Your internet persona ...

[WhiteCrowUK]

Something I've noticed in the years on the internet - there tend to be two kind of people on the internet.

One class are those who know they have some degree of anonymity, and can be fairly open about their life, and talk about personal issues they'd not readily discuss elsewhere.

Some other people tend to be a bit overly aggressive - and seem to delight by being a bit cruel to other people. Interestingly I've met one such person in real life and found them to be amazingly quiet in real life.

So do you think you are very different online to the way you react offline? Do you use it to live out a slightly different side to you? Or are you the same on or off line?

[MorganaFang]

Use to be a lot more open and crazy online. Heh now my internet persona has been integrated into my what use to be a very introverted personality type. Really I don't think about it anymore than that. I do know I sound less intelligent online but I'm over it hehe

[DarkWolf]

Very different. I'm somewhat open, I talk more, I'm argumentative, I'm longwinded, show emotions, etc. But offline I rarely speak, hardly ever argue, and I'm a very reserved individual.

[GhostBat]

I'm definitely more open on the internet than I am in real life. Of course, some of my strong charateristics spill into my "internet persona," but I am somewhat different offline. It's rather difficult to describe, but one would have to know me on and off the internet to really understand. I'd have to say from past experience, this goes for everyone.

[kaycee]

I'm the same on and off the net. Only, I'm a little more open with those online I'm close to.

[Klark]

I'm the same on and off, only worse off because you can hear when I'm being silly, changing my voice, playing with accents...sadly, advertisements still happen offline >.< (advertisements will be understood by those in chat) heh, but yeah, I'm the same through and through, open, talkative, funny, caring, sharing, Twix, it's all in the mix, and I tend to pay attention at all Dr. Pepper, be you, times. I can seem a little Coming this summer, crazy at times, but I, Grab some body wash from Old Spice, do try to control it a little better. :D

[Lost_Soul]

*Blinks*...I uhhh...think you lost me Klark...*blinks*
Woooooh I really need to get some sleep O_o

Anyway...I tend to be quite the same online and off, but I'm more intelligent online because I think things through better when I write them out.

[Wolf-Bone]

sorta yes and sorta no.

In real life, I'm usually very quiet and reserved, and I'd say at least a little cautious in most situations. Generally defensive. But when I'm around people I feel comfortable with and we're away from all of that shit, I'm very talkative and open, more so than I've ever been before these past few months.
Online, I'm pretty much ALWAYS that direct and honest, because I don't feel any restrictions. What being online and being with my rl friends has in common is, I feel like I can be myself without any consequences (that matter to me, at least. Like honestly, what do I care if someone online dislikes me, as opposed to someone in real life who probably knows somebody that could prevent me from getting ahead).

But you're right though, about people living out another side of themselves, cuz my friends wonder why Im not as open in public as I am in private, and it's because I just dont feel as comfortable in public as I do with them (or online).

[Frostbeard]

One's electronic persona is just like a mask or warpaint. It puts a barrier between your actions and your idea of "self". It liberates you to act on your impulses rather than what is expected of you. That's the theory, anyway.

In my own case, I find that I tend to be much more vocally critical of people online than I would be in person. That's not to say that I'm not critical in reality - it's in my nature. I just have more of a tendency to point out to people when they're wrong, or when they're saying something ridiculous, if I'm online. I chalk this up to the fact that I have a lot more time to analyze what's been said and consider what I'm going to say in reply.

[Xzengrim]

On the internet, I act the way that I am around my closest friends... lucky you! Actually, in real life I'm TERRIBLY quiet and shy and I can go for days without talking to another human being. Around my friends, I'm the crazy sarcastic madman the internet knows and loves... but not among strangers in real life. My friends have seen the best and worst of myself, and they're still here, so I can behave comfortably around them. On the internet, I'll tell anyone anything because you guys are essentially just strangers... so who cares if I piss you off? So yeah... that's what I think.

[COLONV]

Very different. I'm somewhat open, I talk more, I'm argumentative, I'm longwinded, show emotions, etc. But offline I rarely speak, hardly ever argue, and I'm a very reserved individual.Same to me.

[Neowolf]

Online I'm more open, caring and just generally comfertable talking about all but my deepest personal feelings or problems... Offline I'm very quite, I speak to almost know one, and I try not to show any emotion what so ever...

[WhiteCrowUK]

I find online I can be a bit different. The world online is a bit more one without consequence - which means I can be more open, but it also means if someone really ticks me off I can afford to be less tactful than in real life ...

[Ves]

I'm almost the same in real life as I am online. I just have a tendency to (mis)use longer words online.

[The Question]

Something I've noticed in the years on the internet - there tend to be two kind of people on the internet.

One class are those who know they have some degree of anonymity, and can be fairly open about their life, and talk about personal issues they'd not readily discuss elsewhere.

Some other people tend to be a bit overly aggressive - and seem to delight by being a bit cruel to other people. Interestingly I've met one such person in real life and found them to be amazingly quiet in real life.

So do you think you are very different online to the way you react offline? Do you use it to live out a slightly different side to you? Or are you the same on or off line?

Some people indulge in both lifestyles you made examples of, and act the same offline.

[WhiteCrowUK]

Some people indulge in both lifestyles you made examples of, and act the same offline.

I have to agree with that - I've been looking at some peoples homepages, and its surprising how gruff some people can be in one area of the web, and how vulnerable they are in another.

[JadenKorr]

Online, I'm a lot more vocal and will talk about what I feel. In real life?

That's a whole different story...

In real life, I don't stray out of my room much, don't go outside unless I have no other choice, and detest being with other people. Above all else though, I hate having to be a team player. Ugh...

So in essence, when I'm online, I'm pretty social. Other than that? I'm a friggin hermit.

[moonspirit]

im abit more open online compaired to my life offline. im very shy both on and offline and i only speak up when i REALY want to voice my thoughts (though, not many people can understand what i say at times (or read what i type at times :D )), but, online i tend to give out more of my opinions than in school or when theres company.

[Wraywolf]

You all know the Wray! At least I hope you do. Gregarious, self-centered, loud, obnoxious, and oh so very gay. Ah-ha, but in real life, you see, I am the complete and utter opposite!

I become introverted, very quiet. I never go out of my way to make association with other people. I'm the kind of person who walks while watching his feet, and eats his food in a place that has the fewest people. In class, I'm a bit more open, but I have nothing like a group of friends I hang out with, nor any kind of friendship that goes deeper then minor acquaintance. Indeed, Wray is a loner through and through. Say's something about human nature, don't it?

[Teej]

I'm more open and energetic online. It doesn't take much energy to type how hyper you are, but it does to actually ACT funny in real life. In person I'm pretty quiet, sleep all the time, and generally keep to myself. Online I try to talk to people, maybe learn something new or maybe talk about things I couldn't talk to people in person about.

[Ender]

I'm the same online as ofline. Well, I say "KILL YOU ALL" more in real life, but still.

[Lance Walker]

I find that I am a little bit more open than I am in real life and even a bit crazy and funloving at times. Especially in a yahoo chat. God, I can't stand those! Especially, when you're trying to chat in general chat and everyone there keeps ignoring you, which only makes me even more aggressive and that much more prone to do crazy and stupid things often making people go, "Who is this guy?"

That and I'm usually more critical of people that I don't agree with and that end up pissing me off or that just insult me. Though I have learned from past experiences not to engage in negative discussions with people since it usually only ends up causing even more auguments and name calling.

Well, later,

Lance Walker :cool:

[LycanSpectre]

I am much more open online than in real life. In real life, I am very quiet, very reserved. I have an opinion on everything (especially philosophy) but share my opinion only if I am in a setting that I am completlty comfortable in.

Generally:
Offline: Loner, quiet, melancholy, but assertive.
Online: Not such a loner, loud and obnoxious, peppy, and a bit more aggressive than assertive. (I think anyway).

[kaycee]

For those of you who are more open online and quiet in RL, do you think being online enough with your online personality may help you to become more outgoing in RL eventually?

I think it could. It makes sense if you are on enough and comfortable with your persona, you may sooner or later learn that it's ok to be more outgoing in RL too.

Lets face it, personality and confidence is everything. If you can do it here, you can do it all the time. :)

[DarkWolf]

Probably not for me, Kaycee. The reason why I am more open online, than offline, is the same as to why I'm more open in a letter than face-to-face:

My mind processes things through written words. I think words, see words in my head, and translate images into words. But offline I don't have words to write: I have only a voice I dislike. Writing gives me time to think, it makes it easier to process what I want to convey. I've always been this way since I was 4 years old. So for me it wouldn't help me for face-to-face communication.

[kaycee]

I have only a voice I dislike.

Why? Is it insecurity? Most quiet/shy people are insecure for some reason or another. It is definatly something that can be overcome.

[DarkWolf]

I dislike how it sounds. My accent, my tone, the feel of it in my throat. I prefer silence, and words.

And partly because for about the first twelve or so years of life whatever I said was never listened to.

[COLONV]

I dislike how it sounds. My accent, my tone, the feel of it in my throat. I prefer silence, and words.

And partly because for about the first twelve or so years of life whatever I said was never listened to.That has happened to me too,It is sad.

[kaycee]

I dislike how it sounds. My accent, my tone, the feel of it in my throat. I prefer silence, and words.

And partly because for about the first twelve or so years of life whatever I said was never listened to.


See, you're insecure. No matter how you think your voice sounds, others may like it. You're a unique individual just like we all are and that's special. So you should feel special. No one is like you :)

As far as not being listened to for 12 years, that doesn't have to stop you from being confident. You let it stop you. Think about it.

[DarkWolf]

See, you're insecure. No matter how you think your voice sounds, others may like it. You're a unique individual just like we all are and that's special. So you should feel special. No one is like you :)

As far as not being listened to for 12 years, that doesn't have to stop you from being confident. You let it stop you. Think about it.
You are missing the point kaycee. I don't like my voice, not because of insecurity, but because I personally don't like it. It's like how some people may not like coffee or types of cheese. It's a preference.

Not being listened to for twelve years didn't undermine my confidence, it simply meant I resorted to getting their attention in other ways (such as academics and stories).

[Teej]

You are missing the point kaycee. I don't like my voice, not because of insecurity, but because I personally don't like it. It's like how some people may not like coffee or types of cheese. It's a preference.

I am the exact same way.

[LycanSpectre]

Kaycee, to answer your first question: yes. Can and has. I have been working to become more vocal and open in RL, and using the discussion board as a place to practice has helped me alot.

Of course, online, its easier to find groups of people that are interested in the same things you are and who want to do/discuss them. Finding that niche is essential to being able to open up and be yourself: you have to be interested in the first place.

To add on to my original answer: I am also more a-moral online than I am offline.

[Klark]

Well, it helped me. When I first came to the site back in the end of 1999 and the beginning of 2000, I was very quiet and reserved, and now, look at me. I'm a bouncing bundle of joy! Now you must excuse me...Superman II is on my TV and it's power compels me. :buttrock:

[Darth Cluich]

As frightening as this may be to many of you, I am exactly the same online as I am in real life, although the kinder, gentler Cluich doesn't get much opportunity to be seen online. Some of you have seen that side, though, I think. In my opinion, it's silly to try to be someone you're not, be it online or in real life.

[DarkHunter]

I'm sorta different online. I'm a little more emotionally outspoken. I seem to be nicer online though. Curious. Also, I'm a little more normal online.

I suppose we're all different online.

[WhiteCrowUK]

Superman II is on my TV and it's power compels me. :buttrock:

Hmmm - are you a Superman or a Clark Kent online though! ;)

Slightly off topic (but heck I started this thread), I love the way Terrance Stamp yells "Sooperman" in a Cockney twang in that movie.

[Klark]

HOLY CRAP! :eek: That's the first time anyone's ever asked me that. Hmmmmm.....

Well, I'd have to go with Superman for the online. I'm less bumbling and clumsy, and I do have a tendency to stutter every once in a while offline (I blame the length of my tongue which is the reason I had to go through speech therapy in the first place). The only real difference between Superman and Clark Kent is that Kent is clumsy and bumbling. He tends to seem shy and reserved. So, I'm definately Kent offline. However, you hit the chord with me and I can be Superman offline as well. But to answer that question.....

Superman = online
Clark Kent = offline

All in all, the same person showing the same traits. I don't like to be seen as being a Superman type, I like to do any good deeds that I may do from the shadows, that's another reason for the Kenty attitude offline.

[Russian|D]

Of course people are more open on the internet. They cannot be smacked back... They can be free to speak their mind, because they know that they are out of harm's way. Of course people sound more intelligent on the net... In real life you cannot press backspace and erase your words, change them with others. The internet is a big advantage for people who have something to say and are afraid to do it...

But then again... You cannot hang out and drink a beer with your friends or make silly faces or speak funny or play cards (meaning playing poker with toothpicks, which is a game i love so much for the cheating/tricking/bluffing part) or stuff like that... Internet can be a way of throwing your thoughts somewhere in the depths of space or learning stuff... All else is fantasy and deception.

[Tiamot]

With me, what you read is what you get. I don't see the point in pretending to be something else, if a person can't like me for me, be it online or in person, then they probably aren't worth talking to. Granted, I think sometimes people come across a lot harsher than they mean to, even when they are acting as themselves, simply because of the lack of vocal intonation and body language. I think, though, most internet users realize this and have a pretty good handle on things. :)

[Nightmare GenoReaper]

My I.E. personality, act like the big party guy who's the know it all and can think things through the blackest night and come up with sun skies in the end. If my life was only like that... don't we all strive to be what we are not? And you know, we never seem to put it into action without the help of others