complete with soundtrack.

at some point during yesterday's power-tools-n-alcoholfest (wooo-hooo!) someone addressed the issue of having an 'online persona'. now, as someone who thinks of identity as pretty fluid and constructed in all contexts -- 3-dimensional or not -- this got me thinking about both how people may read what i write (with a certain tone or attitude -- constructing their own versions of me as they do so), as well as how we each presume that the way we see ourselves -- our sense of self -- is primary, and somehow more valid than the version(s) others see (on- and off-line).

relative to this thinking, i'm curious: for those of you who know or have known me in real life, how closely would you say my online self and real-life self (assuming difference) resemble one another? and if there is a difference between the two, what is it, exactly?

do you see yourself as having an online persona? if so, how is it different from your 3D self? do you think others see you as you see yourself, online and/or offline?

my inquiring mind wants to know.

accompaniment
They're lining up To mad dog your tilta whirl 3 shots for a dollar Win a real live doll All the lies that you tell I believed them so well. Take them back Take them back to your red house For that fearful leap into the dark I did my time In the jail of your arms Now Ophelia wants to know Where she should turn Tell me...what did you do What did you do the last time? Why don't you do that Go on ahead and take this the wrong way Time's not your friend Do you cry. Do you pray Do you wish them away Do you still leave nothing But bones in the way Did you bury the carnival Lions and all Excuse me while I sharpen my nails And just who are you this time? You look rather tired (Who drinks from your shoe) Are you pretending to love Well I hear that it pays well How do your pistol and your Bible and your Sleeping pills go? Are you still jumping out of windows in expensive clothes? Well I fell in love With your sailor's mouth and your wounded eyes You better get down on the floor Don't you know this is war Tell me who are you this time? Tell me who are you this time?
“Who Are You?” - Tom Waits.

Comments

[schmutzie]

I've been told that I am pretty much the same, which is almost disconcerting, because what if people find my online self unlikable?!

[mike wolf]

you are very similar... i on the other hand am a raging dick in real life, thank god for the screen that keeps me contained

[debbie]

i think your online self and your real self are very similar. as for me, i dunno. i think i'm the same online and off? what do you think?

[Neckbone]

I believed you to be a short, balding Asian man. Other than that you were bang-on.

[sweetney]

everyone's such a comedian on this post. dorks.

but seriously, don't any of you find this issue intriguing? don't you think about these issues of identity w/r/t yourself... and thus have something to remark on it regarding yourself?

or am i just the big thinking-too-much-about-crap assclown here?

heh. assclown. i've gotta start using that more often....

[Neckbone]

the issue is intriguing, and I think everyone would like to know how peoples' expectations differ from the reality of a meeting.

Meeting all of you was awkward for me, as being new to the whole scene I felt every bit an outsider (and I suck at meeting new people anyway). That said, you were as I'd imagined given the short time between reading and meeting (I'm a fekkin poet!).

[debbie]

i wasn't trying to be a comedian! i guess i never really gave it much thought because i'm not trying to be something i'm not while online. i'm referring to the tough guy act we know puny geeks are guilty of putting on online. heh.