What the hell happened here?!

[Taiga]

No.  Having a shy personality in RL and pretending to be something you're not online and deceiving others into believing you are a totally different person is pathetic.  Be the same person online as you are offline (or vise-versa) and I won't have a problem with it, whether you're mouthy, shy, bubbly, flamboyant, whatever.

OMFG...seriously, there are too many furries like this...It IS pathetic, I'm behind you 100% there Naeth. >:(  Sure, some people can't deal with large crowds and are much better with one or two people...but really, unless you are actually playing another character online, such as some claim, then maybe there should be a discrepancy where one would place an 'OOC' so people will know when the REAL person is actually saying something that can be taken for the truth.  You can't expect people to take you seriously if you are say, shy, but go about talking up a storm like you are some tough-assed-who-knows-what wanna be online, the when faced with reality you back off and run away because the truth comes out.  A lot of furries don't clarify if they are actually playing the character they WANT to be vs someone they actually ARE.  The neat thing is, some of us can pick this shit out a mile away.  Usually the ones who talk the big tough talk are the same ones who run and log off when you slap them with the truth.

[Carthage]

The problem with expecting everyone to behave the same online and off is that people almost invariably feel safer in an online environment.

People feel like they can express their true feelings, opinions and desires in the online environment because they aren't going to be judged as harshly, if at all. Some of those have fantasies that can only be realized in an online environment, and those fantasies are often accompanied by a change in behaviour and perceived personality.

Getting to know someone online may actually be getting to know them better than you think. A person's behaviour offline may seem to indicate otherwise but for better or worse, deep down their online personality is probably a better reflection of who they really are.

[Taiga]

Hey I'm all for expressing one's true feelings as long as everyone knows it's the actual person they are hearing, and not a character they are posing as.  HUGE DIFFERENCE.  When you end up talking to someone who is posing, and they're not being honest about it, that can be harmful to the one who is being duped...giving some facade of something that isn't true.  Playing a character and whatever fantasies involved with that character is great, as long as it's done in an area where everyone knows it's an actual role play, and everyone is on the same card table, so to speak.
The fact that people feel safer online than off I guess, is a personal opinion, because there is a lot more crap online to actually view.  Anyone and everyone can get in their jabs, so it's not necessarily a safer spot.

[Sikkab]

Everything said online is RP, and not actually what the person believes.

[Taiga]

A lot of the times in furry-land, this is the case.  Sad, but true.  Kinda makes it hard to form any kind of trust, doesn't it?

[z00p]

Yeah, I agree with taiga as well.

I know a few people online.. who live in this.. made up fantasy world where they are totally disconnected from reality.  Any queries into their 'real life' is met with an aggressive defense, or just altogether ignoring the question.  Every time I talk to them, they'd talk the same way, trying to act all cute or in character or what not, but I kinda already know the guy is a harsh liar.  Then you've got all these people who pretend to be female and lie about it for whatever reason I don't know.  Too many.

I just wish they were real with themselves... srsly.
I don't want to talk about hugs and glomps and happy things weeeeeeeeee everytime I talk to you, no, I want to talk to YOU.

[zenia]

Hey I'm all for expressing one's true feelings as long as everyone knows it's the actual person they are hearing, and not a character they are posing as.  HUGE DIFFERENCE.

This. I don't like it when I am talking to a "character" online and it isn't the true thoughts and feelings of the person I am talking to. I talk as MYSELF online and like to talk to others that are being themselves. Sure, I am a little more outspoken online... but everything I say, I mean. :P

[Taiga]

It's too bad more people don't do this, because it really does nothing more than to feed the FAKE beast.  I can count on one hand the people who I trust, who are furry, that are actually who they are online as they are offline.  The rest...pathetic.  There's one thing in this world that breaks trust more than anything.  Lying about who you are.
I know there are people who say they are the same offline as they are online, but will not prove this.  Like z00p mentioned, as soon as you so much as ask or dig a little to find the truth, you get smacked with anger, avoidance, or more lies. :roll:  Good way to promote trust.

[zenia]

The only thing I don't tell the truth about online is my real name... mostly because I hate it and want to change it legally. :P People that get commissions from me and pay through PayPal know my real name, since I only use it where I have to. Everything else though is real.

I always think of my grandma who says "Everyone lies on the Internet!!!" and when I say that I don't, she likes to break out with "Well, do you tell people your weight?!" ... as if people online will really care how much I weigh. Then again, who walks up to people IRL and goes "Hi, my name is *name*, how much do you weigh?" *rolls eyes*

[Xen Garden]

I too hate it when I am talking to a "character" online when I am trying to have an intelligent serious conversation with them. I never use my characters as a way to run away from my true personality. And even if I did speak as my characters, it wouldn't really change a thing cuz they are me in animal form. None of the personality's been changed. Only physical appearance in the roleplaying world. I'm happy with my personality, so I don't see why I should hide under a mask.

[Taiga]

I'm happy with my personality, so I don't see why I should hide under a mask.

Here here!  Give the girl a Mai Tai! :thumbs:

[Zetta]

So are we at the part where we put away the torches and pitchforks or are we still an angry mob because the internet is the ultimate placebo

[Taiga]

Internet is for Porn.  ;D

[Zetta]

Internet is for Porn.  ;D

And thus the ipad was born

[Taiga]

Posers use them too though.  Invasion of the posers!  Must be eradicated! :police: