You and Forums

Griffolion

Elite Member
Aug 18, 2009
2,207
0
41
Part of my degree course looked at the psychology of how we use internet forums. As people, we are far more likely to post offensive comments to each other that we would never have the guts to say in real life because we know there is minute chances of repercussion. We forum users know this as flaming, trolling etc.

Just wanted to get your thoughts on it really, do you flame, and if so do you know you're doing it because you won't get a smack in the face or do angry comments just come naturally to you?

Personally i never say anything on here that i wouldn't say in real life because i prefer to be true to my real persona on forums.

Thanks.
 

MusicalFreedom

New member
May 9, 2009
456
0
0
It's just funny to see people post huge meltdown rants, in an "oh my god, look at this whiny *****" kinda way. Not that I instigate it, but some people just take the Internet so seriously.
 

Ophiuchus

8 miles high and falling fast
Mar 31, 2008
2,095
0
0
Griffolion said:
i never say anything on here that i wouldn't say in real life because i prefer to be true to my real persona on forums.
This. The only difference between me on forums and me in real life is that I get to take more time to consider what I'm saying on forums, so it's usually worded better.
 

Proteus214

Game Developer
Jul 31, 2009
2,270
0
0
I generally go by one simple rule: say what you know to be absolutely true, nothing else. Seems to work pretty well so far.
 

Abedeus

New member
Sep 14, 2008
7,412
0
0
Cpt_Oblivious said:
I don't flame because I am a normal member of online society.
UP YOURS, CHUMP!

Griffolion said:
Part of my degree course looked at the psychology of how we use internet forums. As people, we are far more likely to post offensive comments to each other that we would never have the guts to say in real life because we know there is minute chances of repercussion. We forum users know this as flaming, trolling etc.

Just wanted to get your thoughts on it really, do you flame, and if so do you know you're doing it because you won't get a smack in the face or do angry comments just come naturally to you?

Personally i never say anything on here that i wouldn't say in real life because i prefer to be true to my real persona on forums.

Thanks.
Hey, don't make me go upside your head! Come 'ere a minute, o' yeah?!
 

Player 2

New member
Feb 20, 2009
739
0
0
MusicalFreedom said:
It's just funny to see people post huge meltdown rants, in an "oh my god, look at this whiny *****" kinda way. Not that I instigate it, but some people just take the Internet so seriously.
Hey, the internet is serious business.
 

walls of cetepedes

New member
Jul 12, 2009
2,907
0
0
Cpt_Oblivious said:
Proteus214 said:
I generally go by one simple rule: say what you know to be absolutely true, nothing else. Seems to work pretty well so far.
The Earth is flat.
No, it's lemon shaped.

OT:Nope, I don't flame. I usually ignore someone if they quote me harshly.
 

Sigel

New member
Jul 6, 2009
1,433
0
0
I try to be polite and formal in the forums, because my dry weird sense of humor does not translate well in type. I am a blunt person so I have to be careful what I type not to offend other people. I try to stay true to the person I actually am, I just have to tone it down a lot. In person, I am a bit of a spaz, who speaks with her hands a lot.
 

bodyklok

New member
Feb 17, 2008
2,936
0
0
I try not to take seriously anything on the internet, that said though, I still share thoughts with people who want to hear them and if I see someone saying something wrong I'll try to correct them, as long as it's a genuine mistake and not just somebody being retarded.
 

Jon Etheridge

Appsro Animation
Apr 28, 2009
1,384
0
0
I've learned to deal with the idiots out there. My general rule is, "If you wouldn't say it to them in real life, don't say it over the internet." I understand why people do it. It's because it's easy. It's easy to sit on your computer 1000 miles away from somebody and call them a fucktard. And some people actually get a kick out of it. I just ignore them.
 

Doclector

New member
Aug 22, 2009
5,010
0
0
I haven't done too well on forums. I was hated on one forum, left it, and then I accidentally annoyed a load of people, and left so I wouldn't annoy people any more, and then I came here, and I'm hoping not to make the same mistakes here.
 

Antlers

New member
Feb 23, 2008
323
0
0
I'm a lot more argumentative on forums because I can think about what I'm going to say. I don't try to be offensive though... Well. Not on this forum anyway. I sincerely doubt everyone here actually talks like they type. I rarely hear conversations constructed in upper class 1920s English anyway.
 

Eleuthera

Let slip the Guinea Pigs of war!
Sep 11, 2008
1,673
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0
I tend to be a bit more outspoken and argumentative online, both because of annonimity and a chance to prepare what I'm going ot say (and fact checking). Offline I'm incredibly shy though, so this really is the only way to speak my mind on occasion.
 

Bobbyskizza

New member
Aug 24, 2009
49
0
0
I'm generally pretty relaxed on forums, I dont care if people are harsh and I dont tend to be harsh to others.
 

mikecoulter

Elite Member
Dec 27, 2008
3,389
5
43
MaxTheReaper said:
I am actually a bit more polite on forums than in real life.
Are you kidding Max? I thought in real life you gave out free hugs and flowers day to day?