Why is Boards so different from the "Real World"

danh789

More specifically Im referring to After Hours. The people I have come across here seem worlds apart from the people I come into contact with face to face. Has anyone else noticed this?

A few examples. If you were to believe AHs not one person still respected the traditions of Good Friday. Yet in the "real world" most people I know will be staying off meat and drink today. And these are college students. Also the amount of begrudgry here at times is baffling. Yet people excuse this by saying its pub talk. Never once have I gone to the pub only to spend the night b!tching about Bono and Tubridy etc. I go to the pub to have fun. F**king hell if my mates did spend the night moaning about these people I think I'd shoot myself!

Look at the Religion Census thread. A landslide victory for "No Religion" yet I'll be shocked if Catholism gets less then 70% in the actual Cencus. So how can there be such a difference?

Has anyone noticed any other examples of this? Why do you think people behave differently on forums?

krudler

danh789 wrote: »

More specifically Im referring to After Hours. The people I have come across here seem worlds apart from the people I come into contact with face to face. Has anyone else noticed this?

A few examples. If you were to believe AHs not one person still respected the traditions of Good Friday. Yet in the "real world" most people I know will be staying off meat and drink today. And these are college students. Also the amount of begrudgry here at times is baffling. Yet people excuse this by saying its pub talk. Never once have I gone to the pub only to spend the night b!tching about Bono and Tubridy etc. I go to the pub to have fun. F**king hell if my mates did spend the night moaning about these people I think I'd shoot myself!

Look at the Religion Census thread. A landslide victory for "No Religion" yet I'll be shocked if Catholism gets less then 70% in the actual Cencus. So how can there be such a difference?

Has anyone noticed any other examples of this? Why do you think people behave differently on forums?

keyboard+ anonymity= internet assholes.

I should know, I am one :pac:

Really though, most of my friends would yak about the same things people chat about on here, its why I like this site, I can talk about games, religion and blasting people with various substances all on one handy site. Theres a massive amount of pisstaking on this site, especially on AH, so people have their regular boards personas and then their AH one too. but its all part of the fun of posting on here.

Snakeblood

danh789 wrote: »

More specifically Im referring to After Hours. The people I have come across here seem worlds apart from the people I come into contact with face to face. Has anyone else noticed this?

A few examples. If you were to believe AHs not one person still respected the traditions of Good Friday. Yet in the "real world" most people I know will be staying off meat and drink today. And these are college students. Also the amount of begrudgry here at times is baffling. Yet people excuse this by saying its pub talk. Never once have I gone to the pub only to spend the night b!tching about Bono and Tubridy etc. I go to the pub to have fun. F**king hell if my mates did spend the night moaning about these people I think I'd shoot myself!

Look at the Religion Census thread. A landslide victory for "No Religion" yet I'll be shocked if Catholism gets less then 70% in the actual Cencus. So how can there be such a difference?

Has anyone noticed any other examples of this? Why do you think people behave differently on forums?

It's a different social group.
For example, of my friends in real life:
70% are atheist.
100% think Tubridy is some sort of ****.
100% never talk about Bono positively or negatively
100% think Good Friday is stupid.

Now, would you ask why your friends don't feel the exact same as my friends? Or would you just accept that different people are different?

miketv

To be fair, as time goes on Tubridy is getting very annoying.

danh789

Snakeblood wrote: »

It's a different social group.
For example, of my friends in real life:
70% are atheist.
100% think Tubridy is some sort of ****.
100% never talk about Bono positively or negatively
100% think Good Friday is stupid.

Now, would you ask why your friends don't feel the exact same as my friends? Or would you just accept that different people are different?

Im not just talking about my friends though. Also relatives, work colleagues, classmates. The majority that I know seem completely different to the type of people on Boards. As I said the religion question on the census is a perfect example of this.

Barna77

What do you mean with real world? Is this fake?

Coriolanus

Sounds like your friends are cúnts OP.
I don't post like that on the rest of boards though. As someone mentioned above most people have two boards personalities. I think most ah'ers are normal productive contributors to other areas of boards.

Mr. Loverman

Boards.ie has a disproportionate number of nerdy/geeky/socially awkward types.

It isn't a good representation of the average Irish person.

krudler

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Boards.ie has a disproportionate number of nerdy/geeky/socially awkward types.

It isn't a good representation of the average Irish person.

Who's socially awkward? I got out every other weekend and have a good group of friends, doesnt mean I cant post on here all the time (advantages of an office job with no blocked sites :pac: )

Mr. Loverman

krudler wrote: »

Who's socially awkward? I got out every other weekend and have a good group of friends, doesnt mean I cant post on here all the time (advantages of an office job with no blocked sites :pac: )

I didn't say everyone was socially awkward. (For example, I'm not.)

Have you ever been to a boards beers? I rest my case.

Mr Benevolent

Ah them plain country folk. Who else heard the Deliverance tune when they read the OP's post?

FesterBeatty

Its not that different, someone asked me in a meeting the other day what should we do - and I said blast it with piss!

...only 1 guy got it and laughed!:D

Confab

Confab wrote: »

Ah them plain country folk. Who else heard the Deliverance tune when they read the OP's post?

Patronising generalisation for the f*cking win there Confab

You're the only one who heard Deliverance.

Feeona

FesterBeatty wrote: »

Its not that different, someone asked me in a meeting the other day what should we do - and I said blast it with piss!

Well that would be a viable solution if you worked in a jellyfish factory as I do *takes note*

CrazyRabbit

Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide,
No escape from reality
Open your eyes, Look up to the skies and see,
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy,
Because I'm easy come, easy go, Little high, little
low,
Any way the wind blows doesn't really matter to me, to
me

Black Swan

danh789 wrote: »

Why do you think people behave differently on forums?

I'm not a "people," I'm a Black Swan. Oh, wait...

Blazer

See link below for reason

http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/215499488_8pSZr-L-2.jpg

orourkeda

We can **** off coked up hookers and get a blow job every time we eat steak. We get durka durred regularly having had our jobs taken because we got blasted with piss.

krudler

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

I didn't say everyone was socially awkward. (For example, I'm not.)

Have you ever been to a boards beers? I rest my case.

Yeah, it was full of people having fun and some hawt women

AnonoBoy

I think there's probably quite a few people on boards here who will be observing the religious part of Good Friday but they tend to keep quiet about it because the mob mentality especially against religion on After Hours can be ugly and unpleasant at times.

People use forums in general as a place to bitch about things because it's not the same as a pub conversation - you can vent on here and then step away from it. I doubt people carry most of these moans down to the pub with them - with the exception of a choice few.

Although having said that I don't know anyone in my circle of friends who will abstain from alcohol and meat today (aside from the vegetarians).

Snakeblood

danh789 wrote: »

Im not just talking about my friends though. Also relatives, work colleagues, classmates. The majority that I know seem completely different to the type of people on Boards. As I said the religion question on the census is a perfect example of this.

I was filling out the census for my girlfriend, and the question reads 'Are you a christian' (or something to that effect. She said yes. I said 'Do you go to church' 'No', 'Do you pray' 'No', 'Do you actually believe in god' 'Not really, no'. People can go with snap answers. A lot of people think being baptised, or being raised in a faith, even if you don't believe it, makes you that faith. Which it might technically do, I suppose, but I don't really find it to be a compelling argument myself.

The majority of people you know, though, are not on boards, then. Or not vocal on boards.

fando

danh789 wrote: »

More specifically Im referring to After Hours. The people I have come across here seem worlds apart from the people I come into contact with face to face. Has anyone else noticed this?

A few examples. If you were to believe AHs not one person still respected the traditions of Good Friday. Yet in the "real world" most people I know will be staying off meat and drink today. And these are college students. Also the amount of begrudgry here at times is baffling. Yet people excuse this by saying its pub talk. Never once have I gone to the pub only to spend the night b!tching about Bono and Tubridy etc. I go to the pub to have fun. F**king hell if my mates did spend the night moaning about these people I think I'd shoot myself!

Look at the Religion Census thread. A landslide victory for "No Religion" yet I'll be shocked if Catholism gets less then 70% in the actual Cencus. So how can there be such a difference?

Has anyone noticed any other examples of this? Why do you think people behave differently on forums?

It's also a cultural determinant. In my opinion in Ireland it's not really 'appreciated' to be open to the public about yourself or your beliefs (if you know they may be a bit different from the widely accepted).

To be honest it works for me: whatever is behind that smile, stranger, not really concerns me.

Orando Broom

AnonoBoy wrote: »

I think there's probably quite a few people on boards here who will be observing the religious part of Good Friday but they tend to keep quiet about it because the mob mentality especially against religion on After Hours can be ugly and unpleasant at times.

People use forums in general as a place to bitch about things because it's not the same as a pub conversation - you can vent on here and then step away from it. I doubt people carry most of these moans down to the pub with them - with the exception of a choice few.

Although having said that I don't know anyone in my circle of friends who will abstain from alcohol and meat today (aside from the vegetarians).

Vegetarians shiuld be made not eat carrot on Good Friday. It's not fair!!

Snakeblood

Orando Broom wrote: »

Vegetarians shiuld be made not eat carrot on Good Friday. It's not fair!!

They should be forcefed burgers.*


*not really, vegetarian chums!

Chuck Stone

Seloth

See when your on any random internet form you assume the people to be American and therefore idiots.

Yet an Irish website...Oh no,that cant be the case we are far more intelligent and well mannered...."Pffft Jog on".Boards.ie as Much as I love it and it being a great tool is full of eejits :pac: Some peoples views on politics in AH are hilarious and religious discussions are just as funny.


And its not just certain types of people that use boards as I've seen and know plenty of every kind that do.

OutlawPete

I think people are the the same person online as they are offline, just that they behave differently online as they get away with it there, whereas in the "real world" they wouldn't. The cheeky, smartass, rude, abusive posters would have their arse handed to them if they spoke to people in real life the way they do online. I don't think social awkwardness has anything to do with it tbh. I would actually be of the opinion that the socially awkward ones tend not to be fucktards online.

Anonymity and the platform that is Boards can bring out the cunt in some people for sure. There are some that genuinely don't like Bono, Glen Hansard, they read the Irish Times, could be defined as 'mind-their-own-business' Atheists, never read Red Tops, listen only to Joy Division, The Smiths and Mozart and never ever ever watch Sky News - but if those 'perfect' people exist, then they would be in a very small minority and far far from the majority: which is what you would have to believe were you to accept what's posted by the 'online majority'.

Would say that the users that come across as funny, sound, sincere, genuine and where you get the impression from their posts that they are speaking from the heart and believe it to their core .. are just that very same way offline. I haven't been to any Boards events (met 6th once briefly though, sound guy) but have heard a lot of Feedback regarding them and based on that, I would suggest that 97.2% of the time: people are just precisely the same in RL as how they come across online. However, the users that portray themselves to be something online which they are NOT in real life (the type who are constantly behave rude, abusive when they a platform of anonymity) tend not to be the type that would attend events such as a Beers and for that very reason I would say too. Perhaps that's why I myself have never been to one - perhaps .. and that's just it, you never know really, not until you meet them offline.

People have different reasons for being online too, not everyone projects ALL aspects of who they are online. Some will just be online to be funny and joke and use Boards for a laugh, an escape - whereas others will use Boards as a means of support maybe and all you might see of them is one side that has health problems or personal issues etc and some that will just be angry online their life sucks and someone has to pay and so they abuse people non-stop. Then there are those who will project 100% of themselves, you get a bit of everything with them and not just a one single side to their character or one aspect of who they are but all aspects, in equal measure. They are the users that I tend to like reading posts from as you get the feeling that if someone is not afraid to show their flaws online, as well as the good "socially palatable" aspects to their character, then chances are that they are that way in RL too.

liah

Selection bias + anonymity = boards.

Logical Fallacy

Boards = a small limited section of society.

Real World = ****ing huge.

Paracore

orourkeda wrote: »

We can **** off coked up hookers and get a blow job every time we eat steak. We get durka durred regularly having had our jobs taken because we got blasted with piss.

Posters like this would be locked up or sectioned if this were the 'Real World'

Dudess

Boards also facilitates pot shots against Boards members, ironically thrown by other Boards members, without naming anyone - e.g. this thread.

OutlawPete

Dudess wrote: »

Boards also facilitates pot shots against Boards members, ironically thrown by other Boards members, without naming anyone - e.g. this thread.

You said that before on a similar thread, directed at me if I can recall.

Is it this time again?

liah

OutlawPete wrote: »

You said that before on a similar thread, directed at me if I can recall.

Is it this time again?

Reads to me like it's directed at all the people saying all boardsies are nerdy/geeky/socially awkward etc without a hint of irony

Dudess

Oh directed at you but not you alone. I would say to ye folks: glasshouses, stones, whatnot...

OutlawPete

liah wrote: »

Reads to me like it's directed at all the people saying all boardsies are nerdy/geeky/socially awkward etc without a hint of irony

You're referring to what Mr Loverman posted (which I read down to on reflection) .. but why would my words be directed at him exactly? Just because he mentioned "nerdy/geeky/socially awkward" types? Makes no sense. My comments may be seen to defend the "socially awkward", I can see that .. but they in no way say or imply anything negative about those that would think the "socially awkward" are not genuine online.

Dudess wrote: »

Oh directed at you but not you alone. I would say to ye folks: glasshouses, stones, whatnot...

Hhmm, well - guess I am taking "pot shots" at myself so, as I said in my post that my comments could also reflect my own Boards persona and who I am as a person in RL. It's actually not just what I feel about Boards.ie as it goes, but all Discussion Boards in fact and also YouTube and the like. I guess sometimes people will see what they want to see.

Smyth

The one major difference I find between boards and "real life" people and discussions is the following:

General everyday:

"Fcuking banking ****. Should be burnt to the ground"
"I'm so pissed off getting footed with the bill"
"These ****ers are putting a debt on every newborn in Ireland"
"Burn the cnuts"

boards:

"tbf, I'm okay with this"
"I for one welcome our IMF overlords"
"I think an increase in tax is great. It's what's needed"
"Revolution? pah. I enjoy a good old fcuk up the arse...mmmm"

Mr. Loverman

liah wrote: »

Reads to me like it's directed at all the people saying all boardsies are nerdy/geeky/socially awkward etc without a hint of irony

Ah hello Ms. Strawman, thanks for changing my argument to all boardsies are nerdy/geeky/socially awkward.

Let's see what I actually said:

Mr. Loverman wrote:

Boards.ie has a disproportionate number of nerdy/geeky/socially awkward types.

It isn't a good representation of the average Irish person.

pragmatic1

krudler wrote: »

Who's socially awkward? I got out every other weekend and have a good group of friends, doesnt mean I cant post on here all the time (advantages of an office job with no blocked sites :pac: )

I think its a bit of a stereotype about people who use the internet. But this isnt 1998 anymore. Most people have laptops and PCs nowadays.

hondasam

OutlawPete wrote: »

I think people are the same person online as they are offline, just that they behave differently as they get away with it here, whereas in the "real world" they wouldn't. The cheeky, smartass, rude, abusive users would have their arse handed to them if they spoke to people in real life the way they do online. I don' think social awkwardness has anything to do with it tbh. I would actually say that the socially awkward ones tend not to be the fucktards online.

Anonymity and the platform that is Boards can bring out the cunt in some people for sure. There are some that genuinely don't like Bono, Glen Hansard, read the Irish Times, are mind-their-own-business Atheists, never read a Red Top, listen to only Joy Division, The Smiths and Mozart and never ever watch Sky News, but if these 'perfect' people exist, they would be a very small minority of users and far far from the majority, which is what you would have to believe were you to accpet what's posted as honest and factual.

Would say that the users that come across as funny, sound, sincere, genuine and where you get the impression they are posting what they believe to their core are just that very same way offline. I haven't been to any Boards events (met 6th once briefly though, sound guy) but have heard a lot of Feedback regarding them and 97.2% of the time people are just how they come across online but then the users that portray themselves to be something online which they are not in real life or just behave rudely and abusively on the platform of anonymity, tend not to attend such events for that very reason I would say. Perhaps that's why I myself have never been to one .. perhaps and that's just it, you never know really until you meet people offline.

People have different reasons for being online, not everyone projects all aspects of who they are online. Some will just be online to be funny and joke and use Boards for fun whereas some people will use Boards as a means of support and all you will see is the side of them that has health problems or personal issues. Some will just be angry online their life sucks someone has to pay and so they abuse people non-stop. Then there are those who are project 100% of themselves and you might get a bit of everything, not just a one aspect of who they are but all of them, in equal measures. They are the users that I tend to like reading posts from as you get the feeling that if someone is not afraid to show their flaws online as well as all the good aspects to their character, then chances are that they are that way in RL also.

That is a well written piece pete and It's so true.

OutlawPete

hondasam wrote: »

That is a well written piece pete and It's so true.

Thanks, seven or eight typos in it, glad you could see past 'em

hondasam

OutlawPete wrote: »

Thanks, seven or eight typos in it, glad you could see past 'em

I did not see them because I was so interested in what you had written. I actually read it again.

Little Acorn

I think people are the same person online as they are offline, just that they behave differently as they get away with it here, whereas in the "real world" they wouldn't. The cheeky, smartass, rude, abusive users would have their arse handed to them if they spoke to people in real life the way they do online. I don' think social awkwardness has anything to do with it tbh. I would actually say that the socially awkward ones tend not to be the ****tards online.

Anonymity and the platform that is Boards can bring out the **** in some people for sure. There are some that genuinely don't like Bono, Glen Hansard, read the Irish Times, are mind-their-own-business Atheists, never read a Red Top, listen to only Joy Division, The Smiths and Mozart and never ever watch Sky News, but if these 'perfect' people exist, they would be a very small minority of users and far far from the majority, which is what you would have to believe were you to accpet what's posted as honest and factual.

Good Post. I especially agree with this quoted part. In particular it brings to mind a lot of the religion threads here. I don't for a second think that a lot of the people would be so rude and condescending to people of faith in real life.
A lot of people probably don't post in other threads, because if their opinion is not the same as the majority, or the popular and "correct" response, they just get ripped to shreds by others. Sometimes it seems a bit like ganging up which could put some people off posting in a thread. So then you just get left with a one sided version response from the more 'vocal' posters.
[I don't know if vocal is the right word as they are not speaking, but not sure what the equivalent of typing instead of voicing their opinions is?]

RichieC

I don't know anyone who's not eating meat today or has a stack of cans ready to go for tonight.

AnonoBoy

OutlawPete wrote: »

I think people are the the same person online as they are offline, just that they behave differently online as they get away with it there, whereas in the "real world" they wouldn't. The cheeky, smartass, rude, abusive posters would have their arse handed to them if they spoke to people in real life the way they do online. I don't think social awkwardness has anything to do with it tbh. I would actually be of the opinion that the socially awkward ones tend not to be fucktards online.

Anonymity and the platform that is Boards can bring out the cunt in some people for sure. There are some that genuinely don't like Bono, Glen Hansard, they read the Irish Times, could be defined as 'mind-their-own-business' Atheists, never read Red Tops, listen only to Joy Division, The Smiths and Mozart and never ever ever watch Sky News - but if those 'perfect' people exist, then they would be in a very small minority and far far from the majority: which is what you would have to believe were you to accept what's posted by the 'online majority'.

Would say that the users that come across as funny, sound, sincere, genuine and where you get the impression from their posts that they are speaking from the heart and believe it to their core .. are just that very same way offline. I haven't been to any Boards events (met 6th once briefly though, sound guy) but have heard a lot of Feedback regarding them and based on that, I would suggest that 97.2% of the time: people are just precisely the same in RL as how they come across online. However, the users that portray themselves to be something online which they are NOT in real life (the type who are constantly behave rude, abusive when they a platform of anonymity) tend not to be the type that would attend events such as a Beers and for that very reason I would say too. Perhaps that's why I myself have never been to one - perhaps .. and that's just it, you never know really, not until you meet them offline.

People have different reasons for being online too, not everyone projects ALL aspects of who they are online. Some will just be online to be funny and joke and use Boards for a laugh, an escape - whereas others will use Boards as a means of support maybe and all you might see of them is one side that has health problems or personal issues etc and some that will just be angry online their life sucks and someone has to pay and so they abuse people non-stop. Then there are those who will project 100% of themselves, you get a bit of everything with them and not just a one single side to their character or one aspect of who they are but all aspects, in equal measure. They are the users that I tend to like reading posts from as you get the feeling that if someone is not afraid to show their flaws online, as well as the good "socially palatable" aspects to their character, then chances are that they are that way in RL too.

Liar! I bet you don't even like The Boss! :mad:

Dudess

OutlawPete wrote: »

Hhmm, well - guess I am taking "pot shots" at myself so, as I said in my post that my comments could also reflect my own Boards persona and who I am as a person in RL.

Fair enough - apologies. I admit I did skim-read it. I admit also I was influenced by that other thread you referenced, which, in fairness was a free-for-all for pot shots. So much so, it was closed.

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Ah hello Ms. Strawman, thanks for changing my argument to all boardsies are nerdy/geeky/socially awkward.

Let's see what I actually said:

I would agree you were making a point about an overwhelming number of users - I don't know whether liah meant your post specifically though. I do think it's fair enough to say there are x types of demographic here moreso than others. There is a largely middle-class bias it would seem - and there are constant attacks on people from council estates who have a certain accent and dress a certain way etc. But I find it laughable the way some people barge onto threads saying "You are all a bunch of narky *****" (a simplification for sure, but pretty much what's said) or whatever... even though they themselves are members of Boards and they themselves are being narky.

Plus, your environment dictates your behaviour. When people say "Oh I'm exactly as I am online as I am in real life" well yeah, no doubt they have the exact same views, sense of humour, aren't consciously putting on an act etc, but the fact is: it's a very different dynamic to face to face interaction, so even if you are adamant you're being totally real (and I would assume most people are) you're still going to engage differently in some ways to how you would in "real life". The cinema shapes your behaviour, a restaurant shapes your behaviour, a stranger's house versus a friend's gaff shapes your behaviour, etc. But behaviour is not personality so I'm not suggesting people are modifying their characters.

Boards is not comparable to the "real world" anyway because the "real world" isn't a discussion forum.

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Have you ever been to a boards beers? I rest my case.

Have you?

sock puppet

pragmatic1 wrote: »

I think its a bit of a stereotype about people who use the internet. But this isnt 1998 anymore. Most people have laptops and PCs nowadays.

But most people wouldn't really be bothered posting on an internet forum. Boards isn't in any way an accurate representation of society. It's disproportionately youngish and male for starters.

liah

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Ah hello Ms. Strawman, thanks for changing my argument to all boardsies are nerdy/geeky/socially awkward.

Let's see what I actually said:

What are you on about? Do you suddenly constitute "all the people?" It's hardly as though I was singling you out. Plus it was a throwaway comment, no need to go into battlemode ffs.

Son Of A Vidic

danh789 wrote: »

Also the amount of begrudgry here at times is baffling.

How innocent are you? Sure this nation specialises in cynicism ffs! It's one of the things I hated being reminded of when I moved back here. The constant trying to drag people down and sh1t on success. Are you telling me this now only happens in AH? Fcuk what country are you in?

danh789 wrote: »

Has anyone noticed any other examples of this? Why do you think people behave differently on forums?

This baffles me, why would someones views change on politics, religion, econimics and socio-political issues ect, just because they're online? Mine certainly don't. I think your confusing the Trolls and keyboard warrior types with the normal boardsie's bud.

pragmatic1

sock puppet wrote: »

But most people wouldn't really be bothered posting on an internet forum. Boards isn't in any way an accurate representation of society. It's disproportionately youngish and male for starters.

For a country of our size it has a massive following. I'd say its a fairly accurate for the 18-30 demographic.

Jericho.

sock puppet wrote: »

But most people wouldn't really be bothered posting on an internet forum. Boards isn't in any way an accurate representation of society. It's disproportionately youngish and male for starters.

This is very much the case imho. The prevailing opinions on boards could well be the prevailing nationwide opinions in 20 or 30 years time.

Mr. Loverman

Dudess wrote: »

Boards is not comparable to the "real world" anyway because the "real world" isn't a discussion forum.

Of course boards.ie is comparable to the real world.

"There are disproportionately more nerdy/geeky/socially awkward types using boards.ie than there are in the general population".

That is a valid comparison, and frankly, it's common sense. Obviously you are likely to find more nerdy types talking on an online discussion forum just as you're likely to find more sporty types at a Rugby match.

Dudess wrote: »

Have you? [been to a boards beers]

I've been to two of them (at the request of a friend, boards beers wouldn't really be my thing). The people seemed friendly enough but I would definitely put them in the 'nerdy' category. Nothing wrong with being a nerd of course.

liah wrote: »

What are you on about? Do you suddenly constitute "all the people?" It's hardly as though I was singling you out. Plus it was a throwaway comment, no need to go into battlemode ffs.

Calm down, you quoted part of my sentence -- nerdy/geeky/socially awkward -- hence why I (and others) assumed you were referring to what I wrote.