The Online Persona

[Allegro]

Heh, sorry for the apparent "longness" of the thread. It's kind of hard to not elaborate on some things, but I tried my best.

Seeing as we are all actively in the online environment, I thought I would ask you guys this question:

How do we define our interactions between meeting people online and in the flesh?

The way I see it, knowing a person through text (e-mail, chats, message boards) is a much more 'romantic' way of interaction than the common in-person meeting. Our communication here with one another is through our writing and how we perceive others is through what and how we type our thoughts on the computer screen. But if you applied those same online discussions in-person, it will not feel the same way. Since at that point, we are able to observe more than just text. We actually see the person as a whole and use more of our physical body to interact with him\her (such as talking and maybe a handshake), rather than relying on technology to do so (such as the keyboard\monitor\modem).

It's even possible to develop a seperate, 'online' personality, based upon our writing style and avatar (as temporary as they might be sometimes). Thus, a sense of fantasy and withdrawal from the real world is invoked in the online environment. Our interactions with a person through their screen name might as well be the same as meeting a famous person - they seem distant from us, yet are easily accessible through the world we perceive outside of reality.

In fact, I can usually see the person I have met in real life in a much different light when I visit their Xanga or blog. My interaction with the "online version" of the person is more romanticized, even though I realize it's still the same person I see everyday in the flesh. Maybe they are able to express themselves better when they are online, or if it's because the online environment allows me to interact with them much differently than in the real world. Either way, the feeling for the same person is never really consistent between the two mediums (online and reality).

Anyways, that's my two cents on this and you are free to disagree on those thoughts. I am looking forward to seeing what all of your thoughts on the subject, as I myself have always been fascinated by this phenomenon.

[Joshua Christopher]

I really don't think I'm very different online. I type the way I'd speak, and I say what would come to my mind in regular speech.

[Allegro]

That may be true, but our perceptions of how we see the same person online might be different.

[Anti-me]

It's sorta different in that we can think through all that we say, I find the same thing talking online in chat programs. It eliminates the need of a quick wit, necessarily or a smooth delivery, or even timing. All that you communicate is the words themselves.

[Nate]

It's sorta different in that we can think through all that we say, I find the same thing talking online in chat programs. It eliminates the need of a quick wit, necessarily or a smooth delivery, or even timing. All that you communicate is the words themselves.

Heh...actually...I'm apparently a lot less witty in person than I am online.

[chimera189]

I find myself no diffrent online than offline, doent do much, and usually in the background

[Lynx]

i think online theres more room for interpretation. you get to fill in the intonations and everything yourself, where in real life the other person does that. that way if you want to "romanticize" things you can

[Warrior4Christ]

Heh...actually...I'm apparently a lot less witty in person than I am online.

You ruin the magic of the moment for everyone when you say things like that! You're supposed to pretend you're just as funny in real life!

I think I agree with you in general, Allegro. But I think I'd have to disagree with Anti-me; I think quick wit and timing is just as necessary in online chat (more so with many people).

When online, the only communication you have is visual text/smilies (except for the occasional voice post ), but in real life, you have audible communication and visual body language. Some things only work well in a visual written form, eg. would all look rather silly if you did the equivalent in real life. Also writing things like "*does some stuff*" works better in an online environment because people are already using their imaginations to build up people's personalities.

[bigsleepj]

I'm a lot less witty in real life. And I'm less outspoken in my sarcasm. But I'm very much the same in personality as on-line as off.

[Jaltus-bot]

I'm probably cooler online. I'm a quiet semi-extrovert in person.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Off-line I'm more random and can be humourous. On the flip side I also sometimes have a quick temper.

[Jaltus-bot]

I'm more bubbly and demanding of hugs offline. Hugs make the world a better place, you know.

[TurkishMonky]

As TallHobbit might tell you, i'm random and hyper off line and on, and i don't mind people saying so.

However, the one aspect of online vs off is that people usually associate your looks with your avitar, instead of with how you really look. I know that the first time i went to the post-your-picture thread i was like, whoh! scribs isn't an elderly fellow?!?!?!

[Puritan]

It is interesting to think about the online social structure. I have a friend who tends to not call people on the phone (including his Mother, to my dismay) and is generally an introvert. However, he chats with people all the time (he in fact prefers to chat with his Mother rather than call her) and is heavily involved in World of Warcraft. I think this is pretty typical for some people who get involved in online communications and many people change who they are drastically when they get online. They become more extroverted online and perhaps more socially apt than usual.

As for myself, I haven't developed an alternate online persona and hope I never do. Yes, in real life I have posted home-made propaganda posters around my house and played the old Soviet national anthem at one of the meals people in my house have together. I write in the same way that I talk, and you can probably guess I ramble on a good bit when I talk to people. I do have the time to think about what I say a bit so my online responses are a little more thought out than they sometimes are in conversation, but otherwise I don't really change.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I tend to be more open with my emotions over the internet than in real life.

[Tarnish]

In real life, I am really...
...A MAN!!

Just kidding! ^^;;

I'm funnier in real life than I am on the internet (I'd have to be!), and way more introverted. Actually, I'm pretty sarcastic and not-fun-to-be-around IRL.

[EricTheFred]

Mostly, I take time and edit my statements better online. I spend time to think about what I am going to say. So, I discuss things in the way I wish I could discuss them in person.

Business associates whom I've corresponded with by email first are usually surprised to hear a drawling Texan when they phone or meet me. I've been told more than once "I thought you would be British or something."

[Kaligraphic]

I intermittently use British spelling online. I have a significantly wider selection of intermittent accents in person.

[Destroyer2000]

Hm...I'm a bit more open online, I would think. In public I am usually on guard against others, and some perceive me as paranoid, though I'm not. I can express myself easier through text most of the time, and thus I am more open online.

[mitsuki lover]

[quote="Orenji"]In real life, I am really...
...A MAN!!

Just kidding! ^^]


And I am actually in real life Mitsuki Rara!
Joking.
But wouldn't it be funny if someone actually had the name of one of your favorite anime characters in real life?...off topic there.

Ok,in real life I am pretty introverted and don't do as much elbow bending.

[Aka-chan]

You don't know me at all. Not that I'm fake online, I just feel that only a very shallow bit of me comes across electronically. I love actually being with people.

[Allegro]

It is interesting to think about the online social structure. I have a friend who tends to not call people on the phone (including his Mother, to my dismay) and is generally an introvert. However, he chats with people all the time (he in fact prefers to chat with his Mother rather than call her) and is heavily involved in World of Warcraft. I think this is pretty typical for some people who get involved in online communications and many people change who they are drastically when they get online. They become more extroverted online and perhaps more socially apt than usual.

True. Some people may be more comfortable communicating in one way than in another. Which is why I usually prefer people to contact me via e-mail rather than phone, simply because I can communicate my ideas much clearly when I type.

One point that I think many of you missed in my initial posting was the fact that we are able to relate to other people in much deeper sense when online. The fact that everyone is together, regardless of our actual 'physical' location, feels like we can easily connect with the person. Just like with what Lynx suggested, we also have more room to interpret the message and the person who wrote it, which is almost like reading a book where we have our own, personafied image of the person speaking in our own mind.

[ShiroiHikari]

I'm much quieter and much more shy in real life. Online, I'll say what I think faster than I will in person. When I'm actually with people, I worry too much about my appearance, my voice, etc. I'd much rather meet someone on the internet first.

Honestly, my online persona isn't that much different than my offline persona. Online, I talk and act like I do in real life when I feel comfortable with someone.