Post by Dienne Herlsif on Mar 10, 2004 20:55:47 GMT -5
The Internet has completely revolutionized communications. That is a given. What may or may not be given is the truth.
But first we might want to define truth. Sometimes truth is different for different people. Some think of truth as a synonym for fact. Others look at the deeper, more spiritual and philisophical meanings. In this case, we are mostly looking at fact.
Fact is thrown out the window immediately with the general suggestions of online communication. When you don't know people personally, it is generally accepted that you should not give your real name when you are interacting with them casually. In fact, on the HPR forum, if anyone is spotted using a real surname, I personally modify the user's profile so that it is no longer the case.
Then, we are told to be vague about where we reside. That is also under rule here at HPR and generally practiced everywhere that there is casual interaction. From there on out, however, rules and generally accepted practices vary from site to site and person to person.
One of the most interesting variations is what we do to our own personalities. In most regular visitors to the Internet, the online personality is far more "open" and boisterous than the Real Life (RL) personality. But then again, this could be counted as very normal. After all, we act differently with our friends than with our boss or teachers. The anonymity and delay of written contact over the Internet allows us to be exaggerated versions of ourselves. Or someone else entirely.
Some take this too far: Horny teenage males become sexy older lesbians; creepy "old" people take advantage of the inexperienced; and some persons completely swipe identities to commit fraud and theft. However, not all exaggerations of ourselves are harmful.
The most common change in personality is Role Playing for entertainment. Sometimes this is obvious, such as those who participate at the RPG Guild here at HPR. Others are not so obvious, such as the very professional role that Dienne Herlsif was created to play. I was not as serious about this site when I first started it. When it grew to be a relatively high-traffic and high-reputation site is when Dienne became a staple of the site and her professional manner took precedence over any fun that young Abby behind her might have wanted. Abby still has fun of course, and the project still excites her, but this is Dienne's baby now. Abby does not exist in the world of HPR.
Dienne has never lied to you. But Abby has. It's a twisted and fuzzy line, sure, but then so is the line between white lies and harmful lies. Dienne's main project is HPR; Abby's main project is the pursuit of happiness. In relation to HPR, Dienne cares most about visitors; Abby cares most about visitor traffic.
And now I'm talking in the third person with a split personality. See what caring so much does to me?
Anyway, the point is: we are all not ourselves online. Everybody knows. Nobody cares. The Internet and people using it are just too interesting to disregard for fear.
But first we might want to define truth. Sometimes truth is different for different people. Some think of truth as a synonym for fact. Others look at the deeper, more spiritual and philisophical meanings. In this case, we are mostly looking at fact.
Fact is thrown out the window immediately with the general suggestions of online communication. When you don't know people personally, it is generally accepted that you should not give your real name when you are interacting with them casually. In fact, on the HPR forum, if anyone is spotted using a real surname, I personally modify the user's profile so that it is no longer the case.
Then, we are told to be vague about where we reside. That is also under rule here at HPR and generally practiced everywhere that there is casual interaction. From there on out, however, rules and generally accepted practices vary from site to site and person to person.
One of the most interesting variations is what we do to our own personalities. In most regular visitors to the Internet, the online personality is far more "open" and boisterous than the Real Life (RL) personality. But then again, this could be counted as very normal. After all, we act differently with our friends than with our boss or teachers. The anonymity and delay of written contact over the Internet allows us to be exaggerated versions of ourselves. Or someone else entirely.
Some take this too far: Horny teenage males become sexy older lesbians; creepy "old" people take advantage of the inexperienced; and some persons completely swipe identities to commit fraud and theft. However, not all exaggerations of ourselves are harmful.
The most common change in personality is Role Playing for entertainment. Sometimes this is obvious, such as those who participate at the RPG Guild here at HPR. Others are not so obvious, such as the very professional role that Dienne Herlsif was created to play. I was not as serious about this site when I first started it. When it grew to be a relatively high-traffic and high-reputation site is when Dienne became a staple of the site and her professional manner took precedence over any fun that young Abby behind her might have wanted. Abby still has fun of course, and the project still excites her, but this is Dienne's baby now. Abby does not exist in the world of HPR.
Dienne has never lied to you. But Abby has. It's a twisted and fuzzy line, sure, but then so is the line between white lies and harmful lies. Dienne's main project is HPR; Abby's main project is the pursuit of happiness. In relation to HPR, Dienne cares most about visitors; Abby cares most about visitor traffic.
And now I'm talking in the third person with a split personality. See what caring so much does to me?
Anyway, the point is: we are all not ourselves online. Everybody knows. Nobody cares. The Internet and people using it are just too interesting to disregard for fear.
[shadow=red,left,300]i like rock bands.[/shadow]
[shadow=red,left,300]we're not doing anything dangerous/mischivous! if we are, we're wearing a helmet![/shadow]