Meeting electronic people in the real world

This is inspired by a couple of comments last at last nights Ü30 that people thought I'd look different from how I do. I hadn't realised I come across as an old git.

We all make a picture in our heads about people look what we 'talk' to them on chat sites. Has anybody met somebody in the real world and they turned out to be not far off our expectations or do peoples posting styles tell us nothing about how they really are?

related topic: How did you imagine TTers to look like?

Because I have a vivid imagination, I usually build up quite detailed but WRONG ideas of what people are going to be like!

So, I am not surprised that other people form false impressions as well.

It's a pleasant surprise when someone is of a completely different ethnic makeup than one "imagines" them to be. I prefer to be surprised but also use my imagination.

I am not an electronic person. I am a free man, and a cuddly one too. It's just the wicked eyes that get me into so much trouble.

I don't expect them to be any certain way, even after reading their posts for years, I have no idea til I meet them, and that's fine. Now, a lot of people here I have met, so I kinda picture them when I read their posts.

If I had to say if they're like what I expect or not, I'll go with yes...more or less what I expect nearly every time, because I don't do like Renia

Do you think people are more or less themselves on TT?

That's a hard one. It really depends on the person and how comfortable they are in an open forum. Many people have said that I have a completely different personality online...which I don't agree with, but...well, it has been said at least several times.

If I had to choose an answer, I'd say at least the regulars are pretty much just being themselves on TT, just as they'd be irl.

I have hear many people say that they would say the same things online as offline, which is probably true, but at least offline/IRL you get the benefit of eye contact, body language, facial expressions etc which can effect the way things are taken.

Smilies don´t work exactly the same...

I think I've been completely wrong on a number of occassions, and now keep a completely open mind.

I would say Renia is true to herself on and offline, and I believe the same applies to me. For others it's a medium that allows them to project their negative side exponentially without fear of any consequences.

Thanks for saying that Hams, but I don´t even know if that if necessarily true for me... I am suffering from an identity crisis at present , not sure whether to be an angel or a devil.

Oh goodie. Do we get to vote Renia?

JE exellent idea - a vote for the best and the worst and/or the most hated and most liked.

Regretfully whilst I know I give this constantly warm, friendly and cuddly impression online - in real life I am a hardarse.

well, we could all play a game of posting pictures of how we think someone looks and the person would then write warm or cold...

I can´t imagine that would be very productive.


Yes, you did give that impression in your lederhosen.

And you can certainly PM me with ideas for my future persona.

Start with the pigtails and I will keep thinking.

Right. This is how I imagine Pootle probably looks in real life:



Am I hot or cold?

Subarctic conditions I would think.

Renia - even your devilish side is angelic in comparison to others.

He actually looks a lot like that...er, well, close *cough*

That's right, and I'm Salma Hayek.

You ain't far off.

I am a bit worried that JE is imagining what Pootle looks like in real life and that is what he has come up with...

Thank you kind sir... Although I have as yet failed to bag myself a French multi-multi-millionaire.

And don´t you settle for less either!!

Will just have to make sure he's not married with four kids.

Back on topic - I always think people are rather attractive with regard to personality online, and then you see a picture and you're like OMG!!! Conversation then mysteriously ceases.

Well, Nicolas Sarkozy is free.

Such a flirt. I guess I need to make my keep. (Arroghantly thinks she's thalking ahbout him.)

That's why hardly anybody adds their picture on their profile.

Ha ha ha... sorry to disappoint zemonkey. A username such as yours is not the most magnetic tbh.

Pas - you have a point. If you're not that attractive, it'll put people off; and if attractive, then you'll get all the slimey weirdos PMing. Catch 22 really. Although some people have been known to go Facebook stalking.

Well, gee, and you know that was my first thought on joining the community "get me a handle and seduce some babes. On the webthingy. woohoo." Or somesuch.

Keep thinking of me as a small hairy mammal with wild hair - you'll be surprised if you ever meet me.

Would a cold blooded scaley reptile be more apt?

I find it hard to believe anybody would stoop so low.

Amazing isn't it how far some people's curiousity extends? And on that note, I think I should enter the real world for the day.

Ouch Sounds good to me - thick skinned and likes the sun.

Here you go:

Chemaleonic, a very useful quality to possess.

A very good totem indeed. Enjoy the real world!

do you only conjure up images of the opposite sex then?