Is your Online identity vastly different from your Offline identity?
**Identity = **Personality, in the context of this post.
I insist on signing-off using the name, ‘Destination Infinity’ not only because I want it to become popular, but also because my online identity is vastly different from my offline identity (Rajesh K). I am myself surprised on how my online identity has grown its own wings and has developed its own character and personality – In short, I am faking my online identity, which is very different from my offline identity.
I am able to tell this to you because I don’t have any hidden agenda or I don’t stand to gain anything by doing it. I feel that the online world (esp. blogging) offers me the opportunity to live a different life, with a different personality – an alternate reality. And besides, this online personality has been developed over a few years – So far, I am liking it.
Bloggers who have met me in person will be able to understand what I am saying. People who know me in real-life (only) will be shocked that I even write & they’ll definitely not be able to associate me with ‘Destination Infinity’. That’s because I don’t even talk to others (unless there is some reason to) and humor is practically non-existent in my offline world.
It surprises me to note how many differences are there between the two identities that make me. I write what I want to, not what I am. That’s why I don’t assume that a blogger is what they represent online, or that a blogger can be known/read-into, through their words. I hope you don’t make such assumptions, as well.
I do occasionally allow my offline identity to surface (somewhat) – Read this, this and this post to see how different they are to most of my other posts that I (usually) garnish with humor and innocence. But even that represents only one layer of the multiple layers – the one I choose to show others.
How about you – Is your online identity different from your offline identity or are they somewhat similar? Do you think it’s possible to ‘judge’ a person through their words or do you also think it’s a silly idea?
Rajesh K
I agree with you. I’m not sure about others, but my personal take is, yes the online identity differs from offline identity. In my case, I’m a person who has less SQ. But I can’t be like that when I start a blog. I feel blogging is a platform where we can share some incidents, awareness and opinions to the outside world and there comes a need for communicating to the outside world. We can’t judge a person through their words, it depends upon actions.
I feel its mostly same with most of the bloggers. Though I am using my own identity & my posts keeps on changing like my offline self. At first I thought to do that but I feel my offline self is so diverse with so different people I interact with. There is only subtle differences when I jump from one group to other. 🙂
Writing under a different name is commonly seen in blogworld especially from womenfolk.There is nothing wrong about it.
What is written matters most for readers.But they know what is written or the personality indicated may not be real views or traits.People fake generally to present themselves in good light
I think that is the case with most people. In my case, I think I am more humorous offline that I am online. Because I usually blog when I want to rant or when I am feeling bad, more than the times when I am happy or content with something. People who read my blog would probably think I am always complaining about something, which is not true offline. Offline I dont usually show my emotions easily and wear a smiling mask on my face 🙂
My online personality and offline (office) personality are same. Only I use my initials (SG) instead of full name. But I try not to reveal too much about myself in my writing because that would distract. Of course, I have met 2 fellow bloggers who visited California.
It is not possible to judge a person through their words.
Interesting thought and insights!! Well, for me, both my online and offline identities are the same. The only difference, I believe would be, that in real life, I may take time to open up with strangers while here in blogging world, I connect with ‘strangers’ pretty easily! 😛
My identity as blogger and real life are same, but I am not that open when it comes to face to face. The matters I share are from my real life experience and thoughts. I believe in words of trusted people, to be true or not is in their hands.
I think most of the people try their best to be ‘nice’ people online! I might be like that too!
I write a lot about my personal experience and so most people might be knowing my character. I seem to be bold while writing here, be myself than while I am face to face with people. I love this medium because I can write my thoghts openly!
My sense of humour is not that good in person as is visible here…at least once in a while!
Hmm, I wouldn’t so strongly say “judge”. But I think an alternate reality is also sometimes your subconscious. My online and offline aren’t really that different. Ofcourse, I don’t share everything on the blog and I don’t think everyone does that either. But what I share is what I mean.
But what I do know is that people are generally more understanding here. I guess when you blog, you tend to reason out and show your point of view to people who are willing to read for whatever reasons. These readers empathize generally. However, a similar situation is real world might have met with a different reaction simple because there is no opportunity for such reasoning always. So, I guess it is a hard conclusion to make.
What is absolutely true is that there is no dearth of varied perspectives and learning happening 🙂
bloggers prefer nickname it can happen what we can not express freely in Indian society we can freely boldly say it in a blog world.
My identities are almost similar. But in a way, having different identities would help people overcome their normal fears and help push themselves more and more!
My online identity is not so different from my offline one. Except that I do not publish too much information about myself online. However, yes I agree that, an online identity can be extremely different from a real one. Being anonymous helps people overcome their shyness and interact different with others.
In my case, both my identities are same, and my friends (who’ve known me in person), can very well relate to what I write in my blog. Except the fact, that I talk spontaneously, faster and very active, but my writings doesn’t reflect them so much.