Internet Lives

RaRaRasputin

Now seriously...what is the point? I don't mean the ordinary chatting, browsing, forum posting or online dating or anything like this but why do some people feel the need to “live” online rather than in real life?

wazky

Once you get trapped behind the computer screen, its a bitch to get back out.

pajor

Cos the word 'friends' on facebook is taken too literally? :rolleyes:

Gummy Panda

RaRaRasputin wrote: »

Now seriously...what is the point? I don't mean the ordinary chatting, browsing, forum posting or online dating or anything like this but why do some people feel the need to “live” online rather than in real life?

elaborate?

hatrickpatrick

People who are socially awkward for whatever reason can find it easier to communicate over the internet. To be honest I'd argue it's almost worse to be the opposite in today's world - I'm one of those people who has no trouble say chatting up a girl in person but as soon as I have a phone number and it moves to texting / Facebook chatting / whatever I crash and burn spectacularly.
One could easily argue that given the tech dominated society we live in, it's more of a handicap to be online-awkward than real life - awkward.

Karl Stein

RaRaRasputin wrote: »

why do some people feel the need to “live” online rather than in real life?

*Wheeze* I have asthma and allergies *wheeze*

RaRaRasputin

Gummy Panda wrote: »

elaborate?

Say, for example a person who has a community of online friends, chatting and skyping online and interacting with people via virtual worlds and who does little else with their time and has little/no friends in real life. I am no social butterfly and to have some online friends, but I don't understand how it can be healthy for all of your social interaction to be happening online

Gummy Panda

RaRaRasputin wrote: »

Say, for example a person who has a community of online friends, chatting and skyping online and interacting with people via virtual worlds and who does little else with their time and has little/no friends in real life. I am no social butterfly and to have some online friends, but I don't understand how it can be healthy for all of your social interaction to be happening online

Not sure tbh. Humans are social animals and we use the tools provided to make social connects. Sure i read in another thread a boardsie was talking to a girl online for years then finally meet her and married her. Was that unhealthy?

Grayson

there's a certain shield in being behind a computer screen. I've known people who retreat behind it because it gives the illusion of social contact. Probably everyone here is guilty to a certain extent. Most in a very, very minor way.

Personally I'll admit that i can be a bit cattier online than in real-life. that's not to say I'm less confrontational in real-life, I just tend to mask it more with humor. Here though the claws do occasionally come out. It's not a huge change but it's enough that I can say my personality does change a bit.

I have known people who are far worse. On the internet they are outspoken and appear confident. In real life they are people who will sit at the edge of any group and hardly say a thing.

The important thing to remember is that virtual life, although it can be rewarding in it's own right, is not real life.

Sh1tbag OToole

Because real life isn't much fun. Most people are stuck in tiny housing in the city, the government wants to restrict everything you do.

When virtual reality gets better people will be joining the Matrix in their droves simply because reality will be even more restrictive than it is today (mostly the government's fault)

The One Who Knocks

It's escapism, ... like reading fiction.

People are unhappy with their real lives, and so instead of just facing their problems, they run away and live virtual lives instead.
It's sad really,

AnonoBoy

Gotta do something to waste time at work.

RaRaRasputin

Gummy Panda wrote: »

Not sure tbh. Humans are social animals and we use the tools provided to make social connects. Sure i read in another thread a boardsie was talking to a girl online for years then finally meet her and married her. Was that unhealthy?

There's nothing wrong with that at all, in fact I even met my wife online, but I am talking about people who don't seem to be able to form friendships in real life.