Internet you vs. real life you
 

When you talk on forums/IMs/chatrooms, do you behave and say the same things that you would in person? For myself, I typically debate stuff more often than I would in real life. I think a product of forums/online conversation is that I take a completely logical approach to conversation most of the time, which I don't do very often in real life (I joke around 90% of the time in real life). Anyone else notice a difference between their online and real-life persona?

Internet me: I'm not a very nice person. I tend to be polite until someone or something offends me, at which case I make it clear to them that they're brainless turds. Also, I enjoy arguing online a lot more than I do in reality.

Real life me: I'm quiet and I keep to myself. Unless I'm with friends, in which case I make a lot of noise and make people laugh in the process.

I am the exact same in real life as I am on the internet. I don't think I have what it takes to have an alternate internet persona. I'd lose track of what I was supposed to be, I think.

So Yama, you can still verbally spout all the Eastern Asian trivia without the aid of any wikis or encyclopedia's off your head. Impressive.

I tend to speak before I think, and it's kinda the same on message boards. The only difference here is that I read what I've said over before posting incase I made a spelling mistake or said something stupid. The former is usually unavoidable, regardless of proofreading.

Any difference in the way I conduct myself online/offline is the same difference used when I'm kicking back privately or conducting serious business publicly. So overall no real difference in personality. Just depends on the situation.

I bet I come off as more of an arrogant prick in person though. Due to the facial expressions and tone of voice I use.

I'm much more confrontational online. Maybe it's "hiding behind a nickname", maybe it's just the fact that I try my best not to debate religion or politics with people I know in real life.

I'm very laid back and easy going in person as compared to here on the board. A lot of times I use GFF as a place to vent and let out aspects of my personality that would get me into trouble in person. You'll notice, if anybody ever pm's me, my "real life" self manifiests.

I'm quite shy and quiet in real life. I seem to "talk" more when I'm online. I'm usualy just pent up inside myself in real life that I don't normaly speek my mind...on the internet however I can. Usualy I just sit quietly and take in stuff, usualy stay out of debates unless I have something crusual to say....

I also normaly reply with nothing but grunts, 'yeahs', 'yeses', 'sures', 'okays', and so on. On the internet I don't do that that offen. Though there's some times that when I'm on IM chatting with a friend....I do do that....needless to say it ticks her off...but I don't know what else to say half the time.

All in all I'm more outspoken on the net then I am in real life...

So, what, instead of saying "The senators are great!" in every post, you can go back and say "The Senators are REALLY great!" in every post? Whoop-De-Fucking-Do.

I'm pretty much the same online as I am in real life. The only difference I can think of is that I'm much more likely to say something mildly bitchy in text, instead of just thinking it like I do in real life.

I'm a lot more animated in real life. Here on GFF I rarely say anything of importance and never really speak out, but in real life I'm loud as hell and just as obnoxious.

Online I tend to be a lot more articulate and willing to think about what I want to say than I tend to do out in the real world. Around my friends, for example, I tend to be more apt to swear and fire off non sequitirs than I would online, where I would sound a few magnitudes more polished and poised.

Well obviously.

I post in other threads then the NHL 05-06.

I'm pretty much the same on the internet as well as in real life, except for the fact that I tend to rant more in real life. Most of these rants are absolutely random, digressive and, in every way, just stuff that would work in actual conversations rather than text. I also talk ridiculously fast.

My internet persona is totally different from how am in real life. On the internet, I'm outspoken, a bit arrogant, and at some times, a moron. I'm very shy and very quiet in real-life. However, if you start talking to me about video games or flash movies, I'll start talking.

Meh, that's all I can really think of at the moment.

Sometimes I can be just like my internet persona in real life, except for the moron part. :p

I'm basically the same, but I tend to be more outgoing in real life because I'm around people I know.

It's about as different as night and day. However, I guess I open up more on-line than off-line, so maybe the internet me is the real me and the off-line me is a fake me? Nah, it's somewhere in between. I have 3 different persona's because I live in 3 different worlds: real world, internet world, daydream world.

I'm more quiet in the real world, or when I do have to speak I can't think ahead of time or else I'll remain quiet and shy. I have more time to think when I'm typing up a post, so I tend to be more talkative but less funny. Daydream world is the best for my personality, but no one see's that but me.

I act about the same online as I do in real life. But the thing is, my big humor skill is puns. It REALLY doesn't work well on the internet. I pride myself on making off-cuff puns every other sentence at times (Groucho Marx is my mentor~).

Works best if I'm comfortable around the people present, of course.

I'm the same when it comes to personality, but I don't necessarily reveal much about myself until I'm either very comfortable with the person or I've known him or her for a long time. I generally type a little more formally on the forums than I might do in chat, and certainly when I speak in real life. In short, I'm the same on and offline for the most part.

I act generally the same online as I do in real life, except I'm probably a little more restrained on the internet. I seem to annoy a lot of people in real life, though not as many on the internet. It's probably because I joke around too much in real life.

That's exactly what I'm like. I try to say something, but i can't think fast enough so I end up stuttering and I just shut up afterwards.

I am very different in real life than on forums and bulliten boards and instant messengers. In real life, I'm fairly quiet and reserved, polite and respectful, a gentleman, if you will. I am very well-liked and respected in my church and in my community in general. In fact, actually work for my church. I never step out of line or do anything that would harm my reputation. As far as everybody who knows me is concerned, I'm a fine young man. I cannot think of a single person that dislikes me for any reason even in the slightest.

Online, however, it is a completely different story. I run my mouth (fingers?) and end up looking like a dumbass, as you can all attest to. Oh well.

I tend to swear less at people I don't know in real life.

In real life, I'm very quiet and shy. Online, I talk and talk and talk and talk....you get the picture.

It's like I'm a totally different person online :D The net helps me get past my shyness. Also, I don't know anyone in real life who shares any of my interests at all, which sucks.

Hmm obviously I'm different in real life. I'm usually much more louder and random when actually talking to people. But I have to be slightly demanding and short tempered to get anything done, so there ._.
When online, I'm hell of alot more laid back and quiet I suppose. On the bright side the internet is probably the only place I can actually chat about videogames and well anything I'm interested in.

Exactly the same for me. Only in real life, I'm more angsty and I usually have a sense of hate towards my community. I've had a bad elementary school life, anyhow.

But online, things are a lot better and I have a few friends on the net as compared to none IRL.

When I'm online, I try to watch what I say and add too many smilies to my posts so that I don't come off as angry or one-sided. I don't like when people take what I type in a totally wrong way :(
Although, part of "my hidden self" saps out when I do make the occassionally self-indulgent stupid post.
For the most part, I'll be shy in real life and online.

I'm more open online about my opinions. There are multiple reasons for this. Less ignorant morons can find their way onto a message board then there are that can find their way into the store I work at for one. Another is that if someone I've never met in real life gets mad, disturbed, or offended by something I said and never wants to talk to me again, it doesn't really matter that much.

For the people that have distinct internet vs irl personalities, is this deliberate or innate?

How I act depends mostly on my mood + context of the situation, regardless of whether or not it’s the internet or real life. The only difference would be how I express what I’m trying to express. For example, rarely in real life will I say a word like “innate” mostly because the average person I’m surrounded by wouldn’t know what the hell I’m talking about.

I believe I’m more articulate online –it probably boils down to having more time to think things through. I would say I’m still fairly quiet and careful with what I say, and I don’t keep too many close associations online or off.

Same here. People who know me in real life know I'm talkative. Sometimes I don't even think before I talk. Sometimes it'll come out harsh, but I think it's the most honest answer I can give them. I don't want to be too raw with my words when I type things down because typed-up words can't completely tell you whether I'm serious or not. without an emoticon, it looks like i'm inflexible. When it comes down to my online persona, i'm sedate. =(

I'm considerably more reserved online, mainly because I doubt I can get away with voicing my complete opinion all the time in person. For the sake of tact and diplomacy - erring far too heavily on the side of caution for my own liking, really - I bite my tongue and keep my mouth shut around most people. I have to get along with the people I know in RL, and nitpicking isn't very condusive to that.

There is one major difference for me. I am much more irreverent and silly in person. The less I know somebody, the more low key I am about it. But my close friends know how much of a goof I really am. In text I become a little dry. You can't work with pacing or tone of voice or anything involving physicality. So instead I let my more careful, respectful nature dominate.

With me it's this strange sensation:
like when you are in real life, sometimes missing admirable qualities, feeling like wearing masks, and not being your true self or speaking out.

but then when being online, you may be your "true" self and try to have those admirable qualities imprinted in words expressing significant thoughts, but still you have an assured mask that will hide your true identity since nobody will ever see who you really are.

Anyway, that was off topic...

I'm the same reserved identity whenever online or not. However, I tend to philosophize more when I'm writing rather than speaking. It gets complicated when you have many thoughts in your head and you want to express them all at the same time in this perfect sense no one will understand. And still when you try to write them, it takes many editing to try to add some sense to it.

I'm more outspoken on forums.

I'm more introverted and softspoken in real life and I tend to keep to myself.

I'm the same person in internet, but It would be different story if I use another nickname. Basically I'm open minded, and people call me warm, dont know about that in here though.

Oh yeah, I heard it's dangerous if we split our personality in internet and the real life.

I talk more crap in real life. I talk less in forums, because I get flamed more often if I do.

The best way I could describe it is that I'm more like Infernal Monkey in real life, yet I try to be a little more coherent on the internet.

I'm much more outspoken about my opinions on the internet. It seems like whenever I try to talk to someone in real life they don't understand what I mean or they make assumptions that twist my words around; and I usually end up regretting having said anything in first place.

One thing that's great about the internet is that I can identify with many more people. Offline, no such luck unless the person is significantly older than I am (then again, that may also be the case online and I just don't know it xD).

Honestly probably about the same on the internet as I am in RL. In others words extremely random....and goofy. <3

To some people I am easier to understand on the intarweb for some reason (explaining things and ect) but the attitude is generally the same along with the rather bad language.

Online, I'm a lot more outspoken and vulgar than in RL :). I'm also more of an asshole than in RL. Actually in RL I'm pretty much not an asshole at all. Not sure where that part of me comes from when I'm online =/.

I'm definitely more social. In RL I avoid people like the plaugue. I really miss my pet rat while I'm at college :(. I'd have a cat but as I still live @ home and my mother is allergic, that ain't happening *cry*.

I seem to be the opposite of most people in this thread. In Real Life, i'm talkitive, outgoing, a born performer (so i've been told anyways), and such, but on the internet, i'm much more reserved, and i don't say nearly as much.

Same as most people.. i 'speak' better online than real life. :(

How I am on the Internet and how I am in real life are the same. The only thing I tend to do differently in real life than on here is that I'm a lot more vocal when someone has done something to me.

I become more comfortable talking about my personal feelings online, 'cause I usually have trouble telling my friend how I feel about certain things.

Online, I'm funny. I'm intelligent. I'm charming. I can hold up an argument with someone for quite a long time. I can express myself much more clearly in writing than in person. In real life I'm one of the biggest ditzes you'll ever meet. I'm always flustered, I say a lot of dumb things, and I'm just generally odd, I guess.

I have a dreadful fear of conversations getting awkward because, apparently, I don't really know how to talk to people. I get nervous that no matter what I say I'll still come off sounding strange or stupid. I also have trouble concealing my immediate reactions to things, so people always know when I'm shocked, angry, relieved, etc. The Internet is kind of like a protective shield that I can hide behind that comes fully equipped with an emergency escape route ("sorry, I got kicked off!" and other numerous excuses at my disposal) that I know is always there if I need it. On the Internet I also, obviously, have more time to think about what I want to say. So I'm much more relaxed, and thus able to be myself.

Real Life: I'm usually shy when it comes to meeting new people but I try my best to make a good impression. Meeting new people is a bit scary to me, especially people who I have met without any of the other friends introducing them first.

Internet Life: A tad bit more sarcastic sometimes when chatting, but that's probably because I can identify text quicker with some comment which I use to be funny over the Internet. I try not to be an annoying Internet friend when meeting new people over the net.

Fuck it. Stop this thread right now. This post wins.

RL me: I'm actually funny and random around all my friends. :) But around my family I'm very quiet and keep to myself as theres a lot of backstory and drama where that is concerned.

net me: It takes me a while to get involved and try and fit into a community (such as here) but once I do I really just kinda let my inhibitions go and talk and do a lot of things. I'm not really argumentative by nature either way so I usually tend to avoid too much confrontation unless someone really hits my no button. Work wise though - since I do professional stuff - I'm pretty open, but know when not to mix business with pleasure. And thats about it.

RL: Funny, smart, scary and sometimes totally random, known by my schools administration as the 'Nutorious Mr. Wilson' and can be the best friend you ever had or the worste enemy you will ever fear. Single, and surrounded by friends

IN: Smart, Frightning and sometimes hard to understand. Takes a while to get used to me and sometimes can be seen as an asshole at first. Takes time to get to know me, just usually talks about what i am interested in. Posts rarely, but when i do it is benificial and insightful and most of the time worth reading. Never posts about a topic unless knows about all the facts. Sometimes bad grammer.

I tend to be more logical and organized when I correspond through IMs or forums. In real life, I am more reserved though not exactly shy.

Outside my internet persona, I'm sarcastic, but try to be funny and make light of situations. On the internet, I'm a little more serious, but I still try to retain a cerrtain degree of humor. I guess without body language and changes of tone in voice, the internet turns "talk" into discussion.

Internet Me: Cocky, Trys to be informative. Will act like a bitch if I feel I must. Polite, unless you piss me off.

Real Life Me: Cocky, Trys to be informative. Will act like a bitch if I feel I must. Polite, unless you piss me off.

Seriously, There's no difference for either, I'm either cocky towards whatever I excell at and I try to be informative. And no I'm not generally bitching at people just If I feel I must I will. I am polite just If you piss me off I piss you off.

Eh, I'm about the same on and offline. In real life I'm sarcastic and have a tendency to put swear words in completely random phrases. I find it hard to be sarcastic online since people will end up eventually twisting your words and making you sound different than what you intended.

I am fake everywhere...in life and internet

Real me = ponders possibilities and angles on everything, talks things through, negotiates, engages in diplomacy, leaves things open-ended most of the time

Internet me = thinks at least 2 seconds before hitting "submit" button...

HAHAHAHAHAA, i have had all too much experience with this. Apparently my personality does change over IM's because my friends made a nick name for me for that personality. Apparently i become a real asshole and really pushy, but know that i know this i have been trying to curb the behavior, so far my "on-line" personna has not shown up :)

The internet me is generally shy. Most of the time I speak in my mother tongue (Cantonese) so I'm not that confident in English (especially when I'm in a forum).

I find I'm a lot like you, but I'm also very shy like in RL.

I'm on Internet as I am on real life.

I think the main difference with me, is I'm more out-going and I'll ask more questions then I would in person. Other then that I try to stay as real as possible online and off.

The real me and the interent me used to be quite different. On the interent i used to be alot more outgoing and in real life i was very shy and reserved. Now my real life has rubbed off on my internet self. What you see of me on here is what i'm really like. I can still be a little more outgoing on the internet than in real life but not often

On the intrnet it is more about me being a one woman army. I stick up for myself more and don't really care what people think or say about me, as long as I come out on top in the end.

The real me is one of those "too nice" types who gets walked all over. that's the problem with being nice. People take it for granted and you get shat on daily. I always put everyone before myself. The thing is, lately I have seen the internet me make a cameo in real life lol.

I have exactly the same reactions to things online as in real life but I feel that something about the internet makes you more hopeful that your ideas will get out to the masses. In a forum like GFF, you hope that most likely a couple of people will read the stuff you write and maybe actually care. Maybe it's just wishful thinking...

RL: I'm an extreme clutz which is something you can't see in the net. More shy to an extent though I won't hesistate to talk about political stuff and whatever.

IL: Well kinda a bit more logical and more responsive to some things. But still not a social "butterfly".

I'd like to say that I'm a very similar person both online and offline. However, if I were to say this, I could probably be rightly accused of lying. xD

In reality, I hardly have anything worthwhile to contribute to a conversation. If I putforward anything at all, it's generally a half-baked opinion expressed incoherently. Generally, however, it's nothing at all.
I can be very shy at times, and if I don't make a conscious effort to avoid doing so, I will become very embarrassed about the most negligible of absolutely insignificant nothings.

Online, I probably come across as someone who's more composed. My written "speech" is generally better than my spoken speech. I'm not quite sure why this might be - perhaps it's just the way my mind works (you have more time to structure your replies online, for example).
I might even appear as someone who has a clue.
Since I type quite fast, it often looks like I respond readily, and am interested in the conversation.

I guess I hate both manifestations of myself though, so that's one thing they both undoubtedly have in common.

my girlfriend that i met online then moved in with a year later...

idk really. irl i keep to my self more, i avoid people i dont know, im just shy. ( and annoying it seems >< )

online, im much more outgoing.