Online Personas

[Otta]

I was out for a beer a few weeks ago with an old skool forumite, who doesn't really post very often these days, and we got to talking about people we'd met, who came over very differently online compared to "real life". As a result, I've been meaning to start this thread on online personas, but kept forgetting to do it until now.

So, do you feel that you are basically yourself on here / facebook / twitter etc, or do you act differently?

I'm not talking about trolls, who are just weird little people who get thrills from just trying to stir up trouble online, because they have no life. They are a separate group who are probably beyond help. I am talking about your average person who uses online forums, or social networks.

Personally, I'd like to say that I am totally myself, and don't try to be different. I am honest about my opinions on things, and I try to be fair, as I would in the real world.

HOWEVER

By the very nature of being online, you are operating in the written word, and everything is there in black and white to go back and double check. As a result, I admit that I probably do edit before posting at times, in order to sound more concise. Also, things that people say which I may not pick up on, or may let slide in the real world, are there in black and white, and so I may reread them, and think on them, and get angered by them. As a result, I think I allow myself to get wound up by things that really wouldn't bother me in real life. And I admit, I rise to them, and get involved in arguments.

So, that is me, on me. Do people feel the same sort of way, or are most people totally themselves when online?

There are some people online who I just can't imagine getting by in the real world without getting themselves beaten up, because they are so abrasive and rude. Do these people act this way because they feel brave behind the anonymity of the internet, or are they just like that?

I am hoping this will be an interesting thread of discussion rather than a slagging match...

[El Pibe]

I think I'm generally nicer in real life. Not that I'm a complete arse on here, but I am a bit* of a grumpy old sod.

*ok, a lot!

[El Pibe]

Also you are pretty much you if that helps.

Is your old skool forumite an drunken ranter in his occasional posts? In which case that's EXACTLY what he's like in real life ;)

[woodrot]

Would you speak to a random on the street in the same way you post on here ?

95% of the time its a negative, though the unhinged/ ripped to the tits element does skew these numbers

[El Pibe]

"Would you speak to a random on the street in the same way you post on here ?"

I guess depends what I'm doing. But on the whole I think so yes. I might be a little more diplomatic if I thought said random was behaving like a git though.

[Huguenot]

http://www.v3.co.uk/IMG/282/182282/ryan-cleary-370x229.jpg?1309260149

[woodrot]

http://topnews.net.nz/data/yawning.jpg

[Huguenot]

A few posters who I met through the forum first rather than in the real world have commented that I'm much nicer in the real world, but that my debating style is very similar regardless of on or off line (although you can't hear the chuckle online).

I just spend the majority of my time on here debating stuff, which I don't do quite as much in real life.

[steveo]

One of the forum's most reasoned commentators is also one of its most abrasive in my op.

[Jah Lush]

Only my name is different. I feel I'm pretty much as I am on here. At least I think I am. What do you think? On second thoughts. Don't answer that.

[woodrot]

actually, I think I stumbled into someone I was do seem to passively provoke, not so long ago. He was reasonable in real life. I dont think he was aware though.

[steveo]

Jah you are much taller in real life

[Otta]

El Pibe Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Also you are pretty much you if that helps.

>

> Is your old skool forumite an drunken ranter in

> his occasional posts? In which case that's EXACTLY

> what he's like in real life ;)

Ha ha, who could you possibly mean? ;-)

No, not him, a lovely lady who has become a top mate.

[RosieH]

I think posting online gives you licence, as Huguenot says, to debate more. I get irate when I debate with people who are idiots, on or offline, and worse, people I know not to be idiots but seem to be adopting idiotic positions. I never say anything on here that I wouldn't say to someone's face, but I know that I've upset people that I wouldn't in real life because the debate just wouldn't have evolved in the same way down the pub.

In "real life" I'm an incorrigible flirt and take considerable delight in a good innuendo. I try to rein it in on here - not always successfully - because it's unbecoming to hint at your sexual proclivities to 20,000 people.

And I'm hilarious. It's just you lot broke my funny bone.

edited because I can't type for shit today.

[Otta]

Whenever I think Huguenot is being a bit harsh on here, I just remember singing "Birdhouse in your soul" with him, quite loudly in The Market Porter some years ago.

[Marmora Man]

woodrot Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> actually, I think I stumbled into someone I was do

> seem to passively provoke, not so long ago. He was

> reasonable in real life. I dont think he was aware

> though.

Have we met then?

[Jeremy]

Otta - I think you're fairly similar online to real life, but a little more "verbose" on here than you are face-to-face.

I'm more abrupt on here than I am in r/l. On here I'm sometimes quite quick to wade in with "you're talking rubbish", but if I were talking with them face-to-face it would be a rather more polite "not sure I necessarily agree" type of thing. But the same applies to a lot of people with online discussions... it's the nature of the beast.

[Otta]

That's a good point about wording Jeremy, although you don't come across as rude, just direct and honest both on and off line.

[Undisputedtruth]

I'm quite happy to show off my football skills in real life. http://codex.wordpress.org/images/4/4b/icon_wink.gif

[Otta]

HAHA, see UDT, that's more like it. Funny.

[Undisputedtruth]

I was being serious!

[Help-Ma-Boab]

I'm probably less Scottish in real life. Still like a peeve though,ken.( Reading Skagboys at the mo - Barry likesay!)

[Huguenot]

http://loopytactics.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/ali-dia.jpg

[Marmora Man]

I probably come over as right wing, libertarian Torygraph reader.

In reality I'm a a pretty tolerant, slightly cynical, live and let live kind of person with a deep, very deep, suspicion of any prescriptive solution to the world's ills believing more in the cock up, rather than conspiracy, theory of life and history.

And this is me - many years ago!

[El Pibe]

You were John Peel?

Cool!