Current Events > Do you believe people are better people in real life than online?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Some yes, some no.

Generally, yes I think people are better in real life. At least I know that I am, and while I act fairly similar, my bluntness comes off as sincere in real life, but I just seem like an asshole here sometimes.

Yes, generally speaking. At least more subdued.

People don't have to worry about getting punched, losing a job, or whatever else online as opposed to in person

I think that the anonymity that the internet provides (in forums like this at least) allows people to be more extreme and bigger assholes

I'd say generally yes. Many people use the anonymity of the Internet to say things they would never say face to face. So they're usually better behaved in person. Not everyone is worse online though

i dunno. i behave exactly the same online and offline. people who dont do that confuse me

Of course they are, even the bad people. Real life has consequences.

nocturnal_traveler posted...

Of course they are, even the bad people. Real life has consequences.

I call that "punch proximity". People tailor the way they present and express themselves/their views with recognition of how much those things could result in a hothead getting punchy about it.

They just hide their opinions irl

Of course. You can get in real, actual trouble irl. And also some people are just cowards.

People generally have something in them that allows them to hold back on acting on certain types of thoughts/etc when other people can see their faces.

Things like wearing masks to be essentially anonymous is a known factor for people being able to do things they would not do without the safety of said mask. The internet is similar.

"Punch Proximity" as you put it is also a factor.

I think internet anonymity has the same effect as alcohol in terms of putting certain people in a state of comfort to reveal how they really think and act.

Hayame_Zero posted...

I think internet anonymity has the same effect as alcohol in terms of putting certain people in a state of comfort to reveal how they really think and act.

Hmm... disagree.

Its worse (anonymity).

When you are drunk, and around people, you at least still have some consideration for how you look. You just think you look better than you look. Or sing, etc.

Online, no one can hear you... sing? Er, anyway, point is, you are completely safe to do whatever, and get encouraged too.

Drunkards generally don't go out of their way because the "good part" of being drunk where you are actually willing to do crap is short lived before you enter the "you are just grumpy and want to rant" part. During which you will generally not go out of your way to move much, but rather access the closest means of complaining to someone (in person to someone, a phone, e-mails, posting on GameFAQs or something) and just start rant rantily ranting to blow off steam at how horrible and terrible the world is, and how much everything and everyone has wronged you.

Anonymity alone empowers you to, well, do those things while motivated to actually do stuff about it sometimes.

Don't get me wrong, being a drunkard is not good. And you will hurt those around you. But often you will not actually MEAN to, and are really just going on about this or that rambling thing.

People IRL try to show their best side but its generally insincere and full of bullshit, depending on environment (ie- work). People online try to exaggerate their worst side because it's funnier and also usually post a bunch of fake bullshit if they're Opsec cautious types. Take your pick.

other: "yes".
i dont need tc to explain my reasoning

Mostly, yes.

No they're worse. You just block people or step away from the screen online. It's harder avoiding disgusting humans irl.

BloodMoon7 posted...

No they're worse. You just block people or step away from the screen online. It's harder avoiding disgusting humans irl.

god a RL block button would be fucking amazing.

Mostly yes. You can be much more daring online, and that's not even including the trolls who have fun with the trolling itself.

Also, the internet is very bad with representing people anyways.

How many people are you interacting with offline, and how many online?

A single random bad apple throwing a fit on the internet is able to be seen by thousands.

A single random bad apple throwing a fit on a street is probably seen by a dozen.

The reverse couldnt be true: People are better online than they are offline.

So yeah, gotta agree.

No. People are just less compelled to openly be shit heads irl because there's a greater chance of consequences.
(I voted #2.)

I'm going to say yes

if being shitty is done in an anonymous or semi-anonymous setting like this, I wager most probably are not anything like they are online in real life. Anyone who is an asshole while using their real name and picture online is definitely an asshole in general.

No

You're still gonna run into bigots, assholes, liars, and worse irl

People are nicer IRL, but I prefer internet version of most people because that's when everyone shows their real face.

Nemu posted...

if being shitty is done in an anonymous or semi-anonymous setting like this, I wager most probably are not anything like they are online in real life. Anyone who is an asshole while using their real name and picture online is definitely an asshole in general.

See facebookers.

Eh, generally speaking I'd say yes, but seeing how people act IRL while on camera (knowing they are) kind of makes me wonder

Though I do realize that those are only a select few and those who stand out enough to garnish views.

I'm kinda the same either way. At worst I'm quicker to be snappish towards someone on the internet buuut that is caused people being a dickhead towards me which doesn't happen anywhere near as often in real life. And I have snaped at people in real life for it.

Also I have a weird sense of humor I don't display on the internet.

But to answer the question I feel people are more prone to being assholes on the internet. Two reasons being don't have to fear consequences like getting hit or the fact they can just drop it any second and walk away from it.

The internet has a way of bringing out the worst in people. I think trolls show their true colors online and so do the arrogant and those suffering the delusion of elitism. Even people who aren't trying to be asses can argue points in bad faith and unknowlingly create strawman arguments when attempting to rebut someone based on nothing more than their own prejudices. But I'm just as guilty as anybody and there are days where I wish the whole damn thing had never been invented. Pretty much everything that was awesome about my childhood has been ripped away due to the internet. Making so many things available at a mere finger click away has been the sharpest double edge sword I can think of since the Scientific Revolution.

Sheeesh, I hope yall actually arent like this in real life

No. People suck in general.

In a very general sense, I do think people are more or less better online than they are offline. We like to talk about how the anonymity lets people feel safe being as awful as they like, but the reverse is true as well. Anonymity makes it easier to find the courage to speak out against injustice and corruption. We can acknowledge the things we see wrong with the world in ways we wouldn't be able to offline, and better express our beliefs and convictions. And by being able to express our beliefs, we can more easily find people who share them, band together, and do whatever we can to improve the world. I like to think that holds more weight than racists feeling safe spewing slurs in their echo chambers.

I don't know if they're necessarily "better" I just think a lot of people hide the bad/combative parts of them better in real life.

Like, if I hear some random stranger spouting obvious BS about pretty much any subject, I'm not going to run up to them to correct them like I would on here.

No, if anything people are worse IRL

FL81 posted...

No, if anything people are worse IRL

ya im far worse

You can get punched in real life if you get out of line.

You cannot be punched online if you get out of line.

I believe people would act differently if they could get punched online.

If nothing else, it's atleast much more difficult to be a Russian troll bot IRL than online

Consistent shitty online behavior reflects the person's character so they're the same offline at the core. You just have to act a certain way around humans irl so you don't end up in jail or killed.

There's people that are shitty in person, but in general people seem more shitty online. I'm sure there's people that might not be complete assholes in person that are assholes online. There seems to be an unwritten rule of the internet that says you have to be an asshole for absolutely no good reason.

I can actually be myself offline and don't have some message board TOS forcing me to play nice.

Better? Nah. Completely different? Yah.