Didja hear about?... Gossip sites draw few users, but pack a punch

Forget passive-aggressive Facebook statuses   (think heartsick lyrics or indignant rant) that not so subtly ding an ex-boyfriend or ex-best friend's reputation. Some students are delivering a more crushing blow through gossip sites that provide the protective shield of anonymity.

A relatively new site has cropped up called College ACB (Anonymous Confession Board), which is referred to as a "œJuicy Campus Replacement" in the site's blog. ACB paid JuicyCampus to redirect users to its newly launched site at collegeacb.com, according to a Dec. 7 Time magazine article.

JuicyCampus went under last February after advertising sales took a dive, according to a press release from JuicyCampus. But the Time article states that the site was also under investigation for possibly violating consumer-protection laws and its own terms of use.

CollegeACB could not be reached by phone or e-mail for comment.

The ACB home page features a press release and a list of featured schools. Users select their school and proceed to the forum.

The site had a record 480,000 hits in one day in November, according to site owner Peter Frank, the Time article states. The Wesleyan University sophomore receives anywhere from two to 40 requests daily to delete posts, he said in the story. Names mentioned in posts can be deleted, if requested.

Ohio University junior Daniella Alvarez (full disclosure: she's a friend of mine) had not heard of ACB; however, she was familiar with the now-defunct JuicyCampus. Before rushing a sorority in fall quarter of her sophomore year, Alvarez said she read posts on the Web site to get a feel for each sorority.

"I remember talking to you about it, and I said I'd never be a DZ (Delta Zeta)," Alvarez recalled. Despite the negative postings, she did join DZ and is now house manager. Needless to say, Alvarez did not find the information on JuicyCampus to be accurate.

"I consider our sorority to be more outgoing and willing to meet people [than other sororities]," Alvarez said. "I would have missed out if I had listened to what was on those Web sites."

A press release for ACB claims that JuicyGossip "fostered superficial interactions, often derogatory and needlessly crude," whereas ACB "consistently hosts a higher level of discourse," with only a few gossip posts.

A glance at the forum for OU, however, reveals that crude language and offensive comments are the norm. A few examples: "My Roomie Suck" (credit to the user for the incorrect grammar) and "WHAT SORORITY GIRL DO YOU HATE THE MOST?" "“ and those are the mild ones. Some titles beckon users to comment "“ or criticize, more likely "“ a certain person. The site doesn't seem to have much of a following at OU, however, with many posts having zero or few replies.

DEAN OF STUDENTS RYAN Lombardi said students should be cautious of sites such as this.

"My general advice is for students to stay away from it," Lombardi said. "These places only get traction if you go to it."

Because of the anonymity of the users and the fact that ACB is not on OU's Web site, the university would have a difficult time taking action if a complaint were raised, Lombardi said. But he added that students should be aware of the tricky nature of posting information online.

"When it comes to Facebook and things, people should make the assumption that nothing is private," Lombardi said.

Craig Travis, president of the Ohio Psychological Association, said people tend to be less inhibited when communicating with others online.

"People are a lot more brash, bold and assertive, if not downright aggressive," Travis said. But he added, "Inappropriate behavior is inappropriate behavior, no matter what medium you use."

He said social networking sites "“ while a useful tool for connecting with others "“ ironically can create a disconnect.

"You look at Facebook; there's some research that shows it increases the jealousy in relationships," Travis said. "If there's any trust or distrust issues, Facebook can make it worse. 'You're always on that page... Who are you talking to?'" When problems surface in relationships, some partners reach out to past partners online, which Travis said often leads to even more problems.

Whether communicating online or in person, Travis said respect is key to having a healthy emotional relationship with others. "You should have a direct, open, honest dialogue with the person you have an issue with," Travis said.