so much cooler online

[::mothpaw::]

So I was wondering. I know I'm different online than I am in person, and I was wondering if other people were, and if so, how?

I guess everyone has to be to some extent, because how many people here would go and introduce themselves to an entire group of new people out of the blue? I certainly wouldn't, much less post my writing (which I'm very protective of irl; usually only my sister Lauren reads them) within a few days of knowing them.

So, respond if you wanna. I'm pretty curious about this. :)

[rowanstreak - *]

For a long while, I thought I was the only one who felt this way. I'm not very different online than I am in real life, but I do feel like its easier to communicate with someone that I don't personally know or have yet to really get to know on a personal level. Odd, yes, but it's true.

I'm very, very, very, shy in real life. On a site with a Cbox, I tend to stay out of it unless I'm directly drawn into the conversation. I try to talk but sort of... fizzle out, haha. A lot of people don't know that I write, at all. A lot of my real life friends don't even know I read Warrior Cats or Roleplay because I don't want to be known as that geek, or 'nobody', as that's the sort of hip word for a person that doesn't "conform" to school and teen cultures around here.

Online, I'm a lot more hmm... adventurous? I'm always open to talking to a new person, trying out a new site, playing some new game or something like that. But for real? Pshhh, I'm running for hills. It takes a lot to get me open in real life as well. For example, right now, I'm just talking away. I'm also a... "bad kid", xD, and I curse like a sailor. But you wouldn't see that here. I'm actually suspended today (the reason I'm online early) for fighting someone yesterday. >>

Ehh, but yeah. Different. Different. Different.

This almost makes me want to put up a 'face behind the screen' type thread.

[::mothpaw::]

Oh wow. (still Moth lol). I know what you mean about the not-wanting-to-be-considered-a-geek thing...my friends don't know I roleplay...or like Warriors...or Pokemon...or Codex Alera...

I tend to curse more online than in real life actually. xD

Maybe it's cause all we see is words on a screen and so it seems less like we're talking to actual people?

[::mothpaw::]

Oh and that sucks about getting suspended. Gotta love them zero-tolerance policies. -_-

[thistlestorm - *]

Omg, Pokemon. Seee. I play the games, like, faithfully. I don't know any of my friends that do and are unashamedly open about it. xD Like how I bought my DS to school just to rave about how quick I could get through the Unova Elite 4 second try with a party of four. Ffff. /ramble

But yeahh. I have to agree with the words on a screen part. I agree because, I have friends from another site I use to be on and they wanted to Skype or Oovoo and I'm like. "Wut no. My voice? My faace?" Thumbs down, mang. (=__=)p

Or maybe its just because I find that some people, online, are so much easier to approach and seem more... understanding? Talking to others with similar interests does make conversation a hell of a lot easier, y'know? I know we've all had that awkward phase where you introduce yourself to someone and your kinda like... "what do we talk about now...?"

As for the suspension, there's only so much a girl can take before snapping. Although the guy that started it, he was a butthead. I stood up for womankind. #proud.

[cricketleap.]

I'm a lot different online =/ At school I'm shy when not around friends or family. But when I am around them, usually I'm loud and kinda annoying to some. Although the past week I've been trying to change my appearance. It doesn't seem to be working around my friends. I want to look not as arrogant and obnoxious as my family and friends can be. I want to be more mature after last weekend when my sister said I didn't act like a 13-year old should. I'm thinking about telling my friends that I don't want to be so... loud?

On websites... I think I'm more approachable? I think I seem kinder unless people are rude to me first. Haha. That's how I am. Nice to you if you're nice to me, rude to you if you're rude to me. I'm more defensive on proboards, especially sites I made. I guess you could call me defensive? I don't know. I'm also not as shy online, and I love talking in c-boxes when sites have them.

[::mothpaw::]

@rowan/Thistle/I should probably look for your cbox name but trying to type: I don't play Pokemon faithfully--I'm broke most of the time--but I <3 the MD games. And there are a lot worse things than standing up for yourself.

(ZTPs get on my nerves because if a guy grabs my butt and makes sexual comments/gestures in the hall and I turn around and smack him in sight of a teacher, I will be suspended. Which pisses me off. /rant)

Maybe online we actually TRY to be nice and make a good impression, and have time to decide what/how we want to say things, as opposed to spur-of-the-moment thoughts like when we talk in real life? I don't know. Also it's a lot easier to talk about stuff you fangirl over and use 'net slang when you're, yanno, on the net, where people can be relied on to know what you talk about when you mention Mary-Sues and fanfiction (and sometimes tropes).

@cricket: I didn't know you were thirteen, actually. O.O Good luck with that. I know from experience (-shot- for being presumptuous despite only being 15) that it's kinda hard to change how you act around them 'cause they expect you to act the same. So yeah...

[starlingpaw.]

Yeah, I'm 13 x3 A lot of people were surprised when I told them that. I'll be 14 years old in less than a month though! I'm not really excited for my birthday though. The people I hang around with are more popular than me, but one of them is not as popular as the other =/ I'm such a loner lol

[Harmonypaw]

Nah you guys aren't alone. It's a proven fact that people are more open when they can't see peoples faces or can't be seen. (Proven in my own studies) that makes me sound all official and junk. Anyways. I have been rping for like let's see...at LEAST 8 years...since I was in highschool...(that makes me sound creepy) anyways only very few of my friends know because I chose to keep that side of me a secret. It's a different relationship with people online than it is with people in real life... I think it's sad personally that people are so closed off irl, but that's what our culture has demanded... it's a whole different world online. period. That's my opinion. =D

[[Ashpaw]]

Conclusion: Most people in the internet are loners/don't have much social life/considered "losers" by people/keep online life a secret/aren't much open irl/shy/don't have many friends/don't have any other way to waste time/etc.

*shot*

I'm such a pessimist ;-;

EDIT: Yay 100th post