SWEET WATER, AL. -- Thou shalt not use Facebook to create fake Amy Jo Johnson profiles. That's the edict from an Alabama temple leader who feels that fake Amy Jo Johnson Facebook profiles can lead to temptation, sexually transmitted diseases and even total insanity.
Grand Prior Vader said about 200 worshipers among the estimated 1,109,056 members of The Order of Meridian’s Temple of Amy Jo Johnson have run into trouble over the last six months after they connected with Amy Jo Johnson worshipers by creating fake Amy Jo Johnson Facebook accounts.
Because of the problems, he is ordering about 20 high ranking temple officials to delete their accounts with the social networking site or resign from their leadership positions. He had previously asked confused congregants to share their login information with the temple’s leaders and now plans to suggest that they give up their fake and real Facebook profiles altogether.
"I've been in extended counseling with dozens of Amy Jo Johnson worshipers because of Facebook," he said. "What happens is someone decides they are so in touch with the pure spirit of Amy Jo Johnson that they can think and even speak as her, without the religious training that we temple leaders have undergone, it’s pure madness and very dangerous. It leads to conversations with worshipers who think they are actually speaking with the real Amy Jo Johnson and these worshipers are rightfully willing to do Amy Jo’s bidding whatever that may be. These fakes then feel the rush of power and sometimes order the worshiper to have physical meet-ups. The temptation is just too great for those without proper training."
Grand Prior Vader has a Facebook account that he uses to keep in touch with global Temple of Amy Jo Johnson members, but he will heed his own advice and cancel his account this weekend. On Sunday, he plans to "strongly suggest" that all temple members stop using Facebook, lest they endanger their purity and sanity. "The advice will go to the entire order," he said. "They'll hear what I'm asking of my order’s leadership. I won't mandate it for the entire temple, but I hope people will follow my advice."
Vader said he has spoken from the pulpit before about the dangers of Facebook, asking people to un-friend all fake Amy Jo Johnson profiles. "Some did. Others got scared and deleted their own fake Amy Jo Johnson accounts right away. And some felt it was none of my business and continued on pretending to be Amy Jo," he said.
Vader said he has gotten a mostly positive response so far among the leaders subject to his edict, which was first reported by the Lakeside Park Press.
“It’s almost as if everyone has forgotten The Winona Ryder Myspace wars of 2005” said Vader referring to the violent clashes between Winona Ryder worshipers known as The Children of Noni. Countless casualties occurred after a popular Winona Ryder Myspace page admitted that they were a fake and it was all a joke. “The Children of Noni were permanently splintered during those dark days with some worshipers favoring the fake Winona over the real Winona because quite frankly, the fake was far more interesting than the real Winona Ryder,” added Vader. “We should learn from past mistakes even if these lessons come from misguided heathens.”
Chastity Ronson, a volunteer at the temple, uses her Facebook account to connect with actual friends that she really knows in real life. She does not have a fake Amy Jo Johnson account and is therefore not required to delete any fake account, but she agrees with Vader about the dangers such sites can create.
"I know he feels very strongly about this," she said. "Facebook can be a useful tool, but it also can cause great problems in a person’s fragile mind. If you take the time to set up a fake Amy Jo Johnson account and pretend to be Amy Jo Johnson on Facebook, you've got a serious mental problem and might even need to get some sort of counseling."
Ronson says there are legitimate uses for Facebook, which is why she started an account a few years ago. "People use it as an opportunity to invite others to temple gatherings, to share Scripture or talk about what went on at the temple picnic or to play Farmville," she said. "Those are all positive, worthwhile things. But for the weak minded, the downside is just too great."
The Temple has released a Facebook safety guide on spotting fake Amy Jo Johnson profiles which states you should un-friend any Amy Jo Johnson profile if any of the following events occur.
1. Amy Jo Johnson responds to the email you sent telling her how cool you thought she was when she played Kimberly the pink Power Ranger.
2. Amy Jo Johnson “pokes” you.
3. Amy Jo Johnson wishes you a happy birthday on your wall.
4. Amy Jo Johnson friends one or more of your real friends.
5. Amy Jo Johnson agrees to come to your town for “a quick acoustic set”.
6. Amy Jo Johnson “likes” any photos that show the real you.
7. Amy Jo Johnson sends you Mafia Wars requests.
8. Amy Jo Johnson asks you to meet her middle-aged friend named Chuck at the local Motel 6.
9. Amy Jo Johnson suggests you friend Hillary Swank and Jennifer Garner.
10. Amy Jo Johnson sends you an email with a link to more revealing photos of her that are hosted on a Russian dating website.
Facebook did not immediately respond to an interview request left at its California offices.
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| Example of a fake Amy Jo Johnson profile |
Because of the problems, he is ordering about 20 high ranking temple officials to delete their accounts with the social networking site or resign from their leadership positions. He had previously asked confused congregants to share their login information with the temple’s leaders and now plans to suggest that they give up their fake and real Facebook profiles altogether.
"I've been in extended counseling with dozens of Amy Jo Johnson worshipers because of Facebook," he said. "What happens is someone decides they are so in touch with the pure spirit of Amy Jo Johnson that they can think and even speak as her, without the religious training that we temple leaders have undergone, it’s pure madness and very dangerous. It leads to conversations with worshipers who think they are actually speaking with the real Amy Jo Johnson and these worshipers are rightfully willing to do Amy Jo’s bidding whatever that may be. These fakes then feel the rush of power and sometimes order the worshiper to have physical meet-ups. The temptation is just too great for those without proper training."
Grand Prior Vader has a Facebook account that he uses to keep in touch with global Temple of Amy Jo Johnson members, but he will heed his own advice and cancel his account this weekend. On Sunday, he plans to "strongly suggest" that all temple members stop using Facebook, lest they endanger their purity and sanity. "The advice will go to the entire order," he said. "They'll hear what I'm asking of my order’s leadership. I won't mandate it for the entire temple, but I hope people will follow my advice."
Vader said he has spoken from the pulpit before about the dangers of Facebook, asking people to un-friend all fake Amy Jo Johnson profiles. "Some did. Others got scared and deleted their own fake Amy Jo Johnson accounts right away. And some felt it was none of my business and continued on pretending to be Amy Jo," he said.
Vader said he has gotten a mostly positive response so far among the leaders subject to his edict, which was first reported by the Lakeside Park Press.
“It’s almost as if everyone has forgotten The Winona Ryder Myspace wars of 2005” said Vader referring to the violent clashes between Winona Ryder worshipers known as The Children of Noni. Countless casualties occurred after a popular Winona Ryder Myspace page admitted that they were a fake and it was all a joke. “The Children of Noni were permanently splintered during those dark days with some worshipers favoring the fake Winona over the real Winona because quite frankly, the fake was far more interesting than the real Winona Ryder,” added Vader. “We should learn from past mistakes even if these lessons come from misguided heathens.”
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| Chastity Ronson |
"I know he feels very strongly about this," she said. "Facebook can be a useful tool, but it also can cause great problems in a person’s fragile mind. If you take the time to set up a fake Amy Jo Johnson account and pretend to be Amy Jo Johnson on Facebook, you've got a serious mental problem and might even need to get some sort of counseling."
Ronson says there are legitimate uses for Facebook, which is why she started an account a few years ago. "People use it as an opportunity to invite others to temple gatherings, to share Scripture or talk about what went on at the temple picnic or to play Farmville," she said. "Those are all positive, worthwhile things. But for the weak minded, the downside is just too great."
The Temple has released a Facebook safety guide on spotting fake Amy Jo Johnson profiles which states you should un-friend any Amy Jo Johnson profile if any of the following events occur.
1. Amy Jo Johnson responds to the email you sent telling her how cool you thought she was when she played Kimberly the pink Power Ranger.
2. Amy Jo Johnson “pokes” you.
3. Amy Jo Johnson wishes you a happy birthday on your wall.
4. Amy Jo Johnson friends one or more of your real friends.
5. Amy Jo Johnson agrees to come to your town for “a quick acoustic set”.
6. Amy Jo Johnson “likes” any photos that show the real you.
7. Amy Jo Johnson sends you Mafia Wars requests.
8. Amy Jo Johnson asks you to meet her middle-aged friend named Chuck at the local Motel 6.
9. Amy Jo Johnson suggests you friend Hillary Swank and Jennifer Garner.
10. Amy Jo Johnson sends you an email with a link to more revealing photos of her that are hosted on a Russian dating website.
Facebook did not immediately respond to an interview request left at its California offices.
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