Are You a Fake Persona?

How Real Are You Online?

from JoeUser Forums
Having an alias is OK, nothing wrong with that at all. I have an alias, but some of you know my real name (and vice versa). I've often wondered about the people who do create fake persona's though, what do they get out of doing that? Notoriety, perhaps! Is that how they can really be themselves or 'act real' - if they are real, they don't need to put on an act, wouldn't you agree?! It seems that some people do get a kick out of pretending though.


Another thing that I never understand are people who pretend to like someone when they secretly hate the person. Or they pretend to be in a better job, home, have a better car, lifestyle and they don't! What's all that about? Or even worse, they do have the 'trappings' but then they pretend that they don't, as if everyone is going to target them or something! Even worse if they use that to hang over your head as if it's some sort of lollipop that you're supposed to lick at their command!


There are also those that pretend they know everything about anything! They speak with full authority but are never really able to answer a question or make a point that makes sense to most! There are those that are often indignant at anyone who has the audacity to question them!


I've noticed that some of these types of people have a hard time keeping their 'stories' straight or even find it very taxing to keep the pretence up for long. Eventually they choke on their own words!

It's sad when someone has to do anything like this. They end up receiving pity (or the ire of others) and not the accolades they feel they deserve!

While anonymithy is important for some, being able to create an honest personality is always best, especially in a 'community' environment!
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Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

I am what I am and that's all that I am.  It takes too much time and energy conjuring up some persona and keeping all the details straight...I don't want to do all that work.

~Zoo

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I am what I am and that's all that I am

You're Popeye the sailor man!
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
OK, let's play that game. I never thought that anonymity is a very useful tool.

Everybody knows (or can know) who I am, where I live, and what I do. My homepage has pictures of myself and my home, my phone number, everything.

http://web.mac.com/ajbrehm/Home/Welcome.html

http://web.mac.com/ajbrehm/Home/About_Me.html

That's who I am.

Who are you?
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
am what I am and that's all that I am.


You're Popeye the sailor man!


! There's also a song of the same name, I forgot who sang it though.



Everybody knows (or can know) who I am, where I live, and what I do. My homepage has pictures of myself and my home, my phone number, everything.


That's all very good for you. I have pictures of me on my blog here, I talk about my family, and about myself. A few people here have my address and phone number. Knows my full name.





Who are you?


Get to reading my blog!!


I will say that my online personality is me, but amplified.


That's good!


For example, I might say my landlord is a worthless piece of shiite on these forums, but I won't be saying it to their face until I'm ready to move on out of here. (which i plan to do soon.)I might shout from the JU rooftops that Obama Sucks, but I wouldn't do that at the corner store which is almost exclusively patronized by dubious-looking, thuglike, young black men.


Most definitely not! I think writing gives a lot of people an edge and often times that's how other personalities are formed, in my un-learned opinion that is!


And I probably come off as a tougher cookie to crack online than I am in person. That's fine with me though, it keeps most people at a comfortable distance and allows me to be very choosy about who gets to see my 'soft underbelly.'


A very tough cookie!! Yes, being able to choose is a good thing I think!
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
It always annoys me to see others pretending to be one way or another when it's obvious that it's fake, but then again, maybe it's not my place to judge their motivations. Maybe it's all in fun for them?

I am pretty honest on here. Heh, and Sabrina knows about as much about me as anyone. I wouldn't go so far as to lie on here, but I don't always share everything. If something is really embarrassing or I feel it makes me look bad and it's a completely unprompted revelation, I might decide not to share it.

I admire people who are willing to expose themselves completely and own up to everything, even the very unflattering. I have a great deal of respect for those who value and live honesty.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

Hey I can answer all those questions! 

Well ok a couple of em.....

Look where being honest has got me,   plain old,   boring,   quiet little life.... 

I think some lie cause they need to boost their self-esteem,   to cover less than a fantastically busy, rich,  and star-studded life!

Some are ashamed of just how ordinary their lives are,   and that is a real pity,   for most of us lead regular lives.

The worst shame lies in not LOVING our life!  not being thankful for yet another day,   another chance,   sheesh.

Fake persona?  me?   nope.   I'm at that place in a human's life where they can honestly say I gave my all,   and now I can rest.  I did the best I was capable of,   and for me,   that's awesome.

Ok,  now i get down off my soapbox.... 

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top

Some are ashamed of just how ordinary their lives are, and that is a real pity, for most of us lead regular lives.
End of quote


That's it exactly.

Or perhaps exactly not...

I am not so much ashamed as I am disappointed. Nobody's life is "ordinary" unless they make it so. There shouldn't be such a thing as a "regular" life.

I have always tried to find the balance between leading an interesting life and not actually doing anything. It's impossible, I know; but I am so close!
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top

You're Popeye the sailor man!

Popeye had some words of wisdom and the ass kicking ability to back it up.

~Zoo

Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
I wouldn't go so far as to lie on here, but I don't always share everything.


Me too, not lie, I don't always share every details, but I do share a lot!



I have a great deal of respect for those who value and live honesty.


Amen to that!


I think some lie cause they need to boost their self-esteem, to cover less than a fantastically busy, rich, and star-studded life!Some are ashamed of just how ordinary their lives are, and that is a real pity, for most of us lead regular lives.


This is true Trudy!


I am not so much ashamed as I am disappointed. Nobody's life is "ordinary" unless they make it so. There shouldn't be such a thing as a "regular" life.


Disappointment is a good word for how most people feel about their lives. I also agree with you on how ordinary someone's life is, if they make it so!


I have always tried to find the balance between leading an interesting life and not actually doing anything. It's impossible, I know; but I am so close!


! You've got to share how you do that when you do!


Popeye had some words of wisdom and the ass kicking ability to back it up.


And boy did he have the ability!!
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

I don't tell everything.  Some of it because I don't have the time, some because its not my business to tell.

I am a fairly open person. 

I give people on the net much more slack than in real life though.  It's harder to read people on the net, without the benefit of body language.

The only thing I don't think I represent well on the net is my faith.  I will talk about it, mildly debate it, but ultimately I think discussing it on the net is almost always a waste of time.  I think it takes personal warm human relationships to really discuss something as sincere as faith, or lack of it...and a myriad of other topics as well.

 

 

Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think it takes personal warm human relationships to really discuss something as sincere as faith, or lack of it...and a myriad of other topics as well.
End of quote


I consider this training so I know what I could come up against in personal conversation. :D
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top

I am what I am and that's all that I am

You're Popeye the sailor man!

Beat me to it!

Ok, you found me out.  I am actually a 17 year old girl posing as a 50 year old man!

I dont think I could keep up a persona.  I am too passionate about some things, and they would always betray me.  As we have seen, others have tried and usually fail miserably.

Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
When I first came here I was too afraid to speak my mind. I would tend to agree with most people who seemed like the top people on the site just to fit in. I was a very lonely person as a teen. With time I learned to stand up for what I believed in and to express myself more regardless of what others think.

I have always been this person you have met here, just maybe not as open as many here.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
If someone admitted they were just a fake persona, woudl that then make them a real persona?

Not that I have anything to admit, mind you. ;)
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
It's harder to read people on the net, without the benefit of body language.


I know! It's hard to read between the lines!


The only thing I don't think I represent well on the net is my faith. I will talk about it, mildly debate it, but ultimately I think discussing it on the net is almost always a waste of time. I think it takes personal warm human relationships to really discuss something as sincere as faith, or lack of it...and a myriad of other topics as well.


I understand!


I know what I could come up against in personal conversation


Good for you! Being able to figure things out, a good thing!





Ok, you found me out. I am actually a 17 year old girl posing as a 50 year old man!


!


I dont think I could keep up a persona. I am too passionate about some things, and they would always betray me.


Exactly what happens to some people who do try to do that!


With time I learned to stand up for what I believed in and to express myself more regardless of what others think.


This is very good! Some people do learn something from online communication! I guess it's easy not to rock the boat, but it's often hard not to do that when you're passionate about your ideals!
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top

I'm not sophisticated enough to come up with a fake persona.  I don't have the time.

Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
Ok, you found me out. I am actually a 17 year old girl posing as a 50 year old man!
End of quote


That would blow my mind.  X-( 

~Zoo
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
I don't have the time.


Tell me about it! The time and effort involved to do that....!


Ok, you found me out. I am actually a 17 year old girl posing as a 50 year old man!
That would blow my mind.

I just don't want that visual in my head!!
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think most people online are pretty much how they are in real life. I think no matter how much you try to hide your true self it will come out. You can only be who you are.

JU like any other online community probably has it share of fake personas but I don't think they are as prevalent as other sites. Personally when I read someone's articles it never enters my mind they might be fake. But if they appear to be full of excuses, never do no wrong and act like they're far superior I do tend to wonder about them.
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think no matter how much you try to hide your true self it will come out. You can only be who you are.


You definately have a point there!


JU like any other online community probably has it share of fake personas but I don't think they are as prevalent as other sites. Personally when I read someone's articles it never enters my mind they might be fake.


True!
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm real.
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
No wonder you weren't in the white pages.
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
My real name isn't Little Whip.
End of quote


NOOO! My world is shattered! Delusions and illusions everywhere! I don't know what's real anymore! I can't quit using exclamation points!

~Zoo!
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm real.


Thank God!!


I have a confession to make.My real name isn't Little Whip.


Dum-du-du-dum.....!!



No wonder you weren't in the white pages.


Or the yellow ones! Wait, that's for businesses, scratch that!lol!

I don't know what's real anymore! I can't quit using exclamation points!


Say it aint so! Say it ain't so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!