People online vs people real-life

Shenshen

Have you ever noticed how there are types of people you only meet online (on boards, in the comments sections of online newspapers, on other forums), and other types you only ever meet in real life?

Take hard-core (preachy) atheists, and preachy religious people, for example.

I've only ever come across the sneering, arrogant, condescending atheists online. I honestly cannot say I've ever met one face to face, not among my friends or family, not in the street, not even on radio or TV.
But then looking at the other end of the spectrum, the preachy, holier-than-thou religious types - I have to say I've only ever met the worst of those face to face. Be it hanging off my doorbell trying to convert me into a Jehova's Witness or Mormon, be it in the form of the foam-at-the-mouth preacher with a megaphone on a busy shopping street on a Saturday, or in the form of the over-zealous somewhat elderly relative (grandparents, aunts, uncles). Even on TV and radio in the form of the obligatory guest from the Iona Institute talking about some aspect of social life to provide the "opposing view".

It seems quote similar with feminists and misogynists - I only ever really meet those online.

Now, is that just me and the company I keep, or is this something you'd have observed yourself?

catallus

The POWER of CHRIST compels you








sorry OP, it's just that 15 mins had nearly passed and I was kinda itching to respond to the second poster with that but nobody was biting

Ush1

You may only be talking with people online about divisive issues which involve these topics, as oppose to talking about the weather in real life.

Also, social circles will tend to reflect each others viewpoints generally.

The Backwards Man

You have met the same people IRL, it's just they are more timid and dare I say cowardly than they are behind the safe confines of a screen.

Shenshen

The Backwards Man wrote: »

You have met the same people IRL, it's just they are more timid and dare I say cowardly than they are behind the safe confines of a screen.

So... atheist would be cowards in real life, and religious people are cowards when online? Why?

jobeenfitz

"I crossed the ocean for a heart of gold" I love religion!

krudler

Preachy rosary rattlers yes, both knocking on the door and on the street. Feminists not so much. Misogynists most definitely, worked with two aged guys who firmly believed women should be at home, was bizarre. People tend not to talk much about issues up for debate in their circle of friends or family for fear of riling someone up, online you can engage people in a debate much easier.

o1s1n

It is part of the remit of evangelical religions to go out and evangelize.

I don't think Atheist Ireland have a similar rule :pac:

In all seriousness though, I just don't think these 'militant atheists' that I keep seeing people talk about actually exist. Sure, you get some heated atheist/theist debate online, but it's just that, debate.

I would consider myself an atheist and know lots of other atheists - militant would be the last word I'd use to describe them.

catallus

Have to agree with this, I think the OP is imagining things!

The Backwards Man

Shenshen wrote: »

So... atheist would be cowards in real life, and religious people are cowards when online? Why?

You misunderstand me, the vast majority of people would be less vocal in real life than online. The religious types you mention are generally more extreme on the internet too, if you go looking for them.

biko

I'm pretty much the same prick IRL as online. But at least IRL I can't get banned mohahaha

I Heart Internet

What's your point OP? You're kinda all over the place there.

Zubeneschamali

Shenshen wrote: »

So... atheist would be cowards in real life, and religious people are cowards when online? Why?

Outspoken atheists lose a lot of friends in real life.

Outspoken religious people lose a lot of arguments online.

Shenshen

o1s1n wrote: »

It is part of the remit of evangelical religions to go out and evangelize.

I don't think Atheist Ireland have a similar rule :pac:

In all seriousness though, I just don't think these 'militant atheists' that I keep seeing people talk about actually exist. Sure, you get some heated atheist/theist debate online, but it's just that, debate.

I would consider myself an atheist and know lots of other atheists - militant would be the last word I'd use to describe them.

Well, I wouldn't use the word militant.
I'm atheist myself, but I have to say I've come across a good few rather arrogant examples online. Never in real life, though, for some reason.

So why is it, do you think, that the religious types will go door to door, or stand on street corners with megaphones in an effort to spread the good word, but rarely if ever venture into the comments sections of newspapers or engage in debates on forums like boards?

Shenshen

I Heart Internet wrote: »

What's your point OP? You're kinda all over the place there.

Sorry for not being clearer.

I was just wondering why certain groups are more vocal and prevalent online, while you'd only ever meet others in real life?
It's not just atheist and religious people, you get similar effects with other groups as well.
I have met people you could call feminazis in real life, but never seen one online. On the other hand, I've seen plenty of misogyny online, but never really came across it in real life very much (female, so I think I might have noticed )

Sugar Free

From the few boards people I know or have met in person, my observations would be that the older ones were pretty similiar to how I perceived them online, the younger ones were more introverted/shy in person.

Of course, their opinion of me online vs. in person may also differ significantly from my own perceptions.

o1s1n

Shenshen wrote: »

Well, I wouldn't use the word militant.
I'm atheist myself, but I have to say I've come across a good few rather arrogant examples online. Never in real life, though, for some reason.

So why is it, do you think, that the religious types will go door to door, or stand on street corners with megaphones in an effort to spread the good word, but rarely if ever venture into the comments sections of newspapers or engage in debates on forums like boards?

You're open to far less questioning of your beliefs if you catch people off guard. Be it standing on the street with a megaphone, going door to door etc. Most people aren't in a position to refute your claims on the spot. You on the other hand are the one with all the reference material ready to go.

You can also use emotive type arguments to much greater effect. Personal contact, sales type pitches etc.

Online discussion areas on the other hand are the polar opposite to that. You need to be able to backup claims, people can take time to build up a retort point by point. It's open to far more scrutiny and illogical beliefs tend not to hold up very well.

I Heart Internet

Shenshen wrote: »

Sorry for not being clearer.

I was just wondering why certain groups are more vocal and prevalent online, while you'd only ever meet others in real life?
It's not just atheist and religious people, you get similar effects with other groups as well.
I have met people you could call feminazis in real life, but never seen one online. On the other hand, I've seen plenty of misogyny online, but never really came across it in real life very much (female, so I think I might have noticed )

OK, I think I understand you.

You can find every shade of opinion online. People are more prone to telling others about their opinions online I think.

gugleguy

catallus wrote: »

sorry OP, it's just that 15 mins had nearly passed and I was kinda itching to respond to the second poster with that but nobody was biting

Who? I think I know of them.:cool::pac:

I know one person who is aggressive about their atheism to the point where you cant even make a mildly positive comment about some of the better thing the RCC has done, however they are not an aggressive person.

In other words its possible to be aggressive about your atheism, but have a mild mannered nonaggressive personality. Maybe a better way to describe it is to say they zealots in their atheism.

Mr. CooL ICE

Aside from hiding behind a wall of anonymity, which some on the internet use to blow some steam, people online are able to articulate themselves better when they have the time to write a segment of text.