Online vs. Real Life

[bisexplicit]

unknowncyber says "hello sexy, you sound hot. "
unknowncyber says "do you cyber? A S L?"
sexyjenn says "Hello"
sexyjenn says "I'm from...."
unknowncyber says "hello sexy, you sound hot. "
unknowncyber says "do you cyber? ASL?"
sexyjenn says "australia"
unknowncyber says "hello sexy, you sound hot. "
unknowncyber says "do you cyber? ASL?"

*giggles* I swear to god that I have had conversations that are almost exactly like that.

 

[scottboa]

I'm quite shy offline which is probably my biggest weakness in terms of dating or finding one.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Hi just toying around and thought I'd read your thread..

Very cool topic

 

[Eilan]

I do feel a certain protection that isn't possible offline, if that makes sense?

It's amazing to think that you can insult someone half a world away and because of the lack of physical proximity, you don't have to worry about getting your ass kicked!

Okay, I'm kidding. Well, sort of.

Actually, I think it makes perfect sense. There's something safe about contact with others that isn't face-to-face (assuming, of course, that no webcams are involved).

I mentioned when I started this thread that I was shy when I was younger, and I'm not particularly outgoing now, though I'm MUCH better than I used to be. Back in 2001, my husband and I met online through Yahoo! Personals. I was the one who responded to his ad, and that's pretty much out of character for me. I'd have never approached him IRL, but I didn't think twice about approaching him online. I think that I had the idea that an online flirtation/relationship would be safer; if he would have rejected me, it would have been easier to save face because the rejection wouldn't have been a public one.

 

[silverwhisper]

it's amazing to think that you can insult someone half a world away and because of the lack of physical proximity, you don't have to worry about getting your ass kicked

thinking of the twerpster?

ed

 

[Eilan]

thinking of the twerpster?

ed

I'm sure he gets his ass kicked often enough in real life. If it makes him feel better to play Da Man on here, he's welcome to do so. The comic relief has to come from somewhere!

 

[silverwhisper]

you know what i love about this place, even beyond the stimulation? the humor. :>

ed

 

[Lynxie]

There really aren't any differences between my online personality and that of my real-life self. I have a pretty bad case of social anxiety, but when the conversation or company is right, I'm fine. Likewise, on Lit I tend to avoid the party atmosphere of the GB and post mainly in threads in which I'm comfortable and feel as though I can contribute something.

I don't pretend to be something I'm not. If you ask me a question, you'll get the truth. I don't use Lit as a confidence-booster, but rather as an outlet where I can be brutally honest about myself and not worry about any real reprocussions.

 

[Eilan]

Maybe it's just my tendency to overthink things, but I've been thinking about the title of this thread. Now I'm paranoid that "Online vs. Real Life" might somehow imply that our online interactions aren't "real," when they are. It's just a different facet of reality.

I don't intend to get philosophical about this. Everyone who's responded seems to know what I meant, anyway.

 

[silverwhisper]

eilan, relax. :>

ed

 

[rcuhljr]

It's every bit as real as a letter you write, a phone call, or a heart to heart chat, you merely converse through different mediums. People can deceive and run charades in any medium, the internet simply makes it easier for some lies to exist.

 

[Eilan]

eilan, relax. :>

ed

I think I'm okay now. I'll just try not to use my brain too much.

 

[silverwhisper]

head on over to the GB: that should help.

ed

 

[wetindigo]

I'm actually quite shy.

 

[jacuzzigal]

This is a great topic, E. Thanks for bringing it up. One of my online friends was telling me not too long ago that who he is online and who he is in real life are very different. I guess for some people there is a freedom in having/creating an online persona - being able to be what you can't or aren't comfortable or aren't sure you want to be in real life. That is fine for them and I don't have a problem with it. I just can't relate to it and it doesn't really appeal to me. Maybe it's because I don't know how to be anything other than myself, and I tend to be pretty reality based and pragmatic (maybe sometimes too much) to get into fantasies or personas too much. Plus it's hard to keep track of a persona - all those details! It's hard enough to keep track of my own life.

What you read here is who I am. It's all I know to be. And I've found it makes my connections to the people here much more real and meaningful.

 

[greenffingers]

This is a great topic, E. Thanks for bringing it up. One of my online friends was telling me not too long ago that who he is online and who he is in real life are very different. I guess for some people there is a freedom in having/creating an online persona - being able to be what you can't or aren't comfortable or aren't sure you want to be in real life. That is fine for them and I don't have a problem with it. I just can't relate to it and it doesn't really appeal to me. Maybe it's because I don't know how to be anything other than myself, and I tend to be pretty reality based and pragmatic (maybe sometimes too much) to get into fantasies or personas too much. Plus it's hard to keep track of a persona - all those details! It's hard enough to keep track of my own life.

What you read here is who I am. It's all I know to be. And I've found it makes my connections to the people here much more real and meaningful.

I think inevitably, except for accomplished lairs (do we have any politicians in here) who you are really always comes out. I just find a certain release or freedom online, allowing me to chat about some things which I'd find more awkward offline. Though the main benefit of online is the whole world of people, not just those in physical proximity, which I love, I really enjoy chatting to folk from all round the world and online makes that possible.

 

[Quoll]

What you see is what you get, as far as my thoughts and feelings go.
I am however quite shy around people I don`t know well, and even though I may have an opinion I am more likely to keep it to myself, rather than cause any conflict.
Around people I know well, they probably wish they didn`t know me so well.
My friends have learnt to think very carefully before they speak, as I have an incurable tendency to see every possible meaning in their words and an inability not to voice those thoughts.
Online I guess I am able to voice those opinions and not worry too much about conflict, although a litle troll feeding can be fun.
I also tend to procrastinate, reading threads, hitting the reply button and then changing my mind, only to come back in a day or so and post.

 

[bertrande]

I think that if anyone who knew me could see what I posted they would tell you that I am the same IRL as on lit.
Cheeky, flirtatious, humorous, sarcastic, quick to anger about stuff that puts people down, emotional, sensitive, adventurous, sexual.

Perhaps my SO will stumble across this thread and he give his opinion about whether I am the same or not.

 

[shlock]

I have my suspicions...

I think that if anyone who knew me could see what I posted they would tell you that I am the same IRL as on lit.
Cheeky, flirtatious, humorous, sarcastic, quick to anger about stuff that puts people down, emotional, sensitive, adventurous, sexual.

Perhaps my SO will stumble across this thread and he give his opinion about whether I am the same or not.

I'm guessing you might be real similar to your "Literotica" you that I've met!

 

[Munachi]

no idea if i have an "online personality" here yet, being pretty new... on other boards that i post on for a longer time already, and from where i met people irl, i was told that i am quite similar to my online personality... though i think i am shyer irl (as most people) - but then for some reason i am not so very shy when meeting complete strangers i know from an internet forum, it seems...

 

[bertrande]

I'm guessing you might be real similar to your "Literotica" you that I've met!

I am, I see no reason to be any different than I really am.

 

[bisexplicit]

Just realized that I never actually answered the question...
I'm pretty much the same; it would be way too much work to pretend to be someone different. The only true difference I can think of is I don't go through the whole shy thing at the beginning...so, in a way its /more/ like the real me then if you just randomly met me somewhere once.
Hmm, I think other peoples explanations were more eloquent.

 

[greenffingers]

Just realized that I never actually answered the question...
I'm pretty much the same; it would be way too much work to pretend to be someone different. The only true difference I can think of is I don't go through the whole shy thing at the beginning...so, in a way its /more/ like the real me then if you just randomly met me somewhere once.
Hmm, I think other peoples explanations were more eloquent.

But maybe you have the most eloquent AV?

 

[bisexplicit]

But maybe you have the most eloquent AV?

You have an interesting idea of eloquent.