Alter Egos Online:

[JoeC]

...we are normal; even though we dont act it most of the time

...Matt is one of the more mature 16 yr. olds I have had the pleasure of knowing - though he seems to let loose a little online. http://www.yqnews.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif

It seems to me that people enjoy expressing an alter ego on here - and online in general.

My theory is this: We build a pattern in the way we interact with other humans until we've reinforced the nature of our interactions to the point where those around us have put us into a box of what to expect from us. We pick up on these outside definitions of who we are inwardly and are limited by such.

However, most people are a lot more than what people define them to be in their own minds. What we many times call "acting out of character" really is just a fuller expression of who they are.

Now, when someone gets online, the dynamics are such that they no longer feel those expectations and therefore no longer feel confined to others perceptions of who they are. Thus, they seem to change, but not really - for they are only showing another side of themselves.

Other thoughts?

[collegegirl]

WOW!

And leave it to you to come up with something like that. :rolleyes:

No, actually, that is a very profound insight. I feel kinda like a different person when I am online. I feel a bit freer to be, well, me. People like me more for it, and I enjoy being able to be myself without being confined to the idea of who me is by other people.

Also, because you are not being "seen" by real people, I think that people feel that they have bigger boundaries, and are going to be more open and tell their honest feelings on such things because they are not really going to be criticised face to face. People are more likely to agree with them. It is like somehow you go from real life where you are a minority, to online, where you become the majority. Strange, but that is how I feel atleast when it comes to certain things.

[blessed]

Hmm.. interesting point there Joe, but im the same way online as i am offline....im not sure why would someone want to be different, that would take up to much of my energy

[JoeC]

Oh, this is where the exciting part lies... it is not the case that some individuals are being a different person when online, but rather, they are expressing attributes of themselves are are not ordinarily expressed in a traditional setting (e.g. face to face contact).

Now the dynamics that make this possible is the really interesting part - and I think collegegirl hit on something when talking about the difference of seen and unseen communication.

So what we are really talking about is real vs. virtual communication and the dynamics surrounding that.

[Mick_Mack89]

Ooooh ooooh *raises hand* I have thought about this topic a lot. (although not always in an online setting) Joe refered to me as "mature" for my age, and then went on to say I let loose online. And I'd have to agree with him. But, not because I'm that much diferent in person, but because of the atmosphere of this place. If you notice in the main area and the intro's I'm very non-chalant, goofy, crazy, and imature (Which is something I choose to be, not that I really am). However in the more serious threads (ie magic, music, bro. branham's opinions). I tone down that personality and use one more suited to each threads individual enviroment. In real life I act very much the same way. In school, I joke around, but I'm still there to learn. At church I try to be as respectful as I can. After church I talk with my friends like I do here. But I keep the sanctuary in mind.

Another point to keep in mind is that on the internet, your only getting one language spoken to you. Words and writings can never fully explain a person's thoughts. Thoughts are too complicated for words to express.

[NeedGod]

joe, you went and quote me and you just had to do it wrong. :ranting: anyhow, i am the same online as i am with my close friends. with other people and with strangers, i am different.

[HotShot53]

I know I'm a ton more talkative online than I am in person, though I think I pretty much act the same way other than the volume. I think the main reason for me is that I have more time to think when online... I'm not good at just blurting out a responce to something, and often when in person by the time I think of the perfect responce, it's too late for it to be effective... plus I'll sometimes wonder if something that I thought of to say would be appropriate or not, and by the time I decide one way or the other it's too late anyway...

[NeedGod]

oh well, its different for me. i am more careful in person really. online, i let lose and just jabber out what is in my mind. but that will stop because you see the little red besides my name, i want it to go. its so embarrasing. i cant stand it. everytime i am online, i feel like crying when i see it. and i am the only one who has it. anyhow, i think i am beginning to put life into all you online characters and i so do want you all not to dislike me coz this has become like a second home to me. so i will be online what i am offline. or at least i will try

[Babyruth]

I agree with collegegirl. It's easier to be yourself online where no one sees you and you can say what you want without feeling stupid. I don't think I'm too different online than in person, but none of you would know that for sure except Nathanael, because he's the only one that's met me. Same for each one here. In person our society has caused us to be more reserved and hold back and put on different masks to protect themselves from rejection.

[NeedGod]

oh, the red thingy went. i will not get it again. i dont know whether that means i will not be myself or not. either way, i will not get it back. thanks people. i was so afraid of my cousin seeing it.

[Babyruth]

I admit it, I did it! I felt sorry for you and changed it!

[NeedGod]

gee, thanks, i was abit down over that. i felt so low. i dont want anyone to ever feel that way. i will never put that for anyone.

[Babyruth]

I did not notice it or realize what it was until I started reading where you were sad it was red, so I made it green!

[NeedGod]

really? oh, i thought it was so visible. i was so conscious of it.

[Babyruth]

Well, no worries now!

[NeedGod]

yeah, i guess. thanks again. it has taught me though. i will be more careful of what i write next time.

[JoeC]

In person our society has caused us to be more reserved and hold back and put on different masks to protect themselves from rejection.

Good way of putting it. I'm of the mind that, for those of us who wear these masks (which is pretty much everyone), expressing these attributes is a healthy thing. It's like exercising the different parts of your body - it's necessary to exercise them all to be a whole individual.

Now, online might not be the place where everyone finds the opportunity to express these regularly unexpressed sides of themselves. Perhaps it's only with a close friend, or with family, but I do think that if everyone needs to have those opportunities. Even Brother Branham relaxed and showed his lighter side when he was away from the crowd (just listen to some of the funny stories people tell). Was he being a different person - that is, two-faced? No. Was it healthy for him? Definitely.

[chocolateismybestfriend]

This is a difficult one, because each of us are different, some of us are able to articulate better in written words ( i know i am verse actually speaking) and yet some people for the life of them are unable to write what and how they want to verse how they would say it if you were face to face.

Yet there is also the other side to it, how we (the reader) percieves those words to be. Whether you know it or not, when you read words you attach an image to them, and you see that person in a way you thought those words were meant to represent, even though the way that person would have actually spoken them would have been entirely different.

Living in Australia, we are pretty isolated down here, i have had the pleasure of chatting to many people for years before actually meeting them.
There are similarites to how i thought they would be, yet there are differences.

Each word you write comes from SOMEWHERE within, yet it may not be a word that you would verbally express sometimes. Thats where the difference hits you.

[JoeC]

...anyhow, i am the same online as i am with my close friends...


Ba-HAH! I've found evidence to the contrary! Get a load of this quote:

...i have been accused of talking archaic english to modern fellows as i read lots of archaic books....


Now, why don't I see you talking archaic online? :think:

[JoeC]

Yet there is also the other side to it, how we (the reader) percieves those words to be. Whether you know it or not, when you read words you attach an image to them, and you see that person in a way you thought those words were meant to represent, even though the way that person would have actually spoken them would have been entirely different.


I've mentioned this before (click here (http://www.yqnews.org/forums/showpost.php?p=608&postcount=12)). I think it's a good point and it certainly is a shortcoming of written communication. We certainly should always give the author the benefit of the doubt if the message could be read two ways, one good and one bad.

[NeedGod]

Ba-HAH! I've found evidence to the contrary! Get a load of this quote:
what evidence? which of my close friends have you been talking to? is it cwebb? or my cousin mu? or maybe it is chloe. i know my best friend never posted so he must have been deleted from the system so it cant be him. where have you been snooping

Now, why don't I see you talking archaic online? :
Blow, blow, thou winter wind, Thou art so unkind, thine ear wast naught conditioned, to suckle mine honeyed words.

[JoeC]

lol... good one :)

[Mick_Mack89]

what evidence? which of my close friends have you been talking to? is it cwebb? or my cousin mu? or maybe it is chloe. i know my best friend never posted so he must have been deleted from the system so it cant be him. where have you been snooping


Blow, blow, thou winter wind, Thou art so unkind, thine ear wast naught conditioned, to suckle mine honeyed words.

My lady. Thou only dids't reply in such manner due to the devine Josiah's prompting. To wit, you didn't prove anything sis. :harhar1:

[blessed]

lol lol .....

[NeedGod]

Begone perenial fiend,
Cease to haunt mine fields.
End, painful taunting, end
afore my mellow heart yields


wow, i just came up with that and i am impressed myself. wow and double wow!!!
anyhow, what do you have to say now matt? :banana:

[AgapZoe]

Hey Es', what's with the perrenial fiends? - oh, now I understand. Just shemed thru the whole dialogue amongst you guys and oh, doesn't this topic just capture my interest! - aha!

And by the way, cuz...I have not betrayed you to anyone,let alone Joe, on this forum.

I agree with most of the responses..you are all on the right track. keep it up giving each other views on this one..I shall continue reading them and maybe respond to them when I feel my time has come. :) lol - it's just that as am replying to these posts, I am researching on kenya's socialism and how some of our own people collaborated with the colonialists to colonise their fellow person.

-does that sound like am being myself online as i am usually offline or not?

bye people.

have fun..

[NeedGod]

ha, it got him though. he didnt say anything after that. lol

[JMC_785]

Tis truest misfortune that such minds do not apply themselves to higher purport. :peep: Surely you jest, I hear you say. Alas tis true.... True that I jest or truth in jesting statement? Tis for you to decide.....

[NeedGod]

oh dear. what goes here? :peep: