Personality: Internet vs. Real Life

This question popped into my head while I was reading through the "How are you today?" thread.

We all know it's easier to be open and chat on the internet because we don't have to be face-to-face with people. Does this change the kind of personality a person has while they are on the internet? People are often more social and enthusiastic online than they normally are. Do you think internet culture has developed this kind of behavior?

Do you think people have different personalities when they are online? Are there different social norms set on the internet? Do you think certain types of personalities are encouraged on the internet while some are discouraged?

I think some people have different personalities when they are online. The internet allows us to be whoever we want to be, something the real world doesn't allow. Furhter, I think some people try to makeup for their lacks by coming online and acting different than they truly are.

I have a similar, but different personality online. I'm a bit more explosive here.

I'd probably say yes. I am far more open and wordy and cheerful online than I am in real life (where most people feel that I'm introvert, shy, and aversive to speaking). For me, however, I don't feel that it necessarily has to do with being face-to-face with people, but your regular recognition of someone. I work in the service industry, so I have to be bright, upbeat, and cheerful to a wide range of clientele. Still, it's easier for me to be cheerful towards strangers, however, because their expectations for me are of the short-term, and I don't have to fulfill any long-term obligations (or be very worried about how I come off towards them in the long-term, because I'm only going to chat with them for a few minutes and probably never again).

I'd give a more in-depth analysis of this later, but I just wanted to get my own display of this phenomenon out of the way. ^_^;

Typically a person's online personality shows you who this person wishes they were, rather than who they are in reality. That is not to say that there aren't people who are comfortable with who they are and act online as they do IRL, it's just less prevalent.

As for societal norms on the internet, douchebaggery is encouraged because the majority of people who leave comments on websites wish they were more assertive and make up for their deficiencies by being douchebags.

I find it a lot easier to be mean to people on something as impersonal as the internet. In real life, I'm a lot less superficial and judgmental. On the internet, however, I'm very quick to surmise that someone is incompetent, ignorant, biased, racist, etc.

I feel my personality on the internet is the more extreme version of my personality in real life.

you don't really know if they have a different personality online because you've never met them offline before but you can also see their personality by how they write and you can see them as nice people but in real life you never know what they are like but, i think that most of the people online act the same as they do in real life but thats just me personally and what i think

On the internet, I usually act around people the way I act around my best friends IRL.

I guess it's just easier to be yourself when you don't really meet the people.

I'm really not so sure of how I come off on the internet, but in general--especially on these forums--I'm quite sensitive to others' feelings, and less prone to "douche-baggery".

In fact, I think it'd probably be safe to say I'm much more approachable on here than in real life. On one hand, I am still a generally nice person I'd say, but have also been described as cold and "disdainful" (though I don't necessarily agree with the disdainful part), but I'm pretty chill. I don't let things bother me, here, or the internet, so I'm still essentially the same non-confrontational person.

Now if I feel someone's taking advantage of me or treating me unfairly...that's a different story entirely, and I will unleash a terrifying and dark side of my personality that will wreak havoc and ultimately lay waste to the subject of my wrath. But that takes alot.

Ever notice how there are so many more stubborn dicks on the internet? Of course there are lots of people out there that act differently on the internet. Though, i'm not one of those people. What you get here is pretty much what you get in real life. I don't see the point in acting like a different person just because i'm talking anonymously over the internet.

Originally Posted by Ty

Ever notice how there are so many more stubborn dicks on the internet? Of course there are lots of people out there that act differently on the internet. Though, i'm not one of those people. What you get here is pretty much what you get in real life. I don't see the point in acting like a different person just because i'm talking anonymously over the internet.

Mean either. Just be yourself, whether you're online or offline.

I made an entire thread on this.

In short, what I say on the Internet is still what I really think, but it's grossly exaggerated for effect. In person (unless I'm with someone I know really well), I am extremely quiet (otherwise, I can still exaggerate just as I do online).

I'm pretty much exactly like this in real life. The only differences come from what I talk about (depending on interests I have in common with people) and how I act with my best friend, but that's more due to 8 years worth of stupidity making inside jokes. Also, here I have the power to put my awesome into things, like the ZUHC thread title, where as IRL, I actually have to point it out.

I think I'm more of a douche in real life, counter intuitively.

I would also never say douche in real life.

A great amount of the time, people are totally different on the internet. Still, there are a lot of people who are the same both online and offline.

When I meet people from the net world in real life, they often act surprised to find out that I am no different online than offline. I, on the other hand, am continuously surprised to often find that the people I meet are completely different in the real world than they are in the net world. I don't know why I'm constantly surprised by this, because it's very common. I guess I just expect people to be themselves.

I mean, if you're open to meeting people from the net IRL, wouldn't you take the way you behave into consideration? But then again, most of the time, people don't meet face to face, and that allows them to be whoever they want to be. It does kind of bother me that many people aren't comfortable with who they really are, though. It's kind of like being deceived. You make a net-friend, and really, they're not who you think they are. I guess that's the risk you take when you come online, though.

Originally Posted by Zeruda

But then again, most of the time, people don't meet face to face, and that allows them to be whoever they want to be. It does kind of bother me that many people aren't comfortable with who they really are, though. It's kind of like being deceived. You make a net-friend, and really, they're not who you think they are. I guess that's the risk you take when you come online, though.

Sometimes their online personality is more genuine then them in real life, but often I think people can just be different (but just as real) people online then off. They're two different situations, so of course you act differently. I suppose in the same way that you're a different person in a club then you are having dinner with your grandparents. Neither of those "you"s have to be fake, though, just different attitudes to different situations.

It's also worth noting that in real life you're seeing a person's external attitude and using that to interpret who they are on the inside. But on the internet, all you see is their thoughts in text form, and through that you interpret how they act in person.

When I meet people from the net world in real life, they often act surprised to find out that I am no different online than offline. I, on the other hand, am continuously surprised to often find that the people I meet are completely different in the real world than they are in the net world. I don't know why I'm constantly surprised by this, because it's very common. I guess I just expect people to be themselves.

THIS!

I am EXACTLY the same online and in real life. No difference except im easier to read in real life due to body language. In fact, ive had some people remark on it when i met some net friends a few years ago. I did meet one guy whom i believed to be an ok guy. He turned out to be a complete braggart and a pompous pathological liar in real life. I was not happy about that. Another dude i met was actually really really creepy in real life whereas he seemed normal on the internet.

It sucks that people arent always themselves online.

The difference between me here and me in real life is that on here I generally explain my thoughts fully and completely. In real life, I don't say as much to people and my sentences are usually quick and to the point. I guess thats because I obviously have more time on my hands if I'm on here. Besides that, though, what you see here is how I am in real life.

I think, for the most part, people act similarily on the internet and in real life. But on the internet, people can express themselves more clearly and share their opinions more than in real life, where they may me scared to. For example, a person can fully share their thoughts on abortions or politics in a debate better than in real life. In real life they may feel more pressured and afraid to do that. But on the internet, they can say how they really feel about something with no worries of consequences. So, in essence, the internet can show how a person really is over things.

Of course, there are people who act like idiots on the internet just for the sake of being an idiot on the internet. I'm not counting those people.

^^^^See those big paragraphs above? I would NEVER talk that much at one time in real life.

If some people here act like as much of a smartass as they do in RL, then I don't want to meet them.

I, however act completely how I do in RL, being a loose canon cop who gets the chicks, and doesn't play by the rules.

you would never recognize me in real life.