Who are you?

talloola

talloola

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 14, 2006
19,576
113
63
Vancouver Island
I'm still getting to know myself. Thought I had done that a few times in the past, but it doesn't
stop. Guess that's life, always learning and growing. Hope I do that till I'm one hundred, or more.
Have learned more about me since posting here, I think I reveal too much, going to 'stifle' it a bit
more.
When my own thoughts look back at me from my posts, I have many times been surprised, and have
noticed that I do the drill much differently now than I did when I joined.
I am honest on this board, what's to gain by being something I'm not, but maybe, some just like to play
with others, make a game out of it, not sure.
 
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Curiosity

Curiosity

Senate Member
Jul 30, 2005
7,326
138
63
California
I'll venture a big guess here about real people and forums ...

I believe more people reveal their true selves on a forum such as this than they do in their personal lives except perhaps to those close to them such as family and friends.

I think it easier for people to be what they are without all the trappings of socialization we put on ourselves and we are able to write more honestly about how we think and feel.

There will always be a percentage who hide behind fantasy or boosting the image a bit - but generally I think they are in the minority because the long termers here seem to follow along the same lines and opinions and when they write about their personal lives and families, rarely do they deviate from what has been written before.

And of course there are forums where real is rare...

PS: I'm not a roller derby queen - I can't skate except on ice....wahhhhhhh
 
T

tracy

House Member
Nov 10, 2005
3,500
48
48
California
Unfortunately I haven't learned how to hold back in my real life very well:). I tend to say less here because I have to type it and that also gives me a chance to think about what I'm saying. In real life my friends and family have often commented that I lack a filter. I'm WAY more sarcastic in real life too. Both qualities have caused me some problems, but they are also such a large part of who I am that I can't imagine I'll ever change them that much.
 
espressoguy

espressoguy

Nominee Member
Mar 26, 2007
52
2
8
North
I think I'm a bit harder to handle in real life. It takes me a long time to type so I can re-think what I want to say. In real life I usually act first and then think later..."was that a good idea..oops I shouldn't have said that. It's too late though.
 
Curiosity

Curiosity

Senate Member
Jul 30, 2005
7,326
138
63
California
OOOOOoooops so that's the problem for me...

I can type faster than I can talk or think.... no wonder I get into trouble...
 
El Barto

El Barto

les fesses a l'aire
Feb 11, 2007
5,959
66
48
Quebec
I have that typing problem too. I'm much more than I am here. I will for the most part make you smile in some way. I seem to attract people ready to tell me thier problems that they won't tell anyone else.
I'm much bolder and more diplomatic than I am here. I'm an open book. You 'll know how I feel just by looking at me. Can you feel ugly? hmmmm
 
selfactivated

selfactivated

Time Out
Apr 11, 2006
4,276
42
48
62
Richmond, Virginia
El Barto said:
I have that typing problem too. I'm much more than I am here. I will for the most part make you smile in some way. I seem to attract people ready to tell me thier problems that they won't tell anyone else.
I'm much bolder and more diplomatic than I am here. I'm an open book. You 'll know how I feel just by looking at me. Can you feel ugly? hmmmm
Click to expand...

Stop that right now.......I think your very handsome AND very kind.
 
Dexter Sinister

Dexter Sinister

Unspecified Specialist
Oct 1, 2004
10,168
539
113
Regina, SK
I think Curiosity got it completely right with this one:
Curiosity said:
I believe more people reveal their true selves on a forum such as this than they do in their personal lives except perhaps to those close to them such as family and friends.
Click to expand...
In some ways it's easier to be more open about what you really think in a forum like this, because of its anonymity. I readily reveal myself as an atheist here, for instance, a fact about me which in real life is known only to my wife and children and a few close friends. I don't often feel like dealing with the arguments and the sanctimonious attempts to save me that that usually generates in real life. Here I can choose who I want to deal with on that, and ignore people I don't want to deal with, which I can't do if I'm standing in their kitchen. I'm also a pretty hard-nosed skeptic about all things paranormal and supernatural, but I don't talk about that much in real life either, for the same reasons. In real life I've endured too much scorn and pity and attempts at conversion on those subjects from people who don't know how to have a reasoned conversation. Here I can weigh my words, marshall my arguments, and take time for cautious reconsideration of what I want to say and who I want to say it to. Real life rarely provides that. That's one of the reasons I come here.

And I'd also add that I suspect that people who are offensive, rude, intolerant, and assorted other negative things, in a forum like this, are likely to be repulsive hypocrites in real life, lacking the courage to show their true selves to anyone in real life because they know the social cost is ostracism. I don't want to know them here, and I don't want to know them in real life.

As Dave Barry said, a person who is nice to you but rude to the waitress is not a nice person. In a sense, the true measure of people's worth is how they behave when there are no real consequences to them from their behaviour.
 
Vereya

Vereya

Council Member
Apr 20, 2006
2,003
54
48
Tula
I am practically the same person in real life, I have the same convictions, and beliefs, and I practice what I actually practice what I preach, the thing I like most about myself. There is just one exception - in real life I am much nicer, than on forums :smile: I argue less, and I am less aggressive. People actually like me, can you believe it? ;-)

to Temperance - thanks for the link! :) I am Liza Simpson, nice to meet you!
 
talloola

talloola

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 14, 2006
19,576
113
63
Vancouver Island
This forum has allowed me to talk to someone other than my husband and other family, as I keep so
much to myself, don't seek out any friendships, and can go for days and days without talking to anyone else. I was a little nervous when I came on this forum, didn't know how to start, didn't know
what to say, made lots of mistakes, was too reactive, still have lots to learn.
It just feels safe here, in my cozy livingroom, with my dog/cat.
I like store people, chat with them lots, that's safe too, a minute or two, then 'gone'.
Never visit neighbours, they are the worst ones to get chummy with, then, how to you get rid of them. A few words over the fence, show them I am a nice person, then, 'gone.'
This forum allows me to be a person other than a wife/molther/gramma. There is lots going on in
my head that I suppose I should let out once in a while. Sorry!!!!:-?
I know I just had a post a little ways back, but this is a new day, with new thoughts.
 
talloola

talloola

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 14, 2006
19,576
113
63
Vancouver Island
Don't you ever disappear, you are needed around here. I depend on your posts to put a very
balanced and intelligent perspective on many different subjects, and as a fellow atheist, I
agree with you concerning 'not' striking up conversations, or joining any, concerning religion,
as religious people, in general, don't think we get it, and seem to pity us, and the red neck atheist is very embarrassing to be with, but on this forum I have learned that I can discuss, in a friendly
and understanding way, my position, even with Sanctus, and have realized that he is very open and
very human.
 
karrie

karrie

OogedyBoogedy
Jan 6, 2007
27,780
285
83
bliss
hmmmmmm..... am I the same person in real life as I am on the net? No, definitely not. I'm testier. What I say isn't as well thought out. There's no delete button in real life for ignorant hurtful words. There's no pause before I hit 'send', on some comment that serves no real purpose other than to let people know they've annoyed me. I TRY to be who I am on here. I try very hard. But, it's a different environment, and much like any social setting, we adapt a bit.
 
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