Most of my posts in the Pit revolve about things that piss me off, not people. I rarely start threads specifically against someone, but I will join in PIt threads if I think someone is getting flamed unfairly.
To answer the OP, I think I’m much worse IRL. I seldom get angry, but when I do, it’s ugly. OL I can walk away and come back later to say what I think, and I can delete all the curse words. Believe me, there are a lot of those - I have a potty mouth.
OTOH, I am confronted with a much larger variety of people here. I usually only see my regular group of friends, and people I just meet aren’t inclined to debate things like abortion and the election. So I have more chances to get pissed off here, because there are more types of people that piss me off, and we discuss topics that lead to me getting upset more often than IRL.
Did that make sense??
Anyway, I’m worse IRL, but I get pissed off less often than I do OL.
Let’s just say that in real life, I’ve had people who knew me only by reputation tiptoe around me for fear of setting me off. (A reputation that I am sure I do not deserve, but there it is.)
I usually speak my mind, but then I am known for being an ass and was promoted to keep me from talking to clients (the exact incident was a client saying “So your saying I’m an idiot, aren’t you?” and my reply “Well I’m not allowed to say that, but I am allowed to agree with you.”). This is the reason I don’t date, or do much in public without pissing someone off. I wasn’t always like this and I honestly don’t know how I changed or why and sometimes I wish I could shut it off, but it isn’t all bad. I actually tell people off in grocery lines when they have coupons or too many items in the express aisle and that feels really good.
What I dont get and have never gotten are people who make physical threats online. Like in chat someone will say “I’ll kick your ass.” and not even be in the same state as the person they say it too. That’s just dumb.
When I get angry, I can be very cruel and vulgar against people face to face. But I rarely get as angry IRL as I can get on a message board, because I don’t discuss controversial issues that are important to me with strangers, and my friends generally accept (if not agree with) my views so they never provoke me.
I definitely behave the same way in real life as I do in the Pit, or anywhere else on the boards. I don’t curse very much, I’m pretty even-tempered, and I don’t think I’ve ever called anybody an insulting name. I’m sometimes sarcastic and I know I can be a bit dramatic. I’m nonconfrontational and I don’t like feeling angry, so I have a tendency to back down instead of attacking.
Are you kidding? I don’t talk to anyone in real life, period. I’m too shy! I walk around with my head down or my nose in a book so I can avoid eye contact and saying hi to anyone. I’m PAINFULLY, frightfully, terribly shy. To the point where people think I’m a snob. I’m not-just the idea of walking up to someone to ask them a question fills me with terror.
I don’t post in the pit. However, IRL, when I must deal more than casually with someone displaying complete and utter stupidity, laziness, and willful ignorance, I will comment on it bluntly. Hmm, sounds familiar…
Although, as far as having a quick temper-yeah, I do. I flare up easily, and then quickly cool down and appologize. Just like I’ve done here in the past. (not bad stuff, just flying off the handle).
Shout it out, sing it strong…I read GD but opt out of the discussions.
Yeah, I pretty much do, overall. Takes a lot to get me peeved–and when it finally happens I still sound like the unholy offspring of Miss Manners and Attila The Hun.
But in some ways the give-and-take online obeys its own rules. This place especially encourages discussion; not many “real life” venues permit that.
So the manner of expression isn’t so much different as the opportunity. Interesting, that. In “real life” I usually keep quiet, shrug and walk away–so maybe that’s my indictment for living banalities.
