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| Online & Offline; When do you mix the two? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 10 2011, 03:01 AM (586 Views) | |
| Tariq | Dec 10 2011, 03:01 AM Post #1 |
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may the odds be ever in your favor
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There used to be a time where everyone was advised to use a fake name online because of security, and often times those people who followed that advise found themselves living completely different lives; one online and one off. I can relate because I was one of those people. But since we've gotten more used to the Internet and our skills of detecting what's real and what's not improved, younger generations started being more open with their online friends and it's evolved to a point where someone's online presence is just as loud if not louder than their offline counterpart. So what's your story? Do you have two separate lives going on at once or have your online and offline experiences sort of melded together? There's no doubt that Facebook, Twitter and various other social networks have definitely helped melt the two, but I'm sure there are some people here who might still be hiding behind a mask. As for me, I started online as Kyle because I was told to use a fake persona. My original account here is actually Kyle_Krit54. And I've made tons of friends all over the world who knew me as Kyle. But then the more comfortable I got with someone I would reveal that I wasn't Kyle, but Tariq. Then I started sharing other parts about my life with the closest of friends, but for those I just met I would only share the basics of living in America and loving Harry Potter. After a few years I realized that there's no point in hiding my name if I was going to tell people eventually, so I started telling the truth and it hasn't hurt me at all. I've gotten packages from Canadian and British friends and I feel just as safe as I did when I first joined online communities. I think in a way the danger of the Internet was so over-exaggerated when I was younger, but now people feel so much more comfortable to just be their selves online. The reason I made this topic is because my online life has actually benefited my offline one, and I was curious to see if others have gone through something similar. Because of my moderation and administrative history on this board I was actually hired at Apple and am now looking towards a leadership position and/or a spot in Cupertino. Without this board and my online life in general I don't think I would have had as much of an impact at my interview. So it goes to show just because you spend hours in a computer chair doesn't mean you have to keep all your experiences in that chair. You never know, it could lead to a life changing opportunity. |
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| lightfire | Dec 10 2011, 02:31 PM Post #2 |
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littlegraycloud
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I started using the internet at an exceptionally young age, so I had quite the imagination. On online games, I would boast a 'main account' that was a thousand times more superior than what I had then. Sometimes I would tell people that I'm extremely rich somewhere off to an uncharted island where I could only be reached via airplane, not to mentioned it was government issued, right? Of course, that's changed, however I've never mentioned my real name unless it were with people I could at least somewhat trust, so I've always used a cover name such as 'lightfire', or something of the sort.Really, the internet has taught me quite a few things; to speak with wisdom beyond my age, grammar and vocabulary skills... you know, as opposed to; OMG LOOOOOOL NOW AI I REALLY LIEK UR SHOES, WE SHUD HKANG OUT SOON RITE? ![]() |
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| Helena-ZNR | Dec 10 2011, 02:46 PM Post #3 |
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No PMs on this account please
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I think there is a balance of information that you can safely make public and that you cannot. I was part of a large social board (50,000 members) some time back in which some members formed factions that got rather contentious with each other. Some of the members sought out their board adversaries in real life and harrassed them in various ways. I recall one person bragging that they got someone fired from their job. And there were real-life lawsuits that came out of things that happened there. I was very glad that my account there was under a protected pseudonym, because you never knew if you would be the next person that said something that would put a bullseye on your chest. On the whole, it was a fun site--more fun than gun. I frequented it because it made me laugh, but it had that dark side too. In the end, the owners closed it down because of the legal issues from the member fights.Currently, I use my real first name, because it's comfortable for me, and because I've learned that if you really want to put in the energy to find out someones details, you can. But most people don't bother, and taking normal precautions about what you reveal online is sufficient. To address the other question of invented personalities: I have never had different personnas connected to pseudonyms. I'm pretty much who I am regardless of the name I'm using. ![]() |
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| Maiz | Dec 11 2011, 04:28 PM Post #4 |
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Lord of all things corn.
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It is weird how much of a swing in how much people spend online now compared to three or four years ago. In high school, all of my friends knew that I came on forums (mostly this one) and that I made stuff in Photoshop (that was mostly sigs and forum graphics at the time) but I never really talked about it with anyone. And I was never very good at keeping connections, especially when I stopped using and type of IM apps, but then things like Facebook and Twitter became bigger and I have quite a few people from here on those now. Twitter is a whole different beast. It used to be that I had friends that I knew on Facebook and mostly designers and people I didn't know personally on Twitter, but now that world is slowing merging together, which I find strange. When it comes to the safety issue, I was always careful but it was never a big thing on my list. I liked the anonymity of creating a username and then making something graphically that would represent it somehow. In a big way, forums lead me to my current career as a graphic designer. And it's kind of come full circle because my most recent design work had a lot to do with what I post on Twitter. |
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| Trapnest | Dec 12 2011, 05:14 AM Post #5 |
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can you feel it now?
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I'm pretty open but I do exclude some things... but I rely on the internet for work, design and writing so obviously I want to be interpreted well and such and include enough information for my clients. I mean, I'm living with Erkengel. The guy I met on the internet, on THIS forum 7ish years ago. I'm the same online as I am off. Well maybe a little more shy in person but you get the gist. |
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| Kevin | Dec 13 2011, 04:59 PM Post #6 |
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paradise
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Before I came to the SZ several years ago, I went by Lance and tacked on a few more years to my age. Obviously, I couldn't care less about that now, but I am still careful not to reveal personal information and stick to mostly small talk these days. Foruming definitely helped me in the long run though. Reviewing for such a long time improved my writing and enlarged my word bank substantially; and because I was spending so much time on the internet, I found myself getting into current day issues that actually influenced me to take on the field of study I am now.
Edited by Kevin, Dec 13 2011, 05:00 PM.
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| Cory | Dec 13 2011, 11:38 PM Post #7 |
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Member
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My online and offline life have mainly intertwined by meeting people in person from the internet. For example, I met Helena and her husband Dean in person once, and I met one guy named Dan from a Yu-Gi-Oh community I use to trade cards on. I have also applied things I have learned on the computer during my offline time; for example, I often think of CSS traits when I visualize things, like when I see a blue car I automatically think 'background: blue;' and I often do the same for HTML. As for a lot of people, online work has put money in my pocket at times, and I think using words and looking up words in an online dictionary as such has improved my language. |
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10:08 AM Jul 11
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![]](http://b1.ifrm.com/0/1/0/p601690/pipright.png)
After a few years I realized that there's no point in hiding my name if I was going to tell people eventually, so I started telling the truth and it hasn't hurt me at all. I've gotten packages from Canadian and British friends and I feel just as safe as I did when I first joined online communities. I think in a way the danger of the Internet was so over-exaggerated when I was younger, but now people feel so much more comfortable to just be their selves online.




Of course, that's changed, however I've never mentioned my real name unless it were with people I could at least somewhat trust, so I've always used a cover name such as 'lightfire', or something of the sort.
10:08 AM Jul 11