Believe me when I tell you ... *
As with, it seems, everything else, the Munchausen syndrome existed well before the internet. Essentially it's a case of healthy people faking illness. I don't know why they do this, but researches suggest it's a means of getting attention. Probably every hospital television show has an episode with a patient of this sort, but it apparently not only makes good copy for television shows - it also actually happens. And it was only a matter of time (and a short time at that) until it showed up on the internet.
Dr. Marc D. Feldman posted a rather short but interesting article on Munchausen by Internet. In that article Feldman lists seven clues to identifying when someone writing about an illness online is actually faking it. Among these are
near-fatal bouts of illness alternate with miraculous recoveries
and
others apparently posting on behalf of the individual (e.g., family members, friends) have identical patterns of writing
These, and the others, seem quite convincing. The syndrome most probably exists, though nobody seems to have posted statistics on how frequently it occurs. What's more, the same stories seem to show up in every article on the subject.
Though there is undoubtedly a great deal of emotional discomfort involved in being duped in this way (one authority on the subject is quoted in numerous sources - and now here as well - as comparing it to emotional rape) it's interesting that until now nobody seems to have noted that the internet can offer a rather safe outlet for this sort of aberrant behavior. When patients with fake symptoms come to a hospital, the alraedy overworked hospital staff has to devote time it doesn't have to someone who ultimately does need (that sort of) help. On the other hand, people who frequent online forums can ordinarily afford the time. Even if they're being duped, other than the emotional price, nobody gets hurt.
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