Do you act different Online compared to Offline?

To elaborate: Do you talk, act, or behave differently in the Internet? If yes, why so? If not, why not and what is your opinion on those who act different Online?

I remember when I first interacted with people Online, I acted completely different from how I acted in real life. I was extremely malicious, starting fights with random people for no reason at all. Cantankerous, talkative, and competitive when it came to things like PvP online games. Back then, I was quiet and reserved in real life. I talked when I wanted to or needed to, however always with some shyness. I was pretty nice too, had some enemies but never enjoyed arguing or fighting with anyone.

Now, I am a little bit different in the real world. I still get nervous sometimes and feel shy when I do, but I think I significantly gained more confidence compared to my past self. I crack up jokes which I never did when I was younger, and I am always eager to meet new people. What's very interesting though, is the fact that now I behave Online like I behaved Offline many years ago. Oddly, I feel very nervous whenever I type or post something in the Internet. Nowadays, there are many times when I feel like saying something Online, yet never get to because I am afraid that people in the Internet will judge me. Strange, but I am glad that I am no longer toxic like I once was.

I am terrible at being something I'm not so how I am on here or anywhere online is how I am irl. I never saw a reason to be something different because even with my faults I'm happy to be me. Also makes friendships easier since you don't have to try and explain to people why you act like "this" and "that". Also adding; all of the silly stuff in the chat section (aka meep, nya, fuefuefue, etc..... yeah I do that shit irl as well.... I'm a weirdo sue me! x3 )

I don't let things online get me too upset because it's normal for people to judge others. If someone has something to say they should just say it. If it's something nasty or insulting I don't have to respond if I don't want to, simple as that. Guess I've just grown thicker skin over the years lol.

Not in the slightest. I'm honest no matter where I am about who I am and what I'm like. I spent too much time trying to conceal who I was when I was younger and it didn't end well. I might act a little more open about myself online though, just how I am. I'm timid, shy, think negatively of myself and am terrified to talk to new people and that's the same when I'm both on and offline. However, I'm always kind and try to do whatever it takes to be nice and polite to others and that's the same no matter if I'm offline or online. I feel like if someone tries to be someone else or act in another way then eventually it will come back to bite them.

I don't mind people acting different though, even if they are aggressive I'll just try and ignore it and have nothing to do with them.

I can't say I act any differently. It always seemed odd that people would do that, but I guess anonymity changes things.

Not sure. The anonimity of the internet somehow gives me some more confidence when interacting with others, but I try to behave as I do in real life, and I never noticed glaring differences so far.

...I hope that's a good thing. :y

Internet: Nonchalant, no humor.
Real Life: Pessimistic, trying to tack a joke onto every sentence I speak. People think I'm crazy when I start laughing because I throw back my head and laugh for hours on end when I find the right stuff.

[color=#993300]Glad to see you growing for the better Cafe. You may know this already, but I'm basically myself when I'm online. I mean, why try to hide yourself when you are already in a place where, for a lack of a better word, the sort of outcasts go. I mean, we're all in the same boat. Sure, I can be more outgoing when I'm online, but that's cause I'm surrounded by those with similar interests, no fear of being rejected or anything.

I really don't change myself from online to reality. Maybe more outgoing online, but still the mean humor and craziness from me either way.

I suppose I do act differently online, yes.

The safety of anonimity, as already mentioned, is quite reassuring. However I honestly think I talk more in real life than I do online. I'm very self-conscious when I talk online, always second guessing myself before I make a comment on a forum/comment section where I know my answer can be displayed for a really long time. Even now as I'm writing this reply, I'm being very careful with my words to make sure I don't say anything that can be interpreted the wrong way or unintentionally harm someone. Social anxiety seems to be my worst enemy, just as much online as it is offline it seems. =)

It helps that the crowd here share a common interest, or else I too would be somewhat afraid of rejection.

the way i talk online, on forums like these, its the same way i talk with my friends.

Probably not.

Now this is something I always like to say: Spanish artist Francisco de Goya y Lucientes always believed that masks don't hide people's faces but show what and how people truly are. I love to apply the same thing to the internet.

Nope. I act the same in real life. Im not an asshole IRL, so why would i be one on the net?

Like many- internet anonymity allows me to truly speak my mind- without having to face any immediate social repercussions.

i.e. I'm a lot more honest online. Being able to really express ourselves without having to conform to social norms, to not appear a weirdo out in public, makes it much easier to find our kindred whilst essentially skipping the awkward initial stages of most relationships.

Why do you think social media has taken off in such a huge way.

I talk more on the internet, but I don't really change that much. I'm also just as curious about the stupid shit you can see me posting sometimes IRL which makes for interesting if stupid conversations.

Online : I am a stealth person.
IRL: not going to say it.

Well, because I have many things that I can tell no one offline, I can only act like myself online. I come from a community that has very *ahem* strong beliefs, (but only if they can be hypocritical and use their 'beliefs' to make someone an outcast), and so I pretty much just go along with whatever people think is normal in real life.

The way I act in real life is more of a social survival mechanism, designed so that I won't be ousted, even though I know that I can really trust no one, because all the people around me would never accept me for who I am, and would either try to change me, or shun me if they could not.

This is pretty much the only haven where I can be myself and talk about things I enjoy that absolutely no one in my life must know about.

There was something I tried to keep a secret with one of my irl friends knowing about it, one of my 'best friends' whom I'd known for a long time.

They yakked about it to one of the other people at the college who knew me, and it destroyed my reputation locally, and so I had to move and transfer schools.

Luckily, my family didn't find out about it, but there are people my family talks to that I keep wondering if they will ever bring it up. I keep an eye on those people, but of course, they also keep an eye on me, because to them, although they can't prove anything, I'm sure they know just what kind of person I really am.

I'm more social online. IRL, I hardly talk at all unless spoken to.

Honestly, there aren't really many differences between online and offline for me. Really the only big difference is that I find it easier to talk online because I have more time to come up with responses than offline.

I chat with random people a lot more online than irl. I prefer to stick with a close group of friends when actually talking to them

No, I'm pretty much the same everywhere (no filter, no fucks to give, just trying to have fun).

I'm probably a bit more confident online, but the general demeanor is the same.