Real life/net debate

[raedric]

I have been reading fanfiction for a while. I turned nineteen on January first this year, and I have been reading it since I was thirteen. I only started writing it a short while ago, but I have yet to get a real flame. But this isn't the bragging corner, I know I need a lot of improvement as well. (Don't we all?)

I have a couple of friends I have met through writing fanfiction, mostly frequent reviewers such as X Serac, Master Masa Random, Jennon-Donnon, etc. So far we have only talked through fanfiction replies and a few emails. The problem is, I would like to know a lot more about people I am friendly with online. Nothing IRL, things like AIM and such.

Therein lies my problem. The way people speak in a review, or a forum; they are all a lot different than they are in real life. Breaching the barrier may turn out to be undesirable, as what you may learn could shatter the illusions that you have built around that person.

This is not a thread for personal advice, just using experience to build-up to my point. At what point would you consider it okay to breach the purely fanfiction-related relationship? When does it become more desirable to risk the illusionary persona you have built for the cruel reality?

Discuss as you see fit. I would love to hear what people think before offering my opinion! ^_^

 

[runestar]

I dunno. The way I act online is pretty much the same way I act in real life(though that pervness is not displayed so blantantly... :lol: ) What you see is what you get.

Or I would say to just be mentally prepared for whatever may come.

 

[raedric]

I dunno. The way I act online is pretty much the same way I act in real life(though that pervness is not displayed so blantantly... :lol: ) What you see is what you get.

Or I would say to just be mentally prepared for whatever may come.

You almost hit my point. The way you act online is much like you do in real life, but IRL you tone it down. Maybe what somebody likes about you is what you show yourself to be online, but it's toned down so much in real life that the quality they liked may hardly show up at all.

The computer and internet are merely a barrier that we hide behind. We don't have problems acting generally silly or perverted because if we so please we don't need to see that person the next day.

Introspective, thy name is Raedric. :evil:

 

[runestar]

You have a point there, IMO. The image people tend to project on the net is probably only one aspect of themselves. What we need to keep in mind is that said person has many aspects to him/her. We just haven't seen everything there is to that person. ^_^

 

[raedric]

You have a point there, IMO. The image people tend to project on the net is probably only one aspect of themselves. What we need to keep in mind is that said person has many aspects to him/her. We just haven't seen everything there is to that person. ^_^

People are definitely multi-faceted organisms, but socially we tend to be chameleons. What do the people around us like to talk about? Here, it is fanfiction, /b/, anime, and manga. So far, I like that side of everyone I have seen. How would I identify with them in sports? Games? Just overall personality?

When I get tired I get philosophical, as you can see. ^_^

 

[Mereo Flere]

Believe it or not, I'm actually toned down on the Internet.

It's mostly because I don't immediately say what I think, since I have to go through the process of actually pressing the enter button.

 

[raedric]

Believe it or not, I'm actually toned down on the Internet.

It's mostly because I don't immediately say what I think, since I have to go through the process of actually pressing the enter button.

Haha, the laziness gets you, eh? Well, I will admit sometimes I'm off the wall IRL, but overall I act crazier online. If I acted in real life the way I do online, they'd give me a nice white jacket and cushiony rooms!

 

[OniGanon]

How I act on the internet is more what I consider the 'real' me than how I act offline. This is simply because I feel more free to be myself with little fear of repercussions.

That being said, one's manner in a review may not reflect the way that person speaks in a non-fanfiction-related chat. I know I'd speak differently when making a serious review (ie something beyond 'good stuff! MOAR!').