Poll of the Day > Do you think most people really are "better" in person than they are..

(+) Yeah! (+)

Do you think most people are "nicer" in real life face to face as opposed to when you're conversing with them on the internet or on the phone? I've heard this a lot, do you think it's really true?
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I think that most people are monsters wearing human skins, and the Internet is the place where they let their masks slip a bit.

It's the difference between saying anonymity makes people worse, versus the idea that anonymity simply reveals who people really were all along.

"Character is what you are in the dark."


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People are always garbage, they just know they can be punched out irl.
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I'd say most people are better in person than online. Anonymity and no risk of damaging reputations can really bring out the asshat side of people that normally would be suppressed in person.
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Hard to say although, as PO points out, some people might secretly be assholes inside but keep their inner-asshole in check. That would also bring us into the idea of whether a person is better for acting good or if they also have to mean good; ie, whether a man is defined by his choices or more by the intent behind those choices.

However, as a counterpoint, I will point out that certain caustic environments -- including the internet -- can make people far worse than they are. That doesn't necessarily mean that somebody is a bad person, because just like certain environments can encourage people to act in a better manner, there are environments which can provoke them to act far worse. While there may be an absolute cap on behavior, it's possible that you can psychologically break a human down into doing whatever violent, depraved behavior you want so that even a person too timid to squash a bug could be reconditioned into a murderer.
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ParanoidObsessive posted...

"Character is what you are in the dark."

Asleep?
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Which also somewhat reminds me of how I've previously pondered whether a good many comedians are nothing more than racists who find socially acceptable ways to vent their racism. Likewise, I've half-wondered if horror creators -- guys like Stephen King -- are deeply disturbed sociopaths simply for being able to think up those kinds of stories, things which wouldn't occur to more ordinary brains (and, of course, if the viewers of such content might be damaged themselves).
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Zeus posted...

Which also somewhat reminds me of how I've previously pondered whether a good many comedians are nothing more than racists who find socially acceptable ways to vent their racism. Likewise, I've half-wondered if horror creators -- guys like Stephen King -- are deeply disturbed sociopaths simply for being able to think up those kinds of stories, things which wouldn't occur to more ordinary brains (and, of course, if the viewers of such content might be damaged themselves).

Stephen King is a terrible example of a normal person. A lot of bad shit has happened to him. For one, his best friend got smoked by a train right in front of him when he was a kid. It's not hard to imagine why he's good at writing about fucked up anguish.

Yes people are better in person unless they're awful. Voice tone and physical cues make up a huge part of communication and the internet cuts all of that out.

SomeUsername529 posted...

Stephen King is a terrible example of a normal person. A lot of bad shit has happened to him. For one, his best friend got smoked by a train right in front of him when he was a kid. It's not hard to imagine why he's good at writing about fucked up anguish.

Makes sense that he wrote Stand By Me, then. However, I was more referring to the "creativity" of some of the messed up stuff that happens in his work although, I suppose, it's possible that horror authors have some dark shit driving them.

SomeUsername529 posted...

Yes people are better in person unless they're awful. Voice tone and physical cues make up a huge part of communication and the internet cuts all of that out.

Which, tbh, is another interesting consideration.
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Considering the fact it's much more easy to say things over the internet than in person without any repercussions I'd say people are probably better in person than on the internet. That's not saying much though as I still feel indifferent about most people on the internet and in person.

Kyuubi4269 posted...

People are always garbage, they just know they can be punched out irl.

They also know that if they assaulted cops can arrest the person doing said assault.
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It is absolutely true.

Most people will generally act with at least a little decency in person because there is always that chance of a reprisal.

Over the phone or internet, unless you know them IRL there is not. So they do whatever they want regardless of manners.
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I hope not. I hate fake people. Don't be an asshole online and smile to my face.

WarGreymon77 posted...

I hope not. I hate fake people. Don't be an asshole online and smile to my face.

Can I be a arsehole to your face?
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wwinterj25 posted...

WarGreymon77 posted...

I hope not. I hate fake people. Don't be an asshole online and smile to my face.

Can I be a arsehole to your face?

Yep. People who pretend to be nice give us real nice people a bad name.

WarGreymon77 posted...

Yep. People who pretend to be nice give us real nice people a bad name.

Wonderful!
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People realize they can get their ass beat in person, so it stands to reason they'll be tougher behind a keyboard. Years ago, some guy had a beef with my friend because his g/f had gone out with said friend before him and she was still clearly in love with him. He only broke up with her because he was moving away and they were still in high school. Even after graduation, this guy's "I'm gonna kick your ass" attitude stayed loud and proud online. He was a Nickelback fan, so we should have expected douchebaggery long before it happened.

Somehow, I ended up getting dragged into it without interfering in any way. It became "our asses" and it was impossible to let things go by now as he couldn't stop running his mouth behind our backs (we had mutual friends) and uttering threats. Finally, I said something like "okay, how about I drive over to your house right now and beat the shit out of you on your front lawn in front of your mother?" (I'm by no means a bad-ass, I just wanted a resolution after being dragged into it by association). After literally 2 years of his threats directed at others, his responses to my challenge were "you're so immature". "I don't want to fight you", etc... But to his credit, he dropped the whole thing at that point rather than resuming his whole internet tough guy routine.

Of course, my friend being one to stoke the flames of any situation he landed himself in fucked his ex (still this guy's g/f at that time) when he came to visit the next summer.
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ShinRaKnight posted...

It is absolutely true.

Most people will generally act with at least a little decency in person because there is always that chance of a reprisal.

Over the phone or internet, unless you know them IRL there is not. So they do whatever they want regardless of manners.

Actually, many of my overly liberal relatives act like total asses on social media despite being ok IRL. One accused his mom of being a KKK member which, of course, is silly because he'd know if she actually was.
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Yes, at least in appearances, and how they actually act (in front of you or no).

On the internet, the "wearing a mask" style anonymity, coupled with the impersonal nature of most online interactions greatly reduces the brakes on impulses to do some things.
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I want to think so, but some people I just can't believe it

Zeus posted...

Hard to say although, as PO points out, some people might secretly be assholes inside but keep their inner-asshole in check. That would also bring us into the idea of whether a person is better for acting good or if they also have to mean good; ie, whether a man is defined by his choices or more by the intent behind those choices.

However, as a counterpoint, I will point out that certain caustic environments -- including the internet -- can make people far worse than they are. That doesn't necessarily mean that somebody is a bad person, because just like certain environments can encourage people to act in a better manner, there are environments which can provoke them to act far worse. While there may be an absolute cap on behavior, it's possible that you can psychologically break a human down into doing whatever violent, depraved behavior you want so that even a person too timid to squash a bug could be reconditioned into a murderer.

I just can't imagine you being a good person at all.
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sometimes in a social gathering one toxic person (usually the girlfriend of one of my friends) is enough to turn everything into ****
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I think people use the internet to pretend to be more than they are. Better or worse.
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jedirood posted...

I just can't imagine you being a good person at all.

You're such an obvious tryhard

OhhhJa posted...

jedirood posted...

I just can't imagine you being a good person at all.

You're such an obvious tryhard

Zeus, get off your alt.
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