When you post on forums or chat rooms, are you yourself, just typing whatever comes into your head, pretty much the same as you are in real life or do you play out a character or pretend to be someone else?

I'm aware that there can sometimes be a fine line between the two, but what is the case for you?

damn good question this one

for me, i am me, i can not be anyone else it just doesn't work for me

It shows

in real life im different, on here i can be and do things i cant in real life, on here im more like me than in real life, a bit like spiderman without the pajamas

I find it easier to get my point across on forums compared to real life, as everyone has the chance to post, and get seen. But in real life i'm a bit quieter and tend to find it harder to speak up in big conversations with lots of people.

Its easier to talk about yourself on these things too, so i'm probably a bit more open, since no one knows you, theres that air of anonymity.

My sense of humour is just the same though.. and just like in real life, some people find it hard to know when i'm being serious or humourous

you have some good points there, it isn't always easy to speak up, shyness is a terrible thing even those folks who think they are not shy can get a attack

Its not so much shyness but there can be louder people who dominate the comversation..

now i get you i have met a few of them in my time

I don't consciously act differently on these boards than I do in 'real life'.

But on the other hand, I'm not too sure how else others on here see me (And I don't really want to know, thanks ). An experiment, for which I've no inclination at all to volunteer, would be to see if people who only know me well through these boards would come up with the same description of me as those who know me in 'real life'. There would be plenty of overlap, but there might be some differences. Perhaps those that know me in 'real life' see a more 'rounded' or 'fuller' version of who I think of as being 'me'? But then - is who I think of as me the same as the 'me' that other people in 'real life' see, let alone the people that hang out here? After all, one theory is that there are three people (not one): the person you think you are, the person other people see, and the person you actually are. It gets complicated: psychologists have identified a 'work' persona, a persona adopted with friends, and a persona adopted at 'home.'

Oh dear

*goes to lie down for a while*

I am pretty much me, though I do have a softer emotional side that only my mrs sees. And I do hold back in arguments on here, in real life you can really let rip. But I think as a rule most people are themselves. Also I dont have to see any of you, so I suppose I care less what people on here think of me rather than the people in my real life. But you can really miss judge people on a forum I have done it lots of times. I think its harder to get your point across on a forum and those with good writing skills are at an advantage. At the end of the day you have to be yourself because in the end you will always be found out.

I'd totally agree with that, but add a fourth persona, my online one. I'm nothing like what I have been told I present as "Harlequin" under normal circumstances.

Though I will say that "Harlequin" has infected me in real life. I found that in discussions amongst familiars I was dropping into 'moderator mode'...and being unreasonably reasonable...much to the annoyance of everyone.

Snap.

I find it more difficult to be "me" on a forum. With people face to face, one can interact and get feedback from the eyes, facial movements, body language in general. On a forum you have only yourself looking back at you in the monitor... On here, I can read some really crass statements which, in real life, would get a good answering. I don't respond here because I am conscious that the written word can be misinterpreted without the aid of body language/facial expression to show humour/sarcasm/irony/etc. As FBG points out, some people feel at a disadvantage on here because the written word does not come easily to them. In real life, everyone, whether they are literate, dyslexic or illiterate can express an opinion in an open public arena and, perhaps, opinion can be swayed or changed by a look, a touch on the arm, the buying of a pint. On here, opinions are voiced and dissenters are shot down in flames by those with better verbalising (and typing skills). I think that one's on-line persona definitely suffers as a result ~ in some form or other. I stand to be corrected

You are correct in that opinion.

But....if this encourages those that are "weaker" in their typing skills to try harder, it's not such a bad thing.

I often wish I had Oolongchas and Zoros skills, they've said things that make my blood boil , but I know I can't set my reply in any form that won't make me sound like a stuttering idiot by comparison.



It's just the way of the internet.

well im happy as me, part of the reason i dont bother too much with the serious section is because i find it hard to put stuff into words, and when i spend time making a serious post, just to get it ignored because im seen as the funny little chap from the games section, is rather annoying, so whats the point of bothering.

Nope im much more comfortable have a laugh and a joke with a few mates rather than have a debate over some crap thats happening 300 miles away. Also i think FBG has a great way with words, loved the post he ended with that one word, Twat. Pmsl at that.

The same could be said about a certain post ending with "Dime bar"

couldn't it president Hubba Bubba?

I dont see you as that annoying little chap, I see you as a well rounded adult who likes a bit of a laugh and speaks his mind. I would rather deal with someone like you who does not hide behind big words, because I know where I stand with you.



yes Dime bar was classic aswell

Hear Hear FBG.

Can someone tell me what's with the Dime Bar thread? I am curious!

I think its been lost in " the great lost month of august " sasa, it was one of easy's classic lines

Goddam! Blink and you miss something on here! And who was responsible for the Twat? Has that also gone into a black hole?

I'm afraid it was my twat, and I called some poor soul by the name, cant remember who Still they must have been otherwise I would'nt have said it

I see. The implication being that the person concerned was useless and served no useful function. The trouble is, FBG, a twat is a derogatory term for the female genitalia and an acronym for "The Woman's Awesome Thing". Now, I don't know about you, but I have always felt the female genitalia serve a very useful function. So, to call someone a twat is almost a compliment. The same goes for a "see you next Tuesday". It is very useful, on occasion. I find it more satisfying to dub someone a SPLOT. What is a Splot I hear you ask? You meet lots of them in your journeys about our metropolis.... they are the ones usually driving a small (foreign) customised hatchback with a very large exhaust pipe and making more noise than is seemly. A Splot ~ for me ~ stands for Small Penis Lots Of Testosterone and stands for something that is completely and utterly useless! So, next time SPLOT not TWAT?!

You are incorrect to say that everyone can verbally express an opinion in public, some people find that difficult.

do you, is that why you post here,

In some ways.

.



Yes, I agree with you that some people DO find it difficult and I think my last posting said that I stood to be corrected.

I find public speaking of any kind a complete nightmare. I had to really grit my teeth to read a lesson at my Godson's christening, and that was among family and friends.

On here, even though I am anonymous, I still feel that if I were to try and vocalise an opinion, I would be shot down in flames by others. I don't have a fear of confrontation in real life; I wouldn't have any problem standing in a pub discussing things with my mates, or fighting my corner with authority, so why do I have a problem on here? I have the same insecurities as Easylife and think it is easier, and less stressful, to take a back seat and enjoy myself on the threads that don't arouse confrontation. I don't know why it is and it's something I find really difficult to deal with (on here). Sometimes I am biting my tongue not to come back with what I really want to say, but I don't. Maybe because this forum is a form of relaxation for me ~ and I don't want confrontation in my "off" time ~ I just want to have a chuckle and smile. The only point I was trying to make was that I think people do alter their personality on here, for various reasons and subconsciously, not least because they are intimidated by others whom they feel, rightly or wrongly, are better "educated"/"qualified"/"vocal"/"literate" or whatever. Let's face it, if you are the kid in the playground who is constantly picked on by someone who tells you time, after time, that you are wrong or your opinion is worthless, valueless, based on ignorance, and he speaks louder than you and drowns you out the whole time... you begin to believe it, don't you? So, what do you do... go to the quiet corner, away from the bullies, where you can knit. sew, play conkers, invent things in your head, write poetry or just have a laugh with like-minded people.

However, I stand by my original statement that anyone can express an opinion in public - it is how they muster the courage to deal with the delivery and reception that is important to them.

Posts deleted and thread closed due to childish behaviour. Will be reopened when people grow up

Thread reopened

I know some posters on other fora I use have about 3-4 different personas. Very weird indeed!

i am 100% myself when i post

Yeah me too. Possibly a little too honest for my own good sometimes.

I wear my heart on my sleeve.

Im generally more laid back on the computer,

I'm really different on the internet, in reality I'm very much a joker and quite a debater. Online, I hardly ever get into arguements, and very quickly get bored with them when I do. Life too short to spend time arguing with internet personas, it's different if you know the real person face to face

I once got an absolute roasting on a certain forum. My crime.....I posted in a Star Trek thread that Star Trek wasn't real.
Anyone would think I'd hit a puppy on national TV. Flame grilled whopper doesn't begin to describe what they made of me.
Yeah, ok I just laughed at them. I lost my virginity at 17, I bet they.....well, you know

Am quieter online than irl

Iam me would find it hard not to be .

I must say in real life i am more of a thinker but i cant share that on line because people always take it the wrong way.......

I think it can actually take a bit of practice being yourself online. That probably sounds silly but when i first started posting on forums, i was a bit different. It wasnt that i was being someone else or pretending to be somethign i wasnt, but i'd never had to present myself in word form before, other than writing letters, which took alot of time and thought before hand

Now i'm so used to it that i just type whats in my head almost without thinking

Ditto.

I used to play "even handed" and often made sure I never said anything politically outrageous. Now I just type and let it hit the fan.

Off line ime aggressive and argumentative, in fact i can occasional be out right offensive, but on line, ime much more subdued and chilled out.

It's like you're two different people...............

pmsl.........

I'd say my persona -certainly as regards the serious topics- is taking a somewhat darker route.

I'm still a radical and active atheist and always will be, peeps will just have to get used to that.

hmmm online and offline.... pretty much the same... cept online you can't feel the pain of my wrath

*is getting worried*

haha, I'm not that bad. I'm just very argumentative and I like to get my point across... oh and it's NEVER my fault

I've got you pegged as "bubbly"....with an option on "real trouble sooner or later"

Could I ever be trouble... someone as sweet as me

Why do I just not believe that statement?

I think I'm much the same on here as in real life....very quiet, agreeable almost nun like