Is your online persona different from reality?

United States
February 15, 2021 10:43am CST
I find myself pondering this question a lot while on mylot. Is this person the same here as they are in real life? Or, sometimes more bluntly, Is this person serious right now? Neither of those questions are necessarily a bad thing. I try to be as true to who I am in real life while I'm here. Now there are some people I am more open with and there have been times when I've allowed the truth to be ambiguous. I've always confessed later, though. But there are people here that I find myself shaking my head at. Are you one of those people I shake my head at? *This is all in good fun, yeah?*
22 people like this
24 responses
@vandana7 (98959)
• India
15 Feb 21
Yes. Most of the time. I think my persona differs from person to person. In my neighborhood, I am truly a mature person. My friends, I become slightly younger, though even my neighbors are my age. Here, I become even younger...kinda school and college days fun.
7 people like this
• United States
15 Feb 21
I understand that. I am different with my family than I am with my closest friends. I become more reserved the less I know someone.
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
16 Feb 21
Wait! What do you mean, vanny? Are you saying you aren't the Vampire Queen? Then why do you take sips of blood all the time from me? Are you really a doctor testing my blood for some reason? I think I have the right to know the true answers here!
4 people like this
@vandana7 (98959)
• India
16 Feb 21
@DaddyEvil I am the vampire queen. That is the underlying fact just like you are a mere mortal.
4 people like this
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
15 Feb 21
I like to think that I write and comment "honestly", but I don't know always know how people are reading me here. I think we all do a lot of head shaking here .
3 people like this
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
15 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Right. Who knows what people really mean . . . it's hard to read between the lines when we don't really write too many sentences here .
2 people like this
• United States
15 Feb 21
@much2say Right? I mean sometimes I think I've gotten a grasp on someone's personality here and the next thing I know they aren't acting the same!
3 people like this
• United States
15 Feb 21
Oh! Communication can be so hard here because there's so many different cultures and levels of English proficiency here. It's hard to convey sarcasm here too sometimes!
2 people like this
@jstory07 (134620)
• Roseburg, Oregon
15 Feb 21
I am the same here as I am in real life.
2 people like this
@paigea (35750)
• Canada
15 Feb 21
I hope you don't shake your head at me! Everything I say here is true but I maintain my privacy. I only share personal things with a few people in real life too One thing I share more here is the fact that I am a mystery shopper. I don't want anyone in my small community to know that Kind of nice to come across other mystery shoppers online.
2 people like this
• United States
15 Feb 21
No, I don't shake my head at you. I'm sort of a.. open private person. That probably makes little sense. I pretty much share the same things here that I'd share with my best friend, but there's still a lot that mylot doesn't know about me too. May I ask why you don't want people in your community to know you mystery shop?
2 people like this
• United States
15 Feb 21
@paigea Oh that makes sense. I thought it might be something like that. You can't expect someone to keep quiet about it.
1 person likes this
@paigea (35750)
• Canada
15 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum in case they know someone who works where I mystery shop. It can't be known that I am a mystery shopper.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203451)
• Nashville, Tennessee
15 Feb 21
I am always shaking my head here, every single day. I am who I am both online and offline.
2 people like this
• United States
15 Feb 21
I try to treat everyone with respect here and I also "give people the benefit of the doubt." I think the best way to describe interactions here is that it's like "looking through a fun house mirror." Everyone reacts differently to the fun house mirrors. Some are fascinated, some are weary and some are downright afraid. We have all three types here on mylot and maybe more I haven't thought of. I hope this makes sense!
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203451)
• Nashville, Tennessee
15 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum You are right, many different personalities here.
2 people like this
• Kenya
15 Feb 21
@carolDM Yes that's true identity. I find faking being difficult and tiresome!
1 person likes this
• Rupert, Idaho
15 Feb 21
I don't think I am one that you shake your head at, hopefully not anyways! There are definitely some people I feel that way about though. I usually just read their posts and move on though, or don't even get past the title because it is head shaking enough
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Feb 21
@MommyOfEli2013 Yep! I think it's a win / win / win / win situation all around. I talked to them about a craft day too. One of my friend's has a niece that was disappointed she didn't get to spend the day with us on Saturday. We're going to include her in a craft day because we think it's important for her.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Feb 21
Nope, You are not. I think we are too alike in ways for me to shake my head at. Oh! Oh! Oh! I was talking to a friend about Diamond painting and she says she has a Sunflower diamond painting. I told her I'd help her with it.
1 person likes this
• Rupert, Idaho
15 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Lol, well that is good! Oh yes, I would have to agree with that. That is awesome to hear that you have a friend that has a sunflower diamond painting...and that you could help her with it....and that way you can try it out :)
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170510)
• United States
15 Feb 21
I think I am essentially the same in real life. There is no a big difference in my personality.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170510)
• United States
15 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum It's hard to say because we don't know them in real life. Everybody is brave behind the computer screen too.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Feb 21
@snowy22315 You're right about everyone being brae behind the computer screen. For some reason Eddie comes to mind when I think of "brave behind the comptuer"
• United States
15 Feb 21
There are some here that I think do a lot of 'Putting on', but I think I'm pretty good at telling who is and who isn't.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130122)
• India
16 Feb 21
Will it make a difference if you knew that I am up at 4 and sleep by 8.30? Will it make a difference if you knew I am fond of chocolates and will go to any length to get them ? Will it make a difference if you knew I was the shortest in class but almost grew overnight and my height now is 5'4"
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130122)
• India
16 Feb 21
@DaddyEvil Who is interested in virtual chocolates. Not I
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
16 Feb 21
Yes, yes it does make a difference... but not in the way I care about you... only in ways that don't show and you probably wouldn't notice in real life. Actually, you might get chocolates offered to you more now that I know that part. Does that make a difference to you?
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
16 Feb 21
@allknowing Fine, then I won't share them with you.
1 person likes this
@tech40 (23128)
• Philippines
17 Feb 21
Totally different. Some people said that they can know the real me when I'm online since I keep on sharing things online than reality
1 person likes this
@tech40 (23128)
• Philippines
17 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Yup. It's right. They we're surprised that I keep on talking online and quiet in personal. However, I'm keeps on talking on those people who are close to me.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Feb 21
So you are open and honest online more than you are in real life? I appreciate that. I sometimes share things online that I would not with my closest friends.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459212)
• Switzerland
15 Feb 21
I am myself, what I say here is real. I am quite private and there are things that I keep for myself, just because my privacy is precious.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Feb 21
I've thought a lot abut this off an on. I've talked to people here who share things that i would never dream of sharing with anyone and I admire them even if I'm not sure what to say to them sometimes.
• Kenya
15 Feb 21
@Ladyduck yes privacy matters alot compiled with maturity spiced with having the 6th sense
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459212)
• Switzerland
16 Feb 21
@Laurakemunto Some people forget that security and privacy are important both in the real life and the virtual life. You never know who is reading what you write.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
16 Feb 21
With me, what you see is what you get. I always do my best to be honest in real life and on myLot. Now, that being said, I do tease a lot... and enjoy teasing back, too. Anything is possible... it may not be probable, but what can you do? How would we know who/what you shake your head at? I have run into people that I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt were lying to me. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, (teasing and playing aren't the same as lying) that is the last conversation I have with them. (You will notice, if you followed me around for a while that I definitely avoid some people on myLot. Lying to me isn't the only reason I avoid some of them, though.) I hope this explains some things about me... if not, you are always welcome to ask me anything... I will do my best to explain.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Feb 21
I feel like I've talked to pretty much everyone here at one time or another, but there are some that I just won't talk to anymore. There are a few people here who I think have wrapped themselves so tightly around their online persona that they can't see how blatant some of their lies are. I'm thinking of someone right now who was quite different many years ago, but who lies so easily now. It's like they forget that we know a lot about them.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Feb 21
@DaddyEvil Nope, I haven't shaken my head at you and I don't know if you talk to her or not. She's been around for many, many years and she's just changed a lot over them.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
17 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Really? Uhm... is it someone I talk to/with? And, have you shaken your head at anything I've said/told you?
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76481)
• Germany
16 Feb 21
I think I am the same both online and offline. It really depends to a person I am communicating with. I don't only shake my head here but laugh most of the time reading on Mylot.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Feb 21
Oh yes, I have a lot of laughs here too. There are people here I share more with than others.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76481)
• Germany
17 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum The same with me.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
15 Feb 21
Because this site, to me, is sort of a chronicle, or diary of sorts, much the person I am here it the person I am in real life. I divulge quite a lot of things here. Maybe some things I probably shouldn't. But even though we are mostly not really connected at all with the people we interact with here... There is still SOME sort of connection felt. And we tend to be more sharing with people we feel more connected to than those we are not.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Feb 21
There have been times I've regretted divulging some things here. These times are few and far between, but I usually disappear for awhile after that. I've known a few others who have done the same thing, including some who join the site again under a new identity.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
16 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Worst case scenario I would probably just delete the post or delete the comment,. But so far I have not really ever felt the need to do so.
1 person likes this
• Kenya
15 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum mmh so serious but raising and getting up after a fall takes great courage. Bravo!
1 person likes this
@Laurakemunto (12862)
• Kenya
15 Feb 21
@scribbledAdNauseum caring about what people think is a waste of time. Prove to yourself you can before anybody approves you
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Feb 21
Everyone is going to care what people think of them at one time or another. It's just human nature.
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
16 Feb 21
@Laurakemunto it can also be the other way round in that as we mature we care more what others think than we did when we were younger.
1 person likes this
• Kenya
15 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I agree but as we mature sometimes you care less especially if it's something that is not directly affecting you. Like having to be on the new trend each time a new fashion comes out, being reserved and somewhat conservative but I do agree with you
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157671)
• United States
16 Feb 21
I try to be me for real all the time. There are just things I do not discuss when on here.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Feb 21
That's understandable. I know of a few people here who have disappeared in the past because they shared too much. They've come back though.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
16 Feb 21
I gave this a serious thought ...I have realised that I react differently to different people and situations and all of those different personal traits are mine , so, I am what I am on mylot ..
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Feb 21
That makes sense. I know that even online I will interact with people differently from person to person.
1 person likes this
@May2k8 (18096)
• Indonesia
16 Feb 21
I'm real in real life or not, some things I can't tell you here.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Feb 21
I can respect that. There are some things I don't share here either.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43081)
• Staten Island, New York
16 Feb 21
I am same here though maybe I am more outgoing here than in real life. In real life I am more of an introvert.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Feb 21
I get that as I'm introverted too. I'm more extroverted with certain friends, but everyone else gets my introverted nature. Online I'm more sociable.
@lovebuglena (43081)
• Staten Island, New York
18 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I am more sociable online as well.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157247)
• United States
16 Feb 21
I find that I withhold my opinions on this site much more than I do in real life. If I don't approve of something someone says or does, most of the time I will keep silent.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Feb 21
I find myself withholding opinions too. I love this mylot community but there are not a lot of open minded people here.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157247)
• United States
16 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum That's for sure.
1 person likes this
@holdoors (2487)
• Malaysia
16 Feb 21
Mine is roughly the same but some people do have extremes when being online, it's like a safety blanket to them . A case by case basis is applicable when it comes to different people.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Feb 21
I love the way you described that. Safety Blanket is the perfect term for it.
1 person likes this