Hf Irl

Because these forums are apparently using 1996 software, my title has to appear fucked up with lower case letters where none are intended.

So let's hear this...

Do you have an image in your head of what any of the HFers would be like in real life if you were to meet them? Do you think the image you have of them based on their online postings (as well as their pictures) would match their real life personality?

I have found that things are usually much different online than they are in actual life. Being on the internet allows person to express themselves more openly than they would in real life, and say things they likely wouldn't in a real life situation.

For myself, I think some people online might think I am an opinionated prick, but in person I am pretty quiet around people I don't feel I know well. I rarely express my opinions to people in my daily life. Overall people would describe me as a nice guy who doesn't say a whole lot, though I have wonders if sometimes people mistake my lack of verbosity for being arrogant.

 

Furthermore, have you met any HFers and found they were similar or very different than what you had expected before meeting them?

 

Since in most cases what we have of posters is their thoughts and sometimes images so it is probably common to base an opinion on that. I have found though that over time posters tend to become more comfortable and often you do get to "know" them a little better and sometimes understand them more. Or at least understand why they feel the way the do over some subjects.

In real life I am pretty much what I post like. What you see is what you get.

I have met two members from this forum and both were exactly who they claimed to be and it was a pleasure to meet them and their family.

 

I've never met anyone from HF and it's probably highly unlikely that I ever will. I'm pretty much the same on HF as I am in real life though.....depending on how much I care to talk or not talk.

I've been a member on another (relatively small) site for a long time and people there meet each other all the time. Plenty of people there have become great friends in real life. Many of us know each other so well that we don't even ask who is who when we meet up because everyone is usually well aware of who most of the people are and what their real names are (and even what their kids names are in some cases).

 

Fits my image of you

 

PR I picture being a lot like like he described himself, quiet and sort of aloof. Nice, keeping to his own business. I think a lot of "quiet" people come off as standoffish.

Heat I see as a loving mother, with a lot of common sense wisdom, a really strong soul, and a practical person who can solve just about any problem just because she has lived it at some point.

Hmm, Wizardofodd, not sure, will have to think about it.

 

nope. i have no idea. but as old as i am, and as long as i've been on here, the regulars who were around before the year 2000, must be no longer young and looking it.

 

Yes.

 

most are white teenage rastafarians, middle aged wiccan women, older gay men, or sword collecting virgins.

also choose two of the three possible smells: marijuana/body odor/patchouli

 

I've met two people from HF, Mally and Mattekat. I hit it off with both of them, and found them both to be pretty similar to how I perceived them online. Mattekat I was especially taken with - i really admired her wit and self confidence. She is the kind of woman who stays true to herself, no matter what. I hung out with her several times over the course of a week, and it wasn't enough for me.

PR, I don't think quietness is always perceived as arrogance. Personally, I perceive people who are quiet as confident listeners. I'm usually pretty chatty around people I know, but have been known to be quiet around people I've just met. I'd be more inclined to say you are cynical, as opposed to arrogant.

I'm sure there are people here who are much different in life than they allow themselves to be perceived online. It is the internet, it happens. I've met enough people online to know that. Just trust your gut, I say, and if you can see a having a real friendship with someone, albeit through a computer screen, then go for it.

There was a time in my life when most of my friends, if not all of them, were internet friends. My closest friend, Meg, passed away a few years ago, and I was devastated that I never had the chance to meet her in person.

 

id probably get along with just about everyone here

even the ones that think i hate them

 

You have internet friends whose names begin with "M".

 

There has been some subtle differences in the degree of talkativeness compared to how I perceived they might be, but pretty much everyone I've met here has been fairly similar to how they represent themselves on Hipforums. There is only one exception that comes to mind and even then a lot of his personality was fairly representative of the posts.

 

Well I'll be dammed......

 

my dick is bigger in real life.

 

I'm not real... I'm an internet bot.

 

I'm probably much more subtle than people here see me.

 

I was thinking about all this recently.
Firstly, I don't think worldwide general type forums are about real life stuff. They're discussion places, and no more about RL meeting than say.. the comments section of an online newspaper. Yes there are exceptions to this, but thats fairly rare most of the time.

I actually know a tiny, tiny number of HF'ers away from HF. But thats as far as I'll say on that aspect of it here.

As for other people... Well I think some I'd have nothing in common. A tiny number I would be utterly repulsed by. And some would be ok/cool,others perhaps rather shy/withdrawn.

In RL, people here would generally find me to be pretty chilled, but quite private as well, apart from with people I felt a specific level of trust with.

To me, generalised forums I suppose are part of the development of the web. But I can't help but feel they're not how things will be in the future. Looking back, generalist forums were never what I expected them to be, nor were a number of the users. So in future, I don't see myself signing up for more, other than for perhaps the odd post or whatever.

There's a business saying that goes "think global, act local". Maybe that phrase could have been coined to describe the future evolution of social media.

 

And which of those would be you?

 

yep, I figure most are a lot more subdued in real life. The protection of the internet gives people strength.
People generally like me in real life.