Yesterday whilst visiting my chatroom an interesting topic came up. After a bit of a bitch about trolls being really irritating, someone announced that people troll because the internet isn’t real. I found this statement quite baffling. I know that for some, venturing online feels like entering a foreign country where no one speaks English; but is the internet so far removed from reality that it’s morphed into an alternate universe?
The internet can remove the accountability you have for your actions and bump up your courage points while you’re hidden anonymously behind your computer screen. People may behave differently under these circumstances and say or do things that they wouldn’t ordinarily do, but it’s still them, is it not? They don’t develop some alternate personality, it’s the same person with lowered inhibitions.
I’ve always hated the term “IRL” (In Real Life).
Example. I have this friend IRL that doesn’t use the internet.
What? I tend to avoid categorising my life into sections of real and make-believe, lest I develop schizophrenia. I really just don’t understand this distinction between “real life” and the internet. I don’t miraculously turn into some other person when I open my browser. The rules of interaction may change - I wouldn’t go up to someone in person and make little star (*) motions with my hands whilst hugging them - but the norms of communication are still essentially the same, no? You’re still communicating with a real and tangible person and it’s still possible to develop ties and feelings with that person.
Granted, there are many out there that aren’t honest about themselves online (tsk tsk) and take advantage of the anonymity that the internet provides; but there are liars and assholes everywhere. They follow you into your “real life” too. I know several.
I use the internet a lot. It’s my source of income as well as a hobby. As far as I’m concerned it’s a part of my life, not a separate entity floating along beside it. Honestly, I feel bad for people that need to maintain a second life to make their first bearable. I’m far too lazy for that.
Tom responded on 01 Feb 2008 at 2:38 pm #
I always found it silly that people tend to make the distinction between “IRL” friends and “online” friends.
People you have met in person can still lie about themselves. Just because you have lunch and coffee with a person a few times doesn’t mean you know anymore about them than if you had those some lunchtime conversations via instant messenger.
If you hadn’t seen one of your IRL friends in over a year, and only communicated via email/blog/myspace/instant messenger/etc, would they suddenly become downgraded to online friend status? I don’t really see the difference. A friend is a friend. Personally I don’t make the distinction.
Another thing I find silly is when people say “It’s just the internet” to justify things such as trolling and harassment. I dare say if somebody were to call that person’s phone and harass/troll them or send hateful/harassing letters to their home via snail mail, they wouldn’t say “Oh, it’s just the phone” or “It’s just the mail”. In fact, I do believe that would be considered a crime in many places of the world. So why are such actions so excusable on the internet?
Ravey responded on 02 Feb 2008 at 9:47 am #
WHY can’t someone explain this to my mother?! I’ve tried so many times and I always get the same response. “It’s not real.” I consider RP and the internet my hobby. I totally agree with Casey. It’s not hard to develop ties and bonds with people. Friends are friends. Even my fiance–who I met in Chat Avenue, now lives with me.
Wow, guess what mom? Remember that guy you told me I’d never meet, who doesn’t care about me, who ‘isn’t real’??
HE LIVES WITH US NOW. V_v
I do find my self relating between IRL, and internet. But I do that in terms of RP. If I say I’m pregnant–people ask, IRL, or here. I assume by here they mean on the internet as an RP’er, and I answer as such.
But for the most part, I agree. People are people–whether they have a screen and a name to hide behind or not. It’s real, in all honesty.
proh responded on 11 Feb 2008 at 7:06 pm #
People on the internet are fake as fuck. Just about everyone you speak to acts nothing like they do when you actually meet them. In no way do I consider the internet my life.
You should do more rants.
Required Name responded on 06 Mar 2008 at 10:06 am #
How did this start being about trolls and then morph into the old 90s anonymity paranoia? I’m nine (9) pages deep into a Google search and this is the first nearly-relevant page I’ve come across to oppose people being assholes to one another on the internet.
The difference between “real life” and the internet is that in real life you’re physically interacting with people as opposed to electronically.
Steve responded on 06 Mar 2008 at 10:31 am #
Well said. I agree.