The Sword and Laser discussion
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Ready Player One
2011 Reads
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RPO: Virtual Identity
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I see my virtual identity as a way to express different aspects of myself. I cannot be a super nerd at home or at work so I find great groups such as this to bring out that part of my personality. When I was younger I tried to pretend to be something else online but now I embrace the good and bad parts of myself.
Jenny wrote: "I sometimes wonder if I make it too easy to figure out who I am, but I figure someone who wanted to know could find the information anyway. "I've studied social engineering a bit and this is most definitely the case. If you have a technologically savvy person after you, it's nearly impossible to defend against it. Even so, most of us are safe because of the sheer number of people online.
As for an online identity, I relate to Aech's wish to be treated by what I say and do online rather than arbitrary physical attributes that only serve to prejudice other people to what you want to say. I've had bad experiences of being treated differently in real life because of other people's prejudices and my experiences sharing my thoughts online have always turned out better. Even now, knowing what my name is and what I look like doesn't (and arguably shouldn't) affect what I'm saying, and that's what I like best about anonymity.
xenphi wrote: "...Even now, knowing what my name is and what I look like doesn't (and arguably shouldn't) affect what I'm saying, and that's what I like best about anonymity. "The best and the worst parts of anonymity are wrapped up there. I do not read comments on most unmoderated websites because of trolls and flame baiting. I do however love that I can post here and it doesn't matter what I look like or what I do for a living.
Andy wrote: "I do not read comments on most unmoderated websites because of trolls and flame baiting."I also do this, though I think trolling is also incentivized by the almost nonexistent cost of posting online.
I was never very good at creating an online identity. My online identity has always been just me, even back in the days when more people knew me by my handle than my real name.
I think my online persona is much more "me" than the way I present myself in the real world. I've always been able to express myself better in writing than in speech and I really suck at making small talk. I find it much easier to find common ground with people online. In person, I worry whether the person I'm talking to is even remotely interested in anything I have to say. Jeez. I need a life.
Sandi wrote: "I think my online persona is much more "me" than the way I present myself in the real world. I've always been able to express myself better in writing than in speech and I really suck at making small talk. I find it much easier to find common ground with people online. In person, I worry whether the person I'm talking to is even remotely interested in anything I have to say. Jeez. I need a life. ..."When will we stop apologizing for finding strength in community online? :)
@Jenny: I'm of the opinion that we all wear certain masks in certain situations to some degree. Obviously with some these may be more similar than different whilst with others they may vary wildly. This is not the say people arn't genuine, but in certain contexts we tend to reveal elements of us whilst perhaps not illuminating others. I'd like to think who I am here is authentic me, and it is, but its also just a facet of me. Really it tends to take time and context to get to know the whole of an individual.
Jenny wrote: "Little quotey from the book:"Nice. How appropriate.
I'm an extrovert in real life and usually do nothing but lurk in my online life. Always found that odd. I feel the biggest divide between a person's online identity and real life is the inclusion of a backspace key online. Even in a chat window I'll do heavy editing about my thoughts.
Joshua wrote: "I feel the biggest divide between a person's online identity and real life is the inclusion of a backspace key online. Even in a chat window I'll do heavy editing about my thoughts"*wishes for an in-person backspace*
Sandi wrote: "I think my online persona is much more "me" than the way I present myself in the real world. I've always been able to express myself better in writing than in speech and I really suck at making small talk. I find it much easier to find common ground with people online. In person, I worry whether the person I'm talking to is even remotely interested in anything I have to say. Jeez. I need a life."This post has me wondering if, while asleep, I turned on my computer, opened a browser, and created a separate Goodreads account.
I too am horrible at small talk (because it's so terribly dull and awkward) and worry whether people are interested in what I'm saying (most aren't) but I usually don't let that stop me from saying whatever it is I'm going to say.
Jenny wrote: "When will we stop apologizing for finding strength in community online? :) "Well said, Jenny. Well said.
This was the one part of the book that I'm not sure I agree with. I feel like people on the Internet are moving *away* from anonymity. The classic example is the explosion of Facebook. I think that's one of the reasons for why Facebook became so successful compared to other social networks. You had to use your real name. According to Zuckerberg, the younger generation is not really concerned about their privacy (and hence anonymity). I know that for me personally, I am happy to give up anonymity if it means fewer trolls. I've mostly stopped reading comments for this reason.
Paul wrote: "This was the one part of the book that I'm not sure I agree with. I feel like people on the Internet are moving *away* from anonymity. The classic example is the explosion of Facebook. I think t..."Whilst I'm not saying you’re wrong you may want to reflect on what you said, because any assertion made by Zuckerberg is going to be somewhat loaded and contentious when making such sweeping statements (not that he doesn't have access to some data). Parsing discussions with my wife who works with youths leads me to believe that it’s not so much that there is an explicit lack of concern for privacy by younger generations but more just a lack of consideration period and that they do still express similar concerns when they feel said privacy is breeched, or undesired effects result - it's often only when this occurs that they seem to express opinion.
I think the elements of such services are so enticing that they overshadow any such considerations.
Paul wrote: "I think that's one of the reasons for why Facebook became so successful compared to other social networks. You had to use your real name...."I would guess that there are literally millions of fake accounts on Facebook :)
I've played with a lot of ways of representing myself online, but lately have preferred to just be myself. I sometimes wonder if I make it too easy to figure out who I am, but I figure someone who wanted to know could find the information anyway.