I have a question...

[conuly]

Though it'll sound maudlin and self-pitying, it's really not. No, really.

Why are people I know online different from the people I know in real life?

Most people I know online either like me, don't like me BUT don't mindlessly attack me, or don't like me and are universally recognized as being stupid. Or they're indifferent.

In real life, people fall more into the categories of: love me, kinda like me, tolerate me, mindlessly attack me for no apparent reason. And the indifferents. The last group, in real life, is generally seen by the large number of indifferent people as either being funny or not being wrong enough to stop, but online, they're seen as being stupid and worth yelling at. And of course, people wonder why I prefer you guys :)

So, seriously. Why is there a difference? Do you think you'd be friendly with me (however friendly you are) if you'd met me in real life first? For those of you who know me in both situations (I think there's THREE), am I different?

Comments

[maladaptive.livejournal.com]

It's the relative anonymity of being online, I think.

People can't hear me stammer online. They're not looking at my face going "why doesn't she wear makeup?" They're not thinking about what you look like, or anything OTHER than what you're saying. It lends weight to the text on the screen that the words coming out of your mouth don't have.

Oh-- and I think we'd be friends as well, conuly. We both like to talk politics, and I'm sure we're both respectful enough to agree to disagree when it happens.