Internet as a mask
 

How many of you would change some of your posts or would not post if you had to make the same arguement or statement in front of a group of real people?

I wouldn't, but then again I think that my posts are being read by a group of real people anyway. Do you think there are robots reading the posts too?

No way I'd change what I say.

I'm actually a really calm dude. Just don't get me going on politics, religion, and drugs because I'm an extremely confident and strong dude that won't back down.

Robots no... but would you say the things infront of your mother... how about insult a guy who wouldn't think to give you a crack in the head? Or in front of a lobbiest group....
You know just some thoughts.

Just about everything that I've said here I've said around my mother. I don't hold back. Speaking the truth is always the best thing to do.

I'll admit it, there are A LOT of things i say here that i wouldn't say around my mother, especially some of the things in tilted sexuality. I normally don't talk about how many times i masturbate a day with my mother, and how i have taken the wank a day pledge.

I for certain wouldn't insult someone i didn't even know (especially if he looked like a guy who would "give me a crack in the head") but it's not like i insult anyone here either.

Also, i probably would hate to say anything in front of any sort of big group of people, but that's because i DESPISE public speaking.

Well, yeah, obviously the things I say would need to be in context.

For instance, I don't make it my business to go around telling christians how wrong they are, coz thats just being a dickhead!
However in a debate type situation (such as a philosophy message board) I'm not going to hold back on my opinions.

But pretty much, what you see in me online, is also what you would see in me in real life.

edit: did not mean to post this, i accidentally quoted myself rather than editing my post . . . oops

The written word is great because it is different than the spoken. The style fits the media by nature.
And I believe we are fooling ourselves if we say that there are not subtle judgements at play as we percieve someone in person.
I mean what I say either way, but the wording is bound to change online. The abscence of tone and body language, for example. How often do we run into communication difficulties online because we aren't sure of the speaker's intent?
Come to think of it, a verbal edit- before you speak capability would greatly enhance my interpersonal communication. Yes I know that's called thinking before one speaks, but I still put my foot in my mouth occasionally.

My opinions/beliefs don't change depending on who I tell them to. I may choose a different way to say things (e.g. you're wrong vs are you sure about that, because I've heard differently ?), but that's all.

absolutely cliv, i agree.

also: please don't take offense to this, but i keep my tfproject world quite seperate from real life. i discuss shit here that I wouldn't be particularly keen to publically share, and that means there are things people can know about me here that they can't elsewhere. and vice versa. that naturally is going to change my arguments somewhat. though my spirit and stance remains.

prosequence - I don't go around insulting people, not on purpose anyway. So if I accidentally insult someone, then I apologize for it. In real life or here.

I recently met a few other people in real life from this forum, and a couple said that I'm pretty much the same on here as I was when they met me. So, I guess what I'm saying is, no, they wouldn't change. I may word things differently because I don't have as much time to think out what I'm going to say in real life, but the basic point will be the same.

No, what you see here is who I am IRL.

I strongly discourage the whole idea of the "internet personality" being different than the real life one.

No way... I am what I am and I am not changing that for anyone, not even myself.

I have seen many people using masks online and it is amusing to see just how little effort people put into these false identities of theirs, and how much some people hang onto them to the point where their online identity overtakes their real life one.

interesting... sooo would you give out your address or phone number to people in this thread ???

No because:
a) I can't be sure who will get it. Plenty of lurkers around!
b) I don't know the majority of you well enough. Our interactions are quite limited.

well i personally probably wouldn't post bcos i'm a lot shyer with my opinions in an actual in person discussion. i've always been like this. i've never participated in discussions during english class and the thought of speech and debate just puts knots in my stomach :-x

No way. There have been a few people that I talk to here who do have that information, but it's because I consider them good friends and because I trust them.

It's really no different than real life. Only people I trust have that info on me. I wouldn't give it out to complete strangers.

I say what I mean and mean what I say. On the net or face to face makes no difference.

My opinions do not change because I am online and I only don't say something in the intrest of tact or respect in face to face conversations. If someone is looking to debate something here or in person I will always give a few cents worth of my own opinion and hope that the debate is just that and not an argument. I am neddy65 online and sometimes Neddy in life( check out nickname thread for explination) no mask, just a handle.

P.S. Luv ya big guy!!!

what you see/read... is what you get... i am me... whether it be the net or real life...

i think i used to "guard" myself a bit more in "real life"... but that was years ago...
life... growth... and perhaps the net itself has given me more freedom to just be who i am...

life is much too short to be worrying and adjusting myself in every different sitatution... i try to stay true to myself and leave it at that.

I think my internet personality is basically the same as my real-life personality, except perhaps a little less restrained. I know there are things that I talk about on TFP that I would definitely not be comfortable discussing in front of complete strangers, but would only share with my closest friends. I think the anonymity of the internet makes it a little easier to share personal things about one's self without fear of ridicule.

You're all figments of my computer's imagination anyway. :p

I say lots of things on TFP that I wouldn't say in real life to most people, mostly because what I post on TFP would go over the heads of my co-workers and customers. My wife's already heard everything I say here, so no big deal there.

When speaking my thoughts flow better and my funny is active, I never get the same quality since I feel like I'm talking to my hard drive when I'm on the internet...

would you sit and 'enjoy' the titty board in front of people?

well seeing as how this is still a group of ppl i would change it, cause i probly already said it b4.

i didnt get to vote tho. :(

it's not possible to project a real self through a medium.
the medium distorts the presentation.
the best one can do is to be conscious of the distortions.

I always ask everyone that calls me to go on msn to talk to me... i hate talking on the phone, u have way more confidence on msn. Prosequence is my online hero by the way

I am a very straight forward person. Would I change what I say? No way! Would I choose to share as openly? It depends on who I'm speaking with and the context of the conversation. Then again, that is true on tfp as well, isn't it!?

I would say the same things, if I spoke as well as I wrote; but I do not. I'm one of those people who thinks of the right thing to say five minutes after the conversation concludes.

The written word, and message boards, are a godsend to people like me, because they give us the time to marshal our thoughts.

That said, anything I write here could be read by anyone I know personally, without any fear on my part. My wife's computer is about six feet away from mine. She's often looked over my shoulder as I write TFP postings, even postings about her. No complaints -- in fact, even a kiss sometimes :-)

I have more balls when talking to friends on AIM, but thats just saying things I want to say easier than saying them face to face. I'd still say them, just a little altered.