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Forum Personality
- Thread starter Jazzy
- Start date
I am what I am. What you see is what you get
@Dennis: This thread wasn't meant to judge anyone. My girlfriend is very shy and quiet in RL. She's very talkative and outgoing when she posts on forums. It's like she's two different people because she feels more confident when she doesn't have to talk to you face to face.
Statistically, this goes with the majority of people. People behave differently online ââ¬â theyââ¬â¢re more outspoken, aggressive, and tend to exaggerate the good qualities of themselves. It comes with the anonymity.
I find that the internet when utilized correctly can be just as good of a representation of who you are as outside it, you're not nervous or twitchy, so you can truly get across your beliefs.
Not stats but research. I had to do a 15-page thesis on the topic. An excerpt:
Trust and Deception
Trust issues resulting from deception can arise from the virtual reality of the internet. Virtual reality environments often make users more vulnerable to deception than they would otherwise be in that it requires users to literally suspend their disbelief in order to fully be engaged in the virtual environment. Because so many people rely on the internet as their connection to the outside world, users are more assisting of strangers than what would otherwise be (creating opportunities for instances of scamming and stalking ââ¬â two criminal activities that are becoming gradually more apparent in the virtual world). (Wellman & Gulia, 1999)
Despite the virtual environment being a place where identity verification is often threadbare and embellished, friendships may be damaged just as well. Users can often experience a betrayal of trust having realized the person they have interacted with isnââ¬â¢t the person they once claimed to be. It has been observed that during the course of relationships interpersonal interaction becomes more developed. Because of the vastness of CMC channels people often riskily reveal very personal information. (Parks & Floyd, 1996) As such forming a meaningful and truthful relationship online is often a particularly risky endeavor as some users find it difficult trying to remain honest while at the same time avoiding disclosing information that would jeopardize their privacy.
Privacy
In obscure virtual environments, users are usually under the impression that oneââ¬â¢s individual words or actions will receive little or no attention amid the constant and vast flow of data. (Kiesler, Siegel, & McGuire, 1984) Because of this false premise, CMC has been shown to lower usersââ¬â¢ inhibitions. In actuality users should be aware that CMC is easily recordable. Messages can effortlessly be archived or traced back to the source.
Furthermore the internet is accessed by literally any person, increasing the possibility for unintentional receivers of a message. In the pursuit of forming meaningful relationships online, users should beware that private information can be intercepted or misdirected, creating opportunities for individuals to access such personal information for benign or malevolent purposes.
Identity and Anonymity
The feeling of anonymity that CMC creates also influences power differences by reducing sentiments of dominance or subordinance that would otherwise be the governing factors of face-to-face communication. This margin of freedom allows users to be more vocal and uncompromising in expressing their opinion. Verbally aggressive behavior as well as other nonconforming behavior has been observed to be more prominent in CMC groups as opposed to face-to-face groups. The colloquial term for this aggression, ââ¬Åflaming,ââ¬Â has been observed in both informal and formal settings. (Ebben, 1994; Kim & Raja, 1990; Spertus, 1997; Sutton, 1994)
Self-Categorization and Positive CMC Communication
A popular explanation as to why CMC is able to foster more positive communication than face to face argues that CMC allows users to be very selective in presenting only certain features of their identity. This communication theory ââ¬â the Self Categorization theory ââ¬â posits that aspects of the userââ¬â¢s identity (including income, physical appearance, and even personality) can be categorized in a way that presents the positive first and the negative last.
Because CMC presents this opportunity to allow users to categorize positive features ahead of negative ones, users can eliminate the anxiety that comes with being judged by expressing their own opinions. Thus CMC leads to a medium which explores a freer sense of expression as opposed to face to face. (Spears & Lea, 1994) Lastly, CMCââ¬â¢s slower response time works favorably here. Depending on the form of CMC used, a user has more time to plan responses that displays more favorable aspects of their person. (Walther & Burgoon, 1992)
Trust issues resulting from deception can arise from the virtual reality of the internet. Virtual reality environments often make users more vulnerable to deception than they would otherwise be in that it requires users to literally suspend their disbelief in order to fully be engaged in the virtual environment. Because so many people rely on the internet as their connection to the outside world, users are more assisting of strangers than what would otherwise be (creating opportunities for instances of scamming and stalking ââ¬â two criminal activities that are becoming gradually more apparent in the virtual world). (Wellman & Gulia, 1999)
Despite the virtual environment being a place where identity verification is often threadbare and embellished, friendships may be damaged just as well. Users can often experience a betrayal of trust having realized the person they have interacted with isnââ¬â¢t the person they once claimed to be. It has been observed that during the course of relationships interpersonal interaction becomes more developed. Because of the vastness of CMC channels people often riskily reveal very personal information. (Parks & Floyd, 1996) As such forming a meaningful and truthful relationship online is often a particularly risky endeavor as some users find it difficult trying to remain honest while at the same time avoiding disclosing information that would jeopardize their privacy.
Privacy
In obscure virtual environments, users are usually under the impression that oneââ¬â¢s individual words or actions will receive little or no attention amid the constant and vast flow of data. (Kiesler, Siegel, & McGuire, 1984) Because of this false premise, CMC has been shown to lower usersââ¬â¢ inhibitions. In actuality users should be aware that CMC is easily recordable. Messages can effortlessly be archived or traced back to the source.
Furthermore the internet is accessed by literally any person, increasing the possibility for unintentional receivers of a message. In the pursuit of forming meaningful relationships online, users should beware that private information can be intercepted or misdirected, creating opportunities for individuals to access such personal information for benign or malevolent purposes.
Identity and Anonymity
The feeling of anonymity that CMC creates also influences power differences by reducing sentiments of dominance or subordinance that would otherwise be the governing factors of face-to-face communication. This margin of freedom allows users to be more vocal and uncompromising in expressing their opinion. Verbally aggressive behavior as well as other nonconforming behavior has been observed to be more prominent in CMC groups as opposed to face-to-face groups. The colloquial term for this aggression, ââ¬Åflaming,ââ¬Â has been observed in both informal and formal settings. (Ebben, 1994; Kim & Raja, 1990; Spertus, 1997; Sutton, 1994)
Self-Categorization and Positive CMC Communication
A popular explanation as to why CMC is able to foster more positive communication than face to face argues that CMC allows users to be very selective in presenting only certain features of their identity. This communication theory ââ¬â the Self Categorization theory ââ¬â posits that aspects of the userââ¬â¢s identity (including income, physical appearance, and even personality) can be categorized in a way that presents the positive first and the negative last.
Because CMC presents this opportunity to allow users to categorize positive features ahead of negative ones, users can eliminate the anxiety that comes with being judged by expressing their own opinions. Thus CMC leads to a medium which explores a freer sense of expression as opposed to face to face. (Spears & Lea, 1994) Lastly, CMCââ¬â¢s slower response time works favorably here. Depending on the form of CMC used, a user has more time to plan responses that displays more favorable aspects of their person. (Walther & Burgoon, 1992)
Thanks. It is an interest topic to me so I wrote a good paper. The self-categorization theory interested me most.
I agree with it. Online I would have more time to plan responses which would show my best features first - an opportunity that would rarely present itself in real life.
I agree with it. Online I would have more time to plan responses which would show my best features first - an opportunity that would rarely present itself in real life.
I'll email you a copy later today.
I find interactions online to be deeper because face-to-face relationships take more time. Online, people can only judge your personality and aren't conscious of other superficial things. You'd have conversations with people and befriend people that wouldn't give you the time of day if you had to meet them face to face.
An interesting theory (Social Penetration Theory) is that relationships form when people share intimate things about themselves. If someone discloses something personal you'd feel obligated to disclose something of yourself as well - which of course is the basis of trust.
Well online, where there is little to verify just who is on the other end, it is especially important as trust can't be formed through any other way. Self-disclosure is the only way to build any real sort of relationship or bond of trust online.
An interesting theory (Social Penetration Theory) is that relationships form when people share intimate things about themselves. If someone discloses something personal you'd feel obligated to disclose something of yourself as well - which of course is the basis of trust.
Well online, where there is little to verify just who is on the other end, it is especially important as trust can't be formed through any other way. Self-disclosure is the only way to build any real sort of relationship or bond of trust online.
