I´m pretty sad, because yesterday I went to a chatroom and we started discussing if having multiple nicks and lying was ok or not. And I realized that most of the people agreed with fakes, and I was one of the only that deffended honesty and the truth. Everybody said it isn ´t a big deal and that I was exagerating, but I don´t consider it´s cool to lie to others and to cheat on them about your age, sex, location,etc. They can get really hurt! (It has happened to me and I now how that feels). What do you think? Am I too idealistic? absurd? or asking for what any person with common sense would search?. Thanks and I´ll be looking forward for your answers.
For some of us, there is safety in not revealing personal details, but it's still important to be honest about who you "are" if the distinction makes sense. It's a fine balance. Sorry for not being helpful, but in fact, the Net is just too transient to demand the same honesty you get face to face in the real world (at least people's appearances are less of a lie there, I suppose.) Very existential post. ^_^d
>Am I too idealistic?
Yes.
lying online, like in real life is not ok. but the fact of the matter is that it's so easy to, and people have different reasons for lying. ie, privacy, or those who use the net to transform into a fantasy persona. so no, you are not wrong in wanting honesty, but you are probably being unrealistic about it.
It depends on the people. Some will be sincere in what they say, but not say everything,... Others will be dishonest. I think it's a good idea to take things with a grain of salt, but on the other hand, there is always a reason for someone to say something, and often it's interesting to understand it.
Just like in real life, you have to get to know someone to be able to fully tell him anything about you. Since now you know that mostly everyone you meet on the internet is withholding some truth from you one way or another. Most people have internet personas that are way different than who they really are in real life. If you know someone only from the internet and not in real life, like tpam have said, it's a good idea to take things with a grain of sailt.
Talking to yourself is an unfortunate habit. You should try writing letters instead.
Personally I avoid giving information about myself away on the Internet, mainly because I am somewhat paranoid about my privacy but also because I don't have much of a personalty to speak of. Anyway with that in mind it becomes obvious that I have little experience in communication about the persons communicating but in these discussions I learnt that whether the personal information that people give away is true or not does not in general have an influence on the quality of the discussion because they always contain thoughts that people put in them and therefore can stimulate new thoughts in the readers.
I think that the Internet in a way redefines our concept of identity and even so I never did it, I think that trying out different personalities can lead to a better understanding about oneself.
So I guess there are positive sites about having "fake" identities on the net.
chat rooms are anonymous...dont worry too much
i think its ironic that youre asking this question on an anon board. but sad to say(?) youre absolutely right, you are too idealistic. theres nothing wrong with what youre saying, its just naive. ive been involved in, and still am, in an online relationship that is pretty much a complete lie. but its 100% online so, not a big deal honestly.
Don't expect honesty, but it does often come, depending on the group.
If it's an Aim chatroom or something, then you're an idiot for expecting anything.
If it's a small circlejerk group mirc chat (like say, iichan), then the people probably know a lot about each other, and have dated/me/have the cellphone numbers of other members. Which isn't to say everybody is honest or that the honest people are honest to anyone... but yeah.
On a related note, a few days ago in one of my computer science classes my teacher was talking about presentations. He said "I'm not sure what you should do if you get nervous talking in front of so many people. Some people would say to imagine the audience naked, but since there's only Computer Science and engineering students here, that probably wouldn't be a good idea."
In the same manner, a lot of the people who hang out on chatrooms are probably social outcasts of one sort or another. You probably wouldn't want to know their personal life.