black man please stand up" vibe, and I won't be part of any such blatant racism.

sombody requesting a BIG burly bLack man?

You're not? Then who was that man I met in Austin? Bwahahahahahahaha!!


Cher

That man had a few too many Shiner Bocks!

depends...do you play drums?

What a fun time that was.