As I've told many of you, I come from a small town, "good ole boys" Lodge/Chapter. Where I'm from, people help their neighbors, people wave even if it's a stranger that drives by, you get the idea. The Masons in our area take it a few steps further; building ramps for the handicapped on their days off, buying Christmas presents for a family in town whose had a house fire a few weeks before Christmas, again-you get the idea.
This is how I grew up, the Masons were always the good guy. Sure there were a few in town that gossiped about what went on behind closed doors, but it certainly wasn't as malevolent as killing animals or world domination.
I've belonged to two Masonic forums thus far, this being one and I've come across some shady characters. People I'm *ASHAMED* to call Brothers and Sisters.
I know there's always "a few in a crowd", but the internet and Masons seem to be drawing some wacked out creepy un-Masonic people.
What do you think? ???

some people online will fake their identity to learn secret info and then when they learn it, they think, well thats not it and want more secrets that we dont have....

thats my 1 cent

The website that I belonged to before had "tylers" and their membership was actually checked, these were *real* members. :'(

This sort of thing happens to all organisations and internet forums as you can post what you like and be who you want with never being found out.
The trouble is when you start having to interogate, interview or get personal information from people over the internet, people usually do not bother joining. There are lurkers out there that like to surf particular forums without commiting themselves to anything.
I have been on forums in the past that have had test questions before joining but does not prove anything as all the info you require is in front of them on the web somewhere.
The best way is to let everyone join the forum and with time the wacky ones will get bored and leave or be better informed before they do, and the ones that try and pass themselves of as Freemasons will be found out.
The tyled forums on a few of the Masonic forums can only be joined if you are personally known by another Freemason or can be vouched for by one. You may think this would be hard to achieve but Freemasonry is Universal and someone always knows someone, that knows someone, if you know what I mean.

As for wacky Masons joining Lodges well this is probably due to candidates being unknown to their proposers. You should have known someone for at least 2 years but with the necessity to enlarge Lodges people will waive this and lie to get people in.
We actually check peoples credentials after interviewing them and speak to their freinds, neighbours and work colleagues.

The world is now becoming a very selfish place with alot of people doing things for egotism or self gain. You have to be careful and cautious as usual but will never stop some people from being wacky, rude or inquisitive!

As in real life all organisations have their black sheep. However, where as in real life the black sheep have to actually be bothered to get of their arse to be unmasonic to people and fellow brethren, with the internet and forums it takes no effort at all.

Most of the forums around have some really good moderators and admins, others actually persecute those who try to administer masonically, in favour of the less masonic discussion which encourage arguement, hence high activitiy for the forum.

The only advice is to stay where you feel comfortable, and do not concern yourself with those who do not act masonically, regardless of what they put in their signatures or profiles.

At the end of the day, it could be anyone, and you need to rely more on their actions, than what they claim as to determine the masonic nature.

It is easy to talk the talk, but walking the walk cant be faked.

Well put, good to have you back Bro!