Hook That Catfish

We all want that chance at a real relationship and real love so we oftentimes, search for it using any avenue necessary. This can result in a "catfish".

This has gotten so out of control that  the MTV series "Catfish" has achieved tremendous growth. Having been catfished myself, I know how devastating and unpleasant it can be to find out the person you have been so in tune with is in fact, not real (or real but grossly misrepresented). Mind you, there are times when the people behind the computer screens are real and genuine but that's oftentimes not the case.

Here's my story -

I was about 16 and one of my friends said she was going to hook me up with a guy. Being 16, I wasn't really in the frame of mind to fully wrap my head around why people do what they do to get and maintain one. After a while, reluctantly I obliged, so she gave him my email address and we started talking on MSN messenger. We exchanged pictures and theyseemed like him but some things he was saying just didn't add up. We were going back and forth for about two weeks when I decided I wanted to meet up and see him. Every time we talked about meeting, he would come up with some kind of excuse. After about another 2 or 3 weeks - I don't fully remember how long but I know it wasn't too far off, we finally settled on a meeting time and place. When I got there I didn't see anyone who looked like the pictures I received. When I finally saw him and called him out on everything, there was almost zero acknowledgement of what he had done.

I opened up about my catfish experience last year on a radio show called Di Fusion, aired on Nationwide 90 FM (Like them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/difusion90FM ) when asked to speak on Social Media and Relationships. Since then, I was asked to share my story once again on Weekend Smile (Saturday morning Smile Jamaica) Like them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/tvjsmilejamaica ). After the show, the beautiful host, Kiki planted a seed in my head. She asked me "so what are you planning to do to highlight this issue in Jamaica?" At first, I didn't do the show with the intention to go any further than sharing, but that question did something to me. 

Catfishing is serious and potentially dangerous to all those involved and I want to educate young women and men alike of the scary reality. Watch the interview here: http://www.televisionjamaica.com/Programmes/WeekendSmile.aspx/Videos/36915