Who is that person behind the screen?

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by wgrr

D-Ray, you aren't that far away. Let's get together and listen to some music. The only stipulation is a do not want to hear any legalize. Just kidding.

I don't argue because I am a lawyer. I'm a lawyer because I argue.

Regards,

D-Ray

[bobabode]

I'm the same although I suffer fools a little more here.

[BlueStreak]

I'm a bit different than I am here. But not much. Most of the bozos at work won't even talk politics around me anymore, I intimidate them. Mostly because they're a bunch of balloonheads who believe whatever the Rove Talking Point machine has programmed them to accept. When I started walking into the shop and telling them what their opinions were, before they had a chance to open their mouths, it drove a point home that made them squirm.

See........I own a radio too..............

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by bobabode

I'm the same although I suffer fools a little more here.

Much as I try to be a good christian I never could accept Paul's admonition to suffer fools gladly.

[HatchetJack]

I might be a red neck?

[barbara]

Merry, I'd like to think that I am the same whether face to face or via internet, but, I don't think it is all that simple. We all put on a different face for different situations. While I'm direct and transparnt in either venue, there are topics I would discuss face to face that I would not on the internet and visa versa. But, more interesting to me is the social shifts one makes as they negotiate their way through public forums in cyber space.

[barbara]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

It seems that sometimes manners call for us to be less than completely frank with others. If the anonymity of the net permits us to let our manners slide does it make us more honest?

Does it make us less honest, because we don't have to face the person with whom we're communicating and look that person in the eye of expose our body language to that person? Body language is pretty irrelevant on the net - I wonder if there is a substitute?

Does it make us more honest because we are uninhibited, which might be a function of manners or a function of other inhibitions?

Does it make us more likely to exaggerate, because we aren't otherwise able to emphasize the significance of something with voice inflection of other indicia of excitement or resolve?

Do we need more emoticons?

Your post is very good food for thought Barbara.

Regards,

D-Ray

great questions, DRay.
Food for thought, for sure.
And, I vote for more emoticons. In fact, I'd like to have a few to toss around in real life from time to time.

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by barbara

Merry, I'd like to think that I am the same whether face to face or via internet, but, I don't think it is all that simple. We all put on a different face for different situations. While I'm direct and transparnt in either venue, there are topics I would discuss face to face that I would not on the internet and visa versa. But, more interesting to me is the social shifts one makes as they negotiate their way through public forums in cyber space.

Can you elaborate on what you mean about social shifts?

Regards,

D-Ray

[barbara]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

I'm a bit different than I am here. But not much. Most of the bozos at work won't even talk politics around me anymore, I intimidate them. Mostly because they're a bunch of balloonheads who believe whatever the Rove Talking Point machine has programmed them to accept. When I started walking into the shop and telling them what their opinions were, before they had a chance to open their mouths, it drove a point home that made them squirm.

See........I own a radio too..............

Blue, I don't talk "politics" at work because I'm not allowed to for the most part. A lot of my job is political so neutral is a safe place to be. It's a nice contrast to come to a forum like this.

[barbara]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Can you elaborate on what you mean about social shifts?

Regards,

D-Ray

What I mean by social shifts..........

before the internet my opportunities to interact with the types of individuals and groups the internet offers was very limited.

Doesn't matter if I'm a nearly sixty year old lady with grown children when I'm here. Doesn't matter who you are either.
All my life I was identified by face to face perceptions. I was "George's daughter". I was "Michael's little sister", I was Mrs. XXXX, I was johny's mother. In cyberspace I am who I am and your perception is based on my words and written interaction.
I can allow you to know as much or little about me as I want to. And, these characteristics of interaction on the internet has produced a "shift" in the way I interact with individuals in cybershift as opposed to face to face. I don't think I'm much different than others in this regard. Maybe just more conscience about it .... the sociologist in me.
And, it is a learning experience. And, I find most internet groups/forums, have individuals in all stages of this learning process.